Reviews | mysite

Self-Publishing Review

An untamed thriller that pits the bloodiest lore of England against a pair of legendary historical figures, Houdini and Doyle: The Return of Jack by Leon Cygman is an entrancing historical thriller.

Thirty-five years after Jack the Ripper’s murderous spree in the back alleys of Whitechapel, a vicious copycat emerges to continue his legacy of terror and gore. One of the city’s first female constables is on the case, along with DI Swanson and Chandler, but the investigation is further aided by two unlikely sleuths -legendary author Arthur Conan Doyle and the master of deception himself, Harry Houdini.

When Harry meets up with Arthur in London, their old feud over spiritualism resurfaces when the latter insists that he summoned Jack’s malignant spirit during a recent seance. Despite Houdini’s skepticism, the surprisingly pragmatic magician can’t resist the temptation of unraveling the baffling case with his old friend.

A deranged mastermind is bringing the city of London to its knees with a merciless revenge plot, and it will take Sherlock-level sleuthing and every trick up Houdini’s sleeve to stop the paranormal carnage. Hunting down “an insane murderer inhabited by the spirit of Jack the Ripper” is no easy task, however, and as more prominent citizens become mutilated victims, the hunters quickly become the hunted.

The competitive and slightly contentious relationship between Arthur and Harry is the compelling hook of the story, as most readers are familiar with the names, but probably haven’t seen these personalities come to life in other contexts. The prose is gritty in its portrayal of early 20th-century London as a smoky metropolis of success and sin, where some lives are worth less than others and history haunts every cobblestone. The settings are instantly believable, without leaning on excess description or familiar tropes, transporting readers a century into the past with ease.

The occasional inclusion of real photographs, advertisements, and news clippings adds authenticity and helps readers see themselves in this Interwar Period thriller. Like any good piece of historical fiction, there are blurred lines where fact and fantasy meet, from Doyle’s obsession with the Ripper murders to Houdini’s unique relationship with his protective wife, Bess. The interplay of mysticism, magic, and spirituality will keep readers on their toes as they await the next clever turn of the plot or moment of misdirection, while the thematic exploration of gender roles and fluidity for both criminals and crime-solvers gives the prose a timely edge. Cygman subtly nods to present-day conflicts without making the writing overly political.

While the character-rich plot and detailed urban landscapes are immersive, there is some clumsiness in the text itself; the dialogue often comes off as stilted and unnatural for the time period and locale, particularly in terms of modern idioms or speech patterns, in addition to being heavily used as a vehicle for exposition and backstory, as though the characters are aware that their interactions are being observed. Given how much of the story is driven by revelations through conversation, this has a cumulative effect on the believability and pace of the read, along with some repetitive scenes of police procedure.

That said, while the novel may not deliver on its full potential, it is supported by a wildly creative storyline and a brilliant cast of characters, which will keep readers guessing to the jaw-dropping end.

Reedsy Discovery

Whitechapel once again becomes the backdrop of grisly murders in this exciting novel by Leon Cygman. It opens with a sex worker, Sissy, and her client -- known politician--leaving the infamous Ten Bells pub for the business arrangement. A stranger enters Sissy's flat, and violence ensues.

WPC Roberta Kassy, on a routine night patrol, is the first on the scene. A member of one of the first woman constable divisions, she is ordered to patrol only but responds immediately to screams from a tenement house. Upon debriefing, she is partner with D.I. Bill Chandler, a veteran of the police force in the H Division, and D.I. John Swanson, the son of the lead detective on the original Jack the Ripper murders, from Scotland Yard.

Enter the namesakes in the title: Houdini and Doyle. Harry Houdini receives word from Sir Authur Conan Doyle that he must visit when he comes through London. Though they have previously had a falling out, Houdini acquiesces his request, along with his wife. Once in the Doyle home, Sir Arthur drops the bombshell -- He believes a recent seance has awakened the spirit of Jack the Ripper. Though he doubts this is the case, Houdini agrees to join Doyle and they approach the investigative team in solving the mounting number of brutal murders in Whitechapel.

Houdini and Doyle: The Return of Jack is an engaging story, laced with historical references, and several twists that keep the reader invested in solving the case. Despite being set in the early 1920s, the themes and conflicts remain incredibly relevant to the modern day. A lover of history, particularly this case, will enjoy both the historical and literary references, as well as the elements of the Jack the Ripper case. The prose is beautifully written.