Book Review: The City of Dr Moreau
Book cover image from Bookshop.org
Sue Cook
The City of Dr Moreau by J.S. Barnes was an exciting journey into the events that took place after the “conclusion “ of the incidents on the Island of Moreau. Although Dr. Moreau allegedly passed at the end of The Island of Dr.Moreau, it appears that one infant was smuggled off the island by a fisherman.
The City of Dr Moreau gathers any loose ends that may have lingered in my mind regarding the Island of Dr. Moreau, and weaves a tapestry of beauty and horror in grand fashion. Tragedy befalls the smuggler and a boarding house in England becomes the stage where the child is left in the care of Coral Mayfield, who becomes his “mother,” setting the story into motion.
I always loved the book by H.G. Wells, as well as the movie “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1977). It has been years since I have seen either but when I saw The City of Dr Moreau, I knew I had to read it. I didn’t expect the intense, visceral reaction that overwhelmed me as I read. It was both violent and ghoulish, and an absolutely delicious book to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
In the same way that H.G. Wells spun his fantastic tale of eugenics, J.S. Barnes continues the narrative in the same sweeping fashion. The tale played out its deep dark song in my imagination, deepening my concern for the characters with each turn of the page. The cautionary warning at the end jolted me into realizing that fiction may be way too close to reality in 2021.
The author tossed well-crafted twists that awakened me from complacency for the characters and set them to spinning out of control, recapturing my vigilance. I actually cheered at the end, with a resounding “yes!”
You’ll need to read this book several times to really set the characters to mind and feel the immensity of the horror. I found myself wanting to cast characters with celebrities, as you would a movie. I know it could become 2023’s blockbuster movie of the year.
The City of Dr Moreau certainly will keep people on the edge of their seats and pleading for more. I love that the legend of Moreau continues. This is a must-read!
Sue Cook lives in Freeport, Illinois with her husband Randy and two dogs. Her passions include assistance dogs, rescue dogs, music, acting, theater, poetry, and Doctor Who. She’s been in both film and theater and is a regular cast member of the podcast Doctor Who’s Line is it….Anyway? Sue is an advocate for the use of Service Dogs to assist their disabled handlers to maintain their independence. Quigley’s Quest, her first children’s book, addresses how a dog becomes a Service Dog.
