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Sherlock Holmes
The Sphinx Collection
Three Compelling Sherlock Holmes Mysteries In One Book
STORY ONE: The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb
"Ah good morning, John, if we do not hurry then we shall miss the unveiling of the sarcophagus." He leaped up, feeling much better than I did, and chased me into my own room so that I could get changed.
There was a large crowd who had come to see the tomb. Holmes and I made our way through. I noticed Ini intently watching us. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfax were standing in the tunnel with someone from the Department of Antiquities. They had been waiting for us. The five of us made our way through the tunnel and back to the tomb. I couldn't wait to see if there really was a Pharaoh in the next room
STORY TWO: The Case of the Cracked Mirror
The fireman had seen a skeleton, wearing a dress coat, whose head was aflame. I was deeply worried for the missing young woman. If she had been taken by the opera ghost, be he flesh or spirit, how would she fare if she rejected his 'love'? All worries were momentarily forced out of my head when a sudden squawk rang out across the opera house. "I cannot believe this! Me; a suspect"
STORY THREE: The Mystery of the Faceless Bride
The bride carried no decaying roses but her bridal dress was torn and burnt. Her bare legs, starved needle points, staggered disjointedly. The veil hung low over her face. I had my pistol, however I could not shoot. If it was a ghost the bullet would surely pass through, if it was flesh then I would be shooting dead a woman. Her hands, the fingernails long and cracked, lifted up the veil. Her face! Even in the darkness I could see its ruin. The eyes had been snatched from its sockets, the nose sunken in; all that was left was the mouth. Thin, melted lips parted to reveal brown chipped teeth.
Set in the late 19th Century, no fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes.
If you enjoyed "The Sphinx Collection" by Pennie Mae, be sure to read SHERLOCK HOLMES: A Strange Affair with the Woman on the Tracks.
STORY ONE: The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb
"Ah good morning, John, if we do not hurry then we shall miss the unveiling of the sarcophagus." He leaped up, feeling much better than I did, and chased me into my own room so that I could get changed.
There was a large crowd who had come to see the tomb. Holmes and I made our way through. I noticed Ini intently watching us. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfax were standing in the tunnel with someone from the Department of Antiquities. They had been waiting for us. The five of us made our way through the tunnel and back to the tomb. I couldn't wait to see if there really was a Pharaoh in the next room
STORY TWO: The Case of the Cracked Mirror
The fireman had seen a skeleton, wearing a dress coat, whose head was aflame. I was deeply worried for the missing young woman. If she had been taken by the opera ghost, be he flesh or spirit, how would she fare if she rejected his 'love'? All worries were momentarily forced out of my head when a sudden squawk rang out across the opera house. "I cannot believe this! Me; a suspect"
STORY THREE: The Mystery of the Faceless Bride
The bride carried no decaying roses but her bridal dress was torn and burnt. Her bare legs, starved needle points, staggered disjointedly. The veil hung low over her face. I had my pistol, however I could not shoot. If it was a ghost the bullet would surely pass through, if it was flesh then I would be shooting dead a woman. Her hands, the fingernails long and cracked, lifted up the veil. Her face! Even in the darkness I could see its ruin. The eyes had been snatched from its sockets, the nose sunken in; all that was left was the mouth. Thin, melted lips parted to reveal brown chipped teeth.
Set in the late 19th Century, no fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes.
If you enjoyed "The Sphinx Collection" by Pennie Mae, be sure to read SHERLOCK HOLMES: A Strange Affair with the Woman on the Tracks.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2014
5 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Pennie Mae Cartawick
62 books66 followersBorn: Catherine Cartawick.
Pennie Mae Cartawick is a best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Her work is based on a variety of subjects including weight management and nutrition, recipe books, horror novelettes, and short Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
She was born in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England and emigrated to Florida in 1993.
http://penniemaecartawick.wordpress.c...
View my original paintings at:
http://penniemaecartawick.wix.com/mysite
Pennie Mae Cartawick is a best selling author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Her work is based on a variety of subjects including weight management and nutrition, recipe books, horror novelettes, and short Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
She was born in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England and emigrated to Florida in 1993.
http://penniemaecartawick.wordpress.c...
View my original paintings at:
http://penniemaecartawick.wix.com/mysite
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 11, 2014
This was very pleasant read! Three little mini mysteries involving the savant like Sherlock Holmes. He is so classic. Arrogant, insufferable, lacking humility, and always right. The author is very true to the characters of both Holmes, and Watson. I love these classic who done it mysteries. They all start out like something you have heard before. A rendition of some urban myth or story you have heard before. The mystery of the Cracked Mirror sounds like Phantom of the Opera, but of course the story takes a nice tweak at the end that you were not expecting.
The Poisoned Tomb starts out like the traditional curse of (fill in the blank). But again the reader is fooled, It turns out there is no mummy or walking cadaver. Nice twist in the story that of course never fools the redoubtable Holmes.
The Mystery of the Faceless Bride is another urban myth type story. This one too has a bend in it that the reader isn't ready for. The author through the character of Holmes does a nice job of setting the reader up for a fall. She has the gift of a nicely turned phrase or two in every story that throws the reader off track in trying to keep up with Holmes. This is the way a Holmes mystery should be! You never feel tricked,just humbled by Holmes.
The Poisoned Tomb starts out like the traditional curse of (fill in the blank). But again the reader is fooled, It turns out there is no mummy or walking cadaver. Nice twist in the story that of course never fools the redoubtable Holmes.
The Mystery of the Faceless Bride is another urban myth type story. This one too has a bend in it that the reader isn't ready for. The author through the character of Holmes does a nice job of setting the reader up for a fall. She has the gift of a nicely turned phrase or two in every story that throws the reader off track in trying to keep up with Holmes. This is the way a Holmes mystery should be! You never feel tricked,just humbled by Holmes.
January 2, 2015
I cannot say I approve of the re-write of the "Phantom of the Opera". Too close to that story to be considered original. I have too give low marks for this misuse of another's work.
May 11, 2023
An excellent collection of short Holmes stories
The first set in Egypt with the story of tombs being found and counterfeited pieces being turned in. The second is set around the Paris opera house and a missing singer. Holmes searches for the girl while also looking for a supposed ghost. The final story is set in an English college where a student has disappeared and his sister seeks out Holmes to find him. Well written with surprise ending. A fun read.
The first set in Egypt with the story of tombs being found and counterfeited pieces being turned in. The second is set around the Paris opera house and a missing singer. Holmes searches for the girl while also looking for a supposed ghost. The final story is set in an English college where a student has disappeared and his sister seeks out Holmes to find him. Well written with surprise ending. A fun read.
June 28, 2019
Enjoyable. Big Sherlock fan
August 26, 2014
Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite.
“Sherlock Holmes: The Sphinx Collection” by Pennie Mae Cartawick bundles together three new Sherlock Holmes adventures in one cover. Included are “The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb”; “The Case of the Cracked Mirror”; and “The Mystery of the Faceless Bride”.
Each of these three tales is very nicely done, and each remains true to the original Sherlock Holmes canon established by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
“The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb” places Holmes and Watson at an Egyptian archaeological dig site at the request of a wealthy artifact collector, to investigate possible fraudulent activities involving workers at the site.
“The Case of the Cracked Mirror” borrows from the classic “Phantom of the Opera” to set the stage for Holmes to locate and rescue an up-and-coming opera star.
In “The Mystery of the Faceless Bride”, Holmes agrees to find the missing brother of a poor “matchstick girl”, only to find a much deeper mystery than what he anticipated.
“Sherlock Holmes: The Sphinx Collection” treats Holmes fans to a trio of top-notch new mysteries. An added bonus is the top-quality photographs and graphics incorporated into this volume. The writing is detailed when necessary, witty at times, and always engaging – as all good Sherlock stories must be.
Cartawick has captured the essence of Doyle’s original creations, and the reader reaps the benefits. These stories would meet with Doyle’s approval, if he were here to read them.
As a lifelong Holmes fan, I have read more than a few subpar attempts to write new Sherlock stories. “The Sphinx Collection” is a refreshing break from such disappointments, and definitely worthy of being added to the literary collection of Holmes fans everywhere.
“Sherlock Holmes: The Sphinx Collection” by Pennie Mae Cartawick bundles together three new Sherlock Holmes adventures in one cover. Included are “The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb”; “The Case of the Cracked Mirror”; and “The Mystery of the Faceless Bride”.
Each of these three tales is very nicely done, and each remains true to the original Sherlock Holmes canon established by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
“The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb” places Holmes and Watson at an Egyptian archaeological dig site at the request of a wealthy artifact collector, to investigate possible fraudulent activities involving workers at the site.
“The Case of the Cracked Mirror” borrows from the classic “Phantom of the Opera” to set the stage for Holmes to locate and rescue an up-and-coming opera star.
In “The Mystery of the Faceless Bride”, Holmes agrees to find the missing brother of a poor “matchstick girl”, only to find a much deeper mystery than what he anticipated.
“Sherlock Holmes: The Sphinx Collection” treats Holmes fans to a trio of top-notch new mysteries. An added bonus is the top-quality photographs and graphics incorporated into this volume. The writing is detailed when necessary, witty at times, and always engaging – as all good Sherlock stories must be.
Cartawick has captured the essence of Doyle’s original creations, and the reader reaps the benefits. These stories would meet with Doyle’s approval, if he were here to read them.
As a lifelong Holmes fan, I have read more than a few subpar attempts to write new Sherlock stories. “The Sphinx Collection” is a refreshing break from such disappointments, and definitely worthy of being added to the literary collection of Holmes fans everywhere.
February 15, 2015
As a small boy i was introduced to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries through Basil Rathbone, his black-and-white depiction of the masterful genius sleuth Mr Holmes set in an Edwardian black-and-whiteEngland was everything you want in a mystery/ thriller. A personal favourite, 'Hound of the Baskervilles'. I often thought back to how good that was & thought no one will do that again.
I was wrong!
The author Pennie Mae Cartawick and her SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE SPHINX COLLECTION tick every box for bring the old-man out of retirement and getting Mr Holmes back on the case. Of course with new conundrums.
In the shifting desert sands of Egypt The Poisoned Tomb, there is a perfect mystery, a cursed tomb that Watson has manipulated Sherlock into investigating. All is not as it seems ... like watching a master artist throwing brush strokes that at first seem patternless only to reveal the perfection of his plan, all is revealed.
The Mystery of the Cracked Mirror has all the classic Sherlock Holmes elements with a clever twist.
Holmes is surrounded by fools none of whom fool him. The redoubtable Holmes is the first super-sleuth.
The Mystery of the Faceless Bride is a story that engages and baffles and ultimately surprises.
I believe the strength of Ms Cartawick is the true-to-the period style, she has a way with words, and her phrases are artful and clever. Sir Authur Conan Doyle has a worthy practitioner keeping the legacy alive.
I was wrong!
The author Pennie Mae Cartawick and her SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE SPHINX COLLECTION tick every box for bring the old-man out of retirement and getting Mr Holmes back on the case. Of course with new conundrums.
In the shifting desert sands of Egypt The Poisoned Tomb, there is a perfect mystery, a cursed tomb that Watson has manipulated Sherlock into investigating. All is not as it seems ... like watching a master artist throwing brush strokes that at first seem patternless only to reveal the perfection of his plan, all is revealed.
The Mystery of the Cracked Mirror has all the classic Sherlock Holmes elements with a clever twist.
Holmes is surrounded by fools none of whom fool him. The redoubtable Holmes is the first super-sleuth.
The Mystery of the Faceless Bride is a story that engages and baffles and ultimately surprises.
I believe the strength of Ms Cartawick is the true-to-the period style, she has a way with words, and her phrases are artful and clever. Sir Authur Conan Doyle has a worthy practitioner keeping the legacy alive.
January 31, 2015
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle speaks again through Pennie Mae Cartawick. I grew up reading classic mysteries featuring Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple and, I must say, Ms Cartawick's perfectly hits the mark. Her pacing and prose fits in perfectly with the style created in Doyle's original work.
I don't want to give any spoilers so all I'll say is The Sphinx Collection includes three cases for Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Watson.
Ms. Cartawick sends the reader to a dusty and hot Egyptian archeological dig in the case of The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb. We are then thrust into the chaos behind the scenes at an Opera House in The Case of the Cracked Mirror. In the last case, Ms. Cartawick sends Holmes & Watson searching for a missing boy during The Mystery of the Faceless Bride.
The mysteries are laid out with enough twists and turns to keep the reader fully engaged and anxious to watch Holmes logically decipher the clues.
I don't want to give any spoilers so all I'll say is The Sphinx Collection includes three cases for Holmes and his trusty sidekick, Watson.
Ms. Cartawick sends the reader to a dusty and hot Egyptian archeological dig in the case of The Mystery of the Poisoned Tomb. We are then thrust into the chaos behind the scenes at an Opera House in The Case of the Cracked Mirror. In the last case, Ms. Cartawick sends Holmes & Watson searching for a missing boy during The Mystery of the Faceless Bride.
The mysteries are laid out with enough twists and turns to keep the reader fully engaged and anxious to watch Holmes logically decipher the clues.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews