221B Recs

Title: Excultus
Author: mottlemoth
Pairing: Mycroft/Lestrade
Length: 315,000 words
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC

Author's summary: 23rd-century London is a divided city. Two hundred years of genetic tampering has fractured humanity into subspecies, not all of whom are willing to get along. The capital's crime-ridden streets are now home to some fairly fantastic variants of human - some of them more dangerous than others.

For DI Greg Lestrade, Cross-Human Relations at Scotland Yard, it's all just part of the day job.

But when a horrifying discovery forces him to seek the help of Mycroft Holmes, Head of Criminal Psychology, Greg might just be tested past his limits. Mycroft is unpleasant, unforgiving, and famously impossible to please.

But if Greg needs anyone right now, it's a vampire expert.

With dangerous forces fast on their tail, Greg and Mycroft must work together to avert the vampire threat - before it's too late.

[Mystrade Supernatural/Sci-fi AU.]

Reccer's comments: That author's summary pretty much says it all. Futuristic, Sci-Fi AU where some human subspecies co-mingle openly with other humans -- and some do not. This is basically one big epic casefic, where the mystery to be solved involves murderous vampires, and where DI Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes team up to contain the threat, assisted by some nicely fleshed-out OCs.

I should start out right away by letting everyone know that the only Sherlock canon characters here are Greg Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes.There is no Sherlock. There is no John Watson. If that puts anyone off, feel free to move on. I will stress, however, that you will be missing out on a grand action-packed adventure, where the relationship development between the two main characters is a wonder to behold. And I have never read a fic where I am so enthralled by the many OCs who play their supporting roles with so much heart and soul.

At the beginning of the story, Lestrade and Mycroft are strangers who meet one night and have a one-night stand. Unbeknownst to them both, they will soon be caught up in a whirlwind of unsolved murders that require their particular brand of expertise and will force them to work together for the foreseeable future. As the mystery unfolds and their relationship progresses, it becomes clear that Mycroft is holding his cards very close to his vest, and that he is keeping a very large secret from his partner.

I found this story completely enthralling, heart-stopping, and emotionally satisfying. There are several twists and turns, and unexpected reveals, but it all progressed very naturally within the story, and none of it felt like surprise just for the shock factor or for the sake of cleverness. Some you will see coming, and some you won't. But it all comes together in a perfectly logical way. Please do give it a try.