Strange Practice

• Author: Vivian Shaw
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
• Publication Date: July 25, 2017
• Publisher: Orbit
• Series: Dr. Greta Helsing #1

Thank you to Orbit and Angela Man for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

MEET GRETA HELSING, DOCTOR TO THE UNDEAD.

Dr. Greta Helsing has inherited the family’s highly specialized, and highly peculiar, medical practice. She treats the undead for a host of ills—vocal strain in banshees, arthritis in barrow-wights, and entropy in mummies. 

It’s a quiet supernatural-adjacent life, until a sect of murderous monks emerges, killing human and undead Londoners alike. As terror takes hold of the city, Greta must use her unusual skills to stop the cult if she hopes to save her practice—and her life.

I actually came across this series through a novella that was published in June 2024, which I read and enjoyed a lot. After getting the opportunity to read the backlist titles in the series, I was so excited to start reading from the beginning. 

I’m a sucker for a delightful cross between an urban fantasy and a cozy mystery, and Shaw deploys this combination perfectly. Dr. Greta Helsing (of *the* van Helsings, which have since dropped the “van”) lives in London and works in the family business of medical care to the paranormal life of the area. While this sounds like an interesting story already, it gets even more involved when Helsing is drawn into a mystery affecting both human and paranormal residents of London.

Greta herself is the kind of really interesting protagonist that I love to read about. She’s got that unique combination of practicality and willingness to accept the weirdest situations in stride that make her ideally suited for her business. She’s also the best possible example of what a doctor should be—Greta offers care to everyone and anyone who needs it, regardless of how she feels about them or whether they deserve her help, and perhaps most tellingly, whether they can pay or not. This is why she isn’t rolling in the dough, but she’s able to get by and know that she does the best she can for everyone in need. I think my favorite thing about Greta is the way she is so accepting of everyone, and is kind to all creatures. 

While I loved Greta, what really kept me hooked on the story was uncovering this mystery surrounding the murderous monks. I was fully invested in this story by the end of the first chapter, although the side characters and the snarky humor sprinkled liberally throughout the story made it so much more enjoyable, and firmly landing this into cozy fantasy/cozy mystery territory. There is something about this that always makes me feel like it takes place in the past, so it is always a surprise when something from present day pops up in the story, like someone using a call phone. Overall, this is a fantastic series starter, and I really enjoy how it’s done. I’ll be reading more of this series happily. This should appeal to you if you like supernatural lore brought into a modern, urban setting, witty characters who love to banter, and a smart, tightly plotted story.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through my links.