ladyofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, the lead character is a gay teacher searching for a missing girl who is one of his students. While short, this was an entertaining piece of fiction with a strong element of horror and suspense scattered throughout. Though the ending felt a bit abrupt, it ended on a hopeful note with a satisfactory end to an intriguing mystery. 4
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
Laudanum Nights is an enticing novella set in the Victorian age.
London being the usual place for tales set during this time period, this story instead takes place in the city of Blackfold. As news of a missing girl named Martha spreads throughout the neighborhood, Leonard Miller, a local teacher, is questioned by police. Because Leonard had been privately tutoring the girl, he's immediately targeted by the constables as a suspect. Well, for that reason and because of Leonard's more... private leanings. Leonard recalls another young girl that disappeared in much the same manner and sets about to investigate further in an effort to clear his name. If you want to find out what happens next, you'll have to read this novella.
I loved the setting of this book-all the darkness, dreariness and fog I think of when I picture a spooky Victorian tale are here. All of the filthy, stinking streets of the city are here too, but there's also the crumbling, aging mansion, the dotty old man and ...super creepy dolls! Dolls, I say!
It's like someone took the settings and subjects that make for a GREAT story, (at least to me), and combined them all into one compact, tasty treat; and I gobbled it up like a kid that just dumped out their Halloween booty after a heavy night of trick-or-treating. All I can say is: YUM!
Highly recommended for fans of creepy Victorian tales!
*I received a free ecopy of this novella in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
London being the usual place for tales set during this time period, this story instead takes place in the city of Blackfold. As news of a missing girl named Martha spreads throughout the neighborhood, Leonard Miller, a local teacher, is questioned by police. Because Leonard had been privately tutoring the girl, he's immediately targeted by the constables as a suspect. Well, for that reason and because of Leonard's more... private leanings. Leonard recalls another young girl that disappeared in much the same manner and sets about to investigate further in an effort to clear his name. If you want to find out what happens next, you'll have to read this novella.
I loved the setting of this book-all the darkness, dreariness and fog I think of when I picture a spooky Victorian tale are here. All of the filthy, stinking streets of the city are here too, but there's also the crumbling, aging mansion, the dotty old man and ...super creepy dolls! Dolls, I say!
It's like someone took the settings and subjects that make for a GREAT story, (at least to me), and combined them all into one compact, tasty treat; and I gobbled it up like a kid that just dumped out their Halloween booty after a heavy night of trick-or-treating. All I can say is: YUM!
Highly recommended for fans of creepy Victorian tales!
*I received a free ecopy of this novella in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
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