Strange Practice (A Dr. Greta Helsing Novel Book 1) Kindle Edition

I picked this up to keep me company on a flight recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Lately I had been feeling a little jaded by some of the books I was reading, but this was one of two I read on my trip that broke the spell of disappointment I had been under. Stuck in a rut when it came to non-fiction I have been mostly reading fiction in my free time.This was a very interesting story of a human doctor who catered to the needs of the undead and related mythical creatures. It never came off as campy while still straddling a dark humor feel. When you come across these sort of stories they often fall into the "Beautiful, female main character who is terribly talented is taken by surprise when a preternatural man-thing takes interest in her. All her strengths take a back seat the moment this dude-bro shows up and he rescues her again and again, thus cementing their lusty bond," or some horseshit. Thankfully, this story does not fall into that stereotype.These characters are varied, strong in a tangible way that is not overdone and yet flawed. While there may be a mopey vampire in the mix, the story does not come off as an angst-fest. They are not all beautiful and young, rich and prosperous, or all knowing and all powerful. Some are sick, some are old, and some are literally ghoulish. They are older, maybe a little jaded or short sighted in terms of their actions but ultimately good characters no matter what their diet may be. While the ground work was laid for a bit of a romance, it took a backseat to the plot and seems to be developing in a slow but real fashion. However, even this takes a backseat to a really touching relationship she had with an old family friend. I was also very keen on the way she built a relationship with the local ghoul community.While I wouldn't say the story itself was very surprising or that it was full of twists, I can say that the sense of community created between the characters and how they did not quite fit into the horror-fantasy genre in a stereotypical way was wonderful. Honestly, I could probably read story after story of just house calls the main character would take because...well, the idea of non-humans needing medical care and learning of their ailments and physiology really intrigue me.I would recommend this book and will certainly look into the rest of the stories available.Also, I really, really enjoyed the ghouls.

The concept of this series is appealing: a human doctor treating various monsters in modern Europe set against a gothic, mystery-ensconced backdrop.I want to love this book because of the elements it employs, but sadly the writing comes off as amateurish and at times clichéd. It's a quick read, to be sure, but doesn't require a lot of mental exercise. This could be a good thing, depending on what you're in the mood for, but overused tropes (vampires with melancholy, dark and stormy nights, villains citing bible verses) and odd style choices (unnecessary profanity, weird use of italics on almost every page for emphasis) ended up weighing the book down so much that by 2/3 through, I just wanted the book to end.I'm also bothered, as other reviewers have pointed out, that the lead character is the only female and must rely on a male cast to bring the mystery to resolution. That the story is written by a woman makes this choice even more perplexing.I really wanted to love this book, and I do applaud the author's creativity with the concept but sadly, better, more experienced hands would have made it really sing. If you're not picky and love gothic suspense/mystery tales, it's a decent read.

I am not a five star review-giver. In fact, I can't remember the last time I gave a five star review. But this book was everything I wanted it to be.Greta takes care of monsters. Just because they're not human doesn't mean they're not people, she says, and continues in the family tradition of doctoring the supernatural residents of London. And it IS London, written by someone who love the city and knows it well.I thought Greta was incredible. She's not "feisty," she's not "kick ass," she doesn't hit people or threaten them or seduce them, she's not a secret princess or half-werewolf or whatever it is that makes heroines in urban fantasy "special." She's human, with all the attendant failings and flaws. She cares. She's a doctor. She wants to help.When the supernaturally enhanced monks come for her friends - and for her - she does all she can. Because they might be monsters, but they're PEOPLE, and she takes care of them. They take care of her, too.The characters aren't perfect. People aren't. I wasn't fond if the odd romantic undercurrent between Francis Varney and Greta, because it seemed forced, but I'm not a big fan of romantic subplots. There's a lot of funny in the book, a lot of action, and a good place to the story. It's well written, well thought out, and well crafted. And with the amount if urban fantasy I read......that's all pretty unusual. I am looking forward to wherever Vivian Shaw takes Dr. Helping next.

The idea of an urban fantasy chronicling a doctor to London’s supernatural community is a good one, the characters are fairly well realised, and there are occasional flashes of enjoyable quiet humour.What was less successful for me was the setting. Vivian Shaw is writing English characters, but has them refer to attorneys instead of lawyers and periods instead of full stops. These American English usages are a bit jarring and break the immersion.She has clearly done her research on London, so the action takes place outside the usual tourist postcard locations that a really lazy author would have stuck with. Nevertheless, despite this, her London feels strangely sterile – without giving away plot, when big stuff happens and there could be believable references to Sun headlines, LBC talk shows, or the prime minister defiantly reassuring people on Good Morning Britain, we instead get somewhat bland generalities. The kind of grimy, noisy, visceral feel for the city and its people you get in Ben Aaronovitch or Benedict Jacka, or Kate Griffin isn’t there and I feel its absence.If I was an non-British reader, I’d probably give a kinder review, since the discrepancies might not be so glaring. I may give a sequel a read anyway, because there’s definitely promise.

Ms. Shaw has a good eye for detail, described generously on the pages which, seem to have turned by themselves in this delightful story. With a refreshing, amusing new direction on the Van Helsing & Dracula tradition, Shaw has commendably resisted the usual 'Epic' battle of/for humanity. Instead, engaging a cast of characters for which empathy is the only natural choice possible for humane readers, she has cleverly laid foundations for a putative series. This Helsing has dropped her 'Van', is a medical doctor and, runs her eponymous clinic for a select clientele most sorely in need of Dr. Helsing's unique services. Ms. Shaw is a writer whose words run like an easy conversation. One star is lost because the English isn't as English as it ought to be. It is disappointing to have English people (in my mind) speaking American English laboriously. Especially when it is easy to correct in a simple edit. Quite perplexing. In some instances, too distracting. Strange Practice will be a satisfying read for many different minds. It feels like a particularly good adventure in sheer escapism. I appreciated the care taken over the nuanced characters, particularly the ghouls - which were a treat. I would recommend Strange Practice to anyone over sixteen: There are a liberal sprinkling of expletives towards the end. Some of them oddly gratuitous, therefore uncomfortably incongruous.

I so wanted to adore this book - I absolutely loved the premise. Descendant of Van Helsing (they dropped the Van a few generations back) and now turned from monster hunter to monster doctor, set in modern day London. What could be better? Frankly, this book could have been. Sadly I didn't gel with Greta particularly. I liked her, I just didn't love her as a main character. The story was good, it was intriguing and the world building showed promise. I just got bored at times. There were little inconsistencies and flow issues and I wanted more awareness of the world around them. Some of the other characters were great, in particular Fass (or Fastitocalon). I think this series could be one that builds and gets better as it goes along and I can definitely see the potential so for that reason I will probably give the second a chance.

It's always nice to find a different take on urban fantasy, and what's not to like about a doctor to the undead? It's well written and I liked the science based approach to various undead maladies. Unfortunately I failed to connect with our joyless if heroic doctor and in the end, didn't really get on with the "the undead are just misunderstood" undercurrent to the story. There are occasional flashes of humour but these served mostly to demonstrate how much it was lacking in the rest of the book - for the most part it's pretty dour. Add to that the deus ex machina resolution to the plot and I was left rather disappointed.

As a self-confessed paranormal fiction addict, I was delighted to find a new author (to me). What a joy this book was to read and what a disappointment when I had to turn the final page (not disappointed about the plot, but the fact I’d finished the book. I wanted it to continue forever). The author’s witty prose is second to none and lies perfectly alongside technical and somewhat gruesome (not too much) details.At last a novel packed with vampires and vampyres (don’t ask) who aren’t bodice ripping, six-pack stomached hunks who turn to dust in daylight. It is true, though, that they don’t like garlic. Demons appear as relatable characters and the Devil’s not such a bad chap either.A joyously exciting read, thoroughly recommend it, and Ms Shaw has found herself another fan.