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 bring 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 slip 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.

Absolute genius!

From the first page with it's the links to Deacon Brodie's shady past, the relationship between Russell's 'Hyde' and the original by Stevenson are clear. The addition of some other notable fictional characters from both the original text and the literary period as a whole kept me smiling as I read.

A journey into a dark and troubled mind with twists and turns with the dark, gothic setting makes this an absolute MUST read!

The following will go live at the link below on 24 February:

Hi and welcome to my review of Hyde! Last year I had a great time with Craig Russell’s previous novel, The Devil Aspect, so when I first got wind of Hyde I was very excited, even more so after reading the blurb and seeing the trailer.

Hyde introduces us to Robert Louis Stevenson, a frail, gaunt man talking to his robust friend Edward Hyde about a book he is trying to write. He knows exactly what he wants to write but the words to do so elude him and it’s consuming him. When he tells Hyde that he wants to write about the duality of human nature, the good within the bad and vice versa, and the coexistence of good and evil in one person, Hyde tells him he has a tale about just that…

A story within a story: Edward Hyde’s tale takes us back in time two years. Superintendent of detective officers in Edinburgh’s City Police, Captain Hyde has just found a man thrice murdered: hanged, ripped and drowned, but he has no recollection of why he was at the scene in the first place, which is rather troubling, as is the terror of the young Highland girl there with him and her talk of banshees.

According to Hyde’s friend and physician Dr Porteous, Hyde has a form of epilepsy. But what a strange form it is: absences from reality, hallucinations, nocturnal seizures. Hyde is not sure that’s all it is, and he’s starting to suspect his medicine makes him worse instead of better. Of course the reader is equally unsure. Are we to trust Hyde, or is he the unreliable narrator the legend would have us believe? I have to admit I kept asking myself that same question over and over again, I just couldn’t be sure.

After tackling the legend of Jack the Ripper in The Devil Aspect, Craig Russell now takes the tale of Jekyll and Hyde and makes it entirely his own. The result is respectful of tradition, yet refreshing. I went in expecting a dark, Gothic tale, atmospheric and disturbing, and that was exactly what I got. Between Hyde himself and other mysterious, somewhat off characters, Hyde has the kind of dark vibe that I adore, keeping me wary of almost every single character throughout.

Small details give Hyde an air of authenticity and the reader a sense of the era: the mention of electrification in the streets of Edinburgh, the intricacies of post-mortem investigation, how stomach content is already examined but blood testing is still a new, limited and largely mistrusted part of an autopsy, and the (male) mistrust of a female physician (Dr Callie Burr is a brilliant character though!). Other story elements refer to Scottish legends and folklore, rituals, Celtic mythology. The combination is an interesting one, intelligent and intriguing.

Hyde utterly fascinated me, drawing me into its dark, mesmerising depths where historic and occult crime fiction meet. Recommended.

Hyde is out on 4 March. Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

A gothic horror tale emanating from the premise of Jekyll and Hyde where an Edinburgh policeman , Hyde, investigates a series of murders. He must also face his own devils that make him cast doubt on his own credibility. . Russell integrates Scottish myths and legends into the story that has so many twists and turns in atmospheric Edinburgh it has you spinning through the pages.
A foray into dark places real , imaginary or psychologically induced.

Hyde is a book that follows Captain Edward Hyde who is the Super intendant of inspectors of Edinburgh police and his team on a bunch of murder mystery cases. The book starts with a hanged man and throughout the book, we learn of further murders which we later learn are all connected. The other part of this book which is also linked in with the murders is that of an Otherworld which is present in the minds of a number of people in the book including Edward Hyde himself. The book also contains a case of a missing woman which again links to the murders and that of the Otherworld which is spoken about throughout the book.

I could say lots of things about this book but I will start by saying it is an analysers dream book, therefore, making it perfect for an English Langauge and/or Literature exam which would see students analyse the great language. This book disappointingly did not contain as much of Robert Louis Stevenson's book The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde which was a bit unfortunate to start with but it was soon a good thing. This book does reference Stevenson's book as well as Dantes Divine Comedy though. Furthermore, the book also references Freud's ideas of the Id, ego and superego which is also featured in Stevenson's book which is again great to bring in the psychology element as well as again linking it to Stevenson's original book.

Furthermore, there are many references and adjectives used in this book to present Hyde who in this book is a good man as an evil man with a dual personality and like the Hyde we know from Stevenson's book which really adds to the suspense of this book. Finally for this paragraph, Russell I must say is the master of, or more like the king of cliff hangers and hooks as whenever I got to the end of a chapter he always got me reading the next and this kept me up late at night reading his amazing book which is obviously a sign of an outstanding book.

I like this book on many different levels. Firstly, it is similar but different to Stevenson's story which worked out to be a good thing and really made the two stories work well together. The whole idea of Edward Hyde is greatly juxtaposed in this book compared to that of Stevenson's book which once again makes for an interesting read. Furthermore, the story is a unique psychological thriller which I like and really took to my interest. Also, this is a good modern gothic book which features all the elements of Gothic Literature which I love!

I disliked a few parts of this book and they include how the horror was not as intense as it could have been and did not frighten me as much as I would have liked and one of the other things was the ending. I did not like how it ended as it ended a bit too soon which was a shame as I have been enjoying this book so much.

This book is different compared to other books as it is well written and full of hooks to keep the reader interested and the writer uses genres which are obviously of a readers interest. Readers like me like horror, we like psychology, we like gothic literature and I am surprised to say I like the murder mystery element and Russell has been able to incorporate all these ideas into one book which although is completely independent of Stevenson's tale is also nicely incorporated with it.

Altogether, this is an outstanding book and I would go as far as saying not only it is the best book I have read this year but the best modern fictional book I have read in a very long time. I really have not found another modern fiction book like this which I have enjoyed as much as this is an excellent piece of art, this is literature even. That is why I, therefore, must rate this book 5 stars as it really is a work which should be enjoyed for hundreds of years to come.

Yes yes yes to this fantastic book! I had no idea what I was in for when I started the read, but it plunged me headfirst into my favourite city in the world. I was sold on the concept that Hyde is the main character of this book (there's no Jekyll mind you), but when my city was described in detail including all the little alleyways I could not stop dreaming about it.

I could picture exactly where all the action takes place. Edinburgh is a perfect setting for a Victorian Horror novel. If you haven't visited, check out photos at least to take in the vibe a little bit.

Right, the story is about Hyde, a police officer. He has to investigate the murder of a man which seems to point to some ritualistic offering. As the body count grows, so does Hyde's sense of reality. Even though Jekyll is not present in this book, Hyde does blank out and someone else takes over. What is this someone else capable of though?

I thought the concept was incredibly clever. I mentioned before I really enjoyed the setting, and I like the general atmosphere of the novel. I didn't know Craig Russell, but I'll check out The Devil Aspect, which has received a lot of praise previously.

If you like atmospheric horror novels, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Check this novel out!

Craig Russell is intent on exploring the idea of split personalities, or what might make otherwise good people do bad things. In his last novel, The Devil Aspect, set in a European asylum on the eve of World War II, the question was whether it was the devil, or some other malevolent spirit that possessed people and caused them to commit horrific crimes. Given this background, it is no surprise that Russell was drawn to the famous Robert Louis Stevenson story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In Hyde he manages to riff on that story to deliver a kind of gothic procedural, although one that explores these same issues.
The book opens on a burly Edward Hyde sitting by the ocean with his good friend Stevenson. They are discussing the possibility of split personalities, of a good and evil side to a person that may be unaware of each other. This leads Hyde to tell Stevenson the story that makes up the majority of this book. Edward Hyde, it turns out, is the chief detective in the Edinburgh police force. He is suffering from a mental condition that causes him to have strange visions and to lose time, a condition that he has not revealed to his superiors. After one of these episodes he finds himself in the town of Dean where he is led to the discovery of a hanging body that has been killed “three times”. This is the first of a series of murders and disappearances that are connected to Celtic mythology and Scottish nationalism and will have Hyde questioning his own sanity.
As with The Devil Aspect, Russell effectively deploys his creepy, gothic styling on the story. The ancient city of Edinburgh during the later years of the industrial revolution makes a perfect setting for this type of tale. Locations are dark and candlelit, there is significant poverty and destitution and new development butts up against ancient ritual. Into this mix, Russell drops dark elements of Celtic mythology, stories of devil hounds, doll coffins, a Dark Guild, hanging trees and mysterious standing stones. And on top of this he layers readers’ likely understanding of the basic story of Jekyll and Hyde – of a man who is in fact two men, one peaceful one violent, who have no knowledge of each other, struggling for control of the same body. But this knowledge is also used against the reader to an extent, managing their understanding of the protagonist and potentially diverting their attention away from other clues.
Overall, Hyde is an effective reinvention and explanation of a classic tale for modern times. But it also allows Russell to once again explore a horror trope that he is clearly interested in. Russell pitches this as the inspiration for the classic tale but the only really connection to that tale, the character of Edward Hyde, is a bit of a bluff. Referential bookends aside, with Hyde Russell has produced a strong, twisty, gothic, standalone historical police procedural with a conflicted protagonist and a strong sense of place that is well worth reading on its own merits.

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.

Variations on Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde story are commonplace, or at least its theme about the duality of human nature and its capacity for evil is influential on much of crime fiction, but what can Craig Russell bring to the subject that is new?

Well in some ways, Hyde is a companion piece or expansion of how Russell treated similar themes in his last book The Devil Aspect. That rip-roaring Gothic adventure managed to blend vampire mythology with East European folklore and hints of the dark side of Nazism in its 1935 setting. The "devil aspect" theory suggested that the potential for madness lies in all of us and with the right trigger applied, those most susceptible can be pushed towards acts of great evil. Hyde seems the obvious way to explore this issue further, but you can expect that Russell will similarly bring a new and thrilling twist to the classic story.

What is immediately noticeable about the story is how Russell brings it back to the Scottish origins of Jekyll and Hyde's creator, Robert Louis Stevenson. Setting Hyde in Edinburgh, he retains the feel of the late Victorian period for maximum Gothic character, as well evidently for the theme of the social hypocrisy of respectable citizens having secret lives of sin and depravity. Edinburgh also proves suitable as the centre of medical innovation and advances in scientific thought at this time, and indeed the real-life Dr Joseph Bell, the inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes, even makes a brief appearance here.

The second difference in Russell's version of Stevenson's classic story is that there is no Dr Jekyll, but rather it's Captain Edward Henry Hyde who appears to suffer from a split personality, a thoughtful and compassionate man with a frightening demeanour who suffers trance-like "absences", losing any conscious memory of where he goes and what he does. His private doctor puts these states down to a form of epilepsy and examines and, as Hyde is also a Superintendent in the city's police force, he treats his condition in secret, as such an impairment could put his reputation and career at risk were his superiors to know of it.

Even more worrying for Hyde however, is the fact that he comes around from one of his absences close to the scene of a gruesome murder that has a worryingly ritualistic aspect to it. It's clearly far from the usual crimes seen in the city, and it's not the only one. A man who Hyde believes is innocent - but has no proof - is about to be executed for the murder of a young child with similar mysterious elements to it. With his own condition, Hyde can't even be sure himself that he is not involved in these killings.

The Scottish setting allows Russell to draw from Celtic mythology for additional dark horror, Hyde hearing the scream of a ban-sith (a banshee) near the murdered man, and being drawn in his other state into the realm of mythical creatures like the cù dubh ifrInn, the great black hellhound. It soon becomes clear from symbols and ritualistic killings that there also appears to be an occult element to what is going on here.

As with The Devil Aspect, all of these dark elements and some of the scenes, characters and situations give the impression that Craig Russell appears to be indulging in cinematic popcorn entertainment and seems to lose sight of the underlying human psychological impulses in the midst of all the occult and mythology. There are hints dropped however that play out through to the conclusion that this division in human nature can be seen to derive from atrocities committed in the past, crimes on an appalling scale that Hyde himself cannot claim to be entirely without blame. That ambiguity certainly plays into the horror and drama that takes place in Hyde, giving a little more thoughtfulness and depth to what nonetheless still feels mainly like an entertaining pulp Gothic horror.

For fans of "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", this book is for you. This is the "true telling" of Hyde's dual nature as told to Robert Louis Stevenson. Throughout the book, Captain Hyde of the Edinburgh police force tries to uncover what is happening in a series of linked crimes, surrounding the Dark Guild. The Deacon's identity is kept secret right to the end.

Full of atmosphere, makes me want to visit Edinburgh again.

This is very creepy and addictive read full of Victorian gothic suspense and written in such a way that it just filled me with terror at the slightest creak or noise from my old house whilst I was reading it.
I must admit it took me a little time to get fully immersed into the book but once I did I was gripped by this dark and compelling story. I loved all references to Celtic legends and there was so many interesting historical facts it made for a read that was much more than just a run of the mill gothic horror it was a book crafted with care and attention and Craig Russell once more has written a story that is different and one in my opinion to be very proud of.
An almost impossible plot to describe without giving things away but it was a read I tried hard to figure out just who the main protagonist was and I failed miserably just as I did in Craig’s last book The Devil Aspect which I also loved.
So heaps of praise for this one and if you enjoy fine storytelling this this surely is the book for you, many thanks Craig Russell for something compelling and different and with a whole heap of creepiness to boot !!
My thanks also to NetGalley and Little,Brown Book Group UK, Constable for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.

I adored The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell and jumped at the chance to read Hyde when it became available on Netgalley.

It's a brilliantly multi-layered novel that begins with the discovery of a man – initially unidentified – brutally murdered in a ritualistic fashion. It goes on to incorporate a missing heiress, a murdered doctor, an occultist, and ideas of Scottish nationalism. It sounds complex – and it is – but not so much as to feel overwhelming. The individual investigations progress nicely, with small clues discovered that lead to unexpected connections between the seemingly disparate cases while also sifting out the red herrings that seem, initially, to bear more relevance. I enjoyed it from the very first page and was gripped throughout.

Captain Edward Henry Hyde is a fantastic character, and one who plays with the reader’s sympathies throughout. Superintendent of detective officers in Edinburgh City’s police, he is a good man – he wishes to do his job, and to do it well, seeking justice and not just a result for the crimes he investigates. Hyde is haunted by a secret, however – one that he has so far managed to keep from his superiors and acquaintances. Hyde has periods of “lost time” – episodes that he has no recollection of afterwards, and no idea of where he goes or what he does. Seeking treatment from a neuropsychiatrist, it is diagnosed as epilepsy, and yet the doctor seems reluctant to share details when pushed. With crimes being committed by a violent and as yet unidentified individual, both Hyde and the reader begin to wonder about those episodes… It’s a fantastic set up, and one that had me questioning Hyde’s character throughout. I didn’t want it to be him, but I couldn’t help but wonder as I read on.

I liked the framing of the novel, which shows a meeting between two friends, one of whom is no less than Robert Louis Stevenson who wants to write a tale about the duality of human nature but is lacking a little inspiration when it comes to getting the words on the page. This prompts his companion to tell Hyde’s story. It is impossible – for me at least – not to consider that other fictional Hyde while reading this, but Russell has taken that idea and made it wholly his own in this novel, Stevenson’s tale providing inspiration for his own.

Rich in detail of time and place, Russell successfully brings Victorian Edinburgh to life. He uses mythology and folklore to enhance the narrative, which is wonderfully dark and has a Gothic feel. It’s an excellent work of detective fiction, but one that successfully toys with the boundaries, straying into horror at times through the exploration of dreamscapes and some of the darker elements of Celtic mythology. Overall, it’s a fantastic read that is perfect for these dark winter nights. Just make sure you’re locked away safely indoors first.

Hyde will be published on 4 February 2021 by Constable, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group. Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Hyde prior to publication via Netgalley.

Set in Victorian Edinburgh this book promised a lot but failed to deliver on it.
Burdened by unnecessary detail at times the story got a bit lost.
It shifts between the real world and the mystical world of Edward Hyde, superintendent in Edinburgh Police, where he has to find the perpetrators of a series of murders.
It took me four attempts to read this - I was determined to finish it - good in parts, not so good in others.
3 Stars.
Thanks to #NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

Brooding, dark, full of twists, and multiple clever references to historical and fictional characters. A well written, gripping read, that starts out a little slow, but once it has you hooked, really brings you along for the ride.

Set in the atmospheric 19th Century Edinburgh, the book opens with Captain Edward Hyde, Superintendent in Edinburgh City Police, speaking with his friend, Robert L. Stevenson. He tells him of a tale that, he says, Stevenson won’t believe. At first I thought this was going to be a mundane retelling of the Jekyll and Hyde story. But Hyde is full of excellent characters, plot twists, a mounting gruesome body count, occult happenings, and Celtic folklore. Pulling all of this together seamlessly to bring you along on a terrifying race through the city to try save lives before it is too late, to battle the monster - but who is the real monster? Hyde must save the girl, and keep his mind in the process, but has he already lost it?

This book is a disturbing read, scary, unsettling, full of terror, darkness and drama. A diabolical jaunt through Edinburgh, through the human mind, and to the darkness of the human soul. Kudos to Craig Russell for an ability to blend so much into a book, history, the references to historic characters, a weaving storyline. One to read on a dark evening by candlelight!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an advance copy of Hyde, a stand-alone gothic novel set in late 19th century Edinburgh.

Captain Edward Hyde, Superintendent of Detectives, hears loud wailing and following it finds a man murdered in a ritualistic fashion. The problem is that Hyde, who, due to a neurological condition, loses time and has vivid, violent dreams, has no idea why he was in the area. His investigation leads him into Celtic folklore and symbolism and brings him to suspect himself.

Hyde is a novel of two halves, the first of which did not hold my attention, being slow and wordy, while the second half had me gripped with all its developments and explanations. I’m glad I persevered through the slowness as the novel is quite a tour-de-force when regarded from the end.

Firstly I will state that I came to this novel with no understanding, beyond split personalities, of Stevenson’s novella so it’s all new to me. I did, however, have this little bit of knowledge in mind as I read Hyde, and it added a certain frisson of “is it him?” to the read. After that I’m not quite sure where to start. The novel is very visual with detailed descriptions of the characters, their garb and locations. The historical research is impressive and its translation effective. It makes for a great atmosphere but the slim pickings in the plot in the first half tend to get lost in all this detail. Only in the second half does the plot take front and centre and then it goes full on gothic with symbolism, dream sequences, double crosses and plenty of action, this latter being great fun and in keeping with the tone of the novel but perhaps not entirely plausible. I was engrossed, especially with all the twists that I didn’t see coming.

I must admit that I’m not a great one for symbolism in my reading, much preferring the obvious and logical. I liked all the references to Celtic mythology which was a learning experience for me, but many of duality references I ignored, be it personality, nature or culture. They are rammed home so I’m not blind to them, just uninterested in the literary bent to them. Is this ironic given my take on the novel having two halves or is it a subtler take by the author on duality?

I like the strong characters in the novel. Edward Hyde is essentially a man of action but his condition leads to more introspection, sensitivity and analysis than one would expect. Dr Cally Burr, his confidante, is another role model, being a newly minted doctor when it wasn’t easy for women to graduate, never mind pursue a career in medicine.

Hyde is complicated but ultimately rewarding read with many levels that I can recommend.

Omg!!!! Omg!!!! Yes!!!! This is what I have been waiting for.. gothickly dark... yes.... a brilliant yet haunted detective... yes.... brilliant descriptions of Edinburgh and environs.... yes. Excellent cast of characters.... yes!!! Yes and yes. I love everything about this twisty, nightmarish tale I also love the fact that it makes Hyde a more complex and sympathetic character and yes the hero of this story and all these little snippets of famous people such as Joseph bell and Conan Doyle love it... absolutely magnificent. I also love how strong the female leads are even how complex each are drawn. And yes I do love the idea of the twist to a famous gothic horror story that makes us think about the animal in man and in all of us. I want this book in my life... and I want more!!!!!

An eerie spooky tale. It gripped me from the beginning and I read it in two sittings. You get an idea from the outset what's going to happen but that doesn't take anything away from the story. My first Craig Russell novel and I was very impressed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Tremendous gothic novel gives a reason for R L Stevenson’s Jekyll and Mr Hyde story. Blood soaked and darkly atmospheric this is a really very good read. Great characters and unforeseen twists keep things rattling along with descriptions of Edinburgh in its old reekie days all cleverly done. Best horror tale I’ve read in a long time!

Fans of gothic fiction will not be disappointed. If you enjoyed Dracul by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker, then you'll love Hyde - a different take on a much loved narrative.

Craig Russell is a fantastic writer. This was my first time reading his work, but I really appreciated the level of effort and research that went into this novel.

Hyde is devilishly gothic, in all the right ways, the body count just keeps climbing with every page and the setting of Victorian Edinburgh is beautifully crafted - it sucked me in and I didn't doubt it for one minute.

Capitan Hyde works his way through a series of gruesome murders whilst battling memory loss, confusion and desire. Dr Burr was my favourite character as I enjoyed the issues Russell explore through her. The twist didn't suprise me as the very nature of the narrative makes you question everything from the beginning. That said, I didn't feel disappointed or let down by it as this novel is still very satisfying and a great example of exceptional writing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book group for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.