Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Holmes

by Loren D. Estleman (Editor)

When this book passed through my hands in my local library, I could not resist, I absolutely could not resist, checking it out and taking it home. Who could spurn a book sub-titled “The Master Sleuth Meets the Master Tooth”? After all, the two fictional literary giants were indeed contemporaries. How could the Baker Street Duo have failed to be involved in Dracula's nefarious plot to conquer the Queen's Sceptered Isle? Really, it's obvious that Watson as well as Bram Stoker must have been holding something to their respective chests. We can only assume that Professor Van Helsing had a serious axe to grind with his rival, that gentleman known throughout the world as the Great Detective. The fans of the Great Detective, in fact, won't let the cocaine-snorting sleuth die. Even Arthur Conan Doyle tried it, and was forced to recant the detective's watery death. There are magazines and publishing companies that specialize in Holmesian stories to this day (Empire Publishing Company, with

Genres: Mystery, Horror, Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires, Historical Fiction, Crime

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Loren D. Estleman is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He writes with a manual typewriter.

Estleman is most famous for his novels about P.I. Amos Walker. Other series characters include Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books.) His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes.

Series:
* Amos Walker Mystery
* Valentino Mystery
* Detroit Crime Mystery
* Peter Macklin Mystery
* Page Murdock Mystery

Reviews

[Bobby Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tremendously fun book to read for those who enjoy the old-fashioned Rathbone and Bruce films of the 1940s, or those who enjoyed Sherlock Holmes in the days when radio ruled the airwaves. Light and fun, with plenty of atmosphere, Estleman has written a book which has great appeal to the aforementioned group, and young adults. Dracula fans may also enjoy it. Some Conan Doyle fans — but by no means all of them — might find this sort of crossover story a bit of a stretch.

Holmes and Watson become involved in the Sanguinary Count's attempt to leave Transylvania and make England his home in this fun adventure. This is Doctor Watson's account of Sherlock Holmes's heretofore untold part in the Dracula saga, written to rectify this important omission in Stoker's account, at the specific request of Professor Van Helsing. A sense of fun and adventure saturate the pages of Estleman's fun but not-to-be-taken-too-seriously story.

From the moment a ship is discovered off the English coast with no crew aboard except a dead captain with unusual puncture marks on his neck, and a cargo full of Transylvanian earth, Holmes and Watson know this is going to be no ordinary case. Reluctant at first to believe in the possibility of vampires, Holmes, and an even more skeptical Watson, may finally be forced to accept the existence of the undead.

When the London duo track down the "Bloofer Lady" through the strange abduction of children who are later found alive, but disoriented from blood loss, the lady in question turns out to be none other than Lucy Westerna! More shocking, however, is our favorite duo witnessing her impalement by Van Helsing, Harker, and the gang from Bram Stoker's Dracula. Van Helsing is disturbed to discover that the great detective knows much more about him and his companions than he initially thought. Forced to fill in Holmes on the Dracula legend, Van Helsing dismisses his offer of help nonetheless. Holmes and Watson then continue their pursuit alone, in this marvelously fun account of the chase.

More than one dangerous encounter with the evil Count ensues as they close in, and someone Watson loves dearly becomes a pawn in a very deadly game indeed. Watson's bravery and the help of the Baker Street Irregulars play no small part in this fast and fun read. A boat chase near the conclusion is a particular highlight and offers fun for those who just go with the narrative. I would definitely recommend this for young adults, and old-time radio fans, but purists of the original Conan Doyle might not be as enamored.

While I normally loathe a continuation of a series character by a writer other than the original, especially if it comes too quickly on the heels of their death, enough time has passed that this one does not feel like a "continuation" but rather an affectionate nod to Conan Doyle and his creation. That being said, the game is afoot, and time is of the essence for some afternoon fun with this one!

[Jaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the BBC audio of Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula where John Moffatt is playing Holmes, who incidentally also did the voiceover for Poirot. So there'l be times when I would not know whether its the voice of Poirot or Holmes talking. Add to the confounded confusion - Van Helsing, Dracula and the lot!
I was pretty much

Pretty lame quaint as far as the plot goes. Nothing to write home about.
1.5 blah stars

[Rahul Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget about King Kong vs Godzilla, this fanfiction of Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula was brilliant as a radio play on YouTube with John Moffat as Holmes, Timothy West as Dr. Watson, Aubury Woods as Van Helsing, David March as Dracula Now I want a tag team of Sherlock Holmes and Poirot vs Dracula and Jack the Ripper with London their playground:).I am waiting for when Holmes copyrights are in the public on 1st Jan 2031.
Holmes:..Oh did a BAT just bite me!!!
Watson:Dracula seems to have gone somewhat Batty!!I told you not to take the piss!!

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holmes: “…You are still skeptical?”
Watson: “I am always skeptical, but I admit that I am not as sure of my ground as I was. It would be pushing the law of averages too far to suggest that everyone we have spoken to in connection with this case is suffering from the same delusions.”
“It would be a most amazing coincidence,” agreed my friend.
“At the same time, all my scientific training rebels against the notion of Supernatural beings that rise from their graves at night to feed upon the blood of the living and command fog and storms to cover their tracks.”

So, “the game’s afoot.” But I am the one who enters it being skeptical. Is this merely an attempt to shake some coins from a gullible audience in the manner of Superman vs. Batman or Alien vs. Predator?

Well, my friends, I am reporting that this book is a fine addition to the Holmes casebook. I don’t want to disclose anything of the plot that you cannot already surmise from the title. It is: taught; compelling; and, almost pitch perfect.

“I shuddered. ‘And what eyes! More a beast than those of a man.’
‘I quite agree. A most savage and cunning beast is Count Dracula, whose fangs and claws are all the more dangerous because of the mighty brain which directs them. It is with hesitancy that I contemplate his destruction.’
I frowned disapprovingly, ‘I have never know you to be hesitant in the face of danger, Holmes.’
‘Not for myself, Watson. It is for your wonderful wife that I fear. I do not wish to make her a widow before her time.’”

I don’t know anything about the rest of this series but this book bodes well for it.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this novel was great. A warning to anyone who hasn't read it yet: I do recomend reading Bram Stoker's Dracula first. If you have never read it before read it now it will provide a lot of context that you otherwise would be missing out on. Also if you have picked up this book please be familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories as written by Conan Doyle. Estleman does an excelent job of copying the good Doctor's (Dr. Doyle that is) writing style and you need to be able to appreciate that fact.

And on that note I congradulate Mr. Estleman for staying so close to Stoker's novel. Instead of just writing a parody of the two classic Characters his novel provides added depth and really stays true to images that the reader fell in love with.

A lot of the action in this novel is concerned mostly with the question of What was Dracula doing during all of that time Londen? The answer is trying to stay one step ahead of the world's greatest detective.

Now I can't wait find Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Holmes. I have high hopes that it will be equaly as good.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and entertaining. The author takes great pains to create an account of Dracula's visit to England that comports precisely with Stoker's writings, yet tells of it from the perspective of Holmes & Watson, who apparently had a small yet crucial role to play in the whole affair. Most shocking perhaps is them actually accepting, in full, Dracula's supernatural nature.

[حسین · Rating 3 out of 5]

بد نبود. بانمک بود

[Alex Bledsoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Sherlockian pastiche pits the great detective against Count Dracula in a sort of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" approach that sees Holmes and Watson operating parallel to the plot of the Stoker novel, interacting with it only indirectly and infrequently. While this prevents the ultimate Victorian buddy-cop relationship of Holmes and Van Helsing, it does allow this novel to read more like a Holmes story and less like a patch job of disparate styles. Partly it's due to vintage: Holmes was still under copyright when this was written, and the estate had to approve his use. Partly it's due to skill: author Loren Estleman knows what he's doing and recreates Conan Doyle's voice pretty much spot on. And partly it's due to the simple power of the idea. I found this much more satisfying that the sprawling REVENGE OF THE HOUND I read recently, because the focus remained tight and the stakes clear. Plus, as a huge fan of Stoker's novel, I was delighted to find that nothing contradicted or negated it. All in all, you could do much worse (and there are plenty of Holmes-meets-Dracula stories out there to prove it).

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not usually a fan of classic movie remakes or books "based on the original.'' In my experience, most are a disappointment. But, I am also a fair person for the most part. That makes me willing to give new slants on classics a chance before slamming a book shut or shutting a movie off.

Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite characters from classic literature. Over the years I have enjoyed his original exploits with Dr. Watson many times, loving Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's antiquated turn of phrase and Sherlock's slightly snobby banter with Watson. And I've seen the characters portrayed in many movies and television shows. Sometimes I have loved these film versions (Sherlock) and others I have not enjoyed (Elementary). I always hesitate to read stories featuring Sherlock that are not penned by Conan Doyle himself. I automatically doubt that a revisit could match the feel and style of the original.

Well......

I am also able to admit when I'm wrong.

Finding The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Holmes Vs Dracula as an offering on my local library's digital site, I must admit chuckling that I would need a bottle of wine to go with the cheese. But my determination to not act like a book snob overpowered my inclination to click right past this book. I did wonder how many eyerolls I could manage during a fight between Holmes and a bloodthirsty Transylvanian vampire. The minute I started reading, however, I must admit discovering my preconceived notions had been unfair. Loren D. Estleman actually is quite masterful at writing in the style and manner of the original. I couldn't stop reading! The story is a mirror of events in Bram Stoker's Dracula, starting with the wreck of the Demeter, with the addition of Sherlock Holmes investigating the matter. Beautiful!

I am sorry that I assumed it would be a cheese-fest. Estleman's writing is not a litany to dairy products, but rather a really good homage to Sherlock and Dracula! And....even better....there are several books in this "Further Adventures of'' series, two of them written by Estleman. I'm going to read Estleman's second Sherlock adventure first before delving into the other writers in this series, but I'm willing to have an open mind and try more new Holmes adventures! Estleman has also written a book of short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, The Perils of Sherlock Holmes. Most of his books are westerns or crime novels. I will definitely be reading more of his work!

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Holmes Vs Dracula is a quick read at 224 pages. It was originally published by Penguin in 1978. It was republished by Titan Books in 2012 as part of the "Further Aventures'' series. The pacing is great. The writing style is very authentic. I'm impressed! Estleman also wrote Dr Jekyll and Mr. Holmes in 1980. This book has also been re-released as part of the Futher Adventures series of books. It's definitely on my wish list!

There are 25 books in the Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series published by Titan Books. The paperbacks are high quality and the cover art is awesome! Their homepage also lists several other series featuring Sherlock, Mycroft and even Moriarty. I must investigate further! To find out more about The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the authors writing the series and the other Sherlock related offerings from Titan, check out their website: www.titanbooks.com

The game is afoot!! Much reading ahead!

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelous audio reading. Featuring multiple voices and sound effects in the background, making this most enjoyable. Holmes and Watson's vocals are excellent and very believable. They story is very good with plenty of tense moments.
I will go back to this audio book on occasion.

[Hamid Bahrami · Rating 3 out of 5]

داستان جذابی بود و احتمال زیاد بقیه یکتاب های شرلوک هولمز هم بخونم. اما تا حدودی نسبت به بقیه ی رمان هایی که خوندم بی هدف بود و صرفا یک ماجرای پلیسی بود. با این حال من دوسش داشتم :))))

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become a fan of the author, Loren D. Estleman because he can craft renewed and fresh stories by combining existing tales and fleshing out his characters. He has a fluid narrative style and engaging multi-dimensional characters. In this novel, he gives us an edgier Dr. Watson, a slightly more arrogant Sherlock Holmes, an obsessed Dr. Van Helsing and a conniving Count Dracula. Holmes is pulled into the world of literary Dracula novel when a reporter asks for his assistance and soon has a formidable mystery and murders confronting him. The final (?) confrontation with Count Dracula is perfectly constructed. The introduction of Holmes' favorite bloodhound, Toby adds a nice touch to the personality of Holmes. The author does take several liberties with the Dracula characters from the original Bram Stoker novel. The novel builds to a crescendo and the ending is quite good even though the author leaves the possibility of a future encounter. Overall, the novel was satisfying mystery/horror novel.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yet another mashup in which Holmes is essentially a bystander, observing the events of the other novel. He’s a bit more involved in this than he was in War of the Worlds or Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but still. Overall rating: blech.

[Anjan Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

শার্লক এবং ড্রাকুলার লড়াই!অন্ধকারের রাজপুত্রের সাথে গ্রেটেস্ট ডিটেকটিভের মুখোমুখি লড়াই!
সোজা কথায় বলতে গেলে খুব উপভোগ করেছি বইটা।কাউন্ট ড্রাকুলা যখজ পাঠকপ্রিয় গোয়েন্দার সাথে মুখোমুখি হয় তখন গল্প উপভোগ্য না হয়ে পারে!!ওদিকে ভ্যান হেলসিং এবং তার তিন সহচরের উপস্থিতি,ভিন্টেজ ওয়াটসন সাথে।আহ একদম সুখপাঠ্য বই।

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! I’m not a big time fan of Sherlock Holmes but my love for Dracula goes back to my early childhood in the 70s when I watched Creature Features on TV before discovering, via a Scholastic catalog, that “someone made a book out of Dracula” and I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula in middle school.

Some years ago I purchased The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula by Loren D. Estleman, published by Titan Books in 2012. Being the adherent to all things chronological, when the spirit moved me to finally read said book, I hesitated because I assumed this was a second book (the word “Further” being a primary clue) and that there must be a predecessor to read first.

A quick internet search revealed a 1978 novel by the same author titled simply, Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula. I bought it. Read it. Enjoyed it.

This may come as a shock to you, Dear Reader, but I failed to do my due diligence. It was only after reading the lovely new/old 1970s mass market copy that I realized these two books are indeed the same text. There was a twinge of disappointment at not having a second tale with these characters in which to dive, but my second thought was one of book blogger blissfulness: I can do a giveaway!

More on that later. Now, about the book.

I think fans of either famous character will enjoy this novel. Loren Estleman does a great job at making the casual reader of Sherlock Holmes feel like they’re getting the real thing directly from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I suppose a hardcore member of the Baker Street Irregulars may find some faults, but that’s of no concern to me (as Holmes would condescendingly say).

In the Foreward, Estleman presents himself as the fictional editor of this volume who finds, at an estate sale, Watson’s lost notes of Holmes’ case involving Dracula. In the Preface, written by John H. Watson, M.D., the reader is “set straight” on why Sherlock Holmes’ contribution to the story of Dracula was left out by Bram Stoker. It’s because Professor Van Helsing,

“induced Stoker to deliberately falsify the facts where our line of investigation transected his, in order to build up his own reputation as a supernatural detective, and to invent entire episodes to explain the discrepancies” (19).

Ha! I love that even if it does offend me a bit because Van Helsing needed no such deception to bolster his reputation.

The action of the novel begins with a reporter seeking Holmes’ help in figuring out the mystery of the ship Demeter which arrives in Whitby after a storm with her dead captain tied to the ship’s wheel, a crucifix clutched in his hands. No souls are aboard. A big black dog jumps from the ship and disappears into the shadows. The only thing found in the hold is 50 boxes of dirt. Dracula fans will recognize that scene from Stoker’s novel.

The mystery that follows nicely inserts Holmes and Watson into the world of Stoker’s story and vice versa. Van Helsing, Mina Harker, Quincy Morris, and the gang make brief appearances, but this story is all about Holmes and Watson trying to stop Count Dracula. Many of Holmes’ previous cases and experiences are mentioned throughout and Estleman manages to stay true to the “facts” of Stoker’s novel as well.

There is some wonderful gothic atmosphere and jolly good humor. Of no concern to you, but of interest to me, is the fact that this book helped me understand why my younger self didn’t enjoy Sherlock Holmes: he didn’t believe in the supernatural, which I, on the other hand, relished. In this novel, however, the great detective comes around. Holmes is also a smug, pompous ass, which is a turn-off, but the older me can at least appreciate that he gets the job done.

To enter my giveaway for this book, visit the blog post from whence this review came: https://wildmoobooks.com/2017/07/12/s... (winner announced 7/19/17)

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, let me just say that it always tickles me to death that people were writing fanfiction in the 70s (and getting it published!) I guess we've probably been doing it even before then. But it always just strikes me as a modern thing.

But here's my thing with this book: do Sherlock Holmes and Dracula really go together? I mean, I guess I must have been open to the idea since I was interested enough to buy the book, but once I started reading it I did a double take. Because Holmes is inherently logical; that's his schtick, that he always finds a logical explanation for things, even when they appear to be supernatural (Hound of the Baskervilles, anyone?) But in this book (and very early in it too) he basically just shrugs and says "Never mind all that, yay vampires!"

Of course, as I mentioned, this is fanfiction; I get that. So I guess we're allowed to bend the rules in really whatever fashion we'd like. It's all just for fun, so if you enjoy this book then good for you. But I don't like the premise, and I think even if I had I would have been disappointed in the execution; the plot is highly predictable and just plods along at its own leisurely pace. At least it's short.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title sounds campy but don't let that throw you off. Loren D. Estleman does a wonderful job capturing the feel of a Sherlock Holmes' mystery while weaving in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. It does help to be familiar with Bram Stoker novel (not just the films). 'Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula' fits in as the chapters not seen in Stoker's novel. So there is no surprise but it's entertaining to read. The only complaint I have, which prevents me from giving it 5 stars, is that this book contradicts the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sussex Vampire" where Waton was a believer of the supernatural and Holmes wasn't - in this book it's the reverse. That didn't sit well with me and could have easily presented differently to match what Holmes' creator had already established. However, it stayed true to Bram Stoker's version of Dracula - especially that Dracula could be out in daylight.
All in all, it was a fun read! I think it could be adapted into an interesting film.
I won't spoil it but there was a wonderful exchange between Watson and Dracula, near the end, that made me smile.
I certainly recommend this book to both Dracula and Holmes fans!

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It makes sense as the two characters are pretty much contemporaries, and the settings always were similar anyway. And if a vampire came traipsiing around his neighborhood, it's not implausable to think the world's greatest detective would notice something.

The author basically took the novel Dracula and worked Sherlock Holmes into it. This novel just deals with the time Dracula spent in England. If you've read the original Dracula novel, you probably noticed the majority of Dracula's time is spent "off screen", so to speak, and the reader is unsure exactly what he's up to during this time. Now we know he was dealing with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. One complaint some readers had was the limited interaction between the human characters from Dracula and the Sherlock Holmes characters. There's really very little, and there was some unmined gold there regarding Van Helsing meeting Sherlock Holmes, but overall this was very entertaining.

Fans of Sherlock Holmes and/or Dracula will probably enjoy this one.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this well enough to finish the whole book. And the last sixty pages or so really gripped me. But overall, I'm afraid this book dragged and was more something I read just to get it off my TBR shelves than because I was enjoying it. The story is exactly what it sounds like: a mash-up where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson interact with the characters of Bram Stoker's Dracula and help rid England of the vampire.

Maybe because I love vampire stories, this fell kind of flat for me. It was very much a re-hashing of Dracula, and we didn't get any new stuff added to that book, really, until those last sixty pages. That it was new and cool, and I dug it.

Also, Dr. Watson came off as a blundering fool too often for my taste. It was like this was based more on the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce movies than on the canon itself, and I objected to that.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Sherlock Holmes pastiches ever. Everyone is in character, we have one or two characters from the Dracula book, and MARY WATSON ISN'T DEAD IN THIS BOOK. Also, Watson is not a wimp in this book and it is greatly appreciated.

Recommended 13+ for 'magic,' Dracula being Dracula, and scary situations.

[Soňa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dramatization of the book by BBC Radio. It was a pleasant hear though at some moments the sound was not stable, I know you should be able to distinguish the distance and so on, however there were moments where I had to turn the volume to the top and suddenly drop it to be able to hear everything.

What I liked was great pace and drama in it as well as additional sounds adding to the story.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
The Baker Street sleuth takes on the sanguinary Count. Loren D Estleman's thriller stars John Moffatt and Timothy West.

[Elisa M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, no-one believes this is a real book until I shove it under their nose. The coolest book I've ever read.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you miss reading Dracula or/and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, try this book or listen to the BBC Radio Drame on Youtube.

[Emanuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carino ma non eccezionale questo incontro di due grandissimi ed affascinanti personaggi letterari. Si vede come l’autore sia un amante di Conan Doyle, sembra quasi un suo lavoro (sottolineo quasi). Una storia molto semplice rispetto alle opere principali, ma la magnifica interpretazione di Piero Baldini, l’ha resa decisamente più interessante.

[Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the title of this book alone doesn't grab your attention there's not much I can do to sell you on this concept. Come on people, Holmes going up against the most famous vampire in literature?! What's not to like?

I first read this book more than a decade ago, and found it to be incredibly entertaining, so much so that I never really forgot about it, and decided to pick up a new copy recently. What I really liked about this book compared to some crossover stories is that it exists side-by-side with the original without disrupting that narrative too greatly. The majority of Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula happens outside of the events of Dracula, with Holmes and Watson occasionally drifting into the other books narrative.

The book nicely sidesteps the issues that arise from these brief interaction between characters such as Holmes and Van Helsing quite cleverly before the story even begins. In the preface to the book John Watson feels the need to 'set the record straight' by explaining why he and Holmes don't appear in the pages of Dracula. He claims that this was done by Van Helsing, who requested the removal of Holmes and Watson from the narrative to try and make Van Helsing look better. Watson basically accuses Stoker and Van Helsing of changing the facts of the story to make Van Helsing more of a hero, and to discredit any claims Holmes and Watson might have to the story. Not only does this introduction clear the way for the book to make some small changes to the narrative of Dracula, but also adds a level of humour to proceeding by floating the notion that Bram Stoker was being something of a dick towards them.

The story itself centres around the mystery of the Demeter, a ship that arrives in Whitby. With the crew on board missing except for the captain, who was found tied to the wheel and drained of blood, authorities call in Sherlock Holmes to investigate the mystery. What at first appears to be a strange, but very rational, case soon becomes a fight against the supernatural, as Holmes and Watson come up against a young woman transformed into a vampire, and the deadly Count Dracula himself.

The book presents Holmes' investigation as separate to the events of Dracula, and as such we get to see a version of the Count who is not just battling Van Helsing, but also trying to keep Holmes out of his business on a second front. Whilst this means that Holmes isn't having to face the full force of the vampire, it does make the suggestion that perhaps the reason why Van Helsing was able to finally defeat the monster was because Holmes has been working against Dracula in the background.

There are a lot of stories about Sherlock Holmes, probably more than even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself wrote about him. Not all of them are good, and some of them can go a bit strange when they pit the detective against otherworldly and supernatural forces. But this tale works incredibly well. It might be due to how well Loren D. Estleman crafts their tale, or it could be the fact that it interacts with preexisting events of another novel. Rather than crafting a whole new narrative that would cast aside everything in the original Dracula and face criticism for changing a lot of things, this book works as a companion piece, an add-on to the classic. That makes it feel somehow elevated and secure, because it feels more likely to be real.

I know that comment might seem like nonsense, as both Sherlock Holmes and Dracula are both completely fictional and neither narrative is real, but something about this story feels more grounded than some Sherlock Holmes fiction. Maybe its because Dracula is such a part of popular fiction that it is easier to accept a story like this, but then it could just be me geeking out about the two characters coming together. Either way, this book works when it probably shouldn't.

Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula is a great piece of fiction, drawing together two of the biggest names in fiction to battle it out. The story doesn't tread too much on the toes of the original narrative, and presents a version of events that fans of either franchise will be sure to enjoy. The worlds greatest detective taking on the greatest vampire in a truly brilliant story.

More book reviews at www.trans--scribe.blogspot.com

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book about Holmes and Dracula I've read, and unlike Fred Saberhagen's attempt, Estleman does an excellent job of making the two characters and their worlds work together. I think a big part of this is whereas Saberhagen undermined Holmes' character by having him already familiar with vampires and the supernatural, Estleman has Holmes encountering the world beyond the rational for the first time. However, Holmes and Watson deal with vampires the same way they deal with everything else - only accepting the idea when all other options have been eliminated and when they see the evidence themselves. I think the combination also works well here because Watson is revealing a previously unknown aspect of the original Dracula and because the sort of horror Dracula represents mixes well with the Holmesian necessity of always getting the bad guy and solving the problem - or at least having a good chance of doing so. Holmes and Watson first become involved in the Demeter mystery, and then are fully drawn into events through vampire Lucy's predations. In the end, they don't help deliver the killing blow to the Count directly, but they do contribute a fair bit to keeping him busy in London. Furthermore, Dracula kidnap's Watson's wife, adding a great layer of suspense to what would otherwise be a story with a foregone conclusion. I also appreciate that Estleman does a great job of capturing Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style, as well as portraying Holmes and Watson in such a way that it really feels like this could be part of the original canon. Plus, there's some fun playing with the inconsistencies of that canon early on in the novel, with references to Watson's wife and war wound without specifying which wife or whether he was shot in the leg or the shoulder. All in all, this is a much better book than you might expect from the rather goofy title, and is definitely worth reading for fans of either the world's greatest detective or its greatest vampire.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Hearts on Fire Reviews

I’d be hard pressed to decide which is preferable: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock stories, or the efforts of contemporary authors to rejuvenate the Great Detective. Author Loren D. Estleman, known for his prolific and excellent mysteries, delivers a swift-paced paranormal mystery that aptly interweaves characters known to modern readers from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

The events occurring in “Holmes vs. Dracula” take place in 1890, a full seven years before the publication of Dracula, and involve the Holmes & Watson duo with Professor Van Helsing, Lord Godalming, Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker—and the Undead Lucy Westenra. Yes, folks: Count Dracula has moved to England, and “announced” his arrival with the shipwreck of a Russian schooner containing fifty crates of his native earth; and a dead captain lashed to the wheel.
Holmes isn’t fooled, of course; he is invited into the case by a local newspaper, then told to cease investigating. It seems the British government wants these events concealed. But Holmes is indefatigable, and determined to put this case to right, saving England from the predatory Dracula.
Readers who love Holmes (old or new) will surely revel in this mystery; I highly recommend it. Author Estleman deftly delineates the characters, as well as providing that thrilling sense of adventure readers expect when following the cases of Sherlock Holmes and the not-so-bumbling Dr. John Watson, sidekick, faithful companion, and amanuensis.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Holmes purists would probably not recognize this as a worthwhile pastiche, but I enjoyed the heck out of it! I thought it was pretty clever the way the author wove Watson and Holmes investigating into the off-stage scenes from the Dracula story. Each character played their part the way Arthur Conan Doyle would have written and I found the resolution - and the adventure getting there - most enjoyable.

The atmosphere was positively dripping with that gothicy darkness and the creep factor was still present as it is in the original Dracula story.

Overall I thought the author did a fine job with this tale and I am off to look into the other 2 Holmes/Watson stories he penned. Good stuff!

[Stefani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly the most famous characters in literature in one story? Sing me up!

We follow the meeting of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula, inevitably Watson and his wife have also plunged into the adventure that is this audiobook production. And let me tell you, it's quite the production, from the sounds and special effects, to the voices given to each of the stars of this narrative. And the plot was fun to see through to the end, down to the subtle hint of Sherlock's next adventure and mention of Moriarty. I'm happy I've come across this little gem.

A short one, but a very good one - especially in audiobook form.