Dreadful Company

By: Vivian Shaw

Narrated by: Suzannah Hampton

Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Contemporary fantasy in the world of Strange Practice, starring Dr. Greta Helsing, whose family has been keeping the supernatural community not-alive and well for generations.

When Greta Helsing, doctor to the undead, is unexpectedly called to Paris to present at a medical conference, she expects nothing more exciting than professional discourse on zombie reconstructive surgery and skin disease in bogeymen - and hopefully at least one uneventful night at the Opera.

Unfortunately for Greta, Paris happens to be infested with a coven of vampires - and not the civilized kind. If she hopes to survive, Greta must navigate the darkest corners of the City of Lights, the maze of ancient catacombs and mine-tunnels underneath the streets, where there is more to find than simply dead men's bones.

Dr. Greta Helsing novels

• Strange Practice
• Dreadful Company

©2018 Vivian Shaw (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Shaw's elegant writing make this series a standout in the genre." (Booklist)

excited to read the second, & not disappointed!

I loved Strange Practice, and was so glad to feel the same way about this book. Shaw's writing is artful and almost poetic, while never becoming pretentious or lofty. I'm in love with the world she has created, and the characters I have come to know. this was a true pleasure to read (well, hear!). the narrator was just as fantastic as before, and her voice has a richness that adds so much. bravo, and can't wait for the next one!

Delightful story and enjoyable characters

I enjoyed the voice actor's interpretation of the characters. the storyline is fun and I was able to follow along easily. I read Vivian Shaw's first book. listened to this second book and will listen to her third book too.

Wonderfully enthralling

The narrator is one of the best I've ever heard. This is such a good, heartwarming piece with all the mystery and adventure you want to cuddle up with!

Lovely and delicious

I have fallen in love with Ms Shaw. She strikes such a balance with her words, story and characters. Tension, exaltation, desire - all are tempered but never diminished to carry you along the story that can perhaps better reveal the ugly and real because of the buffer of her language and the construction of her main character.

fun modern take on classic monsters

I really liked the story and the characters. But I sometimes had a problem differentiating the different characters based on the narrator's voice. Some characters she easily differentiated with accent or tone. Others she didn't.

AMAZING

An amazing sequel by a great author and very strong narrator! Vivian Shaw’s writing is interesting, suspenseful, and beautiful. Her characters are memorable and loved. Overall, one of my favorite books this year!

Lovely Supernatural Mystery

I am still absolutely in love with this series. Greta, Varney, Ruthven, and the new friends they make along the way continue to delight. They are the definition of found family and I am here for every minute of it. I enjoyed the dilemma they find themselves in and how they eventually solve the problem. Paris serves as a picturesque backdrop for our heroes to save the day once again and I am really looking forward to the next book.

Reread 2021: I am greatly enjoying my "reread" of this series only this time I am listening to the audio version rather then actually reading it so I am loving it in a new way. I still think this is a clever plot and I really love the found family aspect as much as the first time. Can't wait to finish it up in the third book.

Just what I want

The author has an excellent touch with her characters and gets them into just enough peril to keep me interested in the plot. Contemporary, Gothic and fun.
Highly recommended!

MIXED FEEINGS!

Good writer. Narrator is great, however, she oddly pronounces the character name 'Fastitocalon' differently than in the first installment, "Strange Practice."

My overall opinion of BOTH installments ("Strange...," & "Dreadful...") aligns with that of an NPR Review of the first book:

"The story of Strange Practice— the actual plodding footsteps of the plot — is wholly secondary to the joys of
hanging out with Shaw's characters. Her true gift as a writer is not for the action, but for the quiet moments before.
It's not for the Eureka! conclusion, but for the shuffling papers, long nights and hundred cups of tea that precede
it..."

In essence, while the conclusion of "Dreadful..." was rewarding, the actual "plodding through of the plot" was even less enjoyable than in Book 1, due to the continual-absent interactions of this "family of characters," as introduced in "Strange..." where the reader is, in fact, deprived of the joy of these character interactions until "Dreadful's..." final chapters. As stand-alone figures, none of the characters (including Heilsing) are abundantly interesting. However, as a "family of odd-balls" who unconditionally accept each other, include each other, and interact with each other, without nastiness, harsh criticism, nor judgement --- in spite of each one's idiosyncrasies --- THIS makes for heart-warming story-telling related to character interactions. The absence of one of the initial "fab four" (Cranswell), besides Greta, introduced in Book 1, is also sorely noted. The new "family members" (little well-monsters, hairy creatures, and "Winston," included), are a joy, and welcomed additions.

Several implicit writing choices, (where character nuances are 'implied,' rather than stated, out-rightly), distract from, rather than add to the story's intrigue. For instance, the slang phrase "vada di omi palone" (see the homosexual man) is spoken in Chapter 1, "suggesting" the sexuality of one, if not two of the characters. Other references support these same ideas, and still, the characters' sexuality are never explicitly stated. Conversely, the nature of a set of female characters' relationship, (indicating sexual preference) is described, explicitly. Another implicit choice is that one character is described as having dread-locked hair, and dark skin, yet the writer never explicitly clarifies that the character is a Black person. The back story of a few of the characters also remained "mysterious.." hinted at, and/or referenced, repeatedly yet, never completely explained in full--- choices that are irritating, and therefore, distract from the story's listening pleasure.

Irritants aside, however, a read of the 3rd installment, "Grave Importance" is definite. The author has effectively etched this "family" of lovable-quirky characters into our hearts; therefore, the follow-up read is a must.

Really enjoy this series.

I work in the medical field and the I enjoy following Dr. Helsings character. It is believable and fun. I love the mixture of fantasy and magic mixed with logic. The characters are enjoyable and overall just pleasant listen to, You don't have to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but It will give you some background and insight to the characters.