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Our Hideous Progeny

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Our Hideous Progeny

By: C. E. McGill
Narrated by: Florence Howard
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

'It is not the monster you have to fear, but the monster it makes of men.'

Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic but she doesn't know why or how. She and her husband are trying to make a name for themselves as paleontologists but, in 1850s' London, scientific success requires wealth and connections - neither of which they possess. But then Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the truth behind her great-uncle's past, of his attempts to create a living being and the creature that ultimately killed him. Perhaps this idea will prove to be their salvation...

Our Hideous Progeny is a sumptuous tale of ambition and obsession, of forbidden love and sabotage; a novel that blends classic, immersive storytelling with contemporary themes.

©2023 C. E. McGill (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Genre Fiction Gothic Historical Historical Fiction Horror Literature & Fiction Romance Fiction Scary Natural History

Critic Reviews

In this gothic adventure, debut novelist McGill builds on Shelley's iconic story by adding sharp-minded female protagonist Mary, who sets out to discover the truth about her great-uncle Victor Frankenstein's disappearance in the Arctic.
McGill's prose is rich and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the eerie and foreboding tone of the Gothic tradition. The characters are complex and layered . . . Our Hideous Progeny is a masterful work of Gothic horror that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.
Evocatively and compassionately, Our Hideous Progeny seeks a way to tell the stories of those whose tales cannot fit in one book, those poor creatures who remain lost or forgotten
Our Hideous Progeny takes inspiration from Mary Shelley's masterpiece along with the Victorian fascination with scientific innovation and the prehistoric world. This wonderful debut evolves into a gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue.
A wonderful book; dark, passionate, multi-layered and rich with enticing detail.
Compelling and utterly absorbing, Our Hideous Progeny is an artfully crafted debut that echoes the dark essence of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein while maintaining a fascinating originality all of its own.
Darkly brilliant and sumptuously gothic, this atmospheric debut left me reeling
A wonderfully rich, emotionally engaging tale with the flavour and appeal of a great 19th-century novel.
A fantastic read: I felt everything about Mary, her simmering anger and her intellectual delight, so very clearly.
Exquisitely written, brimming with imagery both beautiful and shocking, this daring debut makes the rivalries of the Victorian scientific establishment thrilling and urgent, bringing us a story worthy of Mary Shelley.
All stars
Most relevant
The overall story was 5/5 as it was never lacking of intriguing plot to pick out. The story exuded feminism. And who doesn’t love an empowered woman? (Only a small man obviously)

The narrator was 5/5. She was brilliant. The Britishness and Scottishness was sooo crisp. I loved her performance so much!

Listen to this book. You won’t regret it.

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period sci-fi with a loveable and imperfect narrator and a gentle wlw twist. heartbreaking and inspiring - with a happy(?) ending!!

utterly lovely

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