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
Weak and inert, like a dead vampire's heart.
A down-on-her-luck artist discovers her new roommate is a 300-year-old vampire.
Cassie Greenberg barely makes a living from her cobbled-together part-time jobs, her art incorporating trash and recycled items is too avant-garde to be successful, and she has just been evicted from her Chicago apartment. When she sees a Craigslist ad for a room rental in Lincoln Park for only $200 a month, she contacts the owner even though she’s sure there must be a catch. Frederick J. Fitzwilliam, her stunningly handsome new roommate, is a bit of an oddball: His clothes and mannerisms are too formal, he sleeps all day, and he seems completely unaware of how the modern world works. Who doesn’t have Wi-Fi or prefer texting in this day and age! Cassie mostly works when Frederick is sleeping, so they strike up a flirtatious friendship through handwritten notes. When Cassie arrives home early from work one day, she discovers the fridge is full of blood and realizes that Frederick is a vampire. He recently awoke from a centurylong coma and realized that finding a human roommate might help him learn the ropes of the 21st century. The two strike up a tentative friendship, and Cassie agrees to teach Frederick how to navigate the modern world, including using public transportation, ordering drinks at the coffee shop, and shopping for clothes at the mall. It’s a cute setup, one full of potential, but the plot and characters are shallow and underdeveloped. Cassie and Frederick settle into a tame, conflict-free relationship. The details about Frederick’s history and the supernatural world are thin and full of omissions, leaving so many unanswered questions that the book almost feels unfinished.
Weak and inert, like a dead vampire's heart.Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9780593548912
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
A largely lighthearted, charming tale that takes some bumpy turns.
A young Canadian moves to Hollywood and faces new loves, bitter jealousies, and the possibility of her dreams coming true in Stringer’s novel.
At 26 years old, Charity Trickett is ready to chase her dreams. Already a relatively successful production assistant on film sets in Vancouver, she leaves for Los Angeles after finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Awaiting Charity in Hollywood is a job with Casper, an up-and-coming director at Canopy Studios; it’s the perfect stepping stone to ultimately becoming a screenwriter. Unfortunately, what is also waiting for her is Saffron, Casper’s associate producer, who is immediately envious of Charity and pulls every petty trick in the book in an attempt to sabotage her. In spite of Saffron’s tactics, however, Charity’s skills shine through. She befriends Vivy Parker, a famous actress; meets Kai, a sexy assistant who flirts with her at every opportunity; makes strides with her script; and even begins her own pitch for a film. Later, though, after a copy of Casper’s latest movie is stolen and the finger of blame is pointed straight at Charity (as well as an investigation by the FBI), Hollywood seems to turn its back on her, and Charity doesn’t know if her career will recover or if her dreams are dead for good. Stringer’s 1997-set story is mostly a nostalgia-lite romp, though it does suffer slightly from a couple of issues. The first act is cluttered with relatable self-deprecating humorous interior monologues from the endearing protagonist, who always has good intentions (“we don’t think about unbuttoning our coworker’s oxford shirt”); the trope works, but it’s a gambit used too often at the start of the story. Additionally, the narrative does not always seem know what it wants to be, beginning as a fun, fish-out-of-water tale before making a hard left into intellectual property theft, kidney infections, and verbal abuse. Though the ups and downs of Charity’s experiences in Los Angeles feel authentic, the changes in tone can be jarring.
A largely lighthearted, charming tale that takes some bumpy turns.Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781684633166
Page Count: 320
Publisher: SparkPress
Review Posted Online: March 21, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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