Synopsis for Thirteenth Gate (from Goodreads):
Winter 1888. At a private asylum in the English countryside, a man suspected of being Jack the Ripper kills an orderly and flees into the rain-soaked night. His distraught keepers summon the Lady Vivienne Cumberland—who’s interviewed their patient and isn’t sure he’s a man at all. An enigmatic woman who guards her own secrets closely, Lady Vivienne knows a creature from the underworld when she sees one. And he’s the most dangerous she’s ever encountered.
As Jack rampages through London, this time targeting rare book collectors, Lady Vivienne begins to suspect what he’s looking for. And if he finds it, the doors to purgatory will be thrown wide open…
Across the Atlantic, an archaeologist is brutally murdered after a Christmas Eve gala at the American Museum of Natural History. Certain peculiar aspects of the crime attract the interest of the Society for Psychical Research and its newest investigator, Harrison Fearing Pell. Is Dr. Julius Sabelline’s death related to his recent dig in Alexandria? Or is the motive something darker?
As Harry uncovers troubling connections to a serial murder case she’d believed was definitively solved, two mysteries converge amid the grit and glamor of Gilded Age New York. Harry and Lady Vivienne must join forces to stop an ancient evil. The key is something called the Thirteenth Gate. But where is it? And more importantly, who will find it first?
Previous book in the series:
Series: Dominion Mystery
Author: Kat Ross
# of Books: 2 (Daemoniac, The Thirteenth Gate)
Book Order: Connected but Chronological Events
Complete?: Unsure
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Mystery, Supernatural
Heat Rating: cold
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Date: October 2016 – June 2017
Source & Format: Xpresso Book Tours–eARC
Add: Goodreads | Buy: Amazon / Kobo
Catch my review of Book #1, The Daemoniac, here!
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I picked up Book One in the series, The Daemoniac, because of its allusion to Sherlock Holmes. It was a slow go but I really got invested in the characters, enjoyed the mystery and loved the tone of the novel.
I was excited to see what was next for amateur sleuth Harry Pell and meet the new leads in this story.
The Plot:
Much like its predecessor, this story features a lot of detail. The chapters are wordy but for mystery fans, especially Sherlock Holmes ones, you’ll be right at home. Especially with the switch to third person POV.
I will admit that the chapters with Vivienne and Alec were harder to get into just because I love Harry and John and was used to their narrative. But the intrigue is there and it kept me interested in going forward though it did feel slower when I compare reading Harry’s chapters.
Note: I found out after I read the author’s note at the end that Vivienne and Alec are a part of her The Fourth Element series so some readers may be familiar with them.
It is a different vibe though in this story. Almost like you have two books smashed into one. And for the first little while, it’s hard to see how they will interweave. Eventually, it becomes obvious and it’s cool to see how it is all put together. It’s one of those things that makes more sense in hindsight.
The Characters:
Vivienne and Alec are very mysterious so it was cool to be introduced to them. They added this new layer to the entire story that enriches the whole series.
I really love Harry as a lead so I relished those chapters with her. Her chemistry with John is just so enjoyable to me as a reader.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I’m curious to see where this series is going to go next. I never know what is in store from book to book and it always surprises me in some way.
My Rating: 3/5
The Daemoniac 4/5 | The Thirteenth Gate 3/5
For those who love intrigue and complex worlds, this mystery series is only getting more intricate with this installment!
Read if You Like: Sherlock Holmes, mysteries
Avoid if You: dislike mystery stories, dislike stories with lots of detail
- The Iron Wyrm Affair by Lilith Saintcrow (Bannon and Clare Series #1)
- The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone (Paranormal Investigator Series #1)
Kat Ross
Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.
Add: Goodreads | Buy: Amazon / Kobo
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Great review! This sounds like a good read overall and well balanced with character dev and plot! Glad you liked it! 🙂
It definitely is a character driven series!
thanks for reviewing, I’m happy you liked it! I’ll probably do some standalones with Harry & John in future too, I feel like they deserve another whole book 🙂
That is awesome news! I just love their partnership!