I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone knows Robert Louis Stevenson – his novels and stories are famous all over the world. I love The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So when I got the chance to read a novel about this topic, how could I ever refuse? So, here is my review:
While on a routine patrol in Topanga Canyon, environmental scientist Rafael Salazar finds a dilapidated steamer trunk. Inside, he discovers a journal written by the renowned Robert Louis Stevenson that describes the ominous accounts that led to the creation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It also promises to shed light on the identity of Jack the Ripper. However, this isn’t the only relic in the trunk and Rafe isn’t the only person to have examined its contents. Something has gotten into wrong hands. And it threatens to unleash a long-dormant fiend in present-day California.
I quite enjoyed this novel. I loved that the story had dual perspectives and shifted back and forth in time. I was engrossed in the details and the insane (yet weirdly plausible) story plot and could feel my heart racing as it became more and more shocking. While I loved the way the author wrote this story, I will admit that I preferred the past to the present. It was just so much more thrilling and intriguing to the point where the present seemed a little lackluster in comparison. I wish there had been a bit more to the events taking place in modern day as it was all a bit anticlimactic. However, it was in general a very good novel and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a horror story with a historical background.
Happy reading ~
