A sensual, clever, uniquely transgressive queer horror interpretation of a Conan Doyle novel.
A classic detective adventure gets a carnal revamp in this erotica.
By turns darkly ominous and sexually explicit, McOmber’s novel inventively reimagines Sherlock Holmes and his trusty assistant, Dr. John Watson, as they investigate a series of murders plaguing the mysterious countryside of Dartmoor in southwest England. As a forgery case has delayed Holmes’ arrival, Watson—rewritten as a frustrated, lonesome, yet incurably randy gay man—begins independently poking around the ancient bogland of Grimpen Mire. He seeks clues to the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville, who has been “buggered to death,” with animal paw prints scattered around the corpse. The Baskerville family legend is steeped in curses, sorcery, and witchcraft, as devilishly detailed by Dr. Mortimer. The physician is tending to Charles’ cousin Henry, who is afflicted with delusional hysteria. At Mortimer’s direction, a medieval priapic contraption is crafted, meant to relentlessly impale Henry. When it fails to quell his ailment, Henry panics that he will be the next Baskerville to be slaughtered. Watson—who colorfully narrates the story through a series of vivid events, coital dalliances, and historical facts—is skeptical that a rumored “enormous spectral hound” murdered Charles until the estate’s young, strapping servant, Barrymore, leads the smitten sleuth into some catacombs. There, an otherworldly portal hosts a variety of mythic beings and creatures. After the two men have sex, other corpses turn up, but Watson is most concerned with what he witnesses when local witch Beryl Stapleton magically teleports him from Merripit House, outside of Grimpen Village, to 221B Baker Street in London. Holmes, now revealed as Watson’s life partner, is entertaining another man. When Watson is ambushed from behind by an unknown assailant, he flees to London to regroup with Holmes and solve the case, but more surprises await. In this ingenious, stimulating novel, McOmber adds depth to Arthur Conan Doyle’s TheHound of the Baskervilles with era-appropriate details on the gay guilt and shame that consistently darken and demoralize Watson’s identity. The protagonist’s emotional pain is only suppressed with an opium tincture that he keeps close at hand. Exploring the story’s spicy blend of same-sex carnal and supernatural elements, fans of edgy erotic fiction will consider McOmber’s sexy, twisty, and creatively imagined revision a gothic triumph.
A sensual, clever, uniquely transgressive queer horror interpretation of a Conan Doyle novel.Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2022
ISBN: 9781590215197
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Lethe Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
