The Deadly Grimoire

Arkham Horror Series

By: Rosemary Jones

Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A daring actress and a barnstorming pilot team up to save the world from supernatural disaster in this uncanny pulp adventure set in the world of Arkham Horror

Betsy Baxter is the plucky stunt-actor star of the 1920s serial adventure, The Flapper Detective. While researching a wing-walking scene, she meets the fearless Winifred Habbamock and discovers a shared background of eerie encounters and eldritch phenomena. For years, Betsy has been investigating the disappearance of an old friend during the horror-struck filming of The Mask of Silver. When she learns of his reappearance in Arkham, she and Winifred hit the road to investigate. But Arkham is full of mysteries and danger. Betsy will need all her skills, and new allies, to prevent an otherworldly cataclysm from consuming her and all of Arkham.

©2022 Fantasy Flight Games (P)2022 Tantor

Extremely Good!

I can’t help but notice that most of the complaining about this book is over the “feminist” commentary. This is not the case at all nor should it be the sticking point of the review. I in no way found this theme overwhelming.

This is a more than adequate companion to Mask of Silver and was actually good enough that I went back to the previous book because I found this one first and enjoyed it so much that I was delighted to discover two more books that are both prequel and sequel. The protagonist in the book is a plucky thing and extremely likable. Her “I can do anything” attitude and feisty but good natured temperament seems to fit perfectly well with the rebellious spirit of The Flapper Detective.

I would have given it five stars except for a few things that did fall a little flat. Some of the latter part of the tale meanders a bit, and there are a few blink-and-what-happened pacing surges but it was a very enjoyable read …and my masculinity wasn’t threatened even once.

Love the series; this one is a little heavy handed

This series so far has been amazing; from the print only (so far) to the most recent. To date the heroes and heroines are distinct and while not as environmentally horror filled as old HP himself, most read as an adventure RPG should. That said, this volume is a little heavy handed with the “girls rule and boys drool” feminism that while present in some of the series, has been to date somewhat period appropriate and story appropriate. Unfortunately, it detracts from this installment as it went from a heroine that you could get behind, to a cross between a bad hallmark film and social engineering of the 2020’s not the 1920’s.

Strong women in the Arkham horror series have hitherto proven themselves amazing so by their actions not their social commentary, and the men did not (until this volume) need to qualify their competency with a minority status.

In all, while fun and engrossing as the previous volumes, this one is distracting with its asides and “gummy bear and unicorn” feel good hallmark moments stuck between the gross incompetence and blatant stupidity (or outright evil) of the male characters (not just entering puberty, or minority status).

I would recommend this to further the story previously told in the “mask of silver” (which did far better with character development and showcasing social issues) but not as a stand alone choice to sample this series.

Disappointing addition to the series

Constant feminist remarks distract from storyline, ruining the continuation of the enjoyable Mask of Silver