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The Foundling House
A missing child. A deadly trade. A love caught between redemption and ruin.
London, 1889. After surviving Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror, Doctor Henry Jekyll and Francine Murphy dream of a peaceful future together. But their fragile hopes are shattered when Francine’s estranged husband, Seamus, reappears—begging her to help find his sister’s missing baby, stolen from a long-term foster home.
Reluctantly, Jekyll joins Francine in the search, only to discover the dark world of baby farming—where infants are bought, sold, and discarded for profit. As they dig deeper, every clue draws them closer to danger and to each other.
Haunted by guilt and longing, Jekyll must confront the monster within while Francine faces the past she tried to escape. Together, they risk everything to uncover a truth more horrifying than they imagined—and to save a life that could cost them both their hearts.
Blending historical realism with emotional depth, The Foundling House explores love, guilt, and redemption against a backdrop of social injustice and human frailty. Perfect for readers who crave atmospheric storytelling and the haunting pull of characters who wrestle with both darkness and devotion.
London, 1889. After surviving Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror, Doctor Henry Jekyll and Francine Murphy dream of a peaceful future together. But their fragile hopes are shattered when Francine’s estranged husband, Seamus, reappears—begging her to help find his sister’s missing baby, stolen from a long-term foster home.
Reluctantly, Jekyll joins Francine in the search, only to discover the dark world of baby farming—where infants are bought, sold, and discarded for profit. As they dig deeper, every clue draws them closer to danger and to each other.
Haunted by guilt and longing, Jekyll must confront the monster within while Francine faces the past she tried to escape. Together, they risk everything to uncover a truth more horrifying than they imagined—and to save a life that could cost them both their hearts.
Blending historical realism with emotional depth, The Foundling House explores love, guilt, and redemption against a backdrop of social injustice and human frailty. Perfect for readers who crave atmospheric storytelling and the haunting pull of characters who wrestle with both darkness and devotion.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
John A. Hoda
23 books38 followersJohn A. Hoda (1954-) has good stories and tells them well. He is a former police officer and insurance fraud investigator. He is a licensed private investigator. He blogs, YouTubes and podcasts at All things investigative.
My Favorite Detective Stories is podcast every Tuesday.
He is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. A lifetime athlete, he has run marathons, played semi-pro football and adult softball. He has produced, directed, written and acted in amateur theater in New Haven, Ct where he resides. John has written articles in PI Magazine and is the creator of the DVD: The Ultimate Guide to Taking Statements. His cases have headlined in The Philadelphia Inquirer and New Haven Register.
View the Book Trailer on YouTube: Phantasy Baseball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqnmR9...
Visit his website at www.phantasybaseballnovel.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.
So I messed up and requested an ARC for this one without realizing it was a sequel. It only took me two days to read book one and it was an easy 4 stars.
He's such a great storyteller I read half the book in one sitting I couldn't put my Kindle down.
I really enjoyed the second book too and the vibes were even creepier than the first book especially at the foundling house. I was totally waiting for a jump scare!
Her husband and his sister are the worst and how his sister treated Francine and he didn’t do anything to stop her. I can't stand either of them.
I felt bad for Francine when she held Lucy for the first time. Dr. Jekyll is my favorite. I was so annoyed when Newcomen kept showing up and trying to question him like leave him alone. And I kinda miss hyde.
The only thing I didn't like about this book that she slept with Dr.jekyll before divorcing her stupid husband.
I can't wait for book 3 !!!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in
exchange for an honest opinion.
So I messed up and requested an ARC for this one without realizing it was a sequel. It only took me two days to read book one and it was an easy 4 stars.
He's such a great storyteller I read half the book in one sitting I couldn't put my Kindle down.
I really enjoyed the second book too and the vibes were even creepier than the first book especially at the foundling house. I was totally waiting for a jump scare!
Her husband and his sister are the worst and how his sister treated Francine and he didn’t do anything to stop her. I can't stand either of them.
I felt bad for Francine when she held Lucy for the first time. Dr. Jekyll is my favorite. I was so annoyed when Newcomen kept showing up and trying to question him like leave him alone. And I kinda miss hyde.
The only thing I didn't like about this book that she slept with Dr.jekyll before divorcing her stupid husband.
I can't wait for book 3 !!!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in
exchange for an honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2026
The Foundling House is the second installment in the Jekyll & Murphy Mystery series by John A. Hoda, and although I haven’t read the first book, I was able to follow this gripping story with ease. This was my first experience with Hoda’s writing, and I found his style engaging, though at times the plot felt a bit crowded with events, which occasionally made it a little confusing.
Set in London, 1889, the story follows Doctor Henry Jekyll and Francine Murphy, two kindred spirits who have endured dark pasts and now dream of a brighter future. Together, they plan to open a home for women struggling with alcohol dependency, offering them not only shelter but also the skills to rebuild their lives.
Their plans are disrupted when Francine’s estranged husband seeks her help to find his sister’s missing baby, stolen from a foster home. Jekyll reluctantly joins the search, leading them into the grim world of baby farming—a dark trade where infants are bought, sold, and discarded for profit. As they uncover harrowing truths, the investigation becomes more perilous, testing their courage and deepening their bond.
Hoda skillfully weaves themes of social injustice, moral struggle, and redemption into a narrative that pits light against darkness, both in society and within the characters themselves. The pairing of Jekyll and Murphy, combined with echoes of Jack the Ripper’s London, creates a tense and atmospheric mystery.
In The Foundling House, Henry and Francine embark on a suspenseful journey through despicable events, buried secrets, guilt, redemption, and broken promises, all while their true affection for each other quietly grows. This dark historical mystery masterfully intertwines human emotion with gripping intrigue, it delivers a satisfying and suspenseful journey for fans of dark historical mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Set in London, 1889, the story follows Doctor Henry Jekyll and Francine Murphy, two kindred spirits who have endured dark pasts and now dream of a brighter future. Together, they plan to open a home for women struggling with alcohol dependency, offering them not only shelter but also the skills to rebuild their lives.
Their plans are disrupted when Francine’s estranged husband seeks her help to find his sister’s missing baby, stolen from a foster home. Jekyll reluctantly joins the search, leading them into the grim world of baby farming—a dark trade where infants are bought, sold, and discarded for profit. As they uncover harrowing truths, the investigation becomes more perilous, testing their courage and deepening their bond.
Hoda skillfully weaves themes of social injustice, moral struggle, and redemption into a narrative that pits light against darkness, both in society and within the characters themselves. The pairing of Jekyll and Murphy, combined with echoes of Jack the Ripper’s London, creates a tense and atmospheric mystery.
In The Foundling House, Henry and Francine embark on a suspenseful journey through despicable events, buried secrets, guilt, redemption, and broken promises, all while their true affection for each other quietly grows. This dark historical mystery masterfully intertwines human emotion with gripping intrigue, it delivers a satisfying and suspenseful journey for fans of dark historical mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 3, 2026
The Foundling House (A Jekyll & Murphy Mystery Book 2) by John A. Hoda has such likable characters which may be hard for one to believe. However, Doctor Henry Jekyll is a wonderful humble man who is totally devoted to Francine Murphy. She is an inspiring woman who helps women in need. The fact that I have grown so fond of these characters is the result of wonderful storytelling.
Their story continues as they search for a stolen baby, what they find is parallel to today’s wickedness of child trafficking. Henry is still coming to terms with Hyde and Francine’s past with her estranged husband, Seamus is in the limelight too. Social injustice of the time along with personal demons to be conquered showcasing the battle between the light and darkness of this world.
Their story continues as they search for a stolen baby, what they find is parallel to today’s wickedness of child trafficking. Henry is still coming to terms with Hyde and Francine’s past with her estranged husband, Seamus is in the limelight too. Social injustice of the time along with personal demons to be conquered showcasing the battle between the light and darkness of this world.
February 4, 2026
Henry and Francine are working towards their goal of opening up New Hope, a home for women who are trying to give up alcohol as well as to teach them a skill. Francine's estranged husband reaches out for help in finding his nephew who has disappeared from a foundling home. She reluctantly agrees to investigate and quickly they figure out something is very wrong. It will take the combined effort of their friends, the police and some luck to find the boy. Along the way some horrible secrets are found out and it changes everyone. Some changes are for the better and hope for a future is beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews