Absinthe & Arsenic

Absinthe & Arsenic: A Penny Dreadful Review

            On a dark and stormy night, I picked up a fantastic anthology of short stories by horror writer Raven Dane. On that dark and stormy night, I did not sleep. Part of that was Ms. Dane’s mastery of the eerie and gothic, and part of that was the fact that I simply enjoyed the book too much to put it down. I highly recommend Absinthe & Arsenic from Telos publishing.

            There is some glorious horror in this book. The stories will stick with you. I will never look at fog in the same way after reading “Annie By Gaslight.” The title image comes from the surreal “A Taste Of Almonds,” wherein absinthe fuels a descent into murder and madness.

            Not every story is doom and gloom. “An Inspector Falls” is a bit of silliness involving a theory, a bloody death, and a cat. Many stories have happy resolutions. “The Chill” has a sweet ending that will make you weep, and is one of the most evocative in tone and texture.

            Each story leaves a vivid impression on the psyche. The reader can see the eerie marsh ghosts; can taste the desperation in the stifling air of the zombie-besieged farmstead. I truly love Raven Dane’s vivid settings.

            I give this sampler of gothic nibbles four gears out of five. Well-executed, spooky, and captivating, it is perfect for that time when you don’t want to pick up a new novel, but you do want to read some good horror. Best of all, the anti-hero of one of Raven Dane’s novel series, Cyrus Darian, appears in several of these stories! He is always a joy to read about. I definitely recommend that you scare up a copy of Absinthe & Arsenic for your collection.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Penny Dreadful Review

            When I read true crime, it is Victorian true crime. I picked up a paperback by Kate Summerscale that I at first thought to be a mystery novel. Despite sharing many similarities with a novel mystery, it was in fact an account of a true case that shocked the Victorian world: the murder at Road Hill House.

            The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher sheds light on a case that horrified Victorian England in the summer of 1860. The mutilation of a young boy stumped the local police, and the detective brought in from London couldn’t discover enough evidence to secure a conviction. The case frightened the public so because the killer wasn’t some criminal stranger. The miscreant was part of the family. Nothing was more precious, nay, holy, to the Victorian mind.

            Kate Summerscale explores how the case was reflected in the literature of the time. She touched on the way that the new and sensational journalism of the time spread knowledge of the murder all over England. Everyone had an opinion about the identity or identities of the killer. Charles Dickens believed the murderers to be the nursemaid and the father.

            I learned so much from this well-written, well-researched book. It has all the thrill of a mystery novel and all the value of a historical text. Summerscale gets a bit sidetracked at times, exploring people’s fascinating lives, but always comes back to the heart of the matter: who really killed Francis Saville Kent? The Road Hill House murder was never satisfactorily solved, despite the confession of a murderer several years later. It was the opinion of Detective-Inspector Whicher that there was an accomplice. The mystery will never be fully solved…

            I highly recommend this book. It’s a great look at Victorian reporting and literature. It’s a fascinating tale about the early days of detection. Besides, it’s a good mystery. I award The Suspicions Of Mr. Whicher four gears out of five. I stayed up all night reading it.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather

The Iron Duke

The Iron Duke: A Penny Dreadful Review

There comes a time in every Steampunk's life when their thoughts turn to sweeter pursuits than gear-crafting. When these desires occur, the best way to ease them is with a good romance. Fortunately, I have happened upon just the book. I highly recommend slaking your lusts with The Iron Duke, by Meljean Brook.

But Miss Merriweather, you may protest, just because I want to read about people falling in love does not mean that I want a goopy comedy of manners! Fortuitously, this is not that book. The Iron Duke is also a high-stakes adventure in a fascinating world.

Meljean Brook puts a lot of attention into creating her world of the Iron Seas. Armor-plated kraken and megalodons terrorize sea traffic. Zombies roam an abandoned Europe. England has just struggled out of the choking grip of the Horde Empire thanks to the titular Iron Duke, Rhys Trahaearn, a pirate, rogue, and beloved public figure.

The Horde are the descendants of Genghis Kahn's army. The swept across China, then lay in wait for a few hundred years, developing frightening technologies - war machines, terrifying beasts, tiny, mind and body controlling bugs that they smuggled into England and Englishmen via tea and sugar. When the time was ripe, they invaded Europe, enslaving or slaughtering the populace.

            Inspector Mina Wentworth, the result of an impoverished countess and a Horde rapist, must solve a murder that lands on the Iron Duke's doorstep. Literally. The victim was thrown from an airship. When the Inspector and the Duke meet, sparks fly. If Mina gives in to her frightening desire, it could destroy her career and her family. Trahaearn nearly goes mad with the unfamiliar sensation of wanting something he cannot possess. Meanwhile, a shadowy organization known as the Black Guard is trying to obtain a weapon that could kill every Englishman who survived the Horde.

If I had a complaint, it would be about Trahaearn's possessiveness. It's disturbing to me that he initially goes after Mina as if she is a prize to own. This character trait may not bother you, but it did me. As the relationship develops, their footing becomes more equal and one understands the Duke's motivations more. He turns out quite likable.

I give The Iron Duke four gears out of five. I couldn't put it down. The adventure is gripping and the sex scenes (because eventually Mina does succumb) are scorching and erotic. I highly recommend this as a late night read. I am now on a quest for the sequel, Heart of Steel.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather