THE JEKYLL LEGACY

In a sequel to the classic "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Hester Jekyll, the doctor's niece and heir, is suspected of murdering the missing doctor and is stalked by the police and a mysterious, misshapen man who may be a resurrected Edward Hyde

Giving Dr. Jekyll a niece to inherit his estate and dread secret, veteran storytellers Bloch ( Lori ) and Norton ( Dare to Go A-Hunting ) build a tale about the horrors inflicted on Victorian London's poor and helpless. Orphaned and nearly penniless, Hester Lane comes from Canada to London and applies for a job on the British Lady , a mildly radical publication that combines society chitchat with social commentary. Over the objections of the editor's nephew, rising young politician Albert Prothore, Hester is assigned to cover the despised Salvation Army but writes instead about Gertrude Kirby, who takes in abused and abandoned children from the noisome city streets. Her article rejected, on the verge of despair, she is summoned to an attorney's office, where long-lost documents disclose her relationship to the infamous doctor. She goes to live in Jekyll's house, taking with her two of Mrs. Kirby's waifs. But strange and unpleasant events follow, including murder, and Hester and Albert join forces to solve the crimes. While lacking the power of the Robert Louis Stevenson work, this lively historical romance cum mystery provides a realistic view into the dichotomies of Victorian England.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the great masterpieces of psychological horror--and a hard act to follow. Though interesting, this odd hybrid isn't quite up to the challenge. Hester Lane is the "missing" Jekyll's niece and heir to his fortune. Hyde's body is missing from his grave--is it possible the awful creature is still alive? While Stevenson's story still holds suspense even though readers know the ending, this "sequel" doesn't build up any tension or sense of dread until the final quarter. Much of the book focuses on Hester's introduction to the now-familiar street life of 19th-century London. By the time the mayhem starts, it's almost too late. Suffice it to say that the conclusion is typical Bloch: contrived, a little silly, but undeniably amusing and clever. The best thing the publication of this and other Jekyll-inspired books might do is to get people to read the fascinating original.
- William Schoell, New York
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.