What do you think?
Rate this book
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books #11
Cry of the Innocents
A HOLY MYSTERY
It is 1891, and a catholic priest arrives at 221b baker street, only to utter the words “il corpe” before suddenly dropping dead.
Though the man’s death is attributed to cholera, when news of another dead priest reaches Holmes, he becomes convinced that the men have been poisoned. He and Watson learn that the victims were on a mission from the Vatican to investigate a miracle; it is said that the body of eighteenth-century philanthropist and slave trader Edwyn Warwick has not decomposed. But should the Pope canonise a man who made his fortune through slavery? And when Warwick’s body is stolen, it becomes clear that the priests’ mission has attracted the attention of a deadly conspiracy...
It is 1891, and a catholic priest arrives at 221b baker street, only to utter the words “il corpe” before suddenly dropping dead.
Though the man’s death is attributed to cholera, when news of another dead priest reaches Holmes, he becomes convinced that the men have been poisoned. He and Watson learn that the victims were on a mission from the Vatican to investigate a miracle; it is said that the body of eighteenth-century philanthropist and slave trader Edwyn Warwick has not decomposed. But should the Pope canonise a man who made his fortune through slavery? And when Warwick’s body is stolen, it becomes clear that the priests’ mission has attracted the attention of a deadly conspiracy...
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2017
47 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
About the author
Cavan Scott
846 books436 followersis a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 27, 2018
"And what of you, Holmes?" I asked. "What do you do to calm yourself?"
"Torment you, mostly," came his reply.
"Torment you, mostly," came his reply.
January 18, 2018
A creative mystery packed with twists and excitement
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson’s latest adventure starts when a priest mysteriously shows up at 221B Baker Street and drops dead after telling the detective the words ‘il corpse’. Whilst the man’s demise is written off as resulting from cholera, Holmes is suspicious, and he and Dr Watson travel to Bristol to investigate a similar death. There, they discover that there are rumours going around the men of the Catholic church that the body of Edwyn Warwick – a famous slave trader from the eighteenth century – has not decomposed and remains perfectly preserved in his tomb. However, when they go to investigate this extraordinary tale, they discover that the corpse has been stolen and shortly afterwards, Holmes finds himself accused of a different crime. As the two men attempt to delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding these events whilst unsure of who they can still trust, they discover that a deadly conspiracy exists and that some of the people of Bristol will go to extreme lengths to protect their secrets.
This was a well-written and multi-layered adventure story that builds up the tension at a fast pace to reach a dramatic and action-packed climax. Whilst quite complex, the plot never becomes overcomplicated or wanders off-point and the author does a magnificent job of tying together all the loose ends at the end to create a satisfying conclusion. I was particularly impressed by the imagination behind this story, as it contained multiple characters and elements that somehow fit together extremely well and wasn’t at all difficult to read. The ending, in particular, was excellently written and actually quite scary, and whilst I don’t want to give anything away, I thought it was a particularly enjoyable example of how paranormal activities and supernatural goings-on can be explained by pure logic when Sherlock Holmes puts his extraordinary mind to it.
The author has captured the well-known characters of Holmes and Watson extremely well, and their interactions and ‘banter’ make for some entertaining reading. The secondary characters are also all quite interesting and well-constructed, and there are plenty of red herrings and false clues that will keep the reader guessing what is going on until the very end. Whilst the story does take a little while to get going, the majority of this book is engaging and exciting, and extremely difficult to put down. I would definitely recommend this for any mystery fan, who will probably, like me, find themselves spotting clues in hindsight that the author has cleverly hidden in the characters’ speech and in his descriptions of their surroundings.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this Sherlock Holmes mystery and would be keen to experience more by this author.
Daenerys
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson’s latest adventure starts when a priest mysteriously shows up at 221B Baker Street and drops dead after telling the detective the words ‘il corpse’. Whilst the man’s demise is written off as resulting from cholera, Holmes is suspicious, and he and Dr Watson travel to Bristol to investigate a similar death. There, they discover that there are rumours going around the men of the Catholic church that the body of Edwyn Warwick – a famous slave trader from the eighteenth century – has not decomposed and remains perfectly preserved in his tomb. However, when they go to investigate this extraordinary tale, they discover that the corpse has been stolen and shortly afterwards, Holmes finds himself accused of a different crime. As the two men attempt to delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding these events whilst unsure of who they can still trust, they discover that a deadly conspiracy exists and that some of the people of Bristol will go to extreme lengths to protect their secrets.
This was a well-written and multi-layered adventure story that builds up the tension at a fast pace to reach a dramatic and action-packed climax. Whilst quite complex, the plot never becomes overcomplicated or wanders off-point and the author does a magnificent job of tying together all the loose ends at the end to create a satisfying conclusion. I was particularly impressed by the imagination behind this story, as it contained multiple characters and elements that somehow fit together extremely well and wasn’t at all difficult to read. The ending, in particular, was excellently written and actually quite scary, and whilst I don’t want to give anything away, I thought it was a particularly enjoyable example of how paranormal activities and supernatural goings-on can be explained by pure logic when Sherlock Holmes puts his extraordinary mind to it.
The author has captured the well-known characters of Holmes and Watson extremely well, and their interactions and ‘banter’ make for some entertaining reading. The secondary characters are also all quite interesting and well-constructed, and there are plenty of red herrings and false clues that will keep the reader guessing what is going on until the very end. Whilst the story does take a little while to get going, the majority of this book is engaging and exciting, and extremely difficult to put down. I would definitely recommend this for any mystery fan, who will probably, like me, find themselves spotting clues in hindsight that the author has cleverly hidden in the characters’ speech and in his descriptions of their surroundings.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this Sherlock Holmes mystery and would be keen to experience more by this author.
Daenerys
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
January 14, 2018
I do love this Sherlock Holmes books and I think I liked this one more because it didn't have any monsters suitably to the Frankenstein book or spirits. I really don't mind paranormal aspects but I feel like it doesn't fit in with the Sherlock Holmes books as such considering it would be far harder for Sherlock to solve a mystery without having knowledge of this unknown area of the world. This was a complicated mystery with a surrounding conspiracy and several corrupted officials.
I like this books by this publisher because the books normally do a great job of demonstrating how Watson and Holmes are incredibly close friends but they do get on each other's nerves a lot of the time. I felt so sorry for Watson when he made a deduction and Holmes shot it down. You could literally see him deflate, though that was quite funny all on its own. I feel like Watson should be prepared for these instances as well. I wish Holmes had been in more of the book but it's always good to see Watson get a chance to shine as well.
I couldn't put this book down and I didn't know how it was going to work out in the end, especially when there seemed to be several different plot points to wrap up. Scott did wonderfully in tying everything together and having a satisfactory conclusion. Great fun as always, 4.5 stars!
I like this books by this publisher because the books normally do a great job of demonstrating how Watson and Holmes are incredibly close friends but they do get on each other's nerves a lot of the time. I felt so sorry for Watson when he made a deduction and Holmes shot it down. You could literally see him deflate, though that was quite funny all on its own. I feel like Watson should be prepared for these instances as well. I wish Holmes had been in more of the book but it's always good to see Watson get a chance to shine as well.
I couldn't put this book down and I didn't know how it was going to work out in the end, especially when there seemed to be several different plot points to wrap up. Scott did wonderfully in tying everything together and having a satisfactory conclusion. Great fun as always, 4.5 stars!
October 25, 2017
A Catholic priest arrives at 221b Baker Street and suddenly drops dead with what looks like cholera. When news arrives of a death of another priest Holmes is convinced that both have been poisoned. The investigation takes Holmes and Watson to Bristol where they learn that the body of an eighteenth century philanthropist and slave trader has been stolen from its tomb, but how does it all tie in?
While staying at the Regent Hotel the owner accuses Holmes of theft and has him arrested. Watson then tries to continue the investigation on his own and is befriended by Lord Redshaw who says he will try and help to have his friend released from the cells... but who can Watson trust?
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns. I couldn't put it down.
While staying at the Regent Hotel the owner accuses Holmes of theft and has him arrested. Watson then tries to continue the investigation on his own and is befriended by Lord Redshaw who says he will try and help to have his friend released from the cells... but who can Watson trust?
Fast paced with lots of twists and turns. I couldn't put it down.
January 1, 2025
I did likewise and saw Holmes slip a shiny coin into the palm of a street urchin.
"What was that?" I asked, as the girl scampered into a nearby porch.
"That was a child," Holmes replied. "Your powers of observation decline by the second."
"What was that?" I asked, as the girl scampered into a nearby porch.
"That was a child," Holmes replied. "Your powers of observation decline by the second."
December 22, 2025
1891 it all starts when a catholic priest arrives at Baker Street and promptly dies. But he is only the first death as Holmes and Watson travel to Bristol to investigate. But the case becomes more complicated.
An entertaining mystery
An entertaining mystery
March 30, 2018
A group of businessmen with a sinister secret!
A Catholic Monsignor makes it to Baker Street only to die before he can gasp out more than “Signore Holmes—Il corpe!” This sends Holmes and Watson to Bristol, where another Catholic Priest is suffering from what seems to be identical symptoms. Holmes is convinced that the men were poisoned!
Holmes and Watson stay at the Bristol Regent, a hotel that is owned by a lady for whom Holmes had solved a case. She seems delighted to have them. Watson learns of the miracle of Edwyn Warwick—a businessman who was said to have an uncorrupted body. also Despite his uncorrupted body, he made the bulk of his money in the slave trade and believed in workers taking what he gave them and be glad they got paid at all. The local businessmen have a secret lodge devoted to making money the Warwick way, minus the slave trade. They have Warwick’s ring and wig on display and his preserved body as well. All three are apparently stolen!
Meanwhile, Holmes is in jail accused of stealing his host’s valuable books! Unable to keep his room at the hotel, Watson is taken in by a member of the lodge, Lord Renshaw. Two other members of the Worshipful League of Merchants are also staying there, Renshaw’s son-in-law Howard Clifford, and his prospective son-in-law, Victor Sutcliffe. The two men could not possibly be more different. Clifford is a tad backward and has a constant stutter. Sutcliffe believes himself to be entitled and his arrogance is readily apparent. Neither are what they seem. Both are definitely followers of Warwick’s plans for gaining riches.
With Holmes now in the jail’s infirmary, having been badly beaten in his cell, Watson is left to fend for himself in solving the crime. That is until Sherringford Holmes, Holmes’ other brother, shows up in Bristol!
The story is well written. There is no lack of action as Watson, Sheringford, and local detective Inspector Tovey try to sort out the mess. Besides the deaths of the priests, there are the missing relics, the attack on Holmes in the jail—and someone seems to want Watson to stop investigating! At times the action is so intense that one can forget who’s who! But in the finale, the threads all come together for a marvelous endgame! The Worshipful League of Merchants has dark plans and they will not be stopped by the cry of the innocents…
I give the book five stars!
Quoth the Raven…
A Catholic Monsignor makes it to Baker Street only to die before he can gasp out more than “Signore Holmes—Il corpe!” This sends Holmes and Watson to Bristol, where another Catholic Priest is suffering from what seems to be identical symptoms. Holmes is convinced that the men were poisoned!
Holmes and Watson stay at the Bristol Regent, a hotel that is owned by a lady for whom Holmes had solved a case. She seems delighted to have them. Watson learns of the miracle of Edwyn Warwick—a businessman who was said to have an uncorrupted body. also Despite his uncorrupted body, he made the bulk of his money in the slave trade and believed in workers taking what he gave them and be glad they got paid at all. The local businessmen have a secret lodge devoted to making money the Warwick way, minus the slave trade. They have Warwick’s ring and wig on display and his preserved body as well. All three are apparently stolen!
Meanwhile, Holmes is in jail accused of stealing his host’s valuable books! Unable to keep his room at the hotel, Watson is taken in by a member of the lodge, Lord Renshaw. Two other members of the Worshipful League of Merchants are also staying there, Renshaw’s son-in-law Howard Clifford, and his prospective son-in-law, Victor Sutcliffe. The two men could not possibly be more different. Clifford is a tad backward and has a constant stutter. Sutcliffe believes himself to be entitled and his arrogance is readily apparent. Neither are what they seem. Both are definitely followers of Warwick’s plans for gaining riches.
With Holmes now in the jail’s infirmary, having been badly beaten in his cell, Watson is left to fend for himself in solving the crime. That is until Sherringford Holmes, Holmes’ other brother, shows up in Bristol!
The story is well written. There is no lack of action as Watson, Sheringford, and local detective Inspector Tovey try to sort out the mess. Besides the deaths of the priests, there are the missing relics, the attack on Holmes in the jail—and someone seems to want Watson to stop investigating! At times the action is so intense that one can forget who’s who! But in the finale, the threads all come together for a marvelous endgame! The Worshipful League of Merchants has dark plans and they will not be stopped by the cry of the innocents…
I give the book five stars!
Quoth the Raven…
April 16, 2019
A gripping, well-crafted thriller that only missed five stars because the Author doesn't quite capture the 'voice' of Conan Doyle for me. That said, I'd recommend this to any fan of the World's first Consulting Detective as Scott's craftsmanship lies in telling a story. He has the definite knack of leading us along through a baffling mystery and along the usual blind alleys before exposing the truth... and in this case, a truly revolting revelation it is. Maybe he deserves the extra star for shock value, but the joy here is, of course, a 'new' adventure for Holmes and Watson to embark on. The backdrop is Bristol, which in the 19th Century was a city where the richest and poorest lived within shouting distance of each other, making for a volatile mixture (some would argue little has changed) There's plenty for the mystery lovers here - secret societies and secrets hidden in plain sight, with a refreshing look at society's mores and morals as a wronged woman comes under Holmes' keen scrutiny. Did this deserve that fifth star? Let me know.
June 1, 2024
I read all of the original Holmes stories when I was in junior high, I believe. I certainly watched the Jeremy Brett and Benedict Cumberbatch series on television, and found Mr.Holmes with Ian McKellen fascinating.
This tale is interesting and contains numerous twists. I got a bit tired of Watson getting bashed in the head, and numerous emotional outbursts from Holmes. The series is not one I will reread, but is intriguing enough for me to check them out from the library.
Holmes is off investigating something in Paris when a blizzard that damaged Watson’s home forces him to move back to Baker Street. A priest arrives on the doorstep, promptly dying from a supposed cholera infection. However, Holmes finds this diagnosis suspect, especially since no one else in London seems to have it, and another person that knows the priest dies with the same diagnosis. Then a noted philanthropist whose body has supposedly not decomposed suddenly disappears.
This tale is interesting and contains numerous twists. I got a bit tired of Watson getting bashed in the head, and numerous emotional outbursts from Holmes. The series is not one I will reread, but is intriguing enough for me to check them out from the library.
Holmes is off investigating something in Paris when a blizzard that damaged Watson’s home forces him to move back to Baker Street. A priest arrives on the doorstep, promptly dying from a supposed cholera infection. However, Holmes finds this diagnosis suspect, especially since no one else in London seems to have it, and another person that knows the priest dies with the same diagnosis. Then a noted philanthropist whose body has supposedly not decomposed suddenly disappears.
July 2, 2023
I liked this book.
A different take on Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock and Watson need to find out why someone died with what experts think is cholera.
Holmes thinks this person some how got poisoned.
Sherlock and Watson get involved a very mysterious murder case with a very mysterious family.
To say they are strange is beyond words.
Sherlock and Watson find clue after clue to figure out who the murderer is.
They are have to rescue unwanted babies.
Will they get to the children in time?
Sherlock and Watson go through a lot. Sherlock gets arrested, Watson gets knocked out several times.
With perversion, they find the children and rescued them and find the killer or killers.
I will read more of this series.
A different take on Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock and Watson need to find out why someone died with what experts think is cholera.
Holmes thinks this person some how got poisoned.
Sherlock and Watson get involved a very mysterious murder case with a very mysterious family.
To say they are strange is beyond words.
Sherlock and Watson find clue after clue to figure out who the murderer is.
They are have to rescue unwanted babies.
Will they get to the children in time?
Sherlock and Watson go through a lot. Sherlock gets arrested, Watson gets knocked out several times.
With perversion, they find the children and rescued them and find the killer or killers.
I will read more of this series.
July 18, 2024
This is the fourth Titan Books Holmes novel I've read where the mystery is that there's a cult who want to perform a messed up ritual. Just saying.
The novel itself is quite fun. The characterization of Holmes and Watson isn't anything special but it's not bad either. The new characters are fun as well, though they're not the most deep either. The adventure aspect of this story is well done, with interesting situations and developments along the way. The mystery aspect isn't as good. A lot of intrigue but the development is choppy (there's a scene near the end where Holmes and Watson just figure out most of the mystery by rifling through the mastermind's apartment) and the resolution disappointing.
Overall still a fun Holmes story. Worth a read.
The novel itself is quite fun. The characterization of Holmes and Watson isn't anything special but it's not bad either. The new characters are fun as well, though they're not the most deep either. The adventure aspect of this story is well done, with interesting situations and developments along the way. The mystery aspect isn't as good. A lot of intrigue but the development is choppy (there's a scene near the end where Holmes and Watson just figure out most of the mystery by rifling through the mastermind's apartment) and the resolution disappointing.
Overall still a fun Holmes story. Worth a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2018
Conan Doyle must be pleased as his detective has become a franchise.This is a welcome edition to that as it is written in an older style and fits in well with the older tomes written by Doyle,Has all the deductive powers of Holmes and the seemingly bumbling of Watson,wealthy citizens trying to get one over the 'normal' population. Scott carefully places this story just before Holmes meets Moriarty and is done very cleverly,a good attempt at what could be seen as an outdated character.Very briefly touches on racism in the Victorian era and the slowly rising of the profile of women at this time.NP SPOLIERS
February 8, 2023
I loved this! I'll definitely be picking up Scott's other Holmes pastiches at some point. Scott captured Watson's voice so well, and the story really did feel as if it could slot nicely into the canon stories. I really enjoyed the relationship between Holmes and Watson in this, there was some really great banter between the two of them. The characters created for this were great, I especially liked Tovey. The case was a fascinating one, and whilst there were some bits I guessed correctly, there were plenty of aspects that surprised me. My one gripe would be that the story could have done with a few more pages at the end. The conclusion felt quite abrupt.
Read
September 30, 2021Good story
I loved Arthur Conan Doyle's stories of Sherlock Holmes and I was surprised that the detective lives on with this author. The detective with his trusty sidekick are in another adventure that includes dead bodies, babies, and murder. From the onset when we find that two priests were killed to the exciting finish, we are led by them on a trek which has twists and turns. It is exciting to know that Sherlock Holmes lives for the logistical solution for every case he takes on.
I loved Arthur Conan Doyle's stories of Sherlock Holmes and I was surprised that the detective lives on with this author. The detective with his trusty sidekick are in another adventure that includes dead bodies, babies, and murder. From the onset when we find that two priests were killed to the exciting finish, we are led by them on a trek which has twists and turns. It is exciting to know that Sherlock Holmes lives for the logistical solution for every case he takes on.
May 1, 2025
3.5, but as always, I rounded up. I was in the mood for some Holmes and Watson, and I have had this book on my shelf for a while, so I decided to give it a try. I think the author did a good job of bringing Holmes and Watson to life. The mystery was interesting but kind of convoluted. There were almost too many moving parts. I also felt so bad for Watson; he is a good friend, but he gets tricked a lot by Sherlock. Overall, this was an entertaining read, and I wouldn't mind reading more in the series.
October 18, 2025
Sherlock and Watson are surrounded by so many storylines that it is challenging to determine which ones are pertinent to the death of the clergymen and the disappearance of a body from the last century. Someone feels threatened by their presence and uses force to attempt to keep their excellent mystery solving skills at bay. Each person in the nobleman's host home carries secrets. While they do manage to unravel the clues, catch the perpetrators, and wrap up the case. Be prepared for a sometimes scary read filled with historical information about several cruel practices.
December 15, 2023
Okay, I admit, anything that says Sherlock Holmes on the cover entices me. The victims of the crime were sent by the Vatican to investigate a miracle.
Many believe the 18th C philanthropist and slave trader Edwyn Warwick did not decompose, which is impossible, right.
Then Warwick's body disappears.
Call in Sherlock Holmes.
3.8 cannot be registered here, but that would be my rating.
At 288 pages, this one is a quick read.
Many believe the 18th C philanthropist and slave trader Edwyn Warwick did not decompose, which is impossible, right.
Then Warwick's body disappears.
Call in Sherlock Holmes.
3.8 cannot be registered here, but that would be my rating.
At 288 pages, this one is a quick read.
April 11, 2024
I love these books. They read like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was still alive and putting pen to paper in order to bring this generation with wonderful mysteries that will live on thanks to several very talented authors who have been allowed to write books through the eyes of John Watson M. D. All I can say is if you are a Sherlockian as I am you will truly devour these books like I have been doing!👍👍
February 13, 2018
This Sherlock Holmes novel is probably one of the worst being honest. I've definitely read a lot more interesting books. If you want to read a Sherlock Holmes book that will always be interesting and not boring, read the original novels. It was also full of medical terms and other terms that can be hard to understand. Unless you're a doctor who likes a boring book, do not read.
July 13, 2020
Cavan Scott is one of several writers who are writing in the style of Conan Doyle and creating new cases for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve. Two priests die of what is thought to be cholera, but was actually poison, which leads to a horrifying discovery of many evil plots that affect an entire town!
September 15, 2024
A very reasonable read from another new author to me and I would certainly read more of his work as he keeps the true feel of the Victorian time period but not in London this time. The plot has Sherlock Holmes in the correct character of A C Doyle and in the correct time period and he also provides clues for the reader and has our hero Sherlock Holmes in disguises. A fairly good al round romp.
December 9, 2017
Really enjoyed this, despite a drawn-out fourth (of five) act and Holmes being absent for a chunk. The cover does betray some element of a dark subject which doesn't become clear until towards the end of that fourth act. As for bringing in Shwelock's other brother....
February 9, 2018
A true 4.5. very enjoyable mystery in a favoured series of SH books.
March 20, 2018
Beste Wertung, weil ich nichts hiervon habe kommen sehen.
So soll ein spannender Sherlock-Fall sein!
Unerklärlich und fesselnd bis zum bitteren Ende, super!
So soll ein spannender Sherlock-Fall sein!
Unerklärlich und fesselnd bis zum bitteren Ende, super!
June 7, 2018
Set somewhat earlier than some in this series, I really enjoyed this one. Very nasty plot by the villains, but those are the kind that most need to be stopped.
July 12, 2018
A captivating and quick read of a new Holmes Story from Cavan Scott.
July 13, 2018
3.5 stars..!!
Good mystery novel and well narrated.
Good mystery novel and well narrated.
July 28, 2018
An excellent read with lots of twists and turns.
January 9, 2019
Good book. Lots of exciting things happened. I think I liked the first one in the series better though (The Patchwork Devil). Some violence in book.
July 27, 2024
A good afternoon lost in the adventures of Holmes and Watson!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews