Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Daemoniac (A Dominion Mystery, #1) by Kat Ross

The Daemoniac
Kat Ross
(A Dominion Mystery, #1)
Publication date: October 12th 2016
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Young Adult

It’s August of 1888, just three weeks before Jackthe Ripper will begin his grisly spree in the London slum of Whitechapel, and another serial murderer is stalking the gas-lit streets of New York. With taunting messages in backwards Latin left at the crime scenes and even more inexplicable clues like the fingerprints that appear to have been burned into one victim’s throat, his handiwork bears all the hallmarks of a demonic possession.

But consulting detective Harrison Fearing Pell is convinced her quarry is a man of flesh and blood. Encouraged by her uncle, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry hopes to make her reputation by solving the bizarre case before the man the press has dubbed Mr. Hyde strikes again.

From the squalor of the Five Points to the high-class gambling dens of the Tenderloin and the glittering mansions of Fifth Avenue, Harry and her best friend, John Weston, follow the trail of a remorseless killer, uncovering a few embarrassing secrets of New York’s richest High Society families along the way. Are the murders a case of black magic—or simple blackmail? And will the trail lead them closer to home than they ever imagined?

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My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Mystery, Supernatural--

Harry is tired of living in her famous older sister Myrtle’s shadow, so when a potential client knocks on the door, Harry can’t resist pretending to be Myrtle. Harry is hired to look into a missing person, her first case ever and she attacks it full force. But when bodies start accruing and paranormal elements arise, the very fact-based/ scientific-minded Harry is not sure what to believe. Can she solve her first case before Myrtle comes home and before more bodies are found?

This was a really fun read, which I know is a strange thing to say about a murder mystery with potential demonic activity and harsh real life issues. But still, it was (for me at least). The story was a nice mix of quirky well developed characters, be it Harry or her hodge podge cast of sidekicks, as well as a good mystery that I was not fully sure who the villain was, some perhaps paranormal surprises and a ton of action/suspense. All the elements are good on their own, but together they created a very engaging fun story.

The one negative I had about the book was the overload of history of early New York at times. I am sure that some people won’t mind it a bit, but I felt that it was too much (for me). The book would be in the middle of some action or a trip Harry was taking and the story would give a history of the place and what it could potentially be, which made me disengage a little bit from the story. At times the story would talk about what would happen to a location or an idea in the future instead of staying in the here and now moment, which did not really fit with the investigation (it was as if Harry could see into the future, or if this was a memoir of her case files). I am sorry if I sound nitpicky, but this was honestly the only complaint I have with the book at all.

I loved that the author had famous fictitious as well as historical elements woven into the plot. There was reference to Jekyll and Hyde, Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes with his Doctor companion, as well as Jack the Ripper throughout the book. The way the ideas were used was so very new and unique I was excited to see how the author would bring everything together for such a cohesive story.

I thought Harry was a lot of fun with her spunk, big attitude and fearlessness, and her companions (especially John…but Connor and the Housekeeper as well). The way the story ended wrapped this mystery up (as well as could be with such a mystery as Jack the Ripper) but gave a great segue to more mysterious adventures to come. I do have to say that Harry’s detective skills may need a little help if she can’t see John’s feelings, which were ever so apparent to me. I am very interested to see how (if at all) that will play out in the next book, and I am completely rooting for John.

I received this title in return for my honest review.

Author Bio:

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.

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