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Ghost Story
John Watson loves his husband, but he'd like Sherlock Holmes to leave this case alone. They're supposed to be taking a break from London and from work, but when has Sherlock's brain ever taken a holiday? And honestly, the disappearance of Gloria Evans bothers them both - though for very different reasons. Not every case has to be high stakes.
Not everything is a matter of life or death. But sometimes it is.
Not everything is a matter of life or death. But sometimes it is.
182 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 25, 2020
The latest book from Improbable Press gives us a piquant blend of love story, character study and spoooookiness.
This Holmes/Watson tale has an original contemporary London/York setting and opens with John and Sherlock, married for several months now, on what ought to be a belated honeymoon but which John knows to be a case – a case which Sherlock said he wasn’t pursuing. Already it’s clear that while they love and adore each other, there’s rockiness ahead.
Sherlock’s not the only one keeping secrets, however. From the very first chapter we know that John sees ghosts, and has done since he was a child. He can’t tell anyone – people would think him unbalanced – so he avoids thinking about it whenever possible. That is not as often as he’d like.
Ghost Story is both a great little Holmesian mystery about the missing Gloria Evans: it’s a fantastically spooky tale of a man haunted by ghosts and the traumas of his past; his relationship with a man who seems equal parts obliviousness and devotion; and a study of the cracks in a loving relationship when the deceptions pile up, whatever the motivations.
The unravelling of those secrets and why they’re being kept are part of a beautifully texture of a low-key case that feels very intense in terms of its impact.
A couple of the scenes are deeply affecting and gorgeously evocative. Gloria’a abandoned flat, where greenery has invaded the spaces; the streets and buildings of York; the banks of a river; the flashbacks to John’s childhood and the attack on the ambulance convoy in Afghanistan – all of these are described so splendidly that I could almost scent the atmosphere – Gloria’s flat particularly.
One of the many things I love about Ghost Story is how it becomes gradually clear that the spirits that John encounters are not the only ghosts of the title.
John and Sherlock are both a little ghost-like themselves, not quite anchored in the world or entirely present for each other. Sherlock flits in and out of John’s life for a while, through the flashbacks of how they met and their first case, and he still keeps secrets and disappears without explanation. At the same time, in avoiding confrontation and acceptance of his unwanted gift, and the secret that he’s therefore keeping himself, combined with the effects of his war injuries, John is absent in key ways too.
It’s a beautiful theme that threads through the whole and makes the conclusion – in which the resolutions for the hauntings and John and Sherlock’s relationship are linked – particularly satisfying.
GV Pearce has written us a wonderfully atmospheric, beautifully paced book – it may take a little time for case/relationship/ghostiness to come to a head, but every step is deeply involving and the reader is fully engaged with wondering how all the elements will turn out. It is in turns poignant, charming, funny and unsettling, but it’s deftly wound together in a conclusion that satisfies without being heavy handed.
I hope Pearce considers another book for Improbable Press – in this universe or any other they care to write in. I’ll pounce on it the minute I can!
This Holmes/Watson tale has an original contemporary London/York setting and opens with John and Sherlock, married for several months now, on what ought to be a belated honeymoon but which John knows to be a case – a case which Sherlock said he wasn’t pursuing. Already it’s clear that while they love and adore each other, there’s rockiness ahead.
Sherlock’s not the only one keeping secrets, however. From the very first chapter we know that John sees ghosts, and has done since he was a child. He can’t tell anyone – people would think him unbalanced – so he avoids thinking about it whenever possible. That is not as often as he’d like.
Ghost Story is both a great little Holmesian mystery about the missing Gloria Evans: it’s a fantastically spooky tale of a man haunted by ghosts and the traumas of his past; his relationship with a man who seems equal parts obliviousness and devotion; and a study of the cracks in a loving relationship when the deceptions pile up, whatever the motivations.
The unravelling of those secrets and why they’re being kept are part of a beautifully texture of a low-key case that feels very intense in terms of its impact.
A couple of the scenes are deeply affecting and gorgeously evocative. Gloria’a abandoned flat, where greenery has invaded the spaces; the streets and buildings of York; the banks of a river; the flashbacks to John’s childhood and the attack on the ambulance convoy in Afghanistan – all of these are described so splendidly that I could almost scent the atmosphere – Gloria’s flat particularly.
One of the many things I love about Ghost Story is how it becomes gradually clear that the spirits that John encounters are not the only ghosts of the title.
John and Sherlock are both a little ghost-like themselves, not quite anchored in the world or entirely present for each other. Sherlock flits in and out of John’s life for a while, through the flashbacks of how they met and their first case, and he still keeps secrets and disappears without explanation. At the same time, in avoiding confrontation and acceptance of his unwanted gift, and the secret that he’s therefore keeping himself, combined with the effects of his war injuries, John is absent in key ways too.
It’s a beautiful theme that threads through the whole and makes the conclusion – in which the resolutions for the hauntings and John and Sherlock’s relationship are linked – particularly satisfying.
GV Pearce has written us a wonderfully atmospheric, beautifully paced book – it may take a little time for case/relationship/ghostiness to come to a head, but every step is deeply involving and the reader is fully engaged with wondering how all the elements will turn out. It is in turns poignant, charming, funny and unsettling, but it’s deftly wound together in a conclusion that satisfies without being heavy handed.
I hope Pearce considers another book for Improbable Press – in this universe or any other they care to write in. I’ll pounce on it the minute I can!
May 15, 2020
Full disclosure, I'm this book's editor, but let me say that it comes to the topic of Sherlock Holmes uniquely, in a way you've probably not read before. It's eerie without being frightening, timeless but contemporary too. If you like classic Holmes mysteries, but with romance and ghosts, well…Ghost Story is the book you want to read.
July 3, 2020
We all know that Sherlock Holmes is amazing. He's made of incredible deductions, astute observations that the average human would never notice, and all this is wrapped up in impeccable style and a streak of wry humor. But what of John Watson, then? Personally, I love interpretations of this classic duo that add an extra layer of special to Watson. In the case of Ghost Story, John Watson sees ghosts.
I enjoyed the relationship depicted between Sherlock and John. They had a few serendipitous meetings that seemed almost supernatural in how it brought the two men together, and we meet them two years into marriage. They have squabbles over trying to balance time together with cases and work schedules, but they also show affectionate devotion and understanding with one another. I also found it relaxing that there were no big bad angsty stakes in play, threatening to rip them apart or kill them at any moment. They had a mature relationship and talked through their issues like grown men who love one another.
I feel the author also did justice to the fact that John lived with PTSD, Depression, and chronic pain. It wasn't swept under the rug, it didn't get solved easily. It was depicted as an ongoing battle but one that John knew that he could do something about, and that taking care of himself was worth the time and effort, for both himself and his marriage.
The place where I felt the story was weaker was the ending. We knew that John had this special skill, and we saw how he ended up growing more at peace with it over time, but we never saw Sherlock get to react to it. I kept expecting that pay off, and it never came. If this ever turned into a series, I would like to see that revelation come into play.
I enjoyed the relationship depicted between Sherlock and John. They had a few serendipitous meetings that seemed almost supernatural in how it brought the two men together, and we meet them two years into marriage. They have squabbles over trying to balance time together with cases and work schedules, but they also show affectionate devotion and understanding with one another. I also found it relaxing that there were no big bad angsty stakes in play, threatening to rip them apart or kill them at any moment. They had a mature relationship and talked through their issues like grown men who love one another.
I feel the author also did justice to the fact that John lived with PTSD, Depression, and chronic pain. It wasn't swept under the rug, it didn't get solved easily. It was depicted as an ongoing battle but one that John knew that he could do something about, and that taking care of himself was worth the time and effort, for both himself and his marriage.
The place where I felt the story was weaker was the ending. We knew that John had this special skill, and we saw how he ended up growing more at peace with it over time, but we never saw Sherlock get to react to it. I kept expecting that pay off, and it never came. If this ever turned into a series, I would like to see that revelation come into play.
June 12, 2020
A lively, delightfully atmospheric and intricately detailed modern Sherlock Holmes book. I was lucky enough to be an early reader; I devoured it in one go. Unputdownable.
May 31, 2020
"Ghost Story" by G. V. Pearce is the latest book from Improbable Press. I was given a copy of the book by the editor to read and review.
"Ghost Story" is a Sherlock Holmes/John Watson story with a twist. It is set in the modern day and the pair are married. If that sort of thing isn't your bag, then don't bother reading on.
"Ghost Story" is a delightful tale of deduction, deceit, and death.
The characters are well-rounded and fleshed out. Pearce's characterizations of Holmes and Watson are excellent. The author supplies some lovely back story. I particularly loved the reason that Holmes, though an excellent violinist, is banned from playing in orchestras.
There are several scenes where the creepy-factor is through the roof. The first one in a cave when John was a boy; the other in an abandoned house. Pearce's ability to manipulate atmosphere put me very much in mind of M. R. James.
The only thing to I didn't care for was the way the story flipped about time-wise, going back and forth from the present day to the past. This isn't a criticism as such, merely that I prefer stories to be linear. But that is on me, not the author.
"Ghost Story" is an excellent read and I am hoping for more stories from G. V. Pearce in the future.
"Ghost Story" is a Sherlock Holmes/John Watson story with a twist. It is set in the modern day and the pair are married. If that sort of thing isn't your bag, then don't bother reading on.
"Ghost Story" is a delightful tale of deduction, deceit, and death.
The characters are well-rounded and fleshed out. Pearce's characterizations of Holmes and Watson are excellent. The author supplies some lovely back story. I particularly loved the reason that Holmes, though an excellent violinist, is banned from playing in orchestras.
There are several scenes where the creepy-factor is through the roof. The first one in a cave when John was a boy; the other in an abandoned house. Pearce's ability to manipulate atmosphere put me very much in mind of M. R. James.
The only thing to I didn't care for was the way the story flipped about time-wise, going back and forth from the present day to the past. This isn't a criticism as such, merely that I prefer stories to be linear. But that is on me, not the author.
"Ghost Story" is an excellent read and I am hoping for more stories from G. V. Pearce in the future.
June 11, 2020
Such a treat! The modernized pastiche style writing is familiar and easy to read. The descriptions paint a vivid picture and the characters really come alive. The mystery is intricate and you can feel how much research and care went into each part. A well crafted experience that has left me wanting more! I'd read a dozen more instalments of this!
May 30, 2020
I really enjoyed getting to know Pearce’s modern day reimagining of both Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Setting them firmly as a married couple from the outset, this book explores their relationship and a their backstories with the backdrop of a stranger than usual case which takes them out of London to the city of York.
What really captured my interest in this book is John and one unusual ability he has, which you do not find in the original stories. I won’t say any more because it would spoil the book but it makes for a refreshing change in terms of the type of story being told.
The novel is beautifully written and the main setting of York make an excellent, well drawn back drop for the story. It’s clear that the author is deeply invested in place as well as character and plot. I also love how Sherlock and John meet each other in this, it is both incredibly in character and highly amusing.
The only reason I have not given this book 5 stars is that the ending, which is clearly meant to be somewhat ambiguous, leaves just a few too many loose ends untied for me. There are questions still circling my brain several days later and I would prefer to have had at least some of them answered in the denouement. However that is a personal preference and does not detract from the overall excellence of the work.
What really captured my interest in this book is John and one unusual ability he has, which you do not find in the original stories. I won’t say any more because it would spoil the book but it makes for a refreshing change in terms of the type of story being told.
The novel is beautifully written and the main setting of York make an excellent, well drawn back drop for the story. It’s clear that the author is deeply invested in place as well as character and plot. I also love how Sherlock and John meet each other in this, it is both incredibly in character and highly amusing.
The only reason I have not given this book 5 stars is that the ending, which is clearly meant to be somewhat ambiguous, leaves just a few too many loose ends untied for me. There are questions still circling my brain several days later and I would prefer to have had at least some of them answered in the denouement. However that is a personal preference and does not detract from the overall excellence of the work.
May 25, 2020
“Ghost Story” by G. V. Pearce is a mystery but its heart is the story of a relationship between two men who are so very different yet so very right for each other that their love shines through all their irritations with each other, all the compromises they each make and all the secrets they each keep to protect the other from hurt. Their relationship feels imperfect, real, and all the more beautiful for it.
Told from John’s point of view, we are treated to interweaving stories of events from his childhood, the growth of his relationship with Sherlock from their first chance meeting through their first kiss and onwards to their present day investigation.
It is also the story of Gloria, a woman vanished, and the search to uncover her eventual fate. And, yes, it is a ghost story, beautifully told.
Told from John’s point of view, we are treated to interweaving stories of events from his childhood, the growth of his relationship with Sherlock from their first chance meeting through their first kiss and onwards to their present day investigation.
It is also the story of Gloria, a woman vanished, and the search to uncover her eventual fate. And, yes, it is a ghost story, beautifully told.
May 17, 2020
I preface my review saying that I am lifelong Holmesian, and this book brings exactly what I always found so compelling about the characters. Despite the extraordinarily brilliance and peculiarity of one, and the almost supernatural stoicism (and a gift of his own) of another, they're so very human here. The case as well - I enjoy mad dashes across continents and high political stakes as much as your next reader, but sometimes it's nice to remind ourselves that Sherlock Holmes' primary fascination is with mystery, however big or small. But what I found especially lovely here, is the romance aspect. Sherlock Holmes of this story is a fundamentally happy man, one who managed to find and keep the love of his life. He's still erratic, he's still infuriating at times, but he's loved, and he loves so unabashedly and happily that I immediately fell in love with his antics just a little bit more. The story is beautifully constructed, as we follow the case and on the back of it we watch the unfolding of the characters' own stories, how they found each other and how gentle the progression of their relatioship had been. This book is a story about acceptance - not only of bad things, sad and painful things, but also about acceptance of gifts, and impossible luck, and your loved ones.
May 19, 2020
I’m a life-long Sherlock Holmes fan and this book didn’t disappoint. From Sherlock’s erratic bouncieness to his unique reading of people and situations, it’s here. Add into it his husband, John Watson, who suffers from PTSD and seeing spectors and it’s a good time. My only issue is I wanted more, more about their courtship and wedding, more about John finally telling Sherlock all, just more! Maybe in the next book???
April 20, 2021
Oh, this book! This book is not easy to explain... There is a mystery, a case that involves a woman who hasn't been seen for many years. But it also, and in my opinion, mainly, a character study of John Watson.
The John Watson we meet here isn't like any other, but not only because he can see ghosts. He is more closed-up, he's still very much in pain from his injuries, and, although he is, in his own words, ridiculously in love with Sherlock, he is not okay, not really.
While they are in York, investigating the case that, accordingly to Sherlock, they weren't investigating, John keeps remembering moments of his past. Some of them are funny (best first meeting ever), some are poignant, some are sad. But as the story advance, we get to know this John, this John who loves and who is loved; who was afraid of his 'gift' since he was a child but can't deny it. And we get to see these two men in a moment of definition, and we see them acting as mature adults, talking to each other, even when both of them find it difficult.
But I think that what got me completely hooked was Greta. We only knew her through her flat, her journals and her drawings, and yet she comes alive through the pages of the book. It's a wonderful character, and I really enjoyed the resolution of her case :P
If you like a story with a sense of melancholy, but with also a great deal of love, and a gentle mystery, this is for you. I know that I am hoping for more stories from G. V. Pearce in the future.
The John Watson we meet here isn't like any other, but not only because he can see ghosts. He is more closed-up, he's still very much in pain from his injuries, and, although he is, in his own words, ridiculously in love with Sherlock, he is not okay, not really.
While they are in York, investigating the case that, accordingly to Sherlock, they weren't investigating, John keeps remembering moments of his past. Some of them are funny (best first meeting ever), some are poignant, some are sad. But as the story advance, we get to know this John, this John who loves and who is loved; who was afraid of his 'gift' since he was a child but can't deny it. And we get to see these two men in a moment of definition, and we see them acting as mature adults, talking to each other, even when both of them find it difficult.
But I think that what got me completely hooked was Greta. We only knew her through her flat, her journals and her drawings, and yet she comes alive through the pages of the book. It's a wonderful character, and I really enjoyed the resolution of her case :P
If you like a story with a sense of melancholy, but with also a great deal of love, and a gentle mystery, this is for you. I know that I am hoping for more stories from G. V. Pearce in the future.
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December 23, 2020Set in York, this story concentrates on the newly married Sherlock Holmes and John Watson amid a honeymoon/case - depending on which of them you ask.
The characters come alive and a slightly different focus is put on their relationship, something I wasn't expecting and thoroughly enjoyed.
I would love there to be more episodes of this particular story as I would happily continue reading to see how this aspect of their relationship pans out.
Thank you to G.V. Pearce for sharing with us.
The characters come alive and a slightly different focus is put on their relationship, something I wasn't expecting and thoroughly enjoyed.
I would love there to be more episodes of this particular story as I would happily continue reading to see how this aspect of their relationship pans out.
Thank you to G.V. Pearce for sharing with us.
November 25, 2020
Really enjoyed it, hope the author does more with this take on Sherlock & John because this reads like the start of a very promising series. Fingers crossed they consider it.
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