My taste in books generally runs a little strange. I like books that are a little weird, that take regular life and twist it just a bit so that something new is revealed about the world around us. Strange Practice, the debut novel of author Vivian Shaw, is one such weird book and one I supremely enjoyed.
Greta Helsing is a doctor who runs a small practice in London for a dedicated base of clients. However, her clients are not normal – her patients tend to be toothier and much more magical than mere humans. Vampires, ghouls, zombies, and other fae creatures not only trust Greta to treat their maladies – they are also some of her best friends. When one of her patients is attacked with a strange cross-shaped weapon by a man wearing a monk’s robe, Greta, with the help of her friends, must find and stop the killer before he hurts anyone else.
This was a book that I felt at home in, one that I savored. I loved Greta’s friends, from the fatherly vampire Ruthven to the demon who happens to have COPD, and I wanted to sit down for a nice cup of tea and an evening of socializing with them. Though the mystery and the plot are relatively simple and straightforward, the sheer force of the characters’ personalities wraps you up in their little world. I also enjoyed the small details included about the workings of London, above and below ground. I supremely enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Review by Shannon Wood
Adult Services Librarian
Nordonia Hills Branch Library
