The Thirteenth Gate
Kat Ross
(Dominion Mysteries #2)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: June 26th 2017
Genres: Historical, Mystery, Young Adult
Winter 1888. At an 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, Lady Vivienne begins to suspect what he’s searching 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. 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 glamour 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?
MY THOUGHTS: I have to be honest and say I wasn't quite sure about this book the first 75 pages or so. I have been greatly anticipating this book's release in part because I loved Harry and John from The Daemoniac and couldn't wait to see what they've been up to. However, this book opens up with all new characters - at least all new to me. I later found out it brings forward some main characters from Ross' Fourth Element Series. Having not read them (but now I want to) I was somewhat let down and confused. Luckily that didn't last for long.
This book chronicles a murder case and evil forces at large in the world. In fact, someone is trying to gather an ancient artifact so they can open up the gates of hell. Harry and John are soon pulled in to assist with the case once the setting moves from England to New York and after that point, I could hardly put the book down.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical mysteries/fantasy. I have to say there might be some strong romance at work, it is so minute and done in such an adult fashion - meaning no love triangles or insta-love. I am linking my review to The Daemoniac HERE because it really does lead into this book and also because I think more people should read it.
Many thanks to the author and XPresso Book Tours who provided me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
RATING: 4 PAWS
RATING: 4 PAWS
Author Bio:
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.
Hm, interesting that she's chosen to play with her different characters so.I just read your review of Daemoniac, and that sounds brilliant, before I came back to re-read this and realised it's not a complete follow on -- it sounds as though this was pretty good overall, despite the slow pace in the beginning, and some confusion? It's really a wonderful world she's created!
ReplyDeleteIt was. I loved the ending and that the author says straight up that she plans on more in the series. At least there's no wondering. And with the direction the next one seems to be taking, I think I'll love it even more.
DeleteGreat review, Barb! This sounds like a fun read. I don't usually read historical except for historical mysteries. There's just something about the atmosphere that I love. Glad you liked it! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying historical books as long as they have a mystery or paranormal element to them much more than I ever thought I would.
DeleteSounds like a wnderful historical murder mystery! I like that the romance is minute and "adult." I'll have to add it to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteYou should. I hate it when the romance overwhelms the main story and am tired of the same old tropes.
DeleteOh! Apparently I've already entered this giveaway! Thanks for hosting :)
ReplyDeleteYou're quite welcome Erica. Good luck!
DeleteOh that looks good! Glad it hooked ya and things worked out after a nervous start. Such a gorgeous cover, too!
ReplyDeleteI know. I think the cover is awesome and actually does a great job of depicting one of the MCs.
DeleteI am glad that this ended up working well for you after a rough start. This sounds like a series worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteIt is. If you like paranormal historical fiction you really can't go wrong picking this up.
DeleteI have the first one and really need to try it and put this one on my wishlist. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like them but I also think you might find this one a tad slow in a few places. Overall they are great reads. I need to go back and read the other series. Once I do that, I think I'll appreciated this book even more.
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