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Memento Mori
Whitechapel, London 1877
Sibelius Darke is a man rising to the top of his profession. He is a photographer by trade, but the subjects of his pictures are quite unusual, for they are dead. Darke offers a unique service; family portraits taken with the recently deceased.
The rich and the powerful wish to acquire his services and he is only too willing to do what he must to attain his dreams.
However after hearing a warning from the mouth of a dead child, a monster begins to stalk the streets, killing children. A beast from Darke's own childhood nightmares.
Seen as a suspect in the eyes of the police, can he stop the killer himself? Or will it take and destroy everything that he holds dear?
Memento Mori is a Supernatural Murder Mystery Novel set in Late Victorian London. Mixing Finnish mythology with 19th century degradation and depravity, Memento Mori tells a story of murder, madness and corruption at the heart of Victorian high society.
Sibelius Darke is a man rising to the top of his profession. He is a photographer by trade, but the subjects of his pictures are quite unusual, for they are dead. Darke offers a unique service; family portraits taken with the recently deceased.
The rich and the powerful wish to acquire his services and he is only too willing to do what he must to attain his dreams.
However after hearing a warning from the mouth of a dead child, a monster begins to stalk the streets, killing children. A beast from Darke's own childhood nightmares.
Seen as a suspect in the eyes of the police, can he stop the killer himself? Or will it take and destroy everything that he holds dear?
Memento Mori is a Supernatural Murder Mystery Novel set in Late Victorian London. Mixing Finnish mythology with 19th century degradation and depravity, Memento Mori tells a story of murder, madness and corruption at the heart of Victorian high society.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2016
3 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Paul Holbrook
15 books29 followersPaul Holbrook is a writer from North Yorkshire.
Although rushing headlong towards middle age at a nauseating speed, Paul only started writing with any serious intent a couple of years ago after finding that his subconscious had been unnaturally busy, trapping an ever growing and dangerous gang of ideas deep within his brain.
This fragile cage, in which they had been sat drumming their fingers and dreaming of freedom for so long, had reached bursting point and so he decided that the only safe thing to do for all concerned was to release some of them into the community.
It started, as all terrible addictions do, small and seemingly harmless.
First a couple of poems, then the odd short story, until finally, one morning, he awoke with a fully formed 112,000 word novel in his head waiting to be written. Before stopping to think of the consequences he scribbled it down in a little over 8 months and promptly started another straight afterwards… the fool.
He currently spends his days working at a secondary school, supporting the development of the next Great British generation and his nights plotting and planning the next Great British novel.
Although rushing headlong towards middle age at a nauseating speed, Paul only started writing with any serious intent a couple of years ago after finding that his subconscious had been unnaturally busy, trapping an ever growing and dangerous gang of ideas deep within his brain.
This fragile cage, in which they had been sat drumming their fingers and dreaming of freedom for so long, had reached bursting point and so he decided that the only safe thing to do for all concerned was to release some of them into the community.
It started, as all terrible addictions do, small and seemingly harmless.
First a couple of poems, then the odd short story, until finally, one morning, he awoke with a fully formed 112,000 word novel in his head waiting to be written. Before stopping to think of the consequences he scribbled it down in a little over 8 months and promptly started another straight afterwards… the fool.
He currently spends his days working at a secondary school, supporting the development of the next Great British generation and his nights plotting and planning the next Great British novel.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 16, 2016
An excellent book which conjured up Victorian London perfectly. The writing was extremely good and the pace was flawless. The action flitted seamlessly between the protagonist's past and present day. This author is one to watch.
September 19, 2025
Memento Mori by Paul Holbrook is a chilling and atmospheric supernatural tale set in the fog-shrouded streets of Whitechapel in 1877. At its heart is Sibelius Darke, a post-mortem portrait photographer whose profession already blurs the boundary between life and death - and who finds himself drawn even deeper into the shadows when whispers of folklore and something monstrous begin to stir.
What struck me most was the authenticity and detail. The novel makes fascinating use of Finnish folklore, which feels well researched and adds a layer of depth beyond the usual Victorian gothic. The story is told in the first person with a style that captures the cadence of the era, immersing you in the atmosphere without ever feeling artificial.
The concept itself feels fresh and unique, blending history, folklore, and horror into a narrative that pulled me steadily onward. Yes, it is gory and horrific in places, but never in a way that feels gratuitous - the darker moments serve the story rather than overwhelm it. I found myself genuinely moved by the characters; Sibelius Darke in particular is a complex, sympathetic protagonist, flawed yet compelling enough to carry the weight of the tale.
If you enjoy Victorian gothic settings, folklore-infused horror, or simply want a story that lingers in your mind after the final page, Memento Mori is well worth your time.
What struck me most was the authenticity and detail. The novel makes fascinating use of Finnish folklore, which feels well researched and adds a layer of depth beyond the usual Victorian gothic. The story is told in the first person with a style that captures the cadence of the era, immersing you in the atmosphere without ever feeling artificial.
The concept itself feels fresh and unique, blending history, folklore, and horror into a narrative that pulled me steadily onward. Yes, it is gory and horrific in places, but never in a way that feels gratuitous - the darker moments serve the story rather than overwhelm it. I found myself genuinely moved by the characters; Sibelius Darke in particular is a complex, sympathetic protagonist, flawed yet compelling enough to carry the weight of the tale.
If you enjoy Victorian gothic settings, folklore-infused horror, or simply want a story that lingers in your mind after the final page, Memento Mori is well worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews