The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal

By: KJ Charles

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A story too secret, too terrifying - and too shockingly intimate - for Victorian eyes.

Dear Henry,

I have been Simon Feximal's companion, assistant, and chronicler for 20 years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide.

You have asked me often for the tale of our first meeting, and how my association with Feximal came about. I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted, and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.

So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.

I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.

Robert Caldwell
September 1914

©2013, 2015 K. J. Charles (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

I would like more

Anything KJ Charles writes is so complicated and layered this book delves into the arcane and those marginalized by society because of their differences. I love her work first and foremost for that reason. This may be written in the late 1800s but the discrimination, persecution and prosecution of poverty, religious and cultural differences is prevalent today. It makes me wonder what has been lost in our modern day society because of the greater “good”😌.

truly a love story

loved the idea and characters. Robert and Simon were the greatest of lovers and friends.

Simply Amazing!!!

Could this possibly be my favorite KJC work?? It could, maybe maybe maybe!!

Where to start? At the beginning of the book? Well, the beginning is also the end. And that makes me a bit misty because this secret casebook was to be published after the death of Robert and Simon. To know that they had an HEA is lovely, but to know what comes after that HEA—what eventually comes for us all—was discomfiting.

But, let’s shake it off and talk about our wonderful lovers, our MCs: River and Simon. This is Robert’s story, you see. The real story behind the man Simon Feximal.

Each section moves us chronologically from their first encounter to Roberts last penned account, topped off at the end with a note from the publisher who speculated on Robert and Simon’s end after WWI.

Each section focuses on a ghostly case in which Simon, the ghost hunter frees the ghosts by finishing their stories. Some are funny, others ghastly and troubling. But they all focus on the pair of lovers, their ups and downs.

Robert ends up being Simon’s assistant and chronicler as well as his lover. There was acceptance, pain and love in their relationship, which moved me beyond words at times. The love these two men feel for each other is palpable, yet not in your face. It simply “is” as surely as the moon and the sun; and just as surely you cannot doubt their existence, as you can’t doubt this love.

This story stuck with me. Has stayed with me several days. I’m assuming it’ll stay for awhile longer still. I’m not sure why, really. Maybe because of that beginning that’s the end that makes me happy and sad at the same time. Regardless the reason, JCP has wrought an amazing tale.

The story was further sparked to life with the luscious narration of Gary Furlong. I think he’s my favorite narrator at this point in time. His accents, voices and emotions are so spot on.

If you’re a JCP fan, don’t put this one off. If you’re a Griffin and Whyborne (JLH) you should read this since Whyborne reads The Casebook in one of the books, and the two couples do meet in the short story Remnant co-written by both authors.

Last words....I loved it!!!!

Paranormal Cases

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal was a fascinating book. Set in a paranormal version of pre-World War II London, Robert Caldwell details out his relationship with the celebrated ghost hunter, Simon Feximal. For years Robert has been known as Simon’s best friend and companion, but the true nature of their relationship is so much more. They are lovers and partners, the breath and light each other’s world, hiding their relationship from a society that would condemn them.

The book was fascinating, even having the same feel as older paranormal and horror novels like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein since KJ Charles structured the book as a story within a story. I really wished there was a sequel to this book, because there was so much left unsaid or just hinted at. I read Spectred Isle, which takes place 20 years later after this novel, and it provided some insight on the fate of Simon and Robert, but it did not do much to sate my curiosity. I do hope there is a sequel to this book because it was absolutely wonderful.

I really liked the audiobook narration by Gary Furlong. Gary does a great job and has some of the best character voices with a wide range of accents. It was a great performance and a very enjoyable listening experience.

Very entertaining

This was a collection of stories – or adventures – by Simon and Robert. We followed them through some harrowing moments, through poverty and curses. We see them fall in love and create a life during madness and in a time where such things were utterly forbidden. I had a great time with them, yet at the same time I wish I’d felt more, was more connected. A part of that stems from knowing the kind of stories and characters KJ Charles can create. And maybe that’s not fair, but here we are. I do recognise that it is difficult to craft short stories and adding the depth to them as longer ones. On the other hand, Charles did create a very interesting and intricate world that I wouldn’t mind exploring more of.

I did enjoy Gary Furlong’s narration. I am partial to his accent and deep voice, so all in all, I’ll still add this book to the win column.

Left me haunted

This compilation of otherworldly tales was touching, robust and erotic. The romance of these two men over 23 years was only one part of a moving story arc which encompassed much supernatural menace, adventure and hinted at so much more. I didn’t want it to end.

A very good listen

A Geat Surprise! This book from beginning to end kept me wanting more. Although it is a relatively short book, it tied itself together and ended on a happier note than I thought it would. The descriptions of London at the turn of the century and the height of Occultism were spot on.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Simon and Robert during a time when being two gay men in a loving relationship was seriously against the law. The way they had to manoeuvre their private moments was sad, but had to be that way in that time.
If you are an eclectic listener of Audible books like I am, this is a really good addition to your library.
W. Diego

amazing

unforgettable characters, detailed accounts of adventures and I am so disappointed it has no sequal

So good. So so Good.

I bought this audiobook some time ago on the strength of being written by K.J. Charles. Then put off listening to it, uncertain if it was actually a series of short stories (a format I'm not overly fond of). As it turns out it is a series of cases, but there is enough of a plot flowing through them that I still consider it one story. And I loved that story! Robert and Simon ae characters I could get behind and the reader could absolutely feel how they became important to one another. But mostly I just adored the narrative style. The way Robert told the story. No doubt part of my love was because Gary Furlong did such a wonderful job bringing it to life. But it was such a good story, to begin with. I really struggled with wanting to listen more and get to the end and listen less so it never actually ended.

unusual imaginative tale

I found the story to be different from the norm with the occult angle but I very much enjoyed it