Sherlock Holmes & Mr Hyde - The Classified Dossier Vol 2 by Christian Klaver
I would like to thank Sarah from Titan for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher – Titan
Published - Out Now
Price – £16.99 hardback £6.99 Kindle eBook
A deftly crafted, scintillating mash-up of Victorian mystery and horror – Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde encounter villains with unfathomable, terrifying abilities…
1903. A darkness has descended on London. A series of grisly murders are uncovered, trophies taken, bodies arranged and soon there are whispers of Jack the Ripper’s return.
A new client arrives at Baker Street seeking Sherlock Holmes’s help: Dr Jekyll claims his friend has been wrongfully accused of the hideous crimes, a friend called Mr Edward Hyde, whose very existence relies on a potion administered by the doctor himself.
But the case becomes more complicated, more unsettling than simply proving Mr Hyde’s innocence – for Holmes and Watson unearth beastly transformations, a killer who moves unseen, a secret organisation and then find a traitor in their midst…
Spoilers - This book is an sequel to Sherlock Holmes & Count Dracula - The Classified Dossier Vol 1 by Christian Klaver – and I had a lot of fun but will make some spoilers. You can get away with reading it for this book but you know Vampires!
Sometimes you want a book to question humanity and ask the big questions and sometimes I want pure fun. The kind of book you read with a smile on your face but perhaps also know the author themselves is probably enjoying writing this as much as you’re having. I am sucker for takes on Sherlock Holmes stories and if you can throw in monsters then that is always drawing my attention. In Sherlock Holmes & Mr Hyde we get the next Classified Volume by Christian Klaver but this time even more monsters await as Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson and did I mention Dracula meet more of the genre’s finest or should that evilest?
A brief recap – Moriarty did not die and has become a powerful Vampire, and this led via a lot of scheming to Watson being captured and turned himself. Thanks to his good character and support of Holmes our Watson is still our Watson albeit with an aversion to daytime, a need to drink (animal) blood and strength and speed. Moriarty was foiled but Holmes is aware vampires are now real but is being aided when required by none other than Count and Countess (Mina) Dracula a happy couple annoyed with Bram Stoker for not telling the truth.
In 1899 London is shocked to see the apparent return of the Ripper. A case even the great Holmes never was able to solve. This time though the police have a suspect a notorious ruffian who frequents Whitechapel and always gets into trouble – Edward Hyde. While the police hunt him down Homes and Watson are disturbed by a client with an urgent need for help – Dr Henry Jekyll. Holmes and Watson are about to face a surprising mystery; decide who they can trust and may find a far bigger game is afoot in London that could endanger the world.
Yes, gentle reader I had a lot of fun reading this. Holmes and the Ripper is not new but this time the focus is far more on adding even more and then more supernatural causes into the story. Like last time Klaver is mixing our legendary sleuths with classics of the horror genre and Hyde is not the only ones. Our Dracula power couple return with all their sense of honour and powerful strength but this time we have more to discover. What I did enjoy is that again Klaver creates his own flavour of the myths. Hyde is …not what you are expecting…and becomes more an uneasy ally we watch carefully but actually may enjoy as bringing a bit of swagger and recklessness to the myth. Just like how Dracula yes is superhuman but also you have to admire – just won’t stop for anything bar Mina Dracula. There is more to discover and yes more myths played with - you can enjoy putting the pieces together.
Holmes has a lot to do here too. The mystery of the Ripper is a tricky one; full of strange and Holmes is still working on all the things in a world he now knows he is unaware of. Magic really doesn’t help eliminating the impossible and causes instead a rare glimpse at Holmes being defeated. Watching him rise to the challenge though is impressive. We also get a villain that likes to strike closer to home than anyone we have previously seen in this story and it gives a uniquely personal touch to the story I was not expecting while also I see setting up future adventures. The one issue is this story works slightly differently. Last tie we got a series of interlinked mini adventures revealing the wider story. This time Klaver aims for one complete novel; but this feels just a little too stretched for the number of pages it is. There is a little saggy middle section where the characters all seem stuck in one place waiting around and not sure it really kept the story going. Klavner excels though when the story is moving and both the start and the final are rattling along and full of daring-do, danger and detection.
Sherlock Holmes & Mr Hyde is indeed fun. A snuggle up in the comfy chair style read to smile and sip from your drink with. Fast, full of some nice surprises, reveals and to horror fans some old friends and not quite the way you remember them. Sometimes fun is important, and this steps up to the need.
