Author: Jesse Petersen
Genre: supernatural fiction
Series: Monstrosity #1
Pages: 224
Published: April 2013
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 3.75/5
Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?
Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.
Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.
Club Monstrosity is fun. It's a fluffy, funny, and entertaining little mystery. This was a quick read, but I had a few genuine laugh out loud moments and the inclusion of classic monsters with modern New York is fresh and creative. It's a breath of fresh air - for though these monsters have had resurgences of popularity in modern books, few authors show them in their original light. Vampires, werewolves, Swamp Things, Creatures (aka Frankenstein Monsters) all pop up in the supernatural support group that binds them all together. As more and more of the members start being murdered, in the manner of their Stories, it's up to Natalie Grey to figure out the murderer and keep her identity secret.
Told in third person, with POVs from Natalie herself and the Wolf Man, Alec, the story is a fairly straight forward whodunit, flavored with a minimal romance and a little humor. There's a lot of the lore that one would expect from monsters - wrestling against their natures, staying hidden from the ever changing world - all while trying to figure out if the family Van Helsing is behind their current problems. The characters, rather the plot, are what will keep readers engaged. Mysteries are hard to make original, but the cast of classical monsters keep Club Monstrosity original and fun. Whether it's 1500 year old vampires texting, or a Swamp Thing with makeup issues, Petersen has a flair for the outlandish and humorous.
Another great thing is that this is a fairly cheap ebook - it's going for $2.99 right now. I'd consider that three bucks worth the entertainment that Club Monstrosity has to offer. It's short, but nicely resolved and with enough plotlines left open for the sequel (The Monsters in Your Neighborhood) to grab onto and continue. If you're looking for a light, but still amusing read, this is the book for you.
This looks awesome! How have I not seen this before! Great review, totally buying this and reading it
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