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Destroying Angels
London, 1928: To the outside world, the Norwood Widows Society is a benevolent self-help group giving aid to the needy. Its secrecy and whispers of occult leanings hint at something darker. Harry Stubbs, heavyweight boxer turned paranormal investigator, is on the case.
There is an unexplained death to examine, a German doctor carrying out very unorthodox procedures, mysterious radio messages, and a puzzling story left by a sixteenth-century alchemist. The members of the Society’s Committee hold the answers, if Harry can get them to talk—but can he unravel their secrets before powerful forces now stirring tear the world apart?
There is an unexplained death to examine, a German doctor carrying out very unorthodox procedures, mysterious radio messages, and a puzzling story left by a sixteenth-century alchemist. The members of the Society’s Committee hold the answers, if Harry can get them to talk—but can he unravel their secrets before powerful forces now stirring tear the world apart?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 19, 2025
DESTROYING ANGELS is the latest of the Harry Stubbs novels that I've enjoyed as one of the best occult adventure series I've ever read. In this volume, Harry is engaged to be married to his girl Sally and has been asked to investigate a Widows society that exists to get around all the various restrictions women have with their finances in the 1920s. Obviously, there's occult shenanigans afoot. If you enjoyed the previous ones then you'll certainly love this one.
June 21, 2026
This was a nice book. It was nice for several reasons. The first would be a very long passage as Harry goes against a boxer. Since Harry was a boxer, there is a whole long list of ways that a boxer can win. What happens when the other boxer knows the same game? Well- that is covered as well. Harry is currently peering into something and he's a leg up on the average boxer. I would say this whole narrative of how Harry solves the crime is more of one step up from middling but humble in how he solves the crime. Really it becomes more of Harry's process of reasoning it out as a former boxer and "seeing some alien things". In this book he is a lot more active given what mission he got sent and how he is going to solve the heck out of what is going on with the Widow's Society. I especially like the mundane side missions, as how Harry is trying to get hitched while solving the crime at the same time. Harry has not given up on life but rather knows what he is getting into. Then he tries to ward off others to not go down a path that might eat up people - as he is a former boxer. I liked that most about this book, always middle of the road, even though the things he is going against are Lovecraftian things done in the 1920's aspect, set in England, of some industrial place not named London, but rife with the burdens of an ordinary life far removed from other things.
December 13, 2025
Harry Stubbs rides again!
This time, he is confronted by a conspiracy of sinister widows, a mad scientist, and -- happily -- a troupe of augmented boxers. More importantly, preparations are also under way for his upcoming wedding to Sally. Oh, and he has also had to take a young apprentice under his wing for the summer, and is tutoring him in the ways of the London underworld.
I don't want to spoil too much, but suffice to say there are fisticuffs aplenty, dangerous magics, supernatural murders, and glimpses of the wider conflict between Harry's dubious allies and forces from beyond. As always, the story is leavened with interesting tidbits of real history, and wallows in the pomp and grime of 1920s London town. Early radio broadcasts and technology, underground boxing bouts, the (fascinating!) Hound of Mons, and colonial mining concerns are all to the fore at various points, and add interest and verisimilitude to the tale.
It's another fun outing for everyone's favourite South London occult investigator and I had a great time with it. I'm sure you will too.
This time, he is confronted by a conspiracy of sinister widows, a mad scientist, and -- happily -- a troupe of augmented boxers. More importantly, preparations are also under way for his upcoming wedding to Sally. Oh, and he has also had to take a young apprentice under his wing for the summer, and is tutoring him in the ways of the London underworld.
I don't want to spoil too much, but suffice to say there are fisticuffs aplenty, dangerous magics, supernatural murders, and glimpses of the wider conflict between Harry's dubious allies and forces from beyond. As always, the story is leavened with interesting tidbits of real history, and wallows in the pomp and grime of 1920s London town. Early radio broadcasts and technology, underground boxing bouts, the (fascinating!) Hound of Mons, and colonial mining concerns are all to the fore at various points, and add interest and verisimilitude to the tale.
It's another fun outing for everyone's favourite South London occult investigator and I had a great time with it. I'm sure you will too.
June 16, 2026
Another Great Harry Stubbs tale!
I so look forward to these stories by David Hambling. They are always very well written, and his perspective on the Cthulhu Mythos is unique and different from the usual fare.
In this story, Stubbs is up against an adversary that I didn't recognize at first, due to the aforementioned unique take on the Mythos. When it was revealed, it made perfect sense, and I appreciated not being able to rattle off, "Oh, it's an XX."
Hambling weaves a tale involving a Widow's Society, an ancient and much talked about, at least in certain "historical texts," ancient artifact, and a bizarre WWI legend.
No spoilers, so I'll finish by saying that if you like well-told Mythos tales, then this is a book you'll greatly enjoy!
I so look forward to these stories by David Hambling. They are always very well written, and his perspective on the Cthulhu Mythos is unique and different from the usual fare.
In this story, Stubbs is up against an adversary that I didn't recognize at first, due to the aforementioned unique take on the Mythos. When it was revealed, it made perfect sense, and I appreciated not being able to rattle off, "Oh, it's an XX."
Hambling weaves a tale involving a Widow's Society, an ancient and much talked about, at least in certain "historical texts," ancient artifact, and a bizarre WWI legend.
No spoilers, so I'll finish by saying that if you like well-told Mythos tales, then this is a book you'll greatly enjoy!
January 10, 2026
Solid
If you are a Mythos fan, you have to check out Harry Stubbs. Hambling's first four stories are short, but this is, thankfully, a full length, action and intrigue packed novel. Harry narrates his tales, a WWI veteran PI who is tasked by a secret society to ferret out Lovecraftian horrors and cults in 1920s England. Good stuff, I look forward to more, check it out.
If you are a Mythos fan, you have to check out Harry Stubbs. Hambling's first four stories are short, but this is, thankfully, a full length, action and intrigue packed novel. Harry narrates his tales, a WWI veteran PI who is tasked by a secret society to ferret out Lovecraftian horrors and cults in 1920s England. Good stuff, I look forward to more, check it out.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews