Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "sherlock-holmes"

Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A gripping new case for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for the Yuletide season.

There have been many follow-ups and interpretations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, as well as spin-offs featuring other characters from the canon, both in print and in film and television. Some are widely successful - Anthony Horowitz's two authorised novels and Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' modern-setting BBC TV series amongst the most notable. James Lovegrove has written several Sherlock Holmes stories since 2013, with this the latest, published in 2019.

'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' begins a few days before Christmas in 1890 with the arrival of a potential new client in the form of Eve Allerthorpe, who is terrified that she is being haunted by preternatural forces - a ghost who may or may not be the spirit of her dead mother; and a folkloric demon known as the Black Thurrick, one of the many interpretations of a Christmas demon (Krampus being the most widely-known in the 21st century).

Intrigued by the story of her persecution, and not at all convinced her tormentor is supernatural in origin, Holmes agrees to take on the case. He and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family home in Yorkshire, where they encounter Eve's immediate family, who immediately make it known they are not welcome. As Holmes begin to unearth secrets and lies, the Black Thurrick selects Watson as his next target, followed by a suspicious death that may finally crack open the case.

'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' is a thrilling Victorian mystery, packed full of Holmes' deductive brilliance and wry wit, foreboding atmosphere and a seasonal chill. Revisiting Holmes and discovering a new story that captures the essence of Conan Doyle's storytelling and Holmes' character is a joyous gift - this reminiscent of a Christmas 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', with its remote setting, historic dynasty and folkloric horrors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this while enjoying a few days off over the Christmas period.

I sincerely hope that Lovegrove writes more Holmes mysteries in this vein. Synopses and reviews of his other Holmes' novels suggest they stray considerably from the tradition of Conan Doyle's stories, but on the merit of 'The Christmas Demon', I may explore them in the future.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

Christmas is Murder: A Chilling Short Story Collection by Val McDermid

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A collection of twelve gripping short stories to curdle the blood during the festive season.

Tony Hill and Carol Jordan hunt a killer who threatens to strike next on Christmas Day…
A malicious poisoner targets supermarket shoppers at random…
A traditional family Christmas is disrupted by murder…
A woman reflects on the crimes that stole her adopted daughter’s mother…
A little girl defends her home on Christmas Eve…
Sherlock Holmes takes on a case that will shape the course of history…
A couple discover a hidden structure built into the cliffside…
Long-buried secrets threaten to surface when an old barrel of whisky is discovered in a cave…
Gavin’s dreams of becoming a writer are finally realised when he meets Natasha…
Ghosts may finally be laid to rest one dark night in St. Petersburg…
A woman’s adulterous husband leaves her on Bonfire Night…
A team of bingo callers find themselves in the firing line, until an armed robbery changes their destiny…

‘Christmas is Murder’ begins with a bang and doesn’t let you go until the final page. Each story is engrossing and lightning-paced, closing with a satisfying twist. This is amongst the best short story collections that I have enjoyed, every story of the utmost quality. My favourites were the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan story ‘Happy Holidays’ (‘The Mermaids Singing’ was the first Val McDermid novel I read and remains amongst my favourite psychological thrillers); ‘Holmes for Christmas’ (I cannot resist a new well-plotted Sherlock Holmes story, this one with an historical twist); ‘Ghost Writer’ and ‘White Nights, Black Magic’ – though it was difficult to choose even those above others.

Val McDermid is exceptional at delving into the criminal mind, showcasing that superbly in a variety of ways in this collection – whether that be in the unbalanced machinations of a serial killer, or the well-meaning intentions of a child; you will find a variety of hot-blooded and cold-blooded criminal motivations. Each set of characters is drawn perfectly, their stories well-written and superbly plotted. This collection also blends other genres into the mix – there’s a touch of tragic romance, some humour along the way, and even a supernatural twist amongst them.

‘Christmas is Murder’ is a delicious seasonal indulgence; twelve treats to devour during a winter’s evening.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram

Sherlock Holmes and The Beast of the Stapletons by James Lovegrove

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping, adventurous mystery and a sequel to, arguably, Sherlock Holmes’ most famous case – ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’.

It has been five years since Sherlock Holmes unmasked the nefarious villain behind the fearsome hound of the Baskervilles. But the Baskerville curse appears to have struck once again. Corporal Grier, an old friend of Sir Henry Baskerville, calls upon Holmes and begs him to intervene to save his friend’s sanity and uncover the latest vendetta against the family.

Sir Henry’s wife, Lady Audrey, was recently found dead, the blood drained from her body. Rumours abound that her life was claimed by a gigantic, vampiric moth, which has been seen in flight above the Dartmouth moorland at night. Holmes, of course, dismisses this supernatural explanation, and agrees to investigate the supposed reignited curse.

Amidst the harsh terrain of the mire, Holmes follows the trail in a quest to unmask the villain. But a twisted scheme is afoot, one that will prove to be more far-reaching and perilous as Holmes and Watson uncover the true horrors behind the beast of the Stapletons.

Having thoroughly enjoyed James Lovegrove’s ‘The Christmas Demon’, I was excited to discover this new adventure, one that would again delve into suspected folkloric persecution, and a return to the story of one of my favourites amongst Holmes’ cases – a true masterpiece by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

‘The Beast of the Stapletons’ did not disappoint – once again told by Dr Watson, this is a fast-paced tale full of twists and turns, packed with mystery and adventure. Witnessing Sherlock Holmes at work is always thrilling, the nefarious scheme at the centre of this plot amply testing his skills. This book is also packed with allusions to other Holmes’ cases, that will entertain any Sherlockian fan, as well as some amusing moments, and a final, satisfying twist.

Another brilliant addition to the ever-expanding Holmes universe, ‘Sherlock Holmes & The Beast of the Stapletons’ is wonderfully entertaining; highly recommended to fans old and new.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram

It just wouldn't be Christmas without reading a selection of festive mysteries and ghost stories, complete with bloodshed, horror and romance!

Here's my selection for this year:

A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A tale of murder and the hope of a new beginning.

Superintendent Runcorn chooses to spend Christmas in rural Anglesey, an effort to distance himself from a broken heart. Yet, by sheer coincidence, he finds that Melisande, the woman whom he loves, is also on Anglesey - and now engaged to another man. When a murder occurs and her brother is implicated, Melisande turns to Runcorn for help, a request he cannot refuse. Determined to uncover the murderer's identity, Runcorn hopes that finding the solution to the case will bring him closure too.

'A Christmas Beginning' is a truly heartwarming story - the crime is truthfully secondary to Runcorn's attempts to move on from the love of his life, but nevertheless presents a satisfying puzzle to unravel, both elements combining seamlessly in a satisfying Victorian Christmas mystery. Another superb novella from Anne Perry that captures the true essence of Christmas.



The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories: Volume Two by Allen Grove

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While Charles Dickens made the Christmas ghost story famous and MR James cemented the tradition of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve, many writers of the Victorian era turned their hand to ghost stories at Christmas, many published in magazines and subsequently lost for decades. Valancourt presents this annual tradition with a volume of ghostly tales from the era.

Amongst my favourites in Volume Two were 'Number Two, Melrose Square', by Dora Havers under the pseudonym Theo Gift, telling the tale of a haunting in an oft-abandoned property; 'The Steel Mirror', by WW Fenn, a tale of Christmas tradition and ill omens; and 'A Terrible Retribution', anonymously published under the name "AS", a tale of passion and murder, which ends the collection on a more hopeful and romantic note than many of its companions.

Overall, 'The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories, Volume Two' is a chilling collection of the gothic and the macabre.



A Very Murderous Christmas: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season by Cecily Gayford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Christmas is not complete without some classic crime; and I now make reading a volume in the 'Murder at Christmas' series an annual tradition. Featuring a collection of festive mysteries, with appearances from Campion, Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown, Chief Inspector Morse, and Rumpole amongst them, 'A Very Murderous Christmas' (indeed, the whole series) feels like Christmas with old favourites.

Amongst the stories I most enjoyed were Margery Allingham's 'The Man with the Sack', which finds Campion thwarting a Christmas burglary; Anthony Horowitz's tongue-in-cheek 'Camberwell Crackers', investigating the murder of an entrepreneur who recently invested in a cracker-making business; and Ruth Rendell bringing her masterful insight into the criminal mind to the bizarre 'Loopy'.

Overall, 'A Very Murderous Christmas' is an entertaining collection of nostalgia and criminality.



And that's not all! In case you missed my earlier review for Alexandra Benedict's 'The Christmas Murder Game', check it out here.

Today I shall be reading Charles Dickens' second Christmas novella, 'The Chimes'. You can read my review for the classic 'A Christmas Carol' here.

I also have a treat lined up in James Lovegrove's 'Sherlock Holmes and the Three Winter Terrors'. This is the third in this particular series - check out my review of the first, 'The Christmas Demon' here.

I wish all my readers, followers and fellow book lovers a very Merry Christmas!

View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram

Sherlock Holmes and The Three Winter Terrors by James Lovegrove

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Three cases of suspicious death surrounded by superstition for the master detective to unravel.

1889. Holmes investigates the drowning of a teenage boy that has been determined as accidental, while whispers of a curse cast by a witch centuries earlier are causing much unease. But, if foul play is at work, Holmes is convinced a human hand is behind it.

1890. A businessman demands Holmes aid him in uncovering the truth behind several unexplained events that suggest he is being haunted. The man is soon found dead, apparently frightened to death by a malign entity. Holmes, however, remains convinced there is a more rational explanation.

1894. Holmes is requested to investigate the death of an esteemed academic, following the cause being declared as an animal attack. But the bite marks on his body were human; suspicions aroused that he has been murdered by a cannibal.

‘The Three Winter Terrors’ is the third in this continuation series by James Lovegrove, following ‘The Christmas Demon’ and ‘The Beast of the Stapletons’, which sees Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson once again investigating murders, supernatural phenomena and folkloric history. Here, Watson presents three novellas, with threads linking them together, hence their collection in one volume.

Featuring the perfect Holmes blend of mystery and suspense with a dose of action and adventure, masterfully entwined with hints of the supernatural, all dominated by Holmes’ deductive brilliance, these three stories thrill on every page, taking us back to the late nineteenth century with vivid description, creating a sense of nostalgia for a time that none of us were yet born to witness. Watching Holmes at work through the eyes of Watson is always entertaining; as well as Holmes’ detective skills, the relationship between the two men makes Conan Doyle’s stories shine and Lovegrove captures that brilliantly, while also developing the supporting characters well throughout these fast-paced narratives.

The narrative mirrors Arthur Conan Doyle’s storytelling style and the voice of John Watson superbly, and the characterisation of Sherlock Holmes is perfection! A lot of attention to detail is paid to the timeline of Conan Doyle’s stories and their publication, with allusions to many of them as well as Lovegrove’s previous two novels, slotting the series perfectly amongst the canon of four novels and numerous short stories, as if these are indeed additional chronicles scribed by John Watson himself. If I had to choose a favourite amongst the tales, it would probably be the first, ‘The Witch’s Curse’, but I enjoyed them all immensely. Having devoured all three books over the last three winters, I very much hope we shall be treated to a fourth in the series.

‘Sherlock Holmes and the Three Winter Terrors’ is a gem for lovers of Sherlock Holmes, detective fiction and Victorian mysteries, as well as those who enjoy fiction with hints of the gothic and the supernatural in the heart of winter.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram

The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula by Christian Klaver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Two titans of Victorian literature collide in a series of supernatural adventures.

Holmes' attention has been drawn to multiple unexplained events, discerning connections between them that only serve to be more perplexing and lead to one inescapable conclusion - the existence of vampires.

Count Dracula enlists Holmes' help to find his missing wife, Mina, kidnapped by an enemy who Holmes fears may present a greater threat than Dracula himself.

So begins a series of perplexing new cases for Holmes and Watson, descending into new realms of terror unlike any they've faced before.

'Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula' is the first in 'The Classified Dossier' series; Dr Watson chronicling Holmes' investigations into the supernatural that were previously locked away, never to be published. This volume contains four stories - each a novella with its own defined narrative, with an ongoing story arc throughout that culminates in the final novella. The original versions of the first three were first published as 'The Supernatural Case Files of Sherlock Holmes'; indeed, the new title is a little misleading, with Dracula only featuring in two of the stories and in more of a supporting role as opposed to co-lead protagonist or chief antagonist.

I must admit I was dubious about this book, having loved both distinctly separate characters and original stories from a young age. Of course, there have been many adaptations and interpretations of both characters in the last century, and it isn't the first time they've been combined either, so I decided to give it a try. Personally, I found changes to the literary canon of both unnecessary and struggled to embrace one major twist in particular, which didn't seem to contribute much to the overarching narrative. Purists of either or both should proceed with caution.

Despite my misgivings over certain plot elements, this was nevertheless an enjoyable read, with the original stories' shared elements of mystery, action and adventure threaded throughout, and the intrigue of detective fiction moulded well with the atmosphere of gothic horror and graphic imagery of vampire fiction. Holmes' scientific approach to the phenomenon of vampirism is detailed well, with some interesting exploration of the concept. Klaver has crafted a well-written collection, demonstrating a detailed knowledge of Conan-Doyle's tales and believably capturing Watson’s narrative voice. The third and fourth stories were my favourites, bringing the emotional turmoil to the forefront and delivering a thrilling climax and satisfying overall conclusion to the story arc of the enemy lurking in the shadows.

A second volume, 'Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde', continues the series, exploring another icon of Victorian gothic horror literature and furthering Holmes’ supernatural cases.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram

Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Thefts of Christmas by Tim Major

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they are set a perplexing puzzle.

Morose and uninspired as Christmas approaches, Holmes receives an unexpected invitation to a theatrical performance, thus beginning a challenge set by a face from the past and an investigation into a series of baffling thefts.

Meanwhile, a new client requests Holmes investigate a series of bloody gifts left in the form of dissected meat and animal carcasses, referencing events when he was lost during an expedition in Greenland.

As the mystery deepens, sending Holmes and Watson in dizzying directions, the mysteries grow evermore complex and the endgame more obscure, Watson fearing Holmes is far too distracted to find this solution.

'Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Thefts of Christmas' sees Holmes reacquainted with Irene Adler as he pursues clues left as part of a game of her creation, beginning with a visit to the theatre and the variations in a haunting melody. In this intellectual contest, with more than a little teasing that hints at flirtation, Holmes obsesses over the maze through which 'the woman' leads him - a crossword puzzle sketched over the map of London and its environs.

Tim Major has moulded a fun and enthralling novel; Holmes' wits challenged by an equal, with entertaining diversions into folklore, mythology and skullduggery, alongside hints of the gothic in the case of a series of macabre deliveries, which may be gifts or threats, presenting a mystery with suggestions of the supernatural. Impeccably written with a sprinkling of Christmas magic added to Holmes' masterful detection, this is a fast-paced tale complete with vivid scenes and themes and motifs you'll recognise from Conan Doyle's Holmes stories.

It is testament to Arthur Conan Doyle's writing that characters who made relatively minor appearances have gone on to become so popular and so entwined within the Holmes mythology - Irene Adler being perhaps the second most notable of these. Despite only appearing in one of Conan Doyle's short stories, 'A Scandal in Bohemia', she has gone on to appear in multiple continuation and spin-off stories in print and several screen adaptations. It is Holmes' fascination and respect for her which has earned her the reputation as being the closest to a 'romantic' interest for Holmes, though their attraction is far more intellectual than physical (Holmes remaining closer to asexual than sapiosexual). Major does a superb job at recreating and continuing this relationship.

In addition to Holmes, Watson and Adler, Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson play significant roles. All the lead and supporting characters are marvellously realised, driving the plot as much as the challenge itself. The novel also features real historical characters in Holmes' client and Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen and his wife, Major taking poetic licence with their real lives intertwined into the narrative and a mystery surrounding Nansen's most recent exploration.

A thoroughly entertaining Yuletide story, 'Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Thefts of Christmas' is a sublime piece of historical mystery which satisfies like an after-dinner Christmas puzzle.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram

The Classified Dossier - Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde by Christian Klaver

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Holmes and Watson hunt a sinister evil in another unearthed adventure from the supernatural case files.

Holmes' services are sought by Dr. Henry Jekyll, appealing to him to assist as his dark counterpart Mr. Edward Hyde is accused of murder.

Meanwhile, the police appeal to Holmes for help as a new series of murders suggest the Ripper has returned to stalk London's streets once again.

As the investigation leads Holmes and Watson into darker territory than ever before, they stumble across a plot that could mean the end of civilisation.

'Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Hyde' is the second volume in 'The Classified Dossier', an alternate Holmesian universe featuring characters of gothic horror fiction. Packed with action and adventure, mystery and the supernatural, as well as the real horror of Jack the Ripper and a fanatical cult, Klaver delivers a thrilling novel in the tradition of the classic fiction it emulates and expands upon.

Not only does the story feature Jekyll and Hyde, but Count Dracula and Mina return, as well as appearances from werewolves, and brushes with the Lovecraftian universe and the work of HG Wells. Ultimately, the novel delivers an exciting, thrill-ride with a mash-up of characters and bending of lore that you'd expect to see on the screen rather than the page; often, I was reminded of the original Dark Universe monster movies.

While diverting, in some elements significantly, from the established events of the source material of Stoker's Dracula, Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde, and Conan Doyle's Holmes stories, Klaver does demonstrate a detailed knowledge of all three canons and his changes are perhaps not as audacious as they may feel - those stories largely comprised of first person narratives or witness testimony and thus, by definition, presenting single perspectives with the potential to have been economical with the truth.

Building on the events of the previous volume, the novel develops the narrative threads that began in the separate novellas of the first book and deeper explores the rewriting of Dracula's tale and discoveries of the esoteric and the supernatural, culminating in a climatic action-packed finale that satisfies both narratively and emotionally.

The series will continue with 'Sherlock Holmes and Dorian Gray', promising a mystery for Holmes and Watson wrapped up with Egyptology and Wilde's anti-hero.



View all my reviews
Follow me on Facebook
Follow me on Instagram
Follow me on Threads
Follow me on Twitter