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The Dead Assassin: The Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

(The Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle #2)

Vaughn Entwistle (Goodreads Author)

3.74 · Rating details · 187 ratings · 56 reviews

1895. Victorian England trembles on the verge of hysteria in Vaughn Entwistle's The Dead Assassin. Terrorist bombs are detonating around the Capitol and every foreigner is suspected of being an Anarchist lurking beneath a cape.

Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle is summoned to the scene of a gruesome crime that has baffled and outraged Scotland Yard's best. A senior member of Her ...more

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Hardcover, 352 pages

Published June 9th 2015 by Minotaur Books

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Sep 16, 2016 Sean Gibson rated it it was amazing

There are a few things in life I have weird obsessions with (as opposed to normal obsessions, naturally—I don’t consider my fixation on chocolate to be out of the ordinary, for example, nor my love of pet rocks). Such things include holiday rituals (“Sorry, kids—I know you really want to eat gingerbread man cookies, but it’s September, and we can’t make those until December because, well, tradition, you know…if you eat them any other time of the year, they will literally melt your insides and There are a few things in life I have weird obsessions with (as opposed to normal obsessions, naturally—I don’t consider my fixation on chocolate to be out of the ordinary, for example, nor my love of pet rocks). Such things include holiday rituals (“Sorry, kids—I know you really want to eat gingerbread man cookies, but it’s September, and we can’t make those until December because, well, tradition, you know…if you eat them any other time of the year, they will literally melt your insides and they will fall out of your butt, and no one wants that.”); Ghostbusters (as fixated on here) and Saved by the Bell (as fixated on here); overly earnest 80s and early 90s rock bands; and Victorian-set fantastical/supernatural thrillers.

I don’t know how good Vaughn Entwistle is when it comes to making gingerbread men or belting out a power ballad (though, based on his author photo, his attire suggests that he may shop at Moody’s Store for Men, so it’s possible he has some connection to the SBTB universe), but the man is highly proficient—no, let’s say expert—when it comes to penning Victorian-set fantastical/supernatural thrillers.

After being delighted by The Revenant of Thraxton Hall, I was looking forward to digging into The Dead Assassin, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. The continued adventures of Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle and his witty literary counterpart Oscar Wilde, as all sequels naturally must, ramps up the action, drama, stakes, and frequency of wild orgies (the latter of which I could have done without—not because I’m a prude, mind you (as I think I’ve proven frequently and at great length within the friendly confines of GR), but rather because I get a little weird about mixing my love for Victorian-set fantastical/supernatural thrillers with the all-too-realistic notion that most people are perverts; it tends to pull me out of the moment).

There is a greater focus on our heroes and their families this time around, which is simultaneously interesting (we gain a deeper understanding of Doyle and Wilde and what makes them tick through their interactions with wives and children) and sad (neither man has an optimal home life—in Doyle’s case, his love of and desire to care for his terminal (but slowly declining) wife wars with the yearning physical and romantic passions of a man in his prime, resulting in an (as-yet unconsummated but openly acknowledged) affair with the breathtaking Jean Leckie; in Wilde’s case, his flaunting of the conventional and sexual omnivorousness lead to affairs many and varied). This deeper focus on character simultaneously slows the narrative down and sets the stage for future tales featuring the intrepid duo, but, on balance, serves the story—and potential sequels to come—well.

I don’t want to spoil the finer points of the mystery, but the story features a toy store that you’ll hate the fact you can’t visit, a tip of the cap to Frankenstein in the form of some diabolically reanimated enemies, a conspiracy that reaches the highest offices in the British empire, lots and lots of pea soup fog, and a Dickensian tour Newgate prison.

If The Dead Assassin lacks a little bit of the introductory charm of its quieter predecessor, it makes up for it with high-octane action and is a worthy addition to what will, I hope, be a lengthy series. More, please. (And, seriously--check this series out, The Camelot Shadow fans.)

Let’s call it a strong 4.5 stars. ...more

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Oct 05, 2014 Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-2015

The year is 1895 and Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle is summoned to a horrendous crime scene where a senior member of Her Majesty's government has been murdered. The most baffling thing is that the killer seems to be one Charlie Higginbotham. But it's impossible for him to be the killer since he was hanged two weeks previously at Newgate Prison…

I wanted to like this book since I was quite happy when I was approved for this book a little while ago. But I just couldn't get into the story. It should be very ...more

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May 02, 2015 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Victorian horror readers

Shelves: owned-copy, very-dark-read, famous-literary-historical-characte, historical-mystery, not-for-the-faint-of-heart, set-in-uk, paranormal-mystery, adc-reviews, mad-scientists, fringe-science

Much darker than the first book. I was surprised at some of the shenanigans and goings-on. Definitely feels like a bit of an homage to Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Not what I'd call light reading at all.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

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Oct 13, 2019 Glen rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, historical-fiction, science-fiction, sherlockiana

An historical fiction, where a man is ripped apart, and the miscreant is shot several times. The suspect is found, only it's a man hung a week ago. Then the body disappears.

Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde team up to stop the steampunk plot. They're mismatched, but aren't all buddies?

Entertaining.

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Jun 15, 2017 Joe rated it did not like it

Shelves: mystery-thriller

The Dead Assassin pairs up the unlikely crime-fighting duo of Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde. Their self-appointed task, nothing less than saving and preserving the British realm and crown from a vast conspiracy. In over three hundred pages our heroes bumble through a lot of fog, grisly murders, a tumble in the Thames, the dark side of British Royalty, corrupt government officials, some romance, an orgy – not to be confused with the romance - Frankenstein monsters – even cheesy sound ...more

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May 28, 2015 Sarah-Hope rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015

A little over a year ago, I reviewed the first volume in Vaughn Entwistle’s Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle series. Now, Entwistle is putting friends and co-investigators Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde back together again in a novel that opens with a great set-up. Charlie Higginbottom, a pickpocket, has brutally murdered one of the leading figures in Her Majesty’s government. What makes this a paranormal case? Well, Higginbottom had been hanged at Newgate Prison two weeks ...more

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Mar 23, 2017 Linda rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries, fantasy, fiction, historical

I love the concept of this series—Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde solve mysteries together. I enjoyed this one just as much as The Revenant of Thraxton Hall. This book was slightly less focused on the supernatural than the first, and included elements of steampunk.

Oscar’s outrageous manners contrast with Arthur’s classic gentlemanly deportment, and the overall effect is delightful. If you like your mysteries with a dash of horror, fantasy, or science fiction, you should give this a try. I ...more

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Jul 26, 2015 The Bookend Family rated it really liked it

****
Will the sun set on the Empire?

About a year ago I read and reviewed The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle. It was the first book in a series called The Supernatural Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it essentially cast the Scottish author and creator of Sherlock Holmes in the role of his most famous creation, with his friend Oscar Wilde as a rather reluctant Watson. In that novel the two investigate the case of a medium who foresees her own death, and the mysterious ****
Will the sun set on the Empire?

About a year ago I read and reviewed The Revenant of Thraxton Hall by Vaughn Entwistle. It was the first book in a series called The Supernatural Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and it essentially cast the Scottish author and creator of Sherlock Holmes in the role of his most famous creation, with his friend Oscar Wilde as a rather reluctant Watson. In that novel the two investigate the case of a medium who foresees her own death, and the mysterious mansion of the title. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Well the two famous writers are back in The Dead Assassin, and Mr. Entwistle has upped the ante this time, with the Monarchy, and perhaps all of the Empire hanging in the balance. Bombs are exploding all over London, and that isn't the only danger; a rising tide of paranoia means that every foreigner is a potential Anarchist, and along with a wave of horrific fogs, the whole country is ready to go up like a tinderbox.

Dr. Conan Doyle is caught up in an uneasy relationship with the young and single Miss Jean Leckie. Although he loves his wife, her lingering and terminal case of Consumption threatens to tear their marriage asunder. In the middle of all of this (in the middle of a dinner with Miss Leckie, in fact) Conan Doyle is summoned by Scotland Yard to help them with a seemingly impossible problem; a senior government official has been murdered in a spectacularly bloody fashion, and the body of his attacker is that of a man who had been hanged weeks before.

Conan Doyle and Wilde begin their investigation but immediately run afoul not only of higher authorities, but a secret branch of the government run by a mysterious man known only as Cypher. Also looking askance of their actions is a cabal of businessmen, and the shadowy unknown figures whom actually plan the coup. With so many schemers and plots within plans it would be easy to get confused, but Mr. Entwistle does an excellent job of keeping his threads untangled, mainly by keeping the focus on his leading men. Both Conan Doyle and Wilde are fascinating characters, and Mr. Entwistle makes them even more interesting but so solidly grounding them in historical reality.

Conan Doyle and Wilde are both fully realized, rounded characters, not heroes. The struggles of their historical lives are artfully intermingled with their fictional problems in just the right dose. It’s obvious that Mr. Entwistle has done plenty of research on the famous writers, and it shows in an unstuffy way.

Most of the other characters in the book are solid, and Mr.Entwistle writes with an assured, solid hand. There are a few times where some more experimental sections get away from him, but he remains in firm control for most of the way. The big, busy plot flies along, and there is plenty of action. I was fond of the way Mr. Entwistle conveyed the protagonist’s valor without turning them into action-movie heroes. So all of the derring do is more satisfying when you realize that it’s being performed by a couple of well-intentioned writers.

The first novel had a group of interesting scenes where Holmes showed up to the day-dreaming Conan Doyle to act as a back-seat driver concerning Conan Doyle’s detective skills, or lack of them. Mr. Entwistle jettisons those sections here. I found them enjoyable, but their absence has little effect on the final product. It just goes to show that an author doesn’t have to follow a formula for a book to be a success, and The Dead Assassin is solid proof.

Review by: Mark Palm
Full Reviews Available at: http://www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com
...more

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Oct 05, 2015 Ionia rated it it was amazing

I loved the first book in this series, "The Revenant of Thraxton Hall," and have been waiting for a new book to come out, so I was really excited when I got the chance to read this one.

After being warned that this book was a bit darker than the last, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I fell in love with it from the first page. This novel has everything you could want in a paranormal mystery. The descriptions of London were brilliant and the story took many unexpected turns. What impressed me ...more

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Feb 11, 2015 Joe Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, series, historical, supernatural

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde are back in another supernatural mystery! This is the second book in the series and it is not necessary to have read the previous book. I loved the humor and banter between Arthur and Oscar as they tried to decipher the clues and solve another case. My only complaint is why, why, why did you have to do that thing near the end! No spoilers.

I was lucky to get an advanced readers copy of this book which comes out on June 9. Put it on your list of reads if you ...more

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Jun 18, 2015 Conny rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-reads, murder-mystery

I was a First Read Winner of this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the second book in the series, and since I had not read the first one I was a bit worried if I would be lost, but there was no such problem. The book is a mix of Steampunk, Paranormal and Agatha Christie, with an interesting plot line and lots of fog. I loved the characters and I felt it moved at a steady pace, with lots of action and some sexual situations, and I can't wait to find out what adventures will befall our ...more

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Jun 14, 2015 Doug Hinkle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A Steampunk Sherlock Holmsian mystery

Picture, if you will, a place where Frankenstine meets Sherlock Holmes with Oscar Wilde playing Dr. Watson. An enjoyable, if somewhat dark, romp through Victorian England!

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May 30, 2015 Cups and Thoughts rated it it was amazing

Absolutely teriffic! Love how the story is woven together! My review will be up on my blog!

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Jun 02, 2015 Martha rated it it was ok

Shelves: net-galley, arcs

(Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the ARC!)

Man, talk about a letdown. I was super-excited for this book; after all, it features writers solving crimes, a touch of Sherlock Holmes, a little steampunk London, a paranormal mystery...what could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, chiefly, two things: overuse of "shock value" and mediocre writing. The book gets into some pretty graphic territory, with lewdness and violence around every corner, but like an overused exclamation point, an overdose of (Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the ARC!)

Man, talk about a letdown. I was super-excited for this book; after all, it features writers solving crimes, a touch of Sherlock Holmes, a little steampunk London, a paranormal mystery...what could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, chiefly, two things: overuse of "shock value" and mediocre writing. The book gets into some pretty graphic territory, with lewdness and violence around every corner, but like an overused exclamation point, an overdose of shock starts to feel dull and loses its point. Reanimated corpses! Sex parties! Oh my! By the time we learn the gruesome secret of the chessmaster automaton, all I could think was, "That's it?"

It's not just that the shock entertainment is piled on too thickly. That would be tolerable if there was a really great mystery underneath, but alas, there isn't. All those scandalous details of drugs, sex and murder can only prop up the thin frame of this plot for a few chapters, and then the story gets tedious. You'd have to be truly dense to not guess the identity of the criminal mastermind early on in the book. And the tendency to tell rather than show, especially through long-winded conversations, doesn't help either.

I can see what the author might have been aiming for--this London looks a bit like that of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes, complete with secret corrupt government committees, paranormal goings-on, and a young nobleman who seeks to seize power for himself through a combination of fear, supernatural machinations and good old-fashioned thuggery. (He even rises from the dead after three days!) But this book just falls short, especially when compared to so many other similar books, and parts of it feel too close to a copy of other stories.

I limped through to the end on this one hoping against hope that there might be a surprise twist ending to redeem it half a star or so, but there wasn't. Instead there's a "non-ending" that looks like it might be the set-up to a sequel. It's safe to say, I won't be reading it. ...more

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Jun 07, 2015 Chaitra rated it it was ok

Shelves: part-of-a-series, historical-fiction, supernatural, netgalley, arc-reviews, mystery, book-about-authors, paranormal, historical-mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 08, 2015 Debra Borchert rated it it was amazing

Entwistle writes about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde superbly! The author amazes me with his plot twists, interesting characters, and period details. There are so many interesting things I learn from his expert research both about the history and culture of the time. That research is woven in expertly and plunges me into not only the time but also the heart-pounding situations I find myself in. It is as if I am running right beside the characters. I also love being surprised by the ...more

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May 26, 2015 Cynthia rated it it was amazing

Excellent, and as entertaining as the first! I love anything to do with the paranormal, and this is great fun. My only "complaint" if you will, is that I can't stop thinking of how Oscar Wilde's life ended in such tragedy! His character does offer wit and charm to the novels, but I just wish the author had chosen someone who didn't die so hopelessly. Otherwise, as stated above and per the five-star rating, this is a page-turner and great fun!

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Jul 21, 2015 AdiTurbo rated it really liked it

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and was not disappointed by this one. It is still very intelligent writing, a good reconstruction of the time and place, and great character building. Entwistle's Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle really come to life, and are quite believable. There's all the atmosphere, suspense and wit you can expect, and more. A treat.

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Sep 29, 2015 Scott Dieterle rated it really liked it

This is the second book in the series (which I discovered after I had already picked this up from my local library). I found this to be a fun story with an interesting fictional perspective on these authors' lives and adventures. The book does delve briefly into some dark areas which may be outside the tastes of some readers.

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May 13, 2015 nikkia neil rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for arc.

Delightful duo! who would have thought this pair makes such hilarious reading. I laughed out loud so many times that my kids wanted to know what was so funny. Love it!

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Jun 29, 2015 Rob Cohen rated it it was amazing

This one may actually have been better than the first one- for one thing, it took place all in London, which I loved. Also, cool bad guys, a little bit of the occult and some excellent descriptions of the time and place. The chapter on the execution at the prison was especially wonderful.

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Jan 28, 2015 Barb rated it it was ok

Shelves: series-trilogy, most-disappointing, acd, new-in-2015, read-in-2016, choose-in-2016, horror, oscar-wilde

I so loved the first book in this series and had high hopes that this one would be equally good. Sadly I didn't find the flavor of this one at all in keeping with the previous book. I have to categorize this as horror and I don't care for horror. I did love Oscar Wilde though.

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Apr 15, 2015 Rebecca rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016

A bit hard to get into, I found the novel to be a little more stagnant than the first in the series. I'll still continue to read his next books in the series as I feel that they can and will get better as he evolves as a writer.

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Jun 03, 2015 Jenni Schell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-books

I flew through this book. It was fantastic. I haven't read the first in this series, but will be getting it. What a great read.

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Sep 18, 2018 Andrea Johnston rated it it was ok

Shelves: dnf

I was so excited about this book. I LOVE reading fictional stories with Oscar Wilde as a character (if this is true for you, please do yourself a favor and check out Giles Brandreth's Oscar Wilde mysteries). However, the way Wilde is portrayed in this work didn't ring true to me. And folks, I gave this book the old college try, I really did. I got about 3/4 of the way through before I finally gave up. I was extremely frustrated and disappointed that Entwistle decided to do a dis-service to Wilde ...more

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Oct 25, 2017 Andrea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, mystery, historical-fiction, sci-fi, sherlock-holmes, steampunk, bromance, england, own-it, reviewed

Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde team up to solve an intriguing murder mystery. A government official has been killed, except that the killer was executed two weeks ago.

Yay for famous historical figures moonlighting as sleuths! Entwistle employs a charming writing style that kept me hooked to the end. I enjoyed the strong genre blending of mystery, horror, and steampunk. There was some solid story-telling here too, as well as a proficient delivery of a good Victorian supernatural mystery. It ...more

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Oct 02, 2019 Ajay rated it it was amazing

I just love reading Mr. Entwistle's novels. This is the third that he has written. It is the second in the Conan Doyle Casebook series. It's great escapism set in dank, mysterious late 1800's England. The author does an excellent job in taking his reader into another world of ghostly intrigue and always keeps me on the edge of my seat.

The previous two novels are more atmospheric and surreal in that they deal in more supernatural imagery. Those first two stories are more spiritually creepy ...more

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Nov 15, 2017 Janet rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, 1800s-1920s, set-in-the-united-kingdom, otherwordly-elements, finished

I loved this book. The plot is incredibly creative, the dialogue--especially Wilde's bon mots--crackles, and the pace gallops along at full speed. Gritty and full of London at its Victorian finest, this book might appeal to not only crime aficionados but those interested in anatomy, dark magic, and mechanical inventions. Be warned, however, this is not a book for those with delicate sensibilities. It gets pretty graphic in spots.

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Jan 19, 2020 Kathy Heare Watts added it

Shelves: first-read, owned, book-i-won, hardback, 2020-library

I won a hardback copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.

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Jun 19, 2018 Meg Harrison rated it really liked it

Less paranormal than one might be led to believe. Very steampunk, Wild Wild West meets V for Vendetta type book. I would read more in the series.

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About Vaughn Entwistle

Vaughn Entwistle

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Vaughn Entwistle is a British novelist who lives in the ancient cathedral city of Wells, Somerset.

For most of his life he has rattled about between England and the United States. He lived for over ten years in Seattle where, when not pursuing a day job as a writer/editor, ran a successful gargoyle sculpting business (yes, really!).

When not attempting to write with one cat on his lap, a Brittany ...more