By Vivian Shaw

Orbit, out now

Dr Greta Helsing, like her ancestor, Abraham Van Helsing, and the rest of his descendants, is an expert in all things that go bump in the night – but unlike the Professor, she uses her specialist knowledge to treat the undead, not nail them into coffins.

Relations between the supernatural community and normal folk have calmed down somewhat since 1897, and the various types of undead exist peacefully and anonymously in modern-day London. Greta carves out a modest living treating banshees, barrow wights and mummies for illness and injury from her inherited Harley Street clinic.

But a spree of fanatical, vigilante-style murders of humans and undead alike brings the existence of London’s less-known residents dangerously close to the surface, forcing Greta and her cadre of peculiar patients and quirky colleagues to hunt down the perpetrators and the… unconventional god they worship.

Strange Practice brings a fresh perspective to the idea of the undead living quietly amongst us, creating a vivid hidden community of supernatural beings united with the humans they accept as friends and allies. Paranormal and religious tropes are subverted left and right by the deftly crafted plot and original, vibrant characters.

Verdict: The kooky, sharp-witted narrative voice detracts nothing from the surprisingly heart-warming message of both diversity and unity. 8/10

Sophie Simpson