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Dr Jekyll & Mr Seek
"Clever, gripping and reverent." Ian Rankin
"It can be nerve-wracking when a contemporary author takes on an established classic, but books like this prove that some revisits can be rewarding. O'Neill (The Dark Side, 2016) has crafted a deft and engaging sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's original Jekyll and Hyde tale. It departs from its source's horror and sf leanings, instead settling pretty snugly into the mystery genre. Henry Jekyll's attorney, Gabriel Utterson, is ready to take possession of his (presumably) late client's fortune and effects. But Utterson hears that Jekyll has reappeared and finds that their friends seem convinced it's true. Now, the attorney must begin a frantic campaign to prove that this "Jekyll" is actually an impostor. The writing style is consistent with the classic, but the pacing is distinctly modern: this is an engaging, rapid read that will be difficult to put down. Fans of the original will be delighted to encounter familiar characters and places, but even readers familiar only with the basics of Jekyll and Hyde will enjoy this twisting trek into identity and paranoia." Booklist
"Written with verve and humour ... an ingenious web of mystery and suspense ... guaranteed to keep the reader hooked to the last page." The Independentage.
"Seamlessly taking up the tale where Stevenson left off, O'Neill's novella is a page-turner, a fast read that can, and probably should be consumed in one sitting ... Ingenious and compelling, Dr Jekyll and Mr Seek is a truly atmospheric read." Edinburgh Evening News
"There is something completely irresistible about novels set in Victorian London. Anthony O'Neill is a master of evoking this romantic era and does so with great aplomb in this clever tribute to Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde." The Daily Telegraph
“Fans of Stevenson's original will delight in this lovingly crafted sequel that recalls the Gothic horror of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to ask, how much control does anyone really have over his or her own life story? A faithful account that is often dazzling in its own right.” Lesley McDowell, author of Unfashioned Creatures
“A strange and wondrous tale – beautifully told. It's brilliant.” Lin Anderson, author of the Rhona MacLeod crime series
“O'Neill infuses the narrative with suspense and meticulously-researched detail. A gripping novel, every bit as unsettling as Stevenson's original” Kaite Welsh, author of The Wages of Sin
"Fiendishly ingenious. A novel which, from the 'sulphurous yellow fog' spirited up in the first paragraph to its shocking and bloody conclusion, had this reader thoroughly hooked. Robert Louis Stevenson lives again!” Ronald Frame, prize-winning author of The Lantern Bearers
“A clever and entertaining sequel that will leave Stevenson fans delighted.” Kevin McNeill, author of A Method Actor’s Guide to Jekyll & Hyde
"A rollicking ride that never lets up. The author uses the same language as Robert Louis Stevenson employed in the original The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde, as well as the same plot devices, while bringing his own twists. O'Neill takes us effortlessly into Victorian London, where the fog is not just on the streets." Herald Sun
"It’s short and to the point, moves like the clappers and can be read in an afternoon. He takes the original, which dwelt on the duality of man, and flips it sideways, focusing this sequel on the contemporary concern of identity theft while deconstructing and casting doubt on the events of the original. Reimagined in this way, it seems as much like a companion piece as a sequel, and one feels that master storyteller RLS would have smiled with guarded approval at the direction O’Neill had taken his ideas." The Heralds
"A brilliant and entertaining sequel by Anthony O’Neill is a most worthy companion to sit alongside the original by Stevenson." HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
"Anthony O’Neill creates a wonderful narrative that constantly keeps a reader engaged; doubting, questioning and guessing at every turn … a marvellous story with a fantastic use of language that makes the novel feel authentic to its time period. As a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson’s original, I can also say that ‘Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Seek’ serves as a true sequel to the original, and a near perfect one at that. " OTHER TERRAIN JOURNAL
"A delightfully immersive read that quickly draws us into a world we never knew we had been missing … wastes no pages in being overly descriptive and instead well spends in gloriously period dialogue … you don’t need to know much about the first book in order to respect the homage paid in this modern day follow up." AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION
"Anthony O’Neill recreates Robert Louis Stevenson’s London convincingly; characters and scenery are dark and gloomy and his dialogue is true to Victorian London. Much of the story is dialogue driven, and the rapid fire, question and answer interrogations maintain the driving momentum of the mystery. " BOOKS & PUBLISHING
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