The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club, #1)

by Theodora Goss

Based on some of literature’s horror and science fiction classics, this “tour de force of reclaiming the narrative, executed with impressive wit and insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) debut is the story of a remarkable group of women who come together to solve the mystery of a series of gruesome murders—and the bigger mystery of their own origins.

Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.

But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.

When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.

Reviewed by Terri M. LeBlanc on

3 of 5 stars

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The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is a delightful amalgamation of all the great gothic fiction stories of the 18th and 19th century–think The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein and a bit of The Island of Doctor Moreau twisted up with a secret society doing questionable scientific experiments on young girls. A big dark and twisted, the author, Theodora Goss is able to keep the story from getting too creepy, too gross and too dark. Believe it or not there is quite a bit of humor in The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter.

Following the adventures of Mary Jekyll (the Alchemist’s Daughter) and her band of merry misfits, Goss ties together some of the most well known fictional characters into a delightful romp through Victorian England in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, Mr. Holmes and his pal, Mr. Watson, even make an appearance to help Mary solve the disappearance of her father, Dr. Jekyll, and the murders reminiscent, for modern readers, anyway, of the Jack the Ripper Murders.

Too keep the story from getting too dark and heavy, Goss tells the story through the eyes of Mary and her friends after their adventure is complete. Goss allows them to break into the narrative, as if she was sitting in the room with them taking down the story, and give additional background about themselves and the story. She breaks the fourth wall in an effort to make the multitude of characters coming together less confusing as each character is able to have a distinct voice while Mary is the main character in the narrative bringing everyone together. At the beginning of the novel this storytelling technique was fun and witty, as to story continued, it became annoying almost like a commercial in the middle of your favorite show as some of the same arguments and discussions were had over and over again. The fourth wall break-ins took over the story at the end leaving an dissatisfying conclusion to the overall story.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is certainly a delightful romp through some of literature’s greatest hits. The unique storytelling approach of allowing the characters to break the fourth wall and share more of their thoughts and feelings helps in creating clear voices for the many characters Goss brings together, but she does lean on this device a bit much at the conclusion of the novel much to the disappointment of any reader looking for a satisfying conclusion.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is a wonderful book for any reader who has contemplated what would happen if some of their favorite fictional characters gathered under one roof and on an adventure together.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 10 July, 2017: Finished reading
  • 10 July, 2017: Reviewed