The Ornamental Hermit

DS Billings Victorian Mysteries #1

by Olivier Bosman

The year is 1890. Detective Sergeant John is an honest and hard working man who has risen swiftly through the ranks to become one of Scotland Yard's youngest detectives. But in his private life he struggles with the demons of loneliness and morphine addiction.

While Scotland Yard is in the midst of foiling a Russian counterfeiting operation, Billings is asked to investigate the cold blooded murder of Lord Palmer. The main suspect is a rough looking vagrant called Brendan Lochrane who was employed by Lord Palmer to live as an 'ornamental hermit' in a grotto in his estate. When Billings visits Lochrane in his holding cell, he is moved by the look in the man's eyes. This is not the 'Wild Man' the press have made him out to be. Lochrane is mute, docile and unresponsive. A gut feeling leads Billings to suspect that the man is being framed. But who is framing him? And why?

Billings travels the length and breadth of Britain investigating the case. As he pieces together the fragments of Lochrane's extraordinary life, he slowly finds himself becoming embroiled in a web of corruption and deceit which goes right to the heart of Scotland Yard.

'The Ornamental Hermit' is a thrilling mystery which leads the reader on a colourful journey into Victorian England. This is the 1st full length novel in the D.S.Billings Victorian Mysteries series, but it can be enjoyed as a stand alone story.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Victorian, Gay, Historical Mystery

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2015

About the author

Born to Dutch parents and raised in Colombia and England, I am a rootless wanderer with itchy feet. I've spent the last few years living and working in The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Sudan and Bulgaria, but I have every confidence that I will now finally be able to settle down among the olive groves of Andalucia.

I'm an avid reader and film fan and I have an MA in creative writing for film and television.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 45%

Don't care to know if my conjecture as to the crime's resolution is correct. Tedious, lumpen prose and dreary characters make me sneeze and itch. I don't like you, book. I can't get invested in you because you don't do anything to entice me in, or beguile me into supine acceptance of your heaviness.

It's not me, it's you. I do like your premise so I won't give you a single star.

[Juxian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The previous book left me with this tingling feeling of expectation: even if it wasn't perfect, if there's more, it'll be real good. And this book is. I fell in love with it more than I could imagine. It is both sad and beautiful. Again, it's not a case of whodunit but rather a study of characters. And that's where sadness comes from, because at least three central characters of the story, including John Billings himself, create their own misery, only partly because of their surroundings but mostly because their personalities move them to it. But at the same time there are moments that are hopeful and touching and make you believe in the best in people.
It also is written in such an unobtrusively compelling way. It is written simple and, well, not ornamental at all but somehow it pulled me in so I couldn't stop reading.
I loved Billings; he is exceptionally likable and exceptionally tragic hero. I desperately wish there was a classic m/m HEA for him but it's not a story like this. It's not even m/m although the MC is gay, but it's fine whatever way it is. I want to be taken on this journey any way the author wants. Going to read the third book now.

[WhatAStrangeDuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like the book because the premise is good (also - gorgeous cover) but - I'm sorry - I didn't. It might have helped if I had read it in a better mood but it was so bleak. I didn't expect a hearts-and-flowers romance and can totally do without. I would have been fine with a mystery with a gay MC if said MC at least liked himself a little bit. But he doesn't like anybody, least of all himself. Consequently I, as a reader found it really hard to like anybody. All the people we get insight to are totally self-absorbed, pathetic losers who don't give a damn about anybody else except when they use the misery of others (that they have caused btw) as lashes to flagellate themselves with. And really, I couldn't bring myself to feel sympathy. Yes, of course, this is a historical and times were bleak, especially for queer people but this is all self-inflicted torture. Maybe it will get better in the course of the series but I think I'm out.

It's also a completely humour-free zone and that rarely works for me.

From a technical point of view it is competently done and many people love it. I could have done with a little more world-building and that John is really not the sharpest tool in the shed is quite clearly due to the fact that he is an addict. It makes sense but is - for me - not really a redeeming feature.

Sorry, book. Other people will love you better than I do.

[Jana Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid Victorian Murder Mystery with a Twist

I'm a lover of Victorian mysteries when they're well researched and well written. The Ornamental Hermit meets both those requirements and then some. The protagonist has just the right amount of personal demons to spice up the tale, plus the author gets the late Victorian era details just right. I'm currently reading the entire series as I'm totally hooked.

[Estarianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the second in a series. Both books have started out well, and John is a strong character, but the plots run into trouble. In this book, there is a dual time line of John's effort to solve a case that involves corruption in his department, and the fate of an acquaintance who vanished 10 years earlier.

The mystery plot starts out very strong but bogs down in questionable actions that don't seem within character. He is supposed to be a good detective, yet he repeatedly walks into danger. Why? There are motivations the author could have used but it doesn't seem apparent that he even considered the character's motivations on a small scale (he developed motivations on a macro scale, but individual scenes seem basically plot driven). John repeatedly overlooked obvious clues. That could have been attributed to his morphine addiction with little effort, but instead it was treated as normal for a good, experienced detective. He approached criminals for questioning with no plan and no backup. He warned the mastermind of the corruption of his plan to turn him in with no failsafe. The moral of the story seems to be that trust in others and common sense are incompatible. In the end, the only thing that he got called out for was his failure to notify his superiors that he suspected corruption. He never even considered it. Why? Why build all of these character traits and motivations and then not use them?

Also, Sebastian's story (the alternate plotline) just wasn't very compelling. It was told via epistolary entries, letters and diary pages, and they just weren't relevant or interesting. I ended up skimming them.

There is no romance at all in this series so far. John is full of self loathing and I think that and his morphine addiction could be used to better effect to make him a more compelling character. Just having him solve crimes badly for no reason seems to make the other things superfluous. The author shows some ability with building complex and interesting characters, but doesn't seem to use those abilities to full advantage.

[Elizabeth Mapstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing study of two men whose struggles with that self-destructive urge that can plague all of us lead both down painful paths. First is Detective Sergeant Billings, in 1890 one of Scotland Yard's youngest detectives, a moral, hard-working man who contends with the demons of loneliness, morphine addiction and illegal homosexual desires. The other is The Ornamental Hermit, hired by Lord Palmer to live in squalor in a cave in the grounds of his magnificent mansion. Why would he accept such degradation? And how did he lose his tongue?

When Lord Palmer is brutally murdered, Billings is puzzled by his boss's impatient insistence that said Ornamental Hermit is the culprit and that he should turn his attentions to other more important cases; the more he looks into the question, the more convinced our hero becomes that key factors are being kept from him. His sense of justice sends him to far-flung parts of Britain, and he slowly finds himself embroiled in a web of corruption right in the heart of Scotland Yard itself.

Here is proof that self-published books can be worth anybody's money, and the Print on Demand paperback is well-made and attractive. The only drawback I can see is that an experienced editor (and I am one) would have tidied up the occasional infelicities of language, due presumably to Bosman's multi-lingual past (Dutch parents, born in Columbia). But this is a minor quibble. I certainly recommend this book. It is a jolly good read.

[Martin Denton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this novel intrigued me: in late Victorian England, an aristocrat is murdered and robbed, and the only suspect seems to be his "ornamental hermit"--a tongueless vagrant hired to occupy a grotto on the aristocrat's estate. This notion reminded me of a similar idea in Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia, and I was curious to see where the author would take it.

I was disappointed. The narrative exerts a fascination, in its way, but it's mostly creepy, as it details a life of weird religiously-motivated asceticism. Scotland Yard detective John Billings, who is the protagonist of the book, becomes entangled in the hermit's life as he tries to solve the murder. Despite his apparent brilliance in his job, Billings makes consistently bad choices, professionally and personally, throughout the story. Bosman tantalizes us with Billings's homosexuality--a criminal offense at the time--but it's ultimately kind of a red herring.

The editing/proofing of the Kindle edition is pretty error-ridden, as well. Bosman, while obviously capable of spinning a gripping yarn, uses anachronistic language that constantly detracts from the Victorian setting. And the conclusion of the piece was pretty unsatisfying.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. Found it fast paced. While in some ways I knew where this was going, I loved the knowledge and detail of these characters. Good series

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Sergeant John Billings is the youngest member of Scotland Yard. He has some issues that make other members of the force see him as aloof and arrogant. He has a problem being social, hasn’t fully accepted his sexuality, and has an addiction to morphine. John doesn’t think of himself as a good detective. He stays late at the office to read novels, seeking comfort because he hates going back to the shoddy room where he lives.

John finds himself involved in two mysterious cases—the arrest of Brendan Lochrane, the Wildman of Southern Courtney, whose accused of murdering Lord Palmer of Sutton House; and to help solve the disappearance of Sebastian Forrester. John’s boss feels he should move on to other cases; after all, they have Brendan Lochrane, the guilty party in Lord Palmer’s case. There are too many unanswered questions for John, though, and he finds himself caught up in more than just murder. John also becomes intrigued with Sebastian Forrester’s disappearance, and his diary, and it makes an unbelievable connection.

I thought the 1890s was captured really well in this novel, especially Scotland Yard and the various areas of England. The story is an insightful journey of two men with some self-destructive urges, and them trying to find the right paths to follow. I can see this series growing along with the John Billings’ character. There’s so much he still has to overcome with his sexuality, his addiction, and not being a perfect detective. By no means is John a Sherlock Holmes; he makes mistakes and gets himself into dangerous situations. The mysteries are also surrounded with corruption, deceit and the mistreatment of a person for monetary gain.

John Billings is first introduced in Death Takes a Lover, the entertaining first book in the DS Billings Mysteries series. Both of these novels were very good and well plotted. I hope Olivier Bosman will continue to bring more of John Billings to life.

Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is rather bleak, so I can't rightly say that I enjoyed this novel. On the other hand, I was mesmerised and completely engaged with it.

For me, the strongest element was the establishment of characters. Each character is well developed and feels human, with foibles and flaws largely invisible to themselves. We experience the story though the eyes and experiences of John Billings, which means that it's impossible for the reader to gain a true understanding of the characters - we're really learning about how Billings sees others and the world in which he lives. I felt for the characters. As much as I'm drawn to the era, it's not a pretty one! I found Billings to be a highly compelling and complex character.

As an investigator, Billings exhibits a naivete that I would have expected to war with the cynicism that exposure to crime often engenders. I'm not certain whether this is due to his age, his faith, his addiction, or some sort of deficit. Still, it was refreshing to read about someone who, in spite of his self-loathing, evinces a faith in the basic honour and integrity of his fellow human beings. This does, however, lead him into some very dangerous situations. Given the absence of investigatory techniques available to police at the time, I think the procedural elements were well handled.

I also wanted to comment on the setting. It's evident that the author has done ample research in order to write this novel. I can't say that there was a single element that jumped out at me as seeming anachronistic. The era was a bleak one, especially for the destitute, and I think the author has captured the spirit of the times very well.

Overall, this was a good read and I am very interested to read more from this author. I am very curious to learn whether (and how!) Billings confronts his demons, as well as to see his development as he ages.

I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Billings is a Detective Sergeant with Scotland Yard. He becomes embroiled in the complicated case of the Wild Man of Sutton Courtenay who allegedly has murdered Lord Palmer of Sutton House. At the same time, Billings' former foster mother, Cecelia Forrester, engages him to find her son Sebastian who has been missing for ten years but has recently communicated by letter. Billings, a Quaker, is sensitive to the plight of the Wild Man, Brendan Lochrane, and sets out to clear him of the charges. Billings' personal weaknesses, however, complicate his police work as do the actions of his boss, Chief Inspector Jacobs. Suffering is a theme in this book and none of the characters escape, in fact much of the suffering is self inflicted. That lends a darkness to this work, which is in keeping with the social conditions of the time, the plight of the Victorian poor, repression of sexuality, the status of women and religious fanaticism. There are some bright spots but they are few and far between; that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the story. I received my copy of The Ornamental Hermit from Voracious Readers Only and am grateful for being introduced to Olivier Bosman, a talented writer. I like a well written book that keeps me guessing and draws me into the story through my empathy with the characters. I will definitely read more of this series.

[Steven Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

WORTHY WHO-DONE-IT OF HISTORICAL FICTION

Olivier Bosman has done an admirable job of taking us back to the end of the nineteenth century in jolly old England where in his exposition he sets-up three plotlines that appear separate and distinct from one another. It's obvious, however, that as the story unfolds, they will eventually intersect (or why bother?). As the story progresses, the mystery is really how Bosman will accomplish the task he has set out for himself.

The story is told from the point of view of a "straight up" police inspector, John Billings, whose Quaker faith puts him at odds with his peers. Adding to this peculiarity, he also seems to be a favorite with his superiors receiving quick promotions due to his work ethic, tenacity, and deep commitment for doing the right thing. Overachievers are always irritating. There are other reasons too that cast him as a loner which is probably why he overcompensates by being a workaholic. He is not without his flaws. He happens to be secretly addicted to morphine, although oddly, Boseman never explains why or how he became one.

The novel has themes of mental illness, religious fanaticism, police corruption, foreign intrigue, and of course, good guys who turn out not to be. My one critique is that a few threads in his plotline seemed implausible to me. Still, Bosman has created a very unique murder mystery with an intriguing plot, several nifty twists, and a few false flags that certainly kept me reading to the end.

[BRANDON · Rating 4 out of 5]

DS Billings in a bears a striking resemblance to Sherlock Holmes: Victorian, addict, gay as a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide. Despite the similarities, Billings is not a pastiche of Holmes. He is a damn good detective, but does not have the same keen analytical eye or preternatural observation skills as Holmes. Billings isn't a super sleuth, he's just a good cop with a drug problem who desperately needs to hire a telegraph boy.

After reading a lot of M/M fiction written by women this year, reading a gay story written by a gay man has been quite refreshing. It has been my experience that a man writing a gay character will show much more restraint than a woman. There's probably a conversation about fetishization and genuinely lived experience, but I'm not going to start it tonight.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1890 London and Detective Sergeant John Billings is asked by his guardians the Forresters, as a favour, to find their son Sebastian. Sebastian who has been missing these past ten years. While at work at Scotland Yard Billings is investigating the murder of Lord Palmer at his estate. The main and only suspect being a Brendan Lochrane, employed by Palmer as a hermit.
While a somewhat interesting mystery I did find it difficult to like any of the main characters, which is a problem for me when reading character driven stories.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5*
I like these for the unconventional DS Billings - he obviously has intelligence a bit beyond some of his colleagues and practices of the day, but at times goes charging in with the fact of his being a policeman his only protection - and he has his addiction, which probably of the time was more accepted.
The story does have multiple arms which then all wrap back round to mesh neatly, with a little bit of corruption and also introspection by Billings as to why he is so solitary. It did slump a bit in the middle but was enough to keep me going.
I do hope Billings gets a bit less morose - will have to keep on reading!

[Emilia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 7% (That's a new low for me, I think)

I really wanted to like this book, because I rarely stumble upon a book with a gay MC the plot of which isn't held up by steamy romance(at least, I understood that to be the case with The Ornamental Hermit), but this was so gloomy and heavy, with difficult ot read prose right off the bat, I was immediately put off. I didn't even have the time to try to like any of the characters, or the set up.

[Bob Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but... I didn't find the characters very likeable although the story was interesting.

Interesting story but I didn't find the characters very likeable. I don't know if I will read the other books in the series.

[Govno Nichevo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this was an okay read. The pace was okay, the story seemed quite dour. I'm not sure I agree with the description that this story was a "thrilling mystery" but the historic setting made it interesting.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first novel I had read by Olivier Bosman and will not be the last.
It was thought provoking and also easy to follow though there were different scenarios introduced.

[Tyrannosaurus regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit heavy-handed with the dialect and it's guilty of a bit of head-hopping from time to time, but it's clearly meticulously research and I have to admit I was completely fascinated by it.

[Fancy]

MC struggles with self-esteem, abrupt ending.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. The narrative conveniences were a bit too convenient and the mystery easily pieced together, but all in all, a fun read. I'd read the next book.
(The 19th century device of having the detective having a flaw was maybe a bit overdone, but only mildly distracting.) And compared to Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders, his ability to introduce facts pertinent to time and place was considerably better. I wasn't distracted by that once. The only "loose ends" I can think of is the reporter who is clearly implicated because he was obviously hired by the russian, and the abortion-murder he admitted to in his revised confession

[Heather York · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-1/2 Stars
I highly enjoyed this second installment in the DS Billings Mystery series, once again the fact that Billings is a gay man in a time when it is against the law is not the center of the story, although I do think that the detective is more likely to finally admit the fact that that is who he is to himself. The mystery is intriguing and his Quaker past does factor in when his foster family asks for his assistance, and the two cases may not be as separate as once thought. I look forward to seeing what future trouble DS Billings gets himself into.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series but I accidentally read it first. I did enjoy it. I especially like books set in England in times gone by. The main character here was well described. He is a loner who doesn't actually seem to like himself very much but is nevertheless a likeable character. Sadly, he has yet to accept the fact that he is gay. The story flowed along comfortably and the conclusion to the mystery was satisfactory. I would read more from this author.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 3.75 Stars **

Overall, not as captivating as Death Takes a Lover but a good read nonetheless. It'll be interesting to see how Detective Sergeant John Billings evolves (or not) in the next installment.