Galvanism and Ghouls (Manners and Monsters #2)
Published September 6th 2019 (first published August 31st 2019), Kindle Edition 340 pages
Together beyond death...
A new unnatural horror is about to rattle Hannah Miles' quiet existence, and it's not the short-tempered viscount prowling the hallways. Someone is creating a monster by stitching together pieces of different people. When a limb makes an escape attempt, Viscount Wycliff is called to investigate. All of London knows there is one mad scientist among them capable of creating such an ungodly monster... Sir Hugh Miles.
Hannah's father is suspected of a most heinous crime and she is determined to clear his name, even as Wycliff works to see the murderer hang. Buried secrets that touch all their lives will be brought to the surface. One such secret belongs to Hannah and could tear her world apart.
With Hannah and Wycliff on opposing sides, can they find the real monster and will it be the hand that wields the scalpel, or the creature hiding in the dark?
User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
This little hidden gem of a series continues to be a lot of fun with the second installment,
Galvanism and Ghouls, as Hannah has to navigate this strange, sometimes scary, and mostly silly alternate universe.
The last book left us with a mystery as her father's new after-mage medical apprentice told Hannah
he was sorry when he touched her, leaving the reader with the feeling that not all was as it seemed with our heroine. The book also closed with the impoverished Lord Wycliff moving into Hannah's family home at her mother's invitation. <--and we only had
hints at what his curse might be!
Ok.
So, in an attempt to reverse the curse that created the zombies, someone is trying to use galvanism to restart the hearts of the afflicted. However, they're also killing innocent people to do it. When women start turning up dead with limbs sewn onto them that weren't originally theirs, and a disembodied hand starts running around London with a mind of its own, Wycliff is called in to investigate. As he gathers more and more evidence, the culprit begins to look like none other than Hannah's own father. A long-held grudge causes his premature arrest and sets off a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever.
Good? Bad? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, Wycliff and Hannah will have to work together to find out who is really behind all these strange murders. And as their list of suspects starts to grow, so do some unexpected feelings towards each other.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. I loved this world's version of Frankenstein's monster, Mary Shelley, and the Addams Family's Thing that Wallace folded into the story and into this crazy family.
Finding out Hannah's unique problem puts everything into a new perspective, and I'm looking forward to seeing how this new
arrangement she and Wycliff come to all turns out for everyone.
Recommended for anyone who's looking for a paranormal cozy mystery.
Rating: really liked it
Rating: 3.5 stars
When a part of a monster with pieces from two different bodies has been found stitched together, Viscount Wycliff is called to investigate the oddity. All of London knows there is only one scientist capable of creating such a monster and it's not long before accusations are thrown at Hannah's father, Sir Hugh Miles. Now Hannah must join with Wycliff in his investigation if she's to clear her father's name.
Galvanism and Ghouls is the second installment in the
Manner and Monsters series by Tilly Wallace. The story is another fun mystery for Hannah and Wycliff to solve. It's a nice nod by Wallace to both
Frankenstein and
The Adams Family. There is a surprising twist in the second half that I did not see coming and has left me intrigued about what this all means for Hannah. Also, it seems that the Miles house is going to end up a museum of oddities if Hannah keeps bringing home all the poor lost, ah, experiments she finds during investigations. I'm looking forward to where the series goes next.
Rating: really liked it
'Together beyond death...
A new unnatural horror is about to rattle Hannah Miles' quiet existence, and it's not the short-tempered viscount prowling the hallways. Someone is creating a monster by stitching together pieces of different people. When a limb makes an escape attempt, Viscount Wycliff is called to investigate. All of London knows there is one mad scientist among them capable of creating such an ungodly monster... Sir Hugh Miles.
Hannah's father is suspected of a most heinous crime and she is determined to clear his name, even as Wycliff works to see the murderer hang. Buried secrets that touch all their lives will be brought to the surface. One such secret belongs to Hannah and could tear her world apart.
With Hannah and Wycliff on opposing sides, can they find the real monster and will it be the hand that wields the scalpel, or the creature hiding in the dark?'
__________________________
Galvanism and Ghouls is the second book in Tilly Wallace's Manners and Monsters series, which is a historical mystery series set in a London in which supernatural and magical beings co-exist within society.
This book has aspects that are really reminiscent of other works(I'm thinking The Addams Family and Frankenstein), but at the same time it also has a really original feel. I personally feel that
Galvanism and Ghouls is much stronger than the first in the series. I found the first to be a bit repetitive when it was setting up the story, but the author fixed that problem for this book; everything unfolded very smoothly. Plus I love that the supernatural aspect of the book is being expanded upon and hope that that trend continues as the series does.
If I had to find something to critique, I would perhaps say that the answer to the mystery wasn't super tricky. There are some clues dropped along the way and there was little room left for doubt and so I felt myself wanting to shake them for having not pieced it together yet because I wanted everything to fall into place.
The larger plots that thread through the series as a whole are starting to deepen as well and I am really looking forward to seeing what direction they'll take and what that will mean for our characters. I recommend this series, if paranormal historicals are your cup of tea I think you'll really enjoy it.
Rating: really liked it
it was obvious i knew instantly who did it. but i enjoyed getting there. usually that is the most fun. there are lots of options, and the various monsters are wonderfully described. i look forward to the next book.
Rating: really liked it
I’m many ways this second book is superior to the first in the series. The writing is smoother, more is revealed about the characters, and the plot is slightly more complex. However, it does lose some of the charm of encountering the situation for the first time.
This installment is channeling Frankenstein, so the Austen elements are greatly downplayed in favor for a darker gothic feel, and parallels to the Munsters and Addams family can’t help being drawn as a Frankenstein monster and an ambulatory hand are added to Hannah’s household (along with a spaniel!).
There are some very exciting developments in this book, both expected and surprising, and I can’t wait to read the next book to learn more. I hope Dr Housom makes a reappearance in a future volume.
Rating: really liked it
I don't usually binge series, but I found the first three in this series as a bundle on audible, and so I'm now breezing theough them!
The second was even better than teh first, as the characters felt a bit more rounded and real to me.
Another murder mystery kept me intrigued and interested, but the even bigger mystery about Viscount Wycliff had me even more hooked. And I do love what we learn about him! I wouldn't have guessed it, and it made me very happy.
Another weird, fun, enchanting, entertaining and cute story combined with gruesome murders, macabre experiments and bizzare creatures.
Highly recommended!
Rating: really liked it
I really liked reading Galvanism and Ghouls but I can admit to feeling so bad for Hannah at the end of it. Talk about taking one for the team. The situation was mutual beneficial for both characters involved but my heart wanted more between them. I am hopeful that things take a turn for the better in the next book.
Rating: really liked it
I’m hooked!If you like paranormal stuff and Regency romances, then this is perfect! I am also liking the character development of the hero and heroine. And of their quirky household!
Rating: really liked it
Yesssss! The First in the Series WAS just a setup for BETTER to come, like, with THIS one! Huzzah!
Greater character development makes this a high 4-stars
My Full Review →
Rating: really liked it
I absolutely love this series. It’s so good and the characters are amazing. You can’t help but root for them. Highly recommended!!
Rating: really liked it
Okay this is just such a great series. If you like strange you will love this series.
Rating: really liked it
Synopsis:
Girl main character (MC) involves herself in mysterious deaths all around fictional Regency London with the aid (reluctantly) given by man love interest (LI). Follow the budding love-hate relationship of MC and LI with undead upper-class ladies as backdrop. In this installment, we find out more about LI's mysteries - coz we will be switching between MC and LI per book (as fair).
Best:
A better mystery than book #1 and a little more gore.
Bad:
A pivotal event in the relationship happens in this book. I suppose it's to just push the relationship forward.
Predictability:
Mystery is a little muddled and not as straightforward as the last installment.
Experience:
Attention required if you want to guess the who-dunnit. Otherwise, relaxed pace.
Rating: really liked it
Loved the first book (Manners and Monsters) and this second book in the series is just as much fun. Some of the dead have more appeal than the living.
Startling new information is revealed about the MC.
I'm moving on to the third book.
Rating: really liked it
Another great paranormal mystery from this series -- loving how the horror-esque worldbuilding is rolling out slowly, and we're learning so much more about the main families. Slowburn romance might actually kill me, though...
Rating: really liked it
Ok big facts come to light in this one. Totally left field!
3.5 star listen
Interesting turn of events
I’ll continue the series see what’s next.
Historical fantasy series.
