The Angel of the Crows
London, 1880. In this historical fantasy world, there are angels, werewolves, hell hounds, and vampires registered throughout London. However, the worst monster of all is a man who stalks the streets at night, Jack the Ripper. Dr. Doyle, recently returned from the war, and an angel named Crow will embark on a series of adventures as they are called upon to solve mystery after perplexing mystery. At the same time, they will relentlessly pursue the identity of Jack the Ripper in hopes of stopping the heinous criminal.
What started out as “wing fic,” a subgenre of fan fiction, has become an absorbing twist on the intrepid duo of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. While it may be set in an alternate history, Addison does a commendable job of setting a historical tone with the vernacular and landscape. However, readers are dropped into this alternate world without a map. I enjoyed the characters, but it took a while to figure out some of the rules of this world and its creatures, which are quite rich in detail.
Once references and social distinctions became clearer, it was easy to escape into the enigmas that Crow and Doyle were presented with. Addison pulls together multiple threads while always keeping the overarching goal at the story’s core, like a gravity well pulling all other mysteries toward it. Character development is charming and layered with surprises. If you like Victorian criminal investigations, a bit of the macabre, and supernatural adventures, The Angel of the Crows has all this and more.
