The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter

The alchemist in question being Dr. Jekyll. The basic conceit of the book is that various works of Victorian fiction actually happened, although often with some amendment to their original plots. Most of the novels used as source material are well-known; while I confess that I've only actually read Dracula in the original form, I'm familiar enough with all but one of the others from film adaptations and the like to get the references. And, even if you're not, this novel summarises the salient parts in chapter-length flashbacks anyway.

Aside from this basic idea, there are two particular points about the book that are worth making. Firstly, while Holmes and Watson are also major characters, the book is primarily about a group of disparate women and their growing camaraderie in the face of not only the obvious threat, but also the expectations of Victorian society.

The second notable feature is that the main characters frequently interrupt the narrative, switching to first person to elaborate on what's happening, ask questions of one another, or even argue with the narrator. This is an unusual literary device, but one that I, at least, found effective, often providing a source of humour that offsets some of the horror elements. Other readers may, I fully concede, find it irritating, taking them out of the plot.

The story concerns a series of grisly murders, and does include mention of, for example, prostitution. Despite this, while I wouldn't myself describe it as a YA novel, it does have a similar style in some respects, with the horror and gore underplayed, no sexual content, and very little swearing (well, Diana evidently swears a lot, but the narrator generally refuses to quote her verbatim). It's mostly a fun and upbeat book, despite some fairly dark elements here and there.

In fact, the story is as much about the women and their individual backgrounds as it is about the central mystery. Since those backgrounds all involve various mad scientists the book can fairly be described as either fantasy or science fiction - depending on your view of, for example, Jekyll's formula. It isn't, to be fair, particularly deep, but I found it to be an enjoyable read, with well-written characters and a good mix of action and investigation.