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Hyde
Edward Hyde has a strange gift-or a curse-he keeps secret from all but his physician. He experiences two realities, one real, the other a dreamworld state brought on by a neurological condition.
When murders in Victorian Edinburgh echo the ancient Celtic threefold death ritual, Captain Edward Hyde hunts for those responsible. In the process he becomes entangled in a web of Celticist occultism and dark scheming by powerful figures. The answers are there to be found, not just in the real world but in the sinister symbolism of Edward Hyde’s otherworld.
He must find the killer, or lose his mind.
A dark tale. One that inspires Hyde’s friend . . . Robert Louis Stevenson.
When murders in Victorian Edinburgh echo the ancient Celtic threefold death ritual, Captain Edward Hyde hunts for those responsible. In the process he becomes entangled in a web of Celticist occultism and dark scheming by powerful figures. The answers are there to be found, not just in the real world but in the sinister symbolism of Edward Hyde’s otherworld.
He must find the killer, or lose his mind.
A dark tale. One that inspires Hyde’s friend . . . Robert Louis Stevenson.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2021
205 people are currently reading
2660 people want to read
About the author
Craig Russell
71 books689 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Award-winning, best-selling and critically-acclaimed author. His novels have been published in twenty-five languages around the world. The movie rights to the Devil Aspect have been bought by Columbia Pictures. Biblical, his science-fiction novel, has been acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment, four Jan Fabel novels have been made into movies (in one of which Craig Russell makes a cameo appearance as a detective) for ARD, the German national broadcaster, and the Lennox series has been optioned for TV development.
Craig Russell:
• won the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series;
• was a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize);
• won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series;
• was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France;
• is the only non-German to be awarded the highly prestigious Polizeistern by the Polizei
Hamburg.
Official website: http://www.craigrussell.com
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/craigrussell...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecraigrussell
Also writes under the pseudonym Christopher Galt
Award-winning, best-selling and critically-acclaimed author. His novels have been published in twenty-five languages around the world. The movie rights to the Devil Aspect have been bought by Columbia Pictures. Biblical, his science-fiction novel, has been acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment, four Jan Fabel novels have been made into movies (in one of which Craig Russell makes a cameo appearance as a detective) for ARD, the German national broadcaster, and the Lennox series has been optioned for TV development.
Craig Russell:
• won the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series;
• was a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize);
• won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series;
• was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France;
• is the only non-German to be awarded the highly prestigious Polizeistern by the Polizei
Hamburg.
Official website: http://www.craigrussell.com
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/craigrussell...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecraigrussell
Also writes under the pseudonym Christopher Galt
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
January 22, 2022
Duality
Trembling nerves and thoughts filled with suspicion and unease are normal reactions when reading a Craig Russell novel. Hyde unfolds as a uniquely dark supernatural thriller with a recurring theme of duality that permeates many aspects of this story. The notion of the duality of nature is compelling and chilling in this outstanding book. With the title Hyde, the implication is that a polarity of character is evident, but this is not a retelling of the famous Robert Louis Stevenson book, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but there must be some similarities – right? Temptingly, the novel’s prologue has Captain Edward Henry Hyde, superintendent of detective officers in Edinburgh’s City Police, preparing to tell his good friend Robert Louis Stevenson a story.
Edward Hyde attends the scene of a brutal murder, where the victim is hanged upside down from an elm tree, his head submerged in the river Leith and his heart cut from his chest. High pitched cries are eerily heard close at hand, and it all resonates with Celtic and Highland legends. The cry of a banshee and the three times murder – hanged, ripped and drowned, are rituals from an ancient past. What is profoundly troubling Hyde, as he explains his fears to his friend and psychiatrist, Dr Samuel Porteous, is that he can’t remember any of the events that evening until he was at the scene of the crime. Porteous diagnoses the condition as epileptic seizures, compounded with nocturnal hallucinations, and treats him with a medicinal compound that he is reluctant to reveal. Porteous treats Hyde at his private residence to keep the diagnosis and possible repercussions from the police department to benefit Hyde. Porteous only treats Hyde and one other patient privately with ambitions of glory and reputation of discovering a medical breakthrough but concern as he realises the Beast within.
After a second, threefold murder and the disappearance of the heiress to the Lockwood fortune, Elspeth Lockwood, the threat deepens, and the race to solve the mystery intensifies. Hyde is constantly battling his nightmares and the investigation. He confides his secrets in Dr Cally Burr, one of the first female doctors in the country, which unwittingly draws her into the dangerous plot.
As evident from this book and Craig Russell’s previous book, The Devil Aspect, he has a fantastic ability to diffuse a pure cold evil in the psyche of a mastermind killer. A killer that walks in daylight unsuspected by those around him creates a chilling and foreboding atmosphere that pervades all the scenes in the book. The mystery is baffling, engaging, and scary right until the case is solved and the madness and intentions of evil doings are uncovered.
Craig Russell uses story layers with such deft skill that his novel can only be described as an outstanding and fulfilling experience. I would highly recommend this book, and I would like to thank Craig Russell, Little Brown Book Groups, Constable and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
Trembling nerves and thoughts filled with suspicion and unease are normal reactions when reading a Craig Russell novel. Hyde unfolds as a uniquely dark supernatural thriller with a recurring theme of duality that permeates many aspects of this story. The notion of the duality of nature is compelling and chilling in this outstanding book. With the title Hyde, the implication is that a polarity of character is evident, but this is not a retelling of the famous Robert Louis Stevenson book, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but there must be some similarities – right? Temptingly, the novel’s prologue has Captain Edward Henry Hyde, superintendent of detective officers in Edinburgh’s City Police, preparing to tell his good friend Robert Louis Stevenson a story.
Edward Hyde attends the scene of a brutal murder, where the victim is hanged upside down from an elm tree, his head submerged in the river Leith and his heart cut from his chest. High pitched cries are eerily heard close at hand, and it all resonates with Celtic and Highland legends. The cry of a banshee and the three times murder – hanged, ripped and drowned, are rituals from an ancient past. What is profoundly troubling Hyde, as he explains his fears to his friend and psychiatrist, Dr Samuel Porteous, is that he can’t remember any of the events that evening until he was at the scene of the crime. Porteous diagnoses the condition as epileptic seizures, compounded with nocturnal hallucinations, and treats him with a medicinal compound that he is reluctant to reveal. Porteous treats Hyde at his private residence to keep the diagnosis and possible repercussions from the police department to benefit Hyde. Porteous only treats Hyde and one other patient privately with ambitions of glory and reputation of discovering a medical breakthrough but concern as he realises the Beast within.
“Porteous, the physician also knew that there was another reckoning that must come with time. Another secret that slept, locked in his cells, in his blood, whose dark awakening was inevitable and spurred him to achieve his aims, establish his reputation, before it was too late.”The significance of the hanging from the elm tree in the ancient threefold murder illustrates the link between this world and the otherworld, this world and hell. The final meal of grains and mushrooms, the cry of the banshee, and the apparent resurrection of the satanic Dark Guild are all parts of the Celtic myths that come from ancient Scottish folklore. A Scotland struggling with the duality of identity as part of Great Britain but the dream of being an independent nation.
After a second, threefold murder and the disappearance of the heiress to the Lockwood fortune, Elspeth Lockwood, the threat deepens, and the race to solve the mystery intensifies. Hyde is constantly battling his nightmares and the investigation. He confides his secrets in Dr Cally Burr, one of the first female doctors in the country, which unwittingly draws her into the dangerous plot.
As evident from this book and Craig Russell’s previous book, The Devil Aspect, he has a fantastic ability to diffuse a pure cold evil in the psyche of a mastermind killer. A killer that walks in daylight unsuspected by those around him creates a chilling and foreboding atmosphere that pervades all the scenes in the book. The mystery is baffling, engaging, and scary right until the case is solved and the madness and intentions of evil doings are uncovered.
Craig Russell uses story layers with such deft skill that his novel can only be described as an outstanding and fulfilling experience. I would highly recommend this book, and I would like to thank Craig Russell, Little Brown Book Groups, Constable and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
November 1, 2020
After The Devil Aspect, Craig Russell returns with an equally haunting gothic horror, set in Edinburgh, of a certain Edward Hyde, returned from the terrors inflicted by the British in India, now serving as a Superintendent of Detective Officers at New Town Station for City of Edinburgh Police. This is tale that draws on Scottish folklore and legends, of the notorious Deacon Brodie, and the resurrection of a secret Dark Guild, of the devil, a monster, a black hellhound, intent on setting fire to the present Scotland and return it to its more worthy past. Hyde is a troubled man, seeing his psychiatric friend and physician, Dr Samuel Porteus, for he loses time and cannot remember what happened or what acts he might have been responsible for, plagued by nightmares, seeing the dead and glimpsing in his dreams the ancient Celtic Otherworld. Porteus has diagnosed him as epileptic, certain he is a good man, with nothing to worry about, dispensing medication that is continuously altered when it appears to have little effect.
Hyde, however, is a deeply worried and disturbed man, and for good reason when he finds himself following a banshee cry and at the scene of a gruesome 3 fold death at the Waters of Leith, a man hanged upside down, drowned and with his heart removed. He has no idea why or how he came to be there, and deep inside is the fear that perhaps he is the killer, a predicament that leads him to confess all to a exceptional and strong Dr Cally Burr, one of the first female trained doctors in a city that is still resistant to them. Matters are exacerbated with the suspicious disappearance of Elspeth Lockwood, from a wealthy and privileged family. There are agitators, occultists, hanging trees, an execution believed by Hyde to be of an innocent man, more murders, including another 3 fold death, the victim strangled, stabbed and with their eyes removed, the presence of pure evil, and a Hyde facing grave and deadly dangers as connections begin to emerge, but can he trust himself?
Russell has a real talent for writing multilayered atmospheric gothic stories with elements of the supernatural, and plotlines that had me terrified and biting my nails as I tried to work out where all the threats and dangers were coming from. The creation of his Hyde is perfect for a unsettling and disturbing narrative with oodles of dark suspense and tension, ideal for Autumn and Winter reading, and I loved how it all begins and finishes, Hyde with his friend, a Robert Louis Stevenson who finds himself inspired to write his own tale featuring Hyde! A fabulously entertaining read from an author who knows how to spin the darkest of yarns. If you are a fan of Russell and or enjoyed The Devil Aspect, or just enjoy superior storytelling, then this is highly likely to appeal to you. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Hyde, however, is a deeply worried and disturbed man, and for good reason when he finds himself following a banshee cry and at the scene of a gruesome 3 fold death at the Waters of Leith, a man hanged upside down, drowned and with his heart removed. He has no idea why or how he came to be there, and deep inside is the fear that perhaps he is the killer, a predicament that leads him to confess all to a exceptional and strong Dr Cally Burr, one of the first female trained doctors in a city that is still resistant to them. Matters are exacerbated with the suspicious disappearance of Elspeth Lockwood, from a wealthy and privileged family. There are agitators, occultists, hanging trees, an execution believed by Hyde to be of an innocent man, more murders, including another 3 fold death, the victim strangled, stabbed and with their eyes removed, the presence of pure evil, and a Hyde facing grave and deadly dangers as connections begin to emerge, but can he trust himself?
Russell has a real talent for writing multilayered atmospheric gothic stories with elements of the supernatural, and plotlines that had me terrified and biting my nails as I tried to work out where all the threats and dangers were coming from. The creation of his Hyde is perfect for a unsettling and disturbing narrative with oodles of dark suspense and tension, ideal for Autumn and Winter reading, and I loved how it all begins and finishes, Hyde with his friend, a Robert Louis Stevenson who finds himself inspired to write his own tale featuring Hyde! A fabulously entertaining read from an author who knows how to spin the darkest of yarns. If you are a fan of Russell and or enjoyed The Devil Aspect, or just enjoy superior storytelling, then this is highly likely to appeal to you. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
October 9, 2021
Hyde is another atmospheric, dark, haunting and utterly captivating novel by the wonderful Craig Russell. The story focuses on the duality of human nature, creating the backdrop that there are bright angels and dark demons in each of us and that good and evil can coexist in the same personality with all the shades and contrasts between them.
" And under the bright but cheerless Bournemouth sun, Edward Hyde told his friend Robert Louis Stevenson his tale."
We have two murders that seem connected, one of which was posed as a ritual Celtic threefold death. Alongside that Scotland Yard are investigating links to Celtic nationalism in Scotland. We have a wealthy Edinburgh heiress missing, perhaps abducted, seemly unconnected to anything else until her relationship with photographer Dunlop is revealed and amongst many others, the Deacon of a dark and secret society, the Dark Guild. All murders are attributed to the "beast from the otherworld".
Hyde continues to question his involvement and if his lapses of memory are in fact times when he could be capable of these savage acts of violence, or some other neurological condition, until he receives a chilling letter “… you seek an audience with me, and I shall grant it. You know where to come and you know to come alone. I will give you until nightfall then I will send you the beautiful finger that bore this ring. .. If you do not do exactly as I ask, I equally promise you that I will reveal to Dr Burr all manner of dark and glorious entertainments before she welcomes the release of death.”
And when Edward Hyde finished telling his story to his friend Robert Louis Stevenson, Hyde says
“… I rather liked the idea that my name would become eternally synonymous with the duality of human nature. It appeals to my vanity. "
The one and only Robert Louis Stevenson responds with a promise that he may well achieve that, for he has an idea for an obscure and strange book title that will become the legend of - "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". This is not a spoiler but I can't say any more.
This book feels like multiple jigsaws jumbled together and you are frantically trying to unravel the pieces to create not just one but multiple pictures from it. From the start Craig Russell’s sensory perceptions brings the scenes to life, the plot is skillfully woven and vividly depicted, the characters are deliciously evil and the suspense is remarkable. Apart from a bit in the middle where the book seemed to lose its way a little bit, I was totally and utterly entranced until the last page.
Craig Russell is a stunning writer, and has become one of my favourites and this is a fantastic book.
" And under the bright but cheerless Bournemouth sun, Edward Hyde told his friend Robert Louis Stevenson his tale."
We have two murders that seem connected, one of which was posed as a ritual Celtic threefold death. Alongside that Scotland Yard are investigating links to Celtic nationalism in Scotland. We have a wealthy Edinburgh heiress missing, perhaps abducted, seemly unconnected to anything else until her relationship with photographer Dunlop is revealed and amongst many others, the Deacon of a dark and secret society, the Dark Guild. All murders are attributed to the "beast from the otherworld".
Hyde continues to question his involvement and if his lapses of memory are in fact times when he could be capable of these savage acts of violence, or some other neurological condition, until he receives a chilling letter “… you seek an audience with me, and I shall grant it. You know where to come and you know to come alone. I will give you until nightfall then I will send you the beautiful finger that bore this ring. .. If you do not do exactly as I ask, I equally promise you that I will reveal to Dr Burr all manner of dark and glorious entertainments before she welcomes the release of death.”
And when Edward Hyde finished telling his story to his friend Robert Louis Stevenson, Hyde says
“… I rather liked the idea that my name would become eternally synonymous with the duality of human nature. It appeals to my vanity. "
The one and only Robert Louis Stevenson responds with a promise that he may well achieve that, for he has an idea for an obscure and strange book title that will become the legend of - "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". This is not a spoiler but I can't say any more.
This book feels like multiple jigsaws jumbled together and you are frantically trying to unravel the pieces to create not just one but multiple pictures from it. From the start Craig Russell’s sensory perceptions brings the scenes to life, the plot is skillfully woven and vividly depicted, the characters are deliciously evil and the suspense is remarkable. Apart from a bit in the middle where the book seemed to lose its way a little bit, I was totally and utterly entranced until the last page.
Craig Russell is a stunning writer, and has become one of my favourites and this is a fantastic book.
April 6, 2021
The body of a man is discovered hanging from a tree, his head submerged in the flowing current of a river. The man who makes this discovery is Edward Hyde, Edinburgh’s Superintendent of Detectives. Is it just pure chance that’s he’s the one to find the body? Perhaps, but it soon becomes clear that Hyde suffers from a form of epilepsy that causes blackouts and creates periods of lost time, and so sometimes things happen that he simply can’t later recall.
The city is nicknamed Auld Reekie (Old Smokey) from the days that smoke from open fires hung over the city like a fog and this story, set in the 19th Century, certainly re-creates that atmosphere. As investigations get underway Hyde is consumed with doubt as to exactly how and why he happened to find himself in that spot on that very night. In addition to ‘lost time’ he is prone to disturbing dreams and visions. He is receiving bespoke treatment by way of a mysterious potion prepared by a doctor friend and is hiding the nature of his illness from the Chief of Police, afraid that this revelation might bring about a premature end to his career.
The set-up and underlying tale here is an interesting one: could it be that Hyde possesses a dual personality, one that can turn him from crime stopper to mayhem creator without his conscious knowledge? It’s obviously a play on the old Robert Louis Stevenson story and is honest enough to not hide the fact. But for me there is a little too much going on here aside from attempts to solve the murder case – clandestine meetings, toxic toadstools, mysticism and black magic, sex parties and the obligatory budding romance – and it’s all dressed up in rambling and somewhat overblown descriptive prose that I found distracting and which had the effect of slowing the whole thing down. Would I have felt felt a little differently had I been a lover of gothic horror stories? Maybe, but that’s not really my thing.
I’m a big fan of Craig Russell, he a fine storyteller and I’ve really enjoyed all of his books to date, but I struggled with this one. I’m tempted to call it a victory for style over substance, but it’s not quite that though it does edge that way.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The city is nicknamed Auld Reekie (Old Smokey) from the days that smoke from open fires hung over the city like a fog and this story, set in the 19th Century, certainly re-creates that atmosphere. As investigations get underway Hyde is consumed with doubt as to exactly how and why he happened to find himself in that spot on that very night. In addition to ‘lost time’ he is prone to disturbing dreams and visions. He is receiving bespoke treatment by way of a mysterious potion prepared by a doctor friend and is hiding the nature of his illness from the Chief of Police, afraid that this revelation might bring about a premature end to his career.
The set-up and underlying tale here is an interesting one: could it be that Hyde possesses a dual personality, one that can turn him from crime stopper to mayhem creator without his conscious knowledge? It’s obviously a play on the old Robert Louis Stevenson story and is honest enough to not hide the fact. But for me there is a little too much going on here aside from attempts to solve the murder case – clandestine meetings, toxic toadstools, mysticism and black magic, sex parties and the obligatory budding romance – and it’s all dressed up in rambling and somewhat overblown descriptive prose that I found distracting and which had the effect of slowing the whole thing down. Would I have felt felt a little differently had I been a lover of gothic horror stories? Maybe, but that’s not really my thing.
I’m a big fan of Craig Russell, he a fine storyteller and I’ve really enjoyed all of his books to date, but I struggled with this one. I’m tempted to call it a victory for style over substance, but it’s not quite that though it does edge that way.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2020
The Devil Aspect was terrifyingly addictive, offering the kind of ominous realism that sucked you in and made you so very glad you live in another time and place. In Hyde, Craig Russell tries hard to hit the same note, but that desperate striving made it feel contrived and flat. The detail is loaded way too high, each piece stacked upon itself so nothing made an impact. This is a book in which the means of telling overloads the atmosphere to such an extent that it wipes it all clean away.
All that extraneous info might well have been to cover a plot that was both severely lacking and absolutely batshit. The Devil Aspect crossed the most brutal of times with a supernatural threat, terror that could be human or Other. This is less a clever unfolding than a mess of possibility, like those paintings when everything is just chucked at the canvas and called art. Perhaps you can see something in it, but in reality it's disorganised and confused... or just rubbish.
ARC via Netgalley.
All that extraneous info might well have been to cover a plot that was both severely lacking and absolutely batshit. The Devil Aspect crossed the most brutal of times with a supernatural threat, terror that could be human or Other. This is less a clever unfolding than a mess of possibility, like those paintings when everything is just chucked at the canvas and called art. Perhaps you can see something in it, but in reality it's disorganised and confused... or just rubbish.
ARC via Netgalley.
March 30, 2021
This is the first book I have read of Craig Russell's, but I am hoping it won't be the last.
Hyde follows Captain Edward Hyde, as he tries to battle his own strange seizure states, where he cannot remember what has happened, and hunt down the person(s) that gruesomely killed a man. As the boundaries between reality and fantasy become more blurred, and a cult-like group start to emerge, Hyde must hunt them down quickly before more people are murdered.
I am a huge fan of classic novels and I loved the twist that this book added. The epilogue in particular gave me chills and brought a whole new perspective to such a famous tale. I really liked that I could not work out who was involved until it was revealed, it kept me on the edge of my seat. I also loved the paranormal and medical aspects that were brought into this. It is an area that particularly fascinates me and I loved seeing Russell's portrayal.
My only issue with the book was the way some of it was written. It reminded me very much of the classics that I love. However, because of this I found it required a lot of concentration and focus to read. I often found myself drifting off and having to re-read passages where I hadn't taken in what I was reading. That being said, this is an issue I have with classic literature too, so I suspect anyone who doesn't have this issue will love this book.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is interested in mysteries or who is interested in a new take on a classic novel. I want to thank Netgalley, Little Brown and the author for the chance to read this novel and give my personal opinion.
Hyde follows Captain Edward Hyde, as he tries to battle his own strange seizure states, where he cannot remember what has happened, and hunt down the person(s) that gruesomely killed a man. As the boundaries between reality and fantasy become more blurred, and a cult-like group start to emerge, Hyde must hunt them down quickly before more people are murdered.
I am a huge fan of classic novels and I loved the twist that this book added. The epilogue in particular gave me chills and brought a whole new perspective to such a famous tale. I really liked that I could not work out who was involved until it was revealed, it kept me on the edge of my seat. I also loved the paranormal and medical aspects that were brought into this. It is an area that particularly fascinates me and I loved seeing Russell's portrayal.
My only issue with the book was the way some of it was written. It reminded me very much of the classics that I love. However, because of this I found it required a lot of concentration and focus to read. I often found myself drifting off and having to re-read passages where I hadn't taken in what I was reading. That being said, this is an issue I have with classic literature too, so I suspect anyone who doesn't have this issue will love this book.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is interested in mysteries or who is interested in a new take on a classic novel. I want to thank Netgalley, Little Brown and the author for the chance to read this novel and give my personal opinion.
January 19, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
3,5 ⭐️
I've been a long time fan of Craig Russell. His Jan Fabel Series is one of my favorite police procedural series ever. A couple of years back I was nicely surprised by "The Devil's Aspect", a gothic horror tale set in 1935, during the rising of nazism in Czechoslovakia.
In "Hyde" Russell brings back some of the issues previously explored in his earlier novel, introducing a new twist to the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story and the duality of human nature and his capacity for evil.
The story is set in Victorian Edinburgh, which contributes to the deeply atmospheric feel of the novel. It's littered with Celtic folklore and Scottish myths that, although showed tremendous research, managed to pull me out of the story due to an overdescriptive prose and some heavy language, especially trying for non english readers like myself (I've never been more grateful of my Kindle's built in dictionary!).
Captain Hyde's character and his split personality condition were very well portrayed and added another layer to the unsettling atmosphere that permeates the novel. The prologue and epilogue featuring Robert Louis Stevenson were quite a nice touch.
The Scottish setting, its myths and legends, some ritualistic killings and a main character suffering from a terrifying condition manage to create a creepy gothic story with elements of the supernatural that will keep you on the edge of your seat and will delight fans of gothic horror stories.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing and eARC in exchange for an honest review.
3,5 ⭐️
I've been a long time fan of Craig Russell. His Jan Fabel Series is one of my favorite police procedural series ever. A couple of years back I was nicely surprised by "The Devil's Aspect", a gothic horror tale set in 1935, during the rising of nazism in Czechoslovakia.
In "Hyde" Russell brings back some of the issues previously explored in his earlier novel, introducing a new twist to the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story and the duality of human nature and his capacity for evil.
The story is set in Victorian Edinburgh, which contributes to the deeply atmospheric feel of the novel. It's littered with Celtic folklore and Scottish myths that, although showed tremendous research, managed to pull me out of the story due to an overdescriptive prose and some heavy language, especially trying for non english readers like myself (I've never been more grateful of my Kindle's built in dictionary!).
Captain Hyde's character and his split personality condition were very well portrayed and added another layer to the unsettling atmosphere that permeates the novel. The prologue and epilogue featuring Robert Louis Stevenson were quite a nice touch.
The Scottish setting, its myths and legends, some ritualistic killings and a main character suffering from a terrifying condition manage to create a creepy gothic story with elements of the supernatural that will keep you on the edge of your seat and will delight fans of gothic horror stories.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing and eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2021
A dark, atmospheric victorian gothic sort of mystery/thriller.
March 25, 2021
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for a review copy of this one.
This was an exciting, interesting, very dark and also slightly unsettling piece of historical fiction set in Edinburgh, and combines a mystery with psychological aspects and elements of Celtic folklore and the occult. The Hyde of the title is Captain Edward Hyde, who has returned from service in India and is now Superintendent of Detective Officers in Edinburgh’s City Police.
Our story (being narrated by Hyde to a certain author, I’m sure you can guess who) opens with the creepy wail of what seems to a banshee which stops a young factory worker in her tracks. On the trail of this wail is also Captain Hyde—only he doesn’t remember how he came to be there or following it. Still, he continues on, and it leads him to a grisly sight—a man cruelly murdered and hung upside down, in a manner that Hyde soon realises is connected with Celtic ritual for the victim has been thrice killed. But there is no clue who the person could be.
Meanwhile Hyde has been working on another case, a young man accused of murder (and executed) who Hyde is unsure committed the crime he was accused of. Then an heiress to a department store, Elspeth Lockwood, who was involved with the mysterious but unsavoury Fredric Ballor (dabbling in the occult and seeking the Celtic Otherworld) goes missing, and Hyde is charged with finding her before it is too late. And if that weren’t enough, he is also asked by his boss to keep an eye on the political doings of an artist. Amidst all of this Hyde is struggling with his own losses of memory, periods of time which he can’t account for, where he can’t remember where he was and what he was doing, leading him to fear that it might be himself who is responsible for some of the horrors he comes across (despite his doctor’s assurances to the contrary).
The doctor/surgeon who conducts the autopsies for the police is the historical Dr Joseph Bell, the real-life inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes (including him, and in a role that he would have played in real life, was great fun). And assisting him is Dr Cally Burr who Hyde becomes interested in, and eventually seeks help from, confessing his condition to her. Women doctors were few at the time, and confined to limited areas of practice not being generally accepted as professionals and in Cally’s character we see some of these struggles, added to by her background.
This was a pretty complicated mystery or should I say set of mysteries, with plenty of twists and turns, and also plenty of bodies. While I did manage to guess who the first body might turn out to be, I wasn’t entirely sure about how the ending would turn out or how the pieces of the puzzle would fit together. The entire atmosphere with Celtic rituals and occult elements, gruesome deaths, characters living dual lives (more than one and in more than one way), and one at least trapped in frightening darkness, made this a really creepy read—just perfect for the Halloween/Winter season. In fact, of all the darker-themed books I read around the time, this one was certainly the scariest and most unsettling. I also liked how within all this, the author also managed to weave in and highlight historical issues like the prejudice that some had to face simply for who they were. And the end had a fun touch as well, despite the graver tone of the book as a whole. An excellent read!
This was an exciting, interesting, very dark and also slightly unsettling piece of historical fiction set in Edinburgh, and combines a mystery with psychological aspects and elements of Celtic folklore and the occult. The Hyde of the title is Captain Edward Hyde, who has returned from service in India and is now Superintendent of Detective Officers in Edinburgh’s City Police.
Our story (being narrated by Hyde to a certain author, I’m sure you can guess who) opens with the creepy wail of what seems to a banshee which stops a young factory worker in her tracks. On the trail of this wail is also Captain Hyde—only he doesn’t remember how he came to be there or following it. Still, he continues on, and it leads him to a grisly sight—a man cruelly murdered and hung upside down, in a manner that Hyde soon realises is connected with Celtic ritual for the victim has been thrice killed. But there is no clue who the person could be.
Meanwhile Hyde has been working on another case, a young man accused of murder (and executed) who Hyde is unsure committed the crime he was accused of. Then an heiress to a department store, Elspeth Lockwood, who was involved with the mysterious but unsavoury Fredric Ballor (dabbling in the occult and seeking the Celtic Otherworld) goes missing, and Hyde is charged with finding her before it is too late. And if that weren’t enough, he is also asked by his boss to keep an eye on the political doings of an artist. Amidst all of this Hyde is struggling with his own losses of memory, periods of time which he can’t account for, where he can’t remember where he was and what he was doing, leading him to fear that it might be himself who is responsible for some of the horrors he comes across (despite his doctor’s assurances to the contrary).
The doctor/surgeon who conducts the autopsies for the police is the historical Dr Joseph Bell, the real-life inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes (including him, and in a role that he would have played in real life, was great fun). And assisting him is Dr Cally Burr who Hyde becomes interested in, and eventually seeks help from, confessing his condition to her. Women doctors were few at the time, and confined to limited areas of practice not being generally accepted as professionals and in Cally’s character we see some of these struggles, added to by her background.
This was a pretty complicated mystery or should I say set of mysteries, with plenty of twists and turns, and also plenty of bodies. While I did manage to guess who the first body might turn out to be, I wasn’t entirely sure about how the ending would turn out or how the pieces of the puzzle would fit together. The entire atmosphere with Celtic rituals and occult elements, gruesome deaths, characters living dual lives (more than one and in more than one way), and one at least trapped in frightening darkness, made this a really creepy read—just perfect for the Halloween/Winter season. In fact, of all the darker-themed books I read around the time, this one was certainly the scariest and most unsettling. I also liked how within all this, the author also managed to weave in and highlight historical issues like the prejudice that some had to face simply for who they were. And the end had a fun touch as well, despite the graver tone of the book as a whole. An excellent read!
February 17, 2022
A decent whodunnit, a little different from the usual. I enjoyed the main character and loved the Gothic atmosphere with hints of the supernatural. Plenty of twists and turns to be navigated, though I did get a little muddled at times and sometimes had difficulty remembering who was who (of course, this could just be down to me being distracted 😬). This is my first book by this author but I'll definitely be looking for more.
October 8, 2023
Gothic horror all the way it is then?
I say that as ive read zero reviews/synopsis but merely wanted to pick up another book from this author having enjoyed “The devil aspect”
A mystery that pulls you in, all the time yer thinking, it’s gotta be Hyde whose the killer init….. the urban legend says so?
And that’s the beauty of this story that the author has scribed of which I shall let you discover for yerself.
Beautifully written & engaging, set in Edinburgh in Victorian times, steeped in Celtic lore/tradition, well worth picking up if this period of time is your thing.
Around 3.5 stars rounded to a four.
I say that as ive read zero reviews/synopsis but merely wanted to pick up another book from this author having enjoyed “The devil aspect”
A mystery that pulls you in, all the time yer thinking, it’s gotta be Hyde whose the killer init….. the urban legend says so?
And that’s the beauty of this story that the author has scribed of which I shall let you discover for yerself.
Beautifully written & engaging, set in Edinburgh in Victorian times, steeped in Celtic lore/tradition, well worth picking up if this period of time is your thing.
Around 3.5 stars rounded to a four.
September 26, 2021
Lleno de clichés, predecible y aburrido.
March 26, 2021
This is a really good gothic thriller, if a little long. Hyde is struggling with fugue states as part of his epilepsy and starting to believe that it's he himself that is committing the murders. It's very atmospheric and as with all good thrillers there's plenty of twists and turns along the way. It was a bit too wordy for me. By the time we got to the final few chapters which wrapped up a mystery from the very start of the book I'd forgotten what that had been all about. Overall not a bad book
October 12, 2021
Un poco de historia, bastante mitología y mucha creencia paranormal se unen en esta nueva novela de Craig Russell ubicada en Edimburgo.
Entretenida a ratos, tediosa a ratos.
Entretenida a ratos, tediosa a ratos.
July 22, 2023
"Hyde" wasn't exactly what i thought it would be. It purports to be a reimagining of the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde story. Yet, it sort of is and is not.
Detective Hyde of the Edinburgh Police is an imposing man. He also suffers from bouts of a medical condition where he zones out and doesn't remember a thing. All of this comes to a head when a series of grisly, ritual murders causes a deep concern in the Police Force.
Hyde must navigate the dark corners of Edinburgh and root out the Dark Brotherhood and its infamous Deacon. Yet, the question remains- is it Hyde that is actually doing the murders?
While this is a good read and a fairly good thriller/crime story, the whole "retelling of the Hyde story" is a bit of a stretch. Only the opening chapter and the closing chapter (both of which have Robert Louis Stevenson as a character) give a hint as to what is to come about Hyde's story, the main story is a crime thriller with a Detective Hyde (with little in common with the monster) and a case with multiple personalities. Dr. Jekyll does not even exist.
So a good story, but not really a "retelling" of the Hyde story.
Detective Hyde of the Edinburgh Police is an imposing man. He also suffers from bouts of a medical condition where he zones out and doesn't remember a thing. All of this comes to a head when a series of grisly, ritual murders causes a deep concern in the Police Force.
Hyde must navigate the dark corners of Edinburgh and root out the Dark Brotherhood and its infamous Deacon. Yet, the question remains- is it Hyde that is actually doing the murders?
While this is a good read and a fairly good thriller/crime story, the whole "retelling of the Hyde story" is a bit of a stretch. Only the opening chapter and the closing chapter (both of which have Robert Louis Stevenson as a character) give a hint as to what is to come about Hyde's story, the main story is a crime thriller with a Detective Hyde (with little in common with the monster) and a case with multiple personalities. Dr. Jekyll does not even exist.
So a good story, but not really a "retelling" of the Hyde story.
October 24, 2025
★★★
I was struggling to find a book that works for the SAMHAIN square on my Bingo board until one of the members of my reading group suggested this one. It was perfect! A dark horror/mystery set in late 1800’s Edinburgh, this book is so atmospheric, you can almost smell the wood smoke from the hundreds of chimneys alight across the city. There are lots of references to factual history like when electricity first came to Edinburgh and the traffic headaches it caused, the Edinburgh Seven (the first group of matriculated undergraduate female students at any British university) and the Highlands Clearances.
It was a slow start for me. The writing style made it feel like I was reading a classic and while that isn’t a problem in itself (I enjoy reading many classics), it made for a slow entry into the mystery. It’s a mix of crime with the underlying threat of the supernatural and there are some scary parts throughout the book. In this re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, Hyde is head of the Edinburgh police detectives and a retired military officer. He suffers from lapses in time and while he tries to deal with this medical condition, gruesome murders start to occur.
I will definitely read more from this author. I’d like to see if he writes in this style across all his books or if it is specific to this one given that it is a re-imagining of a classic.
I read this for the SAMHAIN square on my 2025 Halloween Bingo board.
I was struggling to find a book that works for the SAMHAIN square on my Bingo board until one of the members of my reading group suggested this one. It was perfect! A dark horror/mystery set in late 1800’s Edinburgh, this book is so atmospheric, you can almost smell the wood smoke from the hundreds of chimneys alight across the city. There are lots of references to factual history like when electricity first came to Edinburgh and the traffic headaches it caused, the Edinburgh Seven (the first group of matriculated undergraduate female students at any British university) and the Highlands Clearances.
It was a slow start for me. The writing style made it feel like I was reading a classic and while that isn’t a problem in itself (I enjoy reading many classics), it made for a slow entry into the mystery. It’s a mix of crime with the underlying threat of the supernatural and there are some scary parts throughout the book. In this re-imagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, Hyde is head of the Edinburgh police detectives and a retired military officer. He suffers from lapses in time and while he tries to deal with this medical condition, gruesome murders start to occur.
I will definitely read more from this author. I’d like to see if he writes in this style across all his books or if it is specific to this one given that it is a re-imagining of a classic.
I read this for the SAMHAIN square on my 2025 Halloween Bingo board.
November 20, 2021
3.5 stars
October 23, 2024
Ancient Celtic mythology, ritualistic murder, Scottish nationalism, the duality of human nature!
This story is a reimagining of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The conceit is that in the prologue, Stevenson is looking for inspiration to write a story about the duality of human nature, and his friend Captain Edward Hyde says, "Boy, do I have just the thing!" and proceeds to tell him his own story.
Hyde is a police detective with epilepsy, suffering from absence seizures during which he "loses time" and cannot remember what he did or how he got to wherever he was when he comes to. As he investigates ritualistic murders in nineteenth century Edinburgh, he begins to fear what it is he gets up to when he's not aware of his actions.
All of the keywords used to describe this book (atmospheric, haunting, Gothic) are ones that are usually homeruns for me. In theory it sounds like a good fit for me. But honestly the way this book was written had me kind of bored and flipping pages just to be done with it already. It was still good, but not great for this reader.
Bookshop.org
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This story is a reimagining of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The conceit is that in the prologue, Stevenson is looking for inspiration to write a story about the duality of human nature, and his friend Captain Edward Hyde says, "Boy, do I have just the thing!" and proceeds to tell him his own story.
Hyde is a police detective with epilepsy, suffering from absence seizures during which he "loses time" and cannot remember what he did or how he got to wherever he was when he comes to. As he investigates ritualistic murders in nineteenth century Edinburgh, he begins to fear what it is he gets up to when he's not aware of his actions.
All of the keywords used to describe this book (atmospheric, haunting, Gothic) are ones that are usually homeruns for me. In theory it sounds like a good fit for me. But honestly the way this book was written had me kind of bored and flipping pages just to be done with it already. It was still good, but not great for this reader.
Bookshop.org
Blog
Bookstagram
March 3, 2022
A marvellous Gothic tale, beautifully written.
October 23, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, Craig Russell, and Constable Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!
“The duality of human nature, you say?’ asked the other,
‘Although we pretend otherwise,’ said the frail man, ‘we are all manifold. There are bright angels and dark demons in each of us. It is a subject that has consumed me since childhood. You know I inherited that dresser–that one carpentered by Deacon Brodie–from my late father. It is such a beautifully crafted piece and, as a child, I would stare at it in the daylight wonder–but at night…oh at night the thought of it sitting there is the dark filled me with dread, thinking that the ghost of the other Brodie, the night-time Brodie, would steal into our house with his gang and murder us all in out sleep.”
HYDE
Hyde by Craig Russell takes readers to Victorian Edinburgh. Captain Edward Hyde solves murders, but most are quite simple–crimes of passion, theft, gangs. But then he finds a body, hung upside down, heart missing. It shows the signs of a Celtic ritual. This is sinister. Then a young woman, heir to her father’s business goes missing. Are the cases linked? Hyde is also struggling with an illness that his doctor has diagnosed as epilepsy. He loses time. Could he be the monster he is hunting? Little does he know that this case will spawn a legend.
This book hooked me from the very beginning! Two men, sitting together, discussing the complexities of humans and the monsters within. One man’s name is Hyde, the other…Robert Louis Stevenson–the man who would write one of the most recognizable classic horror stories, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book could have been reduced by 50 pages, some scenes didn’t feel necessary, but I just couldn’t put the book down. The references, the history, the lore…everything is immersive. The police procedure in Victorian times is unique because science is starting to rise and change the way they investigate cases. I laughed out loud when the doctor said his assistant Dr. Conan Doyle had moved to London to write his detective novels. Very clever, Mr. Russell. I really enjoyed each little reference.
The mystery isn’t shocking, but I don’t think it was supposed to be shocking. The duality of human nature is a prominent concept from the very first chapter. The author laid the clues for readers very frequently. Be forewarned, this book is pretty graphic and there are some pretty creepy moments. Russell really wanted to bring in the “beast” factor to the story. Overall, this is a great read, and I can’t wait to see what Craig Russell comes up with next. 4 out of 5 stars.
“The duality of human nature, you say?’ asked the other,
‘Although we pretend otherwise,’ said the frail man, ‘we are all manifold. There are bright angels and dark demons in each of us. It is a subject that has consumed me since childhood. You know I inherited that dresser–that one carpentered by Deacon Brodie–from my late father. It is such a beautifully crafted piece and, as a child, I would stare at it in the daylight wonder–but at night…oh at night the thought of it sitting there is the dark filled me with dread, thinking that the ghost of the other Brodie, the night-time Brodie, would steal into our house with his gang and murder us all in out sleep.”
HYDE
Hyde by Craig Russell takes readers to Victorian Edinburgh. Captain Edward Hyde solves murders, but most are quite simple–crimes of passion, theft, gangs. But then he finds a body, hung upside down, heart missing. It shows the signs of a Celtic ritual. This is sinister. Then a young woman, heir to her father’s business goes missing. Are the cases linked? Hyde is also struggling with an illness that his doctor has diagnosed as epilepsy. He loses time. Could he be the monster he is hunting? Little does he know that this case will spawn a legend.
This book hooked me from the very beginning! Two men, sitting together, discussing the complexities of humans and the monsters within. One man’s name is Hyde, the other…Robert Louis Stevenson–the man who would write one of the most recognizable classic horror stories, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book could have been reduced by 50 pages, some scenes didn’t feel necessary, but I just couldn’t put the book down. The references, the history, the lore…everything is immersive. The police procedure in Victorian times is unique because science is starting to rise and change the way they investigate cases. I laughed out loud when the doctor said his assistant Dr. Conan Doyle had moved to London to write his detective novels. Very clever, Mr. Russell. I really enjoyed each little reference.
The mystery isn’t shocking, but I don’t think it was supposed to be shocking. The duality of human nature is a prominent concept from the very first chapter. The author laid the clues for readers very frequently. Be forewarned, this book is pretty graphic and there are some pretty creepy moments. Russell really wanted to bring in the “beast” factor to the story. Overall, this is a great read, and I can’t wait to see what Craig Russell comes up with next. 4 out of 5 stars.
June 30, 2021
An alternative take on the classic novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Ritualistic murders taking place in Victorian Edinburgh sparks an investigation led by Chief Detective Edward Hyde. As you might imagine all is not well with Mr. Hyde but this iteration keeps one nicely off balance. There is a sense of foreboding throughout with a nice touch of atmospheric dread but it does come perilously close to be overwritten and could have been tightened up a bit. Nonetheless, I like Russell and will continue to read his work.
September 23, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
Ni thriller, ni gótico, ni diabólico, ni la madre que parió a los de las frases grandilocuentes.
Por cierto, la sinopsis destripa el epílogo.
Ni thriller, ni gótico, ni diabólico, ni la madre que parió a los de las frases grandilocuentes.
Por cierto, la sinopsis destripa el epílogo.
November 9, 2021
2 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/11/07/...
It’s hard to say exactly why Hyde didn’t really work for me, though I did enjoy the author’s last novel The Devil Aspect and somehow I just didn’t feel this one held the same fascination or appeal.
Our story begins in Victorian Edinburgh where Captain Edward Henry Hyde holds the post of chief detective, and as such it is his job to uphold the law and lead the investigation into any serious crimes in the city. And so, when he wakes up one day at the scene of a grisly murder, he is immediately alarmed. For you see, Hyde suffers from a particularly worrying form of epilepsy that causes him to lose time. These amnesic occurrences can come on very suddenly, and every time he finally comes to, he can never remember anything that happened.
In this case, his awakening so near to the crime scene inevitably leads him to wonder whether he had any connection to the murder. To make things worse, the victim was killed in an especially brutal manner called the Threefold Death, linked to an ancient Celtic ritual involving the spirts and sacrifice. As the chief detective though, Hyde has no choice but to keep his condition and suspicions a secret, even as his investigation takes him to some dark places, both literally and figuratively.
First let me just say my issues with this novel are entirely subjective. Craig Russell is an excellent writer, as I found out with The Devil Aspect, and his prose was just as delectable here in Hyde, as was the overall style which was pure immersion and atmosphere. However, it was the story itself that failed to engage me. Due to the circumstances surrounding our protagonist, there was a disjointed feel to the plot that didn’t quite do it for me, not to mention the entire book felt simply too drawn out.
In some ways, I think my indifference might also have been the result of the author doing his job too well. Had my interest been greater in the time period or the ultra-gothic vibes, the book might have resonated with me more. An obvious example of this was the Hyde’s internal exposition detailing his thoughts, emotions and memories, which was heavy-handed to the point of driving all life from the writing. To a lesser extent, this over-telling was also happening with the dialogue, resulting in conversations that felt awkward and contrived.
Ultimately, it became very difficult to care about the story or the characters. This made reading Hyde a struggle for much of my time with it, and it didn’t help that the narrator for the audiobook had a relatively flat, droning kind of voice. Despite zoning out on the audiobook frequently, I also found I was missing very little because of how slowly the plot progressed. Credit where it’s due though, when all was revealed, the final resolution to the mystery was enjoyable, though probably not enough to make up for everything else. I wish we’d gotten more of the mythological side of things too, but instead the story decided to go in another direction. In hindsight, I can understand why, but in the end that did little to help spark my enthusiasm.
Bottom line: you win some, you lose some. I’d looked forward to Hyde ever since having such a great time with The Devil Aspect, so of course I’m heartbroken that this turned out to be a disappointment. My previous positive experience with Craig Russell makes me want to chalk this up to one of those “it’s not this book, it’s me” situations though, so your mileage may vary, and I’m probably going to keep checking out the author’s projects and hope that his next one will be more my speed.
It’s hard to say exactly why Hyde didn’t really work for me, though I did enjoy the author’s last novel The Devil Aspect and somehow I just didn’t feel this one held the same fascination or appeal.
Our story begins in Victorian Edinburgh where Captain Edward Henry Hyde holds the post of chief detective, and as such it is his job to uphold the law and lead the investigation into any serious crimes in the city. And so, when he wakes up one day at the scene of a grisly murder, he is immediately alarmed. For you see, Hyde suffers from a particularly worrying form of epilepsy that causes him to lose time. These amnesic occurrences can come on very suddenly, and every time he finally comes to, he can never remember anything that happened.
In this case, his awakening so near to the crime scene inevitably leads him to wonder whether he had any connection to the murder. To make things worse, the victim was killed in an especially brutal manner called the Threefold Death, linked to an ancient Celtic ritual involving the spirts and sacrifice. As the chief detective though, Hyde has no choice but to keep his condition and suspicions a secret, even as his investigation takes him to some dark places, both literally and figuratively.
First let me just say my issues with this novel are entirely subjective. Craig Russell is an excellent writer, as I found out with The Devil Aspect, and his prose was just as delectable here in Hyde, as was the overall style which was pure immersion and atmosphere. However, it was the story itself that failed to engage me. Due to the circumstances surrounding our protagonist, there was a disjointed feel to the plot that didn’t quite do it for me, not to mention the entire book felt simply too drawn out.
In some ways, I think my indifference might also have been the result of the author doing his job too well. Had my interest been greater in the time period or the ultra-gothic vibes, the book might have resonated with me more. An obvious example of this was the Hyde’s internal exposition detailing his thoughts, emotions and memories, which was heavy-handed to the point of driving all life from the writing. To a lesser extent, this over-telling was also happening with the dialogue, resulting in conversations that felt awkward and contrived.
Ultimately, it became very difficult to care about the story or the characters. This made reading Hyde a struggle for much of my time with it, and it didn’t help that the narrator for the audiobook had a relatively flat, droning kind of voice. Despite zoning out on the audiobook frequently, I also found I was missing very little because of how slowly the plot progressed. Credit where it’s due though, when all was revealed, the final resolution to the mystery was enjoyable, though probably not enough to make up for everything else. I wish we’d gotten more of the mythological side of things too, but instead the story decided to go in another direction. In hindsight, I can understand why, but in the end that did little to help spark my enthusiasm.
Bottom line: you win some, you lose some. I’d looked forward to Hyde ever since having such a great time with The Devil Aspect, so of course I’m heartbroken that this turned out to be a disappointment. My previous positive experience with Craig Russell makes me want to chalk this up to one of those “it’s not this book, it’s me” situations though, so your mileage may vary, and I’m probably going to keep checking out the author’s projects and hope that his next one will be more my speed.
December 13, 2020
Hyde By Craig Russell is the first book from the author I have read. I am surprised how much I enjoyed this, as I am not an avid reader of Horror but decided to broaden my horizons a bit and read other genres.
Set in Victorian Edinburgh, this is a dark gothic tale which opens with Captain Edward Hyde, Superintendent of Edinburgh’s police attending a ritualistic killing of a man hanging from a tree in the highlands. Where there are tales of Scottish folklore, creatures from other worlds and ages and demons. Hyde is on the hunt for the killer in case he strikes again.
The story is also about Hyde who suffers from a neurological condition which he passes out an enters a Celtic Otherworld, where the dead and demons roam and time passes. But when he wakes up, he doesn’t know what happened in that time, apart from the nightmares that occur after it.
Thank you Little brown and Netgalley for a copy of Hyde. I enjoyed this creepy atmospheric tale of the life of Captain Hyde. The author writes with detail and is professionally researched. But I thought was a little bit heavy at times. 4 stars from me.
Set in Victorian Edinburgh, this is a dark gothic tale which opens with Captain Edward Hyde, Superintendent of Edinburgh’s police attending a ritualistic killing of a man hanging from a tree in the highlands. Where there are tales of Scottish folklore, creatures from other worlds and ages and demons. Hyde is on the hunt for the killer in case he strikes again.
The story is also about Hyde who suffers from a neurological condition which he passes out an enters a Celtic Otherworld, where the dead and demons roam and time passes. But when he wakes up, he doesn’t know what happened in that time, apart from the nightmares that occur after it.
Thank you Little brown and Netgalley for a copy of Hyde. I enjoyed this creepy atmospheric tale of the life of Captain Hyde. The author writes with detail and is professionally researched. But I thought was a little bit heavy at times. 4 stars from me.
March 4, 2024
Se me ha hecho bastante cuesta arriba, a qué nos vamos a engañar.
De hecho, me ha costado muchísimo mantener el interés en lo que estaba leyendo, casi en todo momento. Y es que esta historia está escrita con un estilo bastante denso, lo que no ayuda a una trama muy estereotipada y previsible; excepto, por supuesto, por esa parte en la que el autor se saca casi de la manga a unos culpables que apenas hemos visto en todo el libro, así por eso de intentar crear un sorpresivo giro de trama, así, en el último momento.
Una novela que prometía mucho, pero que al final no hace sino dar vueltas a una misma idea (la dualidad del ser humano) hasta la extenuación, con personajes unidimensionales que no aportan nada al género, no digamos ya al placer lector.
De hecho, me ha costado muchísimo mantener el interés en lo que estaba leyendo, casi en todo momento. Y es que esta historia está escrita con un estilo bastante denso, lo que no ayuda a una trama muy estereotipada y previsible; excepto, por supuesto, por esa parte en la que el autor se saca casi de la manga a unos culpables que apenas hemos visto en todo el libro, así por eso de intentar crear un sorpresivo giro de trama, así, en el último momento.
Una novela que prometía mucho, pero que al final no hace sino dar vueltas a una misma idea (la dualidad del ser humano) hasta la extenuación, con personajes unidimensionales que no aportan nada al género, no digamos ya al placer lector.
February 4, 2022
Hyde is a dark-ish character. He’s not the monster Stevenson painted, but works for the Edinburgh police force. He’s been hiding his episodes since his childhood, recently they have become more severe. So severe, that Hyde fears he might be the brutal killer himself. Coming out of his “spells,” he finds himself close to the murder victims too often for it to be coincidence.
The occult dark part was a tiny bit predictable for me. I have read similar stories and knew who the puppet master pulling the strings was early on. This did not diminish my enjoyment of the story, though.
Russell played with the original duality of Stevenson’s story, but gave it a different twist. Setting, characters and plot development made sense. Add a few cameos and they made me overlook the few inconsistencies.
The occult dark part was a tiny bit predictable for me. I have read similar stories and knew who the puppet master pulling the strings was early on. This did not diminish my enjoyment of the story, though.
Russell played with the original duality of Stevenson’s story, but gave it a different twist. Setting, characters and plot development made sense. Add a few cameos and they made me overlook the few inconsistencies.
April 5, 2023
⭐ ⭐ 1/2 stars
I'm about to go in on this book so I have to say first and foremost, I did not hate it. It takes place in Victorian era Scotland and revolves around mysterious occult murders, so it may as well have been written specifically for me. I kid - but only slightly.
Russell is undoubtedly a skilled writer but while I loved The Devil Aspect, Hyde was just sort of... meh. I mean really, how long did it take Russell to write this? Because it seems like he paused to refer to a thesaurus every six words. Some of his unnecessarily flowery vocabulary includes: sedulous, escritoire, autochthonous, desuetude. I'm an English teacher, I appreciate a good synonym. But sometimes basic is best; when word choice overshadows the plot it's too much. On top of this, when Russell isn't being a verbose try-hard he's getting the reader sidetracked with long-winded backstories to every single character (always pertinent though sometimes annoying) and every single landmark (almost always annoying).
The MC's feelings towards the female forensic pathologist are based primarily on the fact that she is hot. Alright, in truth Hyde feels a closeness based on the fact that both he and Dr. Cally Burr are something akin to black sheep within society. She is of Irish/Indian descent, a woman, and working in male-dominated field. Hyde is a strangely imposing man who's suffering from a form of epilepsy and a sordid military past. A great setup, but there wasn't any real catalyst that adequately explained their affections for one another. They pretty much just talk about work (most people don't find dead bodies and ongoing police investigations sexy), and Hyde's condition. In one instance Hyde is recovering from an injury and Cally suddenly morphs into a doting mother hen instead of the tough, emotionally restrained individual Russell initially describes her to be. I understand this is to show her progressive trust and vulnerability towards Hyde, but it's ridiculous. She tut tuts after Hyde while he's on the job as if she's a nanny and at one point she literally says, "I shall make you a sandwich." I'm sorry, WHAT. This prompted several minutes of internal screaming.
Finally... the ending didn't meet the build-up. The suspense created at the end of nearly every chapter was exciting and well done. But by the time it leads to the climax and the loose ends get tied up I felt somewhat deflated by it all.
Once more: I did not hate this book. There were a lot of problems with it for me personally but despite all of them I never considered tossing it into the DNF pile. The plot was intriguing enough to pull me along and keep me curious to see how all the pieces came together. The Scottish and Celtic historical elements were interesting in small doses. I would just recommend that readers check out The Devil Aspect before taking on this one.
I'm about to go in on this book so I have to say first and foremost, I did not hate it. It takes place in Victorian era Scotland and revolves around mysterious occult murders, so it may as well have been written specifically for me. I kid - but only slightly.
Russell is undoubtedly a skilled writer but while I loved The Devil Aspect, Hyde was just sort of... meh. I mean really, how long did it take Russell to write this? Because it seems like he paused to refer to a thesaurus every six words. Some of his unnecessarily flowery vocabulary includes: sedulous, escritoire, autochthonous, desuetude. I'm an English teacher, I appreciate a good synonym. But sometimes basic is best; when word choice overshadows the plot it's too much. On top of this, when Russell isn't being a verbose try-hard he's getting the reader sidetracked with long-winded backstories to every single character (always pertinent though sometimes annoying) and every single landmark (almost always annoying).
The MC's feelings towards the female forensic pathologist are based primarily on the fact that she is hot. Alright, in truth Hyde feels a closeness based on the fact that both he and Dr. Cally Burr are something akin to black sheep within society. She is of Irish/Indian descent, a woman, and working in male-dominated field. Hyde is a strangely imposing man who's suffering from a form of epilepsy and a sordid military past. A great setup, but there wasn't any real catalyst that adequately explained their affections for one another. They pretty much just talk about work (most people don't find dead bodies and ongoing police investigations sexy), and Hyde's condition. In one instance Hyde is recovering from an injury and Cally suddenly morphs into a doting mother hen instead of the tough, emotionally restrained individual Russell initially describes her to be. I understand this is to show her progressive trust and vulnerability towards Hyde, but it's ridiculous. She tut tuts after Hyde while he's on the job as if she's a nanny and at one point she literally says, "I shall make you a sandwich." I'm sorry, WHAT. This prompted several minutes of internal screaming.
Finally... the ending didn't meet the build-up. The suspense created at the end of nearly every chapter was exciting and well done. But by the time it leads to the climax and the loose ends get tied up I felt somewhat deflated by it all.
Once more: I did not hate this book. There were a lot of problems with it for me personally but despite all of them I never considered tossing it into the DNF pile. The plot was intriguing enough to pull me along and keep me curious to see how all the pieces came together. The Scottish and Celtic historical elements were interesting in small doses. I would just recommend that readers check out The Devil Aspect before taking on this one.
February 18, 2022
Edinburgh und Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) gehören untrennbar zusammen. Das kann jede/r bestätigen, der schon einmal die Hauptstadt Schottlands besucht bzw. sich mit deren kulturellem Erbe auseinandergesetzt hat. Viele schottische Autoren nennen, nach ihren Vorbildern befragt, an erster Stelle den Autor der viktorischen Schauernovelle „Strange Case of Dr Jekyll und Mr Hyde“ (1886). Und auch Craig Russells Thriller „Der geheimnisvolle Mr. Hyde“, 2021 mit dem McIlvanney-Preis des Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival ausgezeichnet, ist, auch wenn die Story wenig mit der Vorlage gemeinsam hat, inspiriert von diesem Werk und eine Verbeugung vor dessen Schöpfer.
Wir sind in Edinburgh, das 19. Jahrhundert neigt sich dem Ende zu. Die Atmosphäre, speziell des Nachts, ist so, wie man es von einem viktorianischen Roman erwartet. Die Nebelschwaden wabern durch schlecht ausgeleuchtet Gassen, in denen Schatten auftauchen und unerkannt wieder verschwinden. Ideale Bedingungen für jemanden, der nichts Gutes im Sinn hat.
Im Zentrum des Romans steht Edward Hyde, ein Freund Stevensons, ehemals in Indien im Einsatz, mittlerweile angesehener Superintendent und Präsident der Edinburgher Polizei. Allerdings gibt es da etwas, von dem nur er und sein behandelnder Arzt Kenntnis hat. Er kämpft mit physischen und psychischen Problemen, leidet an einer Erkrankung, die ihn des Öfteren an seiner Wahrnehmung zweifeln lässt. Wirklichkeit, Wahn oder Schuld? Es kommt immer wieder vor, dass er diese Unterscheidung in bestimmten Situationen nicht zweifelsfrei treffen kann, sich nicht erinnern kann, wenn eine dieser Episoden vorbei ist. Als in der Stadt immer wieder Mordopfer aufgefunden werden, die offenbar nach uralten keltischen Riten getötet wurden, betraut man ihn mit den Untersuchungen. Aber ist er wirklich der richtige Mann für diesen Fall? Besteht nicht vielleicht sogar die Möglichkeit, dass er für die Taten verantwortlich ist?
Keltische Riten, heidnische Symbole und die Schreie der Banshee könnte die Vermutung aufkommen lassen, dass Russell einen astreinen Gothic-Thriller geschrieben hat. Allerdings ist das nur ein Aspekt, denn auch das historische Erbe der Stadt wird thematisiert (unter anderem galt Edinburgh lange Zeit als Zentrum der medizinischen Innovationen und wird hier durch einen kurzen Auftritt von Dr Joseph Bell repräsentiert, der die Vorlage für Sherlock Holmes lieferte). „Der geheimnisvolle Mr Hyde“ bietet nicht nur spannende Unterhaltung sondern weckt auch das Interesse an Edinburgh, regt an, sich eingehender mit der Historie dieser facettenreichen Metropole und ihrer Persönlichkeiten zu beschäftigen. Es lohnt sich!
Wir sind in Edinburgh, das 19. Jahrhundert neigt sich dem Ende zu. Die Atmosphäre, speziell des Nachts, ist so, wie man es von einem viktorianischen Roman erwartet. Die Nebelschwaden wabern durch schlecht ausgeleuchtet Gassen, in denen Schatten auftauchen und unerkannt wieder verschwinden. Ideale Bedingungen für jemanden, der nichts Gutes im Sinn hat.
Im Zentrum des Romans steht Edward Hyde, ein Freund Stevensons, ehemals in Indien im Einsatz, mittlerweile angesehener Superintendent und Präsident der Edinburgher Polizei. Allerdings gibt es da etwas, von dem nur er und sein behandelnder Arzt Kenntnis hat. Er kämpft mit physischen und psychischen Problemen, leidet an einer Erkrankung, die ihn des Öfteren an seiner Wahrnehmung zweifeln lässt. Wirklichkeit, Wahn oder Schuld? Es kommt immer wieder vor, dass er diese Unterscheidung in bestimmten Situationen nicht zweifelsfrei treffen kann, sich nicht erinnern kann, wenn eine dieser Episoden vorbei ist. Als in der Stadt immer wieder Mordopfer aufgefunden werden, die offenbar nach uralten keltischen Riten getötet wurden, betraut man ihn mit den Untersuchungen. Aber ist er wirklich der richtige Mann für diesen Fall? Besteht nicht vielleicht sogar die Möglichkeit, dass er für die Taten verantwortlich ist?
Keltische Riten, heidnische Symbole und die Schreie der Banshee könnte die Vermutung aufkommen lassen, dass Russell einen astreinen Gothic-Thriller geschrieben hat. Allerdings ist das nur ein Aspekt, denn auch das historische Erbe der Stadt wird thematisiert (unter anderem galt Edinburgh lange Zeit als Zentrum der medizinischen Innovationen und wird hier durch einen kurzen Auftritt von Dr Joseph Bell repräsentiert, der die Vorlage für Sherlock Holmes lieferte). „Der geheimnisvolle Mr Hyde“ bietet nicht nur spannende Unterhaltung sondern weckt auch das Interesse an Edinburgh, regt an, sich eingehender mit der Historie dieser facettenreichen Metropole und ihrer Persönlichkeiten zu beschäftigen. Es lohnt sich!
April 26, 2022
“It was a sound like no other”
“Hyde” by Craig Russell is a brilliant gothic murder mystery that gives a refreshing reimagining to the classic “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson. We follow Edinburgh Captain Edward Hyde as he unexpectedly arrives at a crimes scene, in which he has no idea how he got there. Quickly he jumps to it and we follow him as he investigates a strange ritualistic murder that seems Celtic in nature. The problem Hyde suffers from a sort of epilepsy that causes him to lose time, which means he can’t be sure what has happened before he arrived at the scene or why he was even in the area in the first place. The investigation will lead him down a path of weird occult happenings, gruesome murders, political unrest among the Gaelic communities, and bizarre medical disorders. It’s definitely a ride!
Now what did I think? I thought that this book was fantastic! I got it because of the cover and just the title. I was expecting to probably like the book, because I liked the original and like the themes presented; mostly the dualities of a person. Instead of liking it, I loved it. This was such a fresh reimagining. The lore and history brought from the author’s knowledge of the Gaelic religions was amazing. The mystery was intriguing and had me pacing. The prose was downright lush and beautifully written. Just well done all around.
Now It was a slow start for me , but the end really kicked it up. I was interested from the start and was thinking this was easily a 3 star book can probably make it up to 4, but honestly now that I have finished I think it does deserves the 5 stars. It felt almost like a historical fiction. It is very wordy and has a lot of description and setup, but everything has a reason. Unlike the “Alienist” I felt all the meandering and descriptions worked in this books favor. It had just the right amount. I am thoroughly pleased with this book and greatly prefer this over the original it takes inspiration from.
Last little note. If you like gothic fiction, you’ll probably enjoy this even more cause there are little references or nods to other works. Like Sherlock Holmes and Picture of Dorian Gray.
“Hyde” by Craig Russell is a brilliant gothic murder mystery that gives a refreshing reimagining to the classic “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson. We follow Edinburgh Captain Edward Hyde as he unexpectedly arrives at a crimes scene, in which he has no idea how he got there. Quickly he jumps to it and we follow him as he investigates a strange ritualistic murder that seems Celtic in nature. The problem Hyde suffers from a sort of epilepsy that causes him to lose time, which means he can’t be sure what has happened before he arrived at the scene or why he was even in the area in the first place. The investigation will lead him down a path of weird occult happenings, gruesome murders, political unrest among the Gaelic communities, and bizarre medical disorders. It’s definitely a ride!
Now what did I think? I thought that this book was fantastic! I got it because of the cover and just the title. I was expecting to probably like the book, because I liked the original and like the themes presented; mostly the dualities of a person. Instead of liking it, I loved it. This was such a fresh reimagining. The lore and history brought from the author’s knowledge of the Gaelic religions was amazing. The mystery was intriguing and had me pacing. The prose was downright lush and beautifully written. Just well done all around.
Now It was a slow start for me , but the end really kicked it up. I was interested from the start and was thinking this was easily a 3 star book can probably make it up to 4, but honestly now that I have finished I think it does deserves the 5 stars. It felt almost like a historical fiction. It is very wordy and has a lot of description and setup, but everything has a reason. Unlike the “Alienist” I felt all the meandering and descriptions worked in this books favor. It had just the right amount. I am thoroughly pleased with this book and greatly prefer this over the original it takes inspiration from.
Last little note. If you like gothic fiction, you’ll probably enjoy this even more cause there are little references or nods to other works. Like Sherlock Holmes and Picture of Dorian Gray.
April 17, 2021
Thanks to Clara Diaz from Little, Brown Book Group UK and to NetGalley for providing me an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review.
I read and reviewed Rusell’s novel The Devil Aspect and enjoyed the historical detail, the emphasis on psychological factors, and the Gothic/horror elements of the story, and there are many features I recognise here, although the setting is Scotland, Edinburgh to be more specific, the myths these time are Celtic, and the historical period is the Victorian era, at a time when Scotland has become a part of the United Kingdom, but not everybody is in agreement with that and/or with the imperialist drive of the British government. As was the case with the other novel, it is difficult to talk about the plot without revealing too much and spoiling some of the surprises —and there are plenty— to come, because the story is constructed as a mystery-cum-police procedural, combined with psychological/supernatural/darkGothic-horror elements. The whole narrative is framed by a conversation between writer Robert Louis Stevenson and his friend Edward Hyde, where Stevenson tells Hyde that he is obsessed by the subject of the duality of the spirit, the fact that we all have a dark side that is hidden but might manifest itself in certain circumstances, but he feels unable to write about it. Hyde decides to tell him a relevant story, and the rest of the novel is the story which we are to assume managed to inspire Stevenson to write one of his most famous novels.
I have mentioned duality, and, in fact, multiple dualities and hidden identities are among the most important subjects of the story: Edinburgh (Scottish but also a part of the British empire; old/traditional and at the head of the industrial revolution, modernisation and electrification; prejudiced [against foreigners, sexual diversity, women...] and tolerant); Hyde, the main protagonist (decent and honest, but with a traumatic past, unable to tell the truth about his doubts and fears, and deeply concerned about the darkness within); secret and dark societies hiding behind socially acceptable fronts; moral crusades pretending to protect the public from terrorist risks... There are plenty of historical details about old Edinburgh, its characters, its institutions, its stories, its buildings... I am sure anybody who’s ever visited Edinburgh or who has dreamed of visiting it will be fascinated by this story, and will have plenty of places to add to their list, and they will view some pretty well-known locations under a different light. I was also inspired by the stories from Celtic mythology mentioned to research more on the subject, and there is much that intrigued me and kept me hooked onto the story. As this is a mystery and a historical police procedural, there are crimes, and despite (or because of) their ritualistic nature they are quite gross and gore, so caution is advised to those who prefer milder reads.
The story is narrated in the third person, mostly from Hyde’s point of view (although he is an unreliable narrator, as he experiences some strange visions and dreams, and also periods of blackout and lost time, when he doesn’t know what has happened, so separating the truth from his dreams is not always straight forward), although we also get some chapters or fragments of chapters from other characters’ perspective; like his psychiatrist and friend (who also hides some secrets of his own); Cally Burr, a wonderful female doctor (and my favourite character together with Hyde); Elspeth Lockwood, the daughter of a well-off family, and a pretty strong and determined woman (who is also pretty unreliable as a narrator); Hyde’s collaborators... Some of the other characters we only get to know through their interactions with the rest, like his boss; a mysterious leader/spiritualist and his right-hand man (who is fascinating as well); a man suspected of being a nationalist leader; a photographer who is more involved than he seems at first; relatives of the victims...
The story’s style is Gothic, not only because of the nature of the subject and the setting, but because it does reverberate with the style of the old novels of the period, and that includes the use of old Scottish words and terminology, and a pace that is more leisurely and less concerned with only advancing the story as most modern novels are. There is plenty of telling, including descriptions of locations, people, stories and detailed background of the mythology and the individual characters’ experiences that help create a credible and eerie Gothic atmosphere. But there is also much showing, as we experience some of the events from the point of view of the protagonists, getting to feel their confusion and puzzlement, and not knowing either if what we’re reading is happening or is a dream, or perhaps a state of consciousness somewhere in between. The different narratives alternate, and although it is clear whose perspective we are reading at any given time, it is important to keep one’s attention sharp, as is the case with police procedurals in general. Because there are some dark/Jungian/mythological/paranormal elements, I am not sure this book will work for purists of that genre, but there are plenty of twists, red herrings, false clues, and surprises, and those should keep most readers who love mixed-genres hooked and satisfied. There are also plenty of subjective and introspective moments for those of us who love to explore the recesses of characters’ minds, and although it is not a slow book, it allows readers time to ponder on the beauty of certain passages, and also to think about the deeper meaning of some of the experiences explored in the novel. As I tend to do, and because I want to avoid revealing any important points of the novel, I recommend future readers to check a sample of the book to help them decide if the style works for them.
Was I surprised by the ending? Well, I guessed some aspects of it (no, I won’t go into more detail than that), although quite late into the story, but not all, and yes, I enjoyed it. I would go as far to say that it was quite beautiful. It definitely worked for me.
So, do I recommend it? Yes, to those who are not purists of the police procedural, to readers who love historical fiction with a bit of a twist, who are not afraid of violent crime and dark and horrific subjects, who love unreliable narrators psychologically troubled, and especially those who aren’t looking for an stylistically modern narrative but are able to enjoy descriptions, precious writing, and language appropriate to the historical period. I intend to carry on reading Russell’s novels in the future and wonder where and when he’ll take me next.
I read and reviewed Rusell’s novel The Devil Aspect and enjoyed the historical detail, the emphasis on psychological factors, and the Gothic/horror elements of the story, and there are many features I recognise here, although the setting is Scotland, Edinburgh to be more specific, the myths these time are Celtic, and the historical period is the Victorian era, at a time when Scotland has become a part of the United Kingdom, but not everybody is in agreement with that and/or with the imperialist drive of the British government. As was the case with the other novel, it is difficult to talk about the plot without revealing too much and spoiling some of the surprises —and there are plenty— to come, because the story is constructed as a mystery-cum-police procedural, combined with psychological/supernatural/darkGothic-horror elements. The whole narrative is framed by a conversation between writer Robert Louis Stevenson and his friend Edward Hyde, where Stevenson tells Hyde that he is obsessed by the subject of the duality of the spirit, the fact that we all have a dark side that is hidden but might manifest itself in certain circumstances, but he feels unable to write about it. Hyde decides to tell him a relevant story, and the rest of the novel is the story which we are to assume managed to inspire Stevenson to write one of his most famous novels.
I have mentioned duality, and, in fact, multiple dualities and hidden identities are among the most important subjects of the story: Edinburgh (Scottish but also a part of the British empire; old/traditional and at the head of the industrial revolution, modernisation and electrification; prejudiced [against foreigners, sexual diversity, women...] and tolerant); Hyde, the main protagonist (decent and honest, but with a traumatic past, unable to tell the truth about his doubts and fears, and deeply concerned about the darkness within); secret and dark societies hiding behind socially acceptable fronts; moral crusades pretending to protect the public from terrorist risks... There are plenty of historical details about old Edinburgh, its characters, its institutions, its stories, its buildings... I am sure anybody who’s ever visited Edinburgh or who has dreamed of visiting it will be fascinated by this story, and will have plenty of places to add to their list, and they will view some pretty well-known locations under a different light. I was also inspired by the stories from Celtic mythology mentioned to research more on the subject, and there is much that intrigued me and kept me hooked onto the story. As this is a mystery and a historical police procedural, there are crimes, and despite (or because of) their ritualistic nature they are quite gross and gore, so caution is advised to those who prefer milder reads.
The story is narrated in the third person, mostly from Hyde’s point of view (although he is an unreliable narrator, as he experiences some strange visions and dreams, and also periods of blackout and lost time, when he doesn’t know what has happened, so separating the truth from his dreams is not always straight forward), although we also get some chapters or fragments of chapters from other characters’ perspective; like his psychiatrist and friend (who also hides some secrets of his own); Cally Burr, a wonderful female doctor (and my favourite character together with Hyde); Elspeth Lockwood, the daughter of a well-off family, and a pretty strong and determined woman (who is also pretty unreliable as a narrator); Hyde’s collaborators... Some of the other characters we only get to know through their interactions with the rest, like his boss; a mysterious leader/spiritualist and his right-hand man (who is fascinating as well); a man suspected of being a nationalist leader; a photographer who is more involved than he seems at first; relatives of the victims...
The story’s style is Gothic, not only because of the nature of the subject and the setting, but because it does reverberate with the style of the old novels of the period, and that includes the use of old Scottish words and terminology, and a pace that is more leisurely and less concerned with only advancing the story as most modern novels are. There is plenty of telling, including descriptions of locations, people, stories and detailed background of the mythology and the individual characters’ experiences that help create a credible and eerie Gothic atmosphere. But there is also much showing, as we experience some of the events from the point of view of the protagonists, getting to feel their confusion and puzzlement, and not knowing either if what we’re reading is happening or is a dream, or perhaps a state of consciousness somewhere in between. The different narratives alternate, and although it is clear whose perspective we are reading at any given time, it is important to keep one’s attention sharp, as is the case with police procedurals in general. Because there are some dark/Jungian/mythological/paranormal elements, I am not sure this book will work for purists of that genre, but there are plenty of twists, red herrings, false clues, and surprises, and those should keep most readers who love mixed-genres hooked and satisfied. There are also plenty of subjective and introspective moments for those of us who love to explore the recesses of characters’ minds, and although it is not a slow book, it allows readers time to ponder on the beauty of certain passages, and also to think about the deeper meaning of some of the experiences explored in the novel. As I tend to do, and because I want to avoid revealing any important points of the novel, I recommend future readers to check a sample of the book to help them decide if the style works for them.
Was I surprised by the ending? Well, I guessed some aspects of it (no, I won’t go into more detail than that), although quite late into the story, but not all, and yes, I enjoyed it. I would go as far to say that it was quite beautiful. It definitely worked for me.
So, do I recommend it? Yes, to those who are not purists of the police procedural, to readers who love historical fiction with a bit of a twist, who are not afraid of violent crime and dark and horrific subjects, who love unreliable narrators psychologically troubled, and especially those who aren’t looking for an stylistically modern narrative but are able to enjoy descriptions, precious writing, and language appropriate to the historical period. I intend to carry on reading Russell’s novels in the future and wonder where and when he’ll take me next.
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