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Evelyn Chartres
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The Van Helsing Paradox (The Clara Grey Adventures Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Evelyn Chartres (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 151 ratings
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“A gal has to look out for herself, after all.”

Clara Grey’s parents once said that the world was a dark and dangerous place. There was more truth than fiction in those words. There were things that lurked in the shadows which defied the laws of nature: perversions that fed on the dead, terrorised the living, or escaped the chill touch of the grave.

Clara is a member of the Tower, a religious order of hunters who work outside the confines of the Church. As keepers of the arcane, her order takes an active role in countering such threats. Alas, the life of a hunter can be short, and many go missing before they are ready to serve. So, what does it take to succeed against all odds?

Explore Clara’s origin, a child born before the dawn of the twentieth century. Witness her rigorous education, how she faces adversity, and how she fights in the Great War to become the derringer-wielding flapper she is.

Throughout her tale, keep in mind: No matter the threat, a gal has to look out for herself, after all.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Clara Grey Adventures
  2. Print length
    248 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    August 31, 2018
  6. Grade level
    12 and up
  7. File size
    8515 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07H1M5HVV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ethereal Realms; 4th edition (August 31, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 31, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 8515 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 248 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1726475786
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 151 ratings

About the author

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Evelyn Chartres

Evelyn Chartres

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Evelyn Chartres is the nom de plume for a self-published Canadian author. The writer of seven Gothic fantasy novels, Evelyn released her debut novel, The Portrait, in 2016, and her latest, Dark Hearts, in 2022.

A fan of the phrase “live to eat,” Evelyn shares her recipes on this website. These recipes have a loose focus on French-Canadian cuisine, which feature deep-dish meat pies, seafood, and desserts that are rarely seen outside of La Belle Province.

Evelyn is currently living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is busy laying the foundations for her next book featuring Clara Grey.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
151 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sm3236
5.0 out of 5 stars Three Cheers For Clara Grey!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
After the deaths of both of her parents, young Clara and her sisters become wards of the church. A priest takes great interest in Clara because of things she has seen and her ability to process and handle them. After another incident in the orphanage, she is placed in a special school to further develop her abilities.

Clara is a quick learner. For her, class is out early. The majority of this first book in what is a trilogy follows her exploits as a hunter. It's well written, at times funny, at times racy, always clever, intelligent, and a lot of fun to read.

Beginning in the early 1900s, it makes its way to the late 20's, exploring different eras. I don't want to include any spoilers, but particularly enjoyed a chapter where she works with a scholar/ archeologists with a familiar last name. See if you can guess the movie that's being referenced.

Evelyn Chartres does a great job creating a world where all isn't what it seems. Not all of the hunters are flawless, and some of the monsters are not a threat to all humanity. It's the reckless, wanton ones that Clara is after.

I also like how throughout the story themes of having faith without being overly tied to religion are explored. An entertaining yet thought provoking read at the same time. I'm looking forward to following Clara on more of her adventures.
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Donald Firesmith
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Strong Female Lead Monster Hunter Novel
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2018
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The book is the life story of Clara, a very strong female character, who grows up to hunting monsters (primarily ghouls and vampires) as part of a secret Catholic order that protects humanity from the monsters. The author is quite creative in both the headquarters of the order and the religious aspects of the book. The novel contains a small amount of explicit sex and a fair amount of violence (not gratuitous, but appropriate for the book's plot and world) , making it appropriate for young adult and adult readers. The book also has some nice twists and a strong ending I didn't expect. I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel, prequel, and any book by this author in this universe. This is the first book I've read by this author, but it won't be the last. Recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Zombie Inkpot
3.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative world and characters, disappointing execution
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020
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There is a lot to like about this book. The world of monsters and the mysterious order that hunt them is fascinating. The main character, Clara, is intelligent and strong minded.
Unfortunately, the writing lets the world and characters down. It’s very sparse, reading more like an outline, and doesn’t provide the immersion that such exciting scenarios deserve. There are also some very odd turns of phrase, as well as paragraphs that seem to reference things that have been cut out.
As others have mentioned, there are also a lot of historical inaccuracies that pull you out of the narrative. I also disliked how Clara used sex to lure the monsters.
There is enough material in this book to fill several volumes about Clara. As it is, The Van Helsing Paradox is a fun, yet ultimately unsatisfying diversion.
One person found this helpful
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Rhonda Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022
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This book is very different from anything I have read before. I was a little wary because of all the religious references in the blurb. I do not like inspirational reads. Thankfully, this is not inspirational. The book is about a very young girl who finds her father dead in the outhouse. Only she calmly takes in the details and finally becomes aware something is eating her father's corpse in the back of the outhouse, where she can hear it but not see it. That is her first experience with monsters. After a second experience, a knowledgeable priest sends her to a special place to be evaluated and taught. Throughout her training she shows a highly evolved ability to decipher clues and how to deal with unique situations. Her life is spent in fighting monsters for the church. The book contains numerous missions she is sent on. They are all fascinating to me. The end of the book was fabulous. Very unexpected. Book 2 will start a new and different adventure for Clara, the monster hunter. Cannot wait to read it.
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Johnny Swanson
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written fast paced adventure
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2019
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If a fast-paced adventure is what you are looking for then I highly recommend The Van Helsing Paradox. Evelyn Chartres has got a knack when it comes to telling stories and this book is all the proof that you will need.
Set in the early 20th century I found it refreshing that not only was the era honored with appropriate language, but it was represented well with vivid details and a sharp narrative that leaves little to the imagination.
To say that I liked this book is an understatement. It was a fun fast-paced adventure that I am sure I will need to visit again in the future. Five Stars all the way.
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J. R. Schuyler
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2020
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“The Van Helsing Paradox” is a novel about a woman who has a talent for destroying vampires and other monsters. I’ve had this book on my TBR list for almost a year now. I did start it a few times, but the first few pages were too slow for me and I kept putting it off until later. That was a mistake on my part. The pacing picks up about 1/3 of the way through the first chapter, and after that, it just keeps getting better. It’s a really enjoyable story.

Clara was a strong, smart, and interesting character. As others have pointed out, she’s a bit of a “Sherlock Holmes”--she’s already the best in the room, so rather than seeing her grow and improve over the course of the novel, you just get to see her awesome skills in action. And honestly? It’s a breath of fresh air.

Give this book a try! You won’t be disappointed.
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Joan I. Wendland
2.0 out of 5 stars Inconsistent
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2020
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The first half of the book is well written with the MC and the reader learning things together. Halfway through the MC suddenly knows important details the reader doesn’t and the scope of her organization changes without explanation. Then comes the Deus Ex Machina.

It had promise, but did not live up to it.
3 people found this helpful
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Lavendar Lilly
5.0 out of 5 stars A thorougly enjoyable read with a likable protagonist.
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
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This book is like if the students at Hogwarts went to school under Van Helsing (deliberate reference to the title) and other monster hunters. This book definitely has a horror flavor to it, unlike Harry Potter. I really liked the main character, Clara. As a child, she witnesses ghouls kill her parents. Instead of traumatizing her, these events set her on course for a role that properly utilizes her abilities. Clara is very smart and mischievous as well as wholly likeable.
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Top reviews from other countries

B. Durrant
5.0 out of 5 stars A great start to an exciting series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed "The Van Helsing Paradox" very much. I've always liked the idea of secret organisations keeping watch over an unsuspecting world, keeping us safe from the evil lurking in the shadows. This book was just my kind of thing.

Exciting characters, swift action, and a nice twist at the end.

Keep up the great work.
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Robert Longpre
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a sequel
Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2019
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I had no idea what to expect. Things that go bump in the night rarely interest me however this story caught me and held me close. The quality of the writing was the clincher. I will be reading more of Ms Chartres' work.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Light read with fresh concepts
Reviewed in Australia on July 31, 2019
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I really enjoyed this story, Evelyn had weaved a new world with fresh ideas on the world of vampires and things that go bump in the night. The main character is unapologetic and clever whilst kicking ass all the way through.
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PLB99
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy!!
Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
The Van Helsing Paradox is an intelligently written tale that appeals to a much broader audience than the typical “fantasy” or “horror” enthusiast. The story incorporates just enough 1920’s slang and historical references to give it a true period feel.

Evelyn Chartres, the mysterious and elusive French Canadian author, juxtaposes wit and humor with the horror of creature slaying. References to the Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables as well as the blockbuster film Indiana Jones provide a window into Evelyn’s brand of humor. This whimsy only serves to further emphasize the terror-filled bloodbath in which the main character finds herself immersed.

Clara Grey, the female protagonist, is an intriguing blend of tough vampire slayer and sensitive young woman struggling to find her way in a world of hidden perils. The author weaves a complicated story of adversity and triumph that allows the reader to believe Clara’s evolution as a huntress in an exclusive order operated in secret by the Catholic Church.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From Clara’s modest beginnings as a child of a coal miner to her formation as a deadly huntress, the story kept my attention. If anything, I longed for more…
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PLB99
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy!!
Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2018
The Van Helsing Paradox is an intelligently written tale that appeals to a much broader audience than the typical “fantasy” or “horror” enthusiast. The story incorporates just enough 1920’s slang and historical references to give it a true period feel.

Evelyn Chartres, the mysterious and elusive French Canadian author, juxtaposes wit and humor with the horror of creature slaying. References to the Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables as well as the blockbuster film Indiana Jones provide a window into Evelyn’s brand of humor. This whimsy only serves to further emphasize the terror-filled bloodbath in which the main character finds herself immersed.

Clara Grey, the female protagonist, is an intriguing blend of tough vampire slayer and sensitive young woman struggling to find her way in a world of hidden perils. The author weaves a complicated story of adversity and triumph that allows the reader to believe Clara’s evolution as a huntress in an exclusive order operated in secret by the Catholic Church.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From Clara’s modest beginnings as a child of a coal miner to her formation as a deadly huntress, the story kept my attention. If anything, I longed for more…
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One person found this helpful
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The Drew
3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable if lacking.
Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2019
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An interesting and entertaining read held back only (in my opinion) by structural issues. At times the book felt less like a flowing narrative and more a series of vignettes. Characters come and go, the passage of time is rarely addressed, and the main character- though really well written- more or less just goes through the motions of each vignette. There were also times where I felt like I was missing something that could have been there had there been strong cohesion between the chapters.

Not to be all negative- Clara is a great character, and the world she inhabits (or rather the secret monster fighting Chuch society that takes her in) is interestingly set up and developed, although it too could have used a little more fleshing out. Her interactions with other characters are fun, even if they mostly serve as a means to show us that she is smarter/better prepared/etc than everyone else (again not a slight, just an observation)

All in all, I give it 3 out of 5. Entertaining, glad I read it, recommend it to anyone who is interested even if I felt it could have used a little more.
One person found this helpful
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