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The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries #5
The Abduction of Pretty Penny
A continuation of USA Today bestselling author Leonard Goldberg's Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series, The Abduction of Pretty Penny finds Joanna and the Watsons on the tail of an infamous killer.
Joanna and the Watsons are called in by the Whitechapel Playhouse to find Pretty Penny, a lovely, young actress who has gone missing without reason or notice. While on their search, the trio is asked by Scotland Yard to join in the hunt for a vicious murderer whose method resembles that of Jack The Ripper. It soon becomes clear that The Ripper has reemerged after a 28-year absence and is once again murdering young prostitutes in Whitechapel.
Following a line of subtle clues, Joanna quickly reasons that Pretty Penny has been taken capture by the killer. But as Joanna moves closer to learning his true identity, the killer sends her a letter indicating her young son Johnny will be the next victim to die. Time is running out, and Joanna has no choice but to devise a most dangerous plan which will bring her face-to-face with the killer. It is the only chance to protect her son and rescue Pretty Penny, and save both from an agonizing death.
The Abduction of Pretty Penny is a wonderful new entry in a series that the Historical Novel Society calls "one of the best Sherlock Holmes series since Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books."
Joanna and the Watsons are called in by the Whitechapel Playhouse to find Pretty Penny, a lovely, young actress who has gone missing without reason or notice. While on their search, the trio is asked by Scotland Yard to join in the hunt for a vicious murderer whose method resembles that of Jack The Ripper. It soon becomes clear that The Ripper has reemerged after a 28-year absence and is once again murdering young prostitutes in Whitechapel.
Following a line of subtle clues, Joanna quickly reasons that Pretty Penny has been taken capture by the killer. But as Joanna moves closer to learning his true identity, the killer sends her a letter indicating her young son Johnny will be the next victim to die. Time is running out, and Joanna has no choice but to devise a most dangerous plan which will bring her face-to-face with the killer. It is the only chance to protect her son and rescue Pretty Penny, and save both from an agonizing death.
The Abduction of Pretty Penny is a wonderful new entry in a series that the Historical Novel Society calls "one of the best Sherlock Holmes series since Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books."
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 2021
118 people are currently reading
6891 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Goldberg
45 books416 followersLeonard Goldberg is an American physicist, professor of medicine, and the author of the Joanna Blalock series of medical thrillers.
His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Leonard Goldberg is himself a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine. A sought-after expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology, and has published over a hundred scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals.
Leonard Goldberg's writing career began with a clinical interest in blood disorders. While involved in a research project at UCLA, he encountered a most unusual blood type. The patient’s red blood cells were O-Rh null, indicating they were totally deficient in A, B and Rh factors and could be administered to virtually anyone without fear of a transfusion reaction. In essence, the patient was the proverbial "universal" blood donor. This finding spurred the idea for a story in which an individual was born without a tissue type, making that person’s organs transplantable into anyone without worry of rejection. His first novel, Transplant, revolved around a young woman who is discovered to be a universal organ donor and is hounded by a wealthy, powerful man in desperate need of a new kidney. The book quickly went through multiple printings and was optioned by a major Hollywood studio.
Dr. Goldberg is a native of Charleston and a long-time California resident. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and an island off the coast of South Carolina.
His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Leonard Goldberg is himself a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine. A sought-after expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology, and has published over a hundred scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals.
Leonard Goldberg's writing career began with a clinical interest in blood disorders. While involved in a research project at UCLA, he encountered a most unusual blood type. The patient’s red blood cells were O-Rh null, indicating they were totally deficient in A, B and Rh factors and could be administered to virtually anyone without fear of a transfusion reaction. In essence, the patient was the proverbial "universal" blood donor. This finding spurred the idea for a story in which an individual was born without a tissue type, making that person’s organs transplantable into anyone without worry of rejection. His first novel, Transplant, revolved around a young woman who is discovered to be a universal organ donor and is hounded by a wealthy, powerful man in desperate need of a new kidney. The book quickly went through multiple printings and was optioned by a major Hollywood studio.
Dr. Goldberg is a native of Charleston and a long-time California resident. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and an island off the coast of South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
April 25, 2021
When the impossible becomes the truth.......
Leonard Goldberg has gathered together a bevy of highly unusual characters to round out his latest offering of The Abduction of Pretty Penny. Once again, the crafty daughter of the late Sherlock Holmes is involved in a very intricate mystery involving the abduction of a young woman out of thin air.
It's London in the chill of a March morning in 1917 when word arrives of a talented female addition to the Whitechapel Playhouse. Young Penny Martin, "Pretty Penny", has been admired for her role as Juliet in the Shakespeare play. Her presence on stage is renowned not only for her beauty, but also for the aire of her finesse for one so young. John and Joanna Watson, along with the famous Dr. John Watson, attend the theater and are utterly impressed with the performance.
News arrives at 221b Baker Street informing the Watsons that Pretty Penny is missing. There's no sign of her at the theater. Needless to say, Joanna can never turn down an opportunity to assist with a crime. She follows Penny's prior comings and goings to get a sense of her habits. It appears that Penny was partaking in late night dinners with a mysterious gentleman. Exactly who is this unknown man and is he responsible for her kidnapping?
Goldberg adds an infamous vein of terror to this one. And that vein is trickling a bloody stream seeping in from the street deaths of some ladies of the evening also known as The Unfortunates. The hairs on your neck should be spelling out shades of ol' Jack the Ripper. Could Jack be resurrected once again or is this a string of copycat murders? Moreso, is there a connection to the missing Penny? Oh, and our ladies have all been wearing shiny dangling copper earrings. Yowzers.
The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series is in the wonderfully competent hands of Leonard Goldberg. Joanna possesses all the bells and whistles and powers of deduction from her famous father. She even smokes powerful Turkish cigarettes (Alas, no pipe, Folks) and paces the floor while partaking in mental callistetics. We would expect nothing less and Goldberg delivers. This is a fun read with a tinge of street gore here and there. Can Jack be back? Gotta crack this one open to find out.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Leonard Goldberg for the opportunity.
Leonard Goldberg has gathered together a bevy of highly unusual characters to round out his latest offering of The Abduction of Pretty Penny. Once again, the crafty daughter of the late Sherlock Holmes is involved in a very intricate mystery involving the abduction of a young woman out of thin air.
It's London in the chill of a March morning in 1917 when word arrives of a talented female addition to the Whitechapel Playhouse. Young Penny Martin, "Pretty Penny", has been admired for her role as Juliet in the Shakespeare play. Her presence on stage is renowned not only for her beauty, but also for the aire of her finesse for one so young. John and Joanna Watson, along with the famous Dr. John Watson, attend the theater and are utterly impressed with the performance.
News arrives at 221b Baker Street informing the Watsons that Pretty Penny is missing. There's no sign of her at the theater. Needless to say, Joanna can never turn down an opportunity to assist with a crime. She follows Penny's prior comings and goings to get a sense of her habits. It appears that Penny was partaking in late night dinners with a mysterious gentleman. Exactly who is this unknown man and is he responsible for her kidnapping?
Goldberg adds an infamous vein of terror to this one. And that vein is trickling a bloody stream seeping in from the street deaths of some ladies of the evening also known as The Unfortunates. The hairs on your neck should be spelling out shades of ol' Jack the Ripper. Could Jack be resurrected once again or is this a string of copycat murders? Moreso, is there a connection to the missing Penny? Oh, and our ladies have all been wearing shiny dangling copper earrings. Yowzers.
The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series is in the wonderfully competent hands of Leonard Goldberg. Joanna possesses all the bells and whistles and powers of deduction from her famous father. She even smokes powerful Turkish cigarettes (Alas, no pipe, Folks) and paces the floor while partaking in mental callistetics. We would expect nothing less and Goldberg delivers. This is a fun read with a tinge of street gore here and there. Can Jack be back? Gotta crack this one open to find out.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Leonard Goldberg for the opportunity.
November 17, 2020
Bravo! Alluring story, engaging characters, brilliant, and authentic dialogue for the time period, a most pleasurable read!
Joanna, (daughter of Sherlick Holmes), joined by her husband, (son of Dr. Watson), and by Dr. John Watson, (long time friend and partner of Sherlock), are originally commissioned to find a local playhouse actress that has gone missing. Eventually, one clue after another, they surmise they are dealing with the original ”Jack the Ripper”, but why has he resurfaced after 30 years?
The ”Unfortunates” (prostitutes) body counts begins to increase, in the same gruesome and remarkable way that Jack the Ripper was known for, torturing his victims while yet still alive, dissecting, killing them.
But now Ripper wants raise the stakes - he wants to make this personal by adding a distraction! What better distraction then to kidnap and kill Little John, Sherlock’s Holmes grandson, thereby making a name forever by defeating Sherlock Holmes himself, by way of Sherlock’s daughter, Joanna. These will be the mysteries of her son, Little John and Pretty Penny, killings she could solve nor stop in time!
I loved everything about this story, and can’t wait to read others in the series to follow.
My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the privilege of an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. #TheAbductionofPrettyPenny
Joanna, (daughter of Sherlick Holmes), joined by her husband, (son of Dr. Watson), and by Dr. John Watson, (long time friend and partner of Sherlock), are originally commissioned to find a local playhouse actress that has gone missing. Eventually, one clue after another, they surmise they are dealing with the original ”Jack the Ripper”, but why has he resurfaced after 30 years?
The ”Unfortunates” (prostitutes) body counts begins to increase, in the same gruesome and remarkable way that Jack the Ripper was known for, torturing his victims while yet still alive, dissecting, killing them.
But now Ripper wants raise the stakes - he wants to make this personal by adding a distraction! What better distraction then to kidnap and kill Little John, Sherlock’s Holmes grandson, thereby making a name forever by defeating Sherlock Holmes himself, by way of Sherlock’s daughter, Joanna. These will be the mysteries of her son, Little John and Pretty Penny, killings she could solve nor stop in time!
I loved everything about this story, and can’t wait to read others in the series to follow.
My thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the privilege of an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own. #TheAbductionofPrettyPenny
June 7, 2021
I listened to this audiobook narrated by Steve West and he always done a splendid job. This was book 5 of this series but can certainly be a stand-alone.
This historical mystery had all the clever, crime chasing intrigue as any Sherlock Holmes novel. His daughter imitated her father almost to a tee. Clue after clue this will be solved. It was a very old fashion mystery. Fans of Sherlock will enjoy this I think. The only complaint I had is that I thought it was a little to long. I hope this was helpful.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.
This historical mystery had all the clever, crime chasing intrigue as any Sherlock Holmes novel. His daughter imitated her father almost to a tee. Clue after clue this will be solved. It was a very old fashion mystery. Fans of Sherlock will enjoy this I think. The only complaint I had is that I thought it was a little to long. I hope this was helpful.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.
March 14, 2021
This is the fifth book in this series. I've read the first three and had decided to give up on the series because I still don't care about the characters (they show very little personality or emotion) BUT then I saw this book come up on Netgalley and decided to give it a shot.
After finishing this one, I still don't know or care anything about these characters. They don't show personalities, have personal conversations or share thoughts. I think if these books were written from Joanna's point of view, changed POV's or had an omniscient narrator, I would like them more. They are so one-dimensional. Each book is straight mystery. If that's what you like, (mystery for mystery's sake) this is for you. If you like to become invested in the characters or even a little romance, skip this series.
I LOVE a good female detective series, especially if it's based on Sherlock Holmes. I've read several feminized versions of Sherlock Holmes and this is my least favorite. The Enola Holmes books, The Lady Sherlock series, Laurie King's "Mary Russell" series, or Angela Misri's "Portia Adams" books all feature versions of a female Sherlock Holmes and held my interest longer.
This is also the darkest, goriest mystery the Watson's have investigated because it centers around Jack the Ripper who is back carving up prostitutes 3o years later. The murder scenes, sexual depravities and autopsies described definitely put this book more in the horror category than any of the others,
The ending was also kind of a let down. You don't get that big villain showdown you're waiting for because you're stuck in the POV of the most boring and useless character in the series. It's a shame, The concepts are good, I just think some other POV's and introspective dialogue could really help this series blossom.
After finishing this one, I still don't know or care anything about these characters. They don't show personalities, have personal conversations or share thoughts. I think if these books were written from Joanna's point of view, changed POV's or had an omniscient narrator, I would like them more. They are so one-dimensional. Each book is straight mystery. If that's what you like, (mystery for mystery's sake) this is for you. If you like to become invested in the characters or even a little romance, skip this series.
I LOVE a good female detective series, especially if it's based on Sherlock Holmes. I've read several feminized versions of Sherlock Holmes and this is my least favorite. The Enola Holmes books, The Lady Sherlock series, Laurie King's "Mary Russell" series, or Angela Misri's "Portia Adams" books all feature versions of a female Sherlock Holmes and held my interest longer.
This is also the darkest, goriest mystery the Watson's have investigated because it centers around Jack the Ripper who is back carving up prostitutes 3o years later. The murder scenes, sexual depravities and autopsies described definitely put this book more in the horror category than any of the others,
The ending was also kind of a let down. You don't get that big villain showdown you're waiting for because you're stuck in the POV of the most boring and useless character in the series. It's a shame, The concepts are good, I just think some other POV's and introspective dialogue could really help this series blossom.
July 14, 2021
I won this in a goodreads giveaway. I felt it was very flat
June 24, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I nearly missed the next release in The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries series. I really enjoy all these Sherlock Holmes style investigations and the setting in England. Plus the series is narrated by STEVE WEST.
After many years, Jack the Ripper is active again in Whitechapel. A special young women, a talented and beautiful actress has been taken and it is feared she will be his victim. The Watsons and Joanna are asked to look for Pretty Penny. Based on clues and deductions, they narrow down the suspects as deaths pile up.
The criminal is very clever and a real challenge to apprehend. A variety of strategies are employed with Johnny and Toby 2 getting in on the hunt. The Irregulars are tasked to acquire more information. Finally, Joanna herself acts as bait and still he slips away. The case is very dangerous for the Watsons, but he must be caught and stopped.
Narration:
The narrator is my absolute favorite - STEVE WEST!!!!!! I loved listening to this story at my usual 1.5x speed. I appreciate his work with both male and female voices and he handles the English characters so well. Definitely, his narration enhanced my enjoyment, and I often chose audiobooks because he is the narrator.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/the...
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I nearly missed the next release in The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries series. I really enjoy all these Sherlock Holmes style investigations and the setting in England. Plus the series is narrated by STEVE WEST.
After many years, Jack the Ripper is active again in Whitechapel. A special young women, a talented and beautiful actress has been taken and it is feared she will be his victim. The Watsons and Joanna are asked to look for Pretty Penny. Based on clues and deductions, they narrow down the suspects as deaths pile up.
The criminal is very clever and a real challenge to apprehend. A variety of strategies are employed with Johnny and Toby 2 getting in on the hunt. The Irregulars are tasked to acquire more information. Finally, Joanna herself acts as bait and still he slips away. The case is very dangerous for the Watsons, but he must be caught and stopped.
Narration:
The narrator is my absolute favorite - STEVE WEST!!!!!! I loved listening to this story at my usual 1.5x speed. I appreciate his work with both male and female voices and he handles the English characters so well. Definitely, his narration enhanced my enjoyment, and I often chose audiobooks because he is the narrator.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/macaudio-2/the...
July 1, 2021
A nice mystery that you will enjoy. I would give this a 4 1/2 but you know how the ratings work. This is my first Sherlock Holmes Mystery and it was a good one. Sometimes I'll skip a page or fast read a book if it warrants it. Warning, DON'T SKIP ANY OF THESE PAGES. The story is that good. Yep, it is about Jack The Ripper - more so than Pretty Penny. The question here is --- do they find Pretty Penny dead or alive? AND do they uncover who the Ripper is or is it a copycat? The answers are at the END of the book. Do not start there start at the beginning for goodness sake. LOL
June 15, 2021
The Abduction of Pretty Penny by Leonard Goldberg is a delightful story full of wit and twists and turns in the style of format of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. I have been a fan of Doyle's hero, Sherlock Holmes, for a number of years, so I have been very skeptical of a number of the fan fiction about Holmes stories. Usually they are not written really well or researched well, and they make me put the story down. BUT when I was memorized by the covers of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes' stories, I was hoping the stories would be just as captivating. Luckily, Goldberg does not disappoint. In The Abduction of Pretty Penny, the story is a hunt for an up and coming actress, Pretty Penny, who has gone missing. Of course, my favorite part was the hunt for Jack the Ripper, who they believe has come out of hiding and has stolen these women again. I enjoyed the hunt, and could not wait to see who the kidnapper and murderer was. Goldberg did a fabulous job with this story. I definitely want to own all these stories and have them on my shelf. If a reader is a fan of Sherlock Holmes, these are the nearest stories to the actual ones that I have come across. Give them a try.
I received a complimentary copy of The Abduction of Pretty Penny by Leonard Goldberg by Minotaur Books, but the opinions stated are all my own.
I received a complimentary copy of The Abduction of Pretty Penny by Leonard Goldberg by Minotaur Books, but the opinions stated are all my own.
November 15, 2020
The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series is a must read for me as soon as a new book comes out and The Abduction of Pretty Penny is amazing! Any hint of revealing the identity of Jack the Ripper always adds spice to a mystery set in Whitechapel in the aftermath of his reign of terror and the possibility of his return in 1917 sets the stage in this intriguing story. Following Joanna, John and Watson's through the investigation you can feel the fear at the thought of the Ripper being back and when he threatens Joanna's son it notches up the tension until the final resolution. I look forward to their next adventure and thank #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of #TheAbductionfoPrettyPenny.
November 28, 2020
This was an intense slow building story. I love Sherlock Holmes and thought this book with his daughter was really good. The story was interesting and kept my attention to the very end.
I know it’s part of a series but it made me wonder what happened to her father.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
I know it’s part of a series but it made me wonder what happened to her father.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
May 13, 2021
The Abduction of Pretty Penny is the fifth book in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series, but only the second I've read. Pretty Penny, the nickname of a beautiful young actress is missing. Joanna, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes, her husband John Watson, and John Watson, Sr. look into Penny's disappearance. This distinguished team of sleuths learn that Penny isn't the first woman to disappear from the Whitechapel area. Joanna and the Watsons determine that Jack the Ripper or a copycat is back in the area viciously murdering women and Penny could be his next victim.
Stories involving Jack the Ripper aren't usually my favorites, but this one is well-done. It was gory in places as the murder's crimes are described. I like the logical way Joanna and John were able to gather evidence and slowly begin ruling out some of the suspects and closing in on the real killer. The story is a bit drawn out, but a dramatic plan to try to catch the killer towards the end kept me engrossed in the book.
I think the subplot involving Joanna's son Johnny was unnecessary to an already complex investigation, but it did show a softer side of Joanna. I like Joanna for her intelligence and bravery. However, she can come across as condescending in her conversations with others, including her husband and father-in-law, because she is so smart and observes things most people don't. I admire her intelligence and bravery, though, and think she is a strong, appealing main character. I would definitely read more books in this series.
I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads program. The book was provided to me, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Stories involving Jack the Ripper aren't usually my favorites, but this one is well-done. It was gory in places as the murder's crimes are described. I like the logical way Joanna and John were able to gather evidence and slowly begin ruling out some of the suspects and closing in on the real killer. The story is a bit drawn out, but a dramatic plan to try to catch the killer towards the end kept me engrossed in the book.
I think the subplot involving Joanna's son Johnny was unnecessary to an already complex investigation, but it did show a softer side of Joanna. I like Joanna for her intelligence and bravery. However, she can come across as condescending in her conversations with others, including her husband and father-in-law, because she is so smart and observes things most people don't. I admire her intelligence and bravery, though, and think she is a strong, appealing main character. I would definitely read more books in this series.
I received this book from the Goodreads First Reads program. The book was provided to me, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
May 12, 2021
The fifth Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery has Joanna, her husband Dr. John Watson Jr., and father-in-law Sherlock Holmes's Watson and the trail of a missing young actress. Pretty Penny is a rising star at a theater in Whitechapel when she goes missing.
The case takes them into the depths of Whitechapel with it Unfortunates and Gentleman Drifters. It has ties to John's career as a pathologist at St. Bart's because three of the main suspects are also physicians at St. Bart's and amateur actors who were starring with Pretty Penny in a new version of Romeo and Juliet.
The case also marks the return of Jack the Ripper as a new series of brutal murders of Unfortunates has begun and it is feared the Pretty Penny has also become or will become one of his victims. As Joanna and the Watsons track clues including Pretty Penny's favorite candy, her hair pomade, and strange purchases of copper earrings, they learn that the killer is leaving clues and taunting them to find him.
When a letter and some copper cufflinks but Joanna's fifteen-year-old son Johnny in danger, Joanna goes undercover to catch the killer.
There was a lot of historical detail in this one but I felt it fell a little flat when it came to the characters. I didn't like Joanna very much. First, she seemed to me to be arrogant and patronizing and essentially emotionless. Then when Johnny is kidnapped, she breaks down but quickly gets over it and reverts to her calculating and emotionless self.
Fans hungry for more Sherlock Holmes and historical mysteries will find a taste here. Some of the elements are the same. Comparisons to Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books find this series paling and coming in a distant second though.
The case takes them into the depths of Whitechapel with it Unfortunates and Gentleman Drifters. It has ties to John's career as a pathologist at St. Bart's because three of the main suspects are also physicians at St. Bart's and amateur actors who were starring with Pretty Penny in a new version of Romeo and Juliet.
The case also marks the return of Jack the Ripper as a new series of brutal murders of Unfortunates has begun and it is feared the Pretty Penny has also become or will become one of his victims. As Joanna and the Watsons track clues including Pretty Penny's favorite candy, her hair pomade, and strange purchases of copper earrings, they learn that the killer is leaving clues and taunting them to find him.
When a letter and some copper cufflinks but Joanna's fifteen-year-old son Johnny in danger, Joanna goes undercover to catch the killer.
There was a lot of historical detail in this one but I felt it fell a little flat when it came to the characters. I didn't like Joanna very much. First, she seemed to me to be arrogant and patronizing and essentially emotionless. Then when Johnny is kidnapped, she breaks down but quickly gets over it and reverts to her calculating and emotionless self.
Fans hungry for more Sherlock Holmes and historical mysteries will find a taste here. Some of the elements are the same. Comparisons to Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books find this series paling and coming in a distant second though.
July 4, 2021
This turned out to be everything promised in the blurb on Goodreads, which frankly gave away too much of the plot. So I won’t repeat any of it here except for the part that called it “one of the best Sherlock Holmes series since Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell books." Personally, I liked this better - the writing style was closer to the ACD originals and it felt truer to the time period since the case centered around one of the most notorious criminals of the era.
I jumped from the first entry in the series to this one, the 5th, and found a huge improvement in character development and pacing. The first, The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes, is worth reading to get an introduction to the characters but I don't think it's nearly as well written or suspenseful. This one lacked any hint of the first book's light mystery flavor and was even a bit grisly, although it wasn't to the point that I'd call it disturbing - just intense, the way I think a good mystery should be.
I jumped from the first entry in the series to this one, the 5th, and found a huge improvement in character development and pacing. The first, The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes, is worth reading to get an introduction to the characters but I don't think it's nearly as well written or suspenseful. This one lacked any hint of the first book's light mystery flavor and was even a bit grisly, although it wasn't to the point that I'd call it disturbing - just intense, the way I think a good mystery should be.
My thanks to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for the advance copy to review.
May 2, 2023
After accepting the case of the disappearance of a young actress in the Whitechapel area of London, Joanna Blalock Watson, daughter of Sherlock Holmes, finds much more than she expected. Soon a series of horrific murders reminiscent of Jack the Ripper occur in this crime ridden area and appear to involve the young girl who seems to have been abducted. Although this is 1917, investigators have to decide if the killer is a copycat or Jack the Ripper returned. I really enjoy this team of retired Dr. Watson, Sherlock's former colleague, his son Dr. John Watson, and John's wife Joanna. Of course there are a number of suspects, including colleagues of John's from St. Bart's Hospital.
Suspense builds as evidence indicates that victim, Pretty Penny, is running out of time.
The area and life of the poor in Whitechapel is described in detail. We get a look at theater life also in this time period. Recurring character, Inspector Lestrade, joins the case. Adding to the suspense is the kidnapping of Johnny, Joanna's son from an earlier marriage. Joanna is portrayed as being much like her famous father. I enjoy the methodical way she develops clues and lays out the case. One warning is that descriptions are graphic and gruesome. I have followed this series from the beginning and recommend that books be read in order.
Suspense builds as evidence indicates that victim, Pretty Penny, is running out of time.
The area and life of the poor in Whitechapel is described in detail. We get a look at theater life also in this time period. Recurring character, Inspector Lestrade, joins the case. Adding to the suspense is the kidnapping of Johnny, Joanna's son from an earlier marriage. Joanna is portrayed as being much like her famous father. I enjoy the methodical way she develops clues and lays out the case. One warning is that descriptions are graphic and gruesome. I have followed this series from the beginning and recommend that books be read in order.
June 5, 2021
The story itself was great, but I don't feel like the main character had much of an individual voice. It was like someone was telling a story, not experiencing the events happening.
I also am unsure why this is called The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes, when the story is told from the perspective of Watsons son. However I have not read the other books, so maybe I'm just missing something.
Well written and enjoyable story overall.
*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.
I also am unsure why this is called The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes, when the story is told from the perspective of Watsons son. However I have not read the other books, so maybe I'm just missing something.
Well written and enjoyable story overall.
*Thank you to the publisher for this eARC.
June 20, 2021
Goldberg continues to hit his mark with The Abduction of Pretty Penny. The quick read has a slightly complicated storyline populated by a lot of characters. Fortunately, the author defines each person clearly, so it's easy to keep them straight. One of the things I particularly like about Goldberg's work is that (I believe) that he mimics the elder John Watson's tone perfectly.
The thing that I didn't care for in this installment is the elusive Jack the Ripper as antagonist. I'd prefer getting to know a unique, new antagonist. Employing the notoriety of the Ripper feels like an easy out. It may be that I've read a spate of books lately in which the author includes famous people to fill out the story, so this may be a literary trend.
Recommended.
The thing that I didn't care for in this installment is the elusive Jack the Ripper as antagonist. I'd prefer getting to know a unique, new antagonist. Employing the notoriety of the Ripper feels like an easy out. It may be that I've read a spate of books lately in which the author includes famous people to fill out the story, so this may be a literary trend.
Recommended.
June 25, 2021
The Abduction of Pretty Penny is a fast paced summer read taking place in 1917 cool, foggy London. It seems the Jack the Ripper has been resurrected and killing “Unfortunates” the name given to prostitues. Pretty Penny, the stage name of a young actress in Whitechapel, has been kidnapped. Joanna, the daughter of Sherlock Holmes has been called upon to help rescue her before she meets the same horrific death of the prostitutes. Since Joanne is married to the son of Dr. Watson, we meet the familiar characters from the classic. Leonard Goldberg has created a chilling London and I look forward to reading more of his novels.
I received this novel through a goodreads giveaway
I received this novel through a goodreads giveaway
July 31, 2021
2021 bk 241. Another excellent tale of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes. This time they use the story of Jack the Ripper as the basis for the mystery. In the ouvre of Jack the Ripper tales, this one is well done and not set in the Victorian but rather in post WWI times. Well - written, my only problem with the book was the pacing - after a long novel of figuring out clues, it felt like the ending was really rushed and a little not quite satisfying.
March 29, 2022
There’s just something so satisfying about this series. My only small complaint in this one is the number of times Joanna is referred to as ‘the daughter of Sherlock Holmes.’ Even she continually refers to herself that way. She has a name. You’d think such a trailblazing, intelligent, intrepid woman would bristle at being solely referenced by her relationship to a man.
Another eye-rolling male author conceit.
Another eye-rolling male author conceit.
April 6, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Mystery / Historical Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Abduction of Pretty Penny, by author Leonard Goldberg, is the Fifth installment in The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries series. Joanna, (daughter of Sherlock Holmes), joined by her husband John, (son of Dr. Watson who is chronicling Joanna's adventures), and by Dr. John Watson, (long time friend and partner of Sherlock), are commissioned to find a local playhouse actress named Pretty Penny who has gone missing. Pretty Penny is the stage name of a young actress in Whitechapel Playhouse who has been kidnapped.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Mystery / Historical Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Abduction of Pretty Penny, by author Leonard Goldberg, is the Fifth installment in The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries series. Joanna, (daughter of Sherlock Holmes), joined by her husband John, (son of Dr. Watson who is chronicling Joanna's adventures), and by Dr. John Watson, (long time friend and partner of Sherlock), are commissioned to find a local playhouse actress named Pretty Penny who has gone missing. Pretty Penny is the stage name of a young actress in Whitechapel Playhouse who has been kidnapped.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 20, 2024
Daughter of Sherlock Holmes passes a resurfaced Jack the Ripper
-1 star because of the ending. It makes sense logically but emotionally I would have loved something more satisfying
-1 star because of the ending. It makes sense logically but emotionally I would have loved something more satisfying
October 27, 2024
Enjoying this series but this one was a bit darker.
June 30, 2021
I loved the female protagonist aspect of this series.
The daughter of Sherlock Holmes is a think outside the box kind of person and that gets the job done.
The daughter of Sherlock Holmes is a think outside the box kind of person and that gets the job done.
November 23, 2021
4.5! Entertaining but be warned it is a grizzly story.
September 22, 2025
Kept me guessing, but much more gruesome and graphic than expected.
June 27, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
The Abduction of Pretty Penny falls prey to a temptation that has proven irresistible to more than one writer of Sherlock Holmes pastiches, just as Pretty Penny herself seems to have fallen victim to one of the most notorious serial killers in history.
It looks like the star of the Whitechapel Playhouse, the Pretty Penny of the story’s title, has been kidnapped by a criminal who is notorious – not for kidnapping his victims, but for murdering and dismembering them, leaving their mutilated corpses to be found in the alleys of Whitechapel.
Of course, I’m referring to Jack the Ripper, and therein lies both the terror and the multiple conundrums of this story. Because Joanna Blalock Watson is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes. She has certainly inherited her father’s prodigious talents – but she is manifestly not his contemporary.
Joanna plies her inherited trade in the early years of the 20th century, while Jack committed his best-known crimes between 1888 and 1891. The heyday of Joanna’s famous father, and before her own birth.
It’s been 28 years since the Ripper stalked Whitechapel, but in addition to Pretty Penny’s abduction, Jack has been leaving his calling cards, the mutilated corpses of Unfortunates, as prostitutes are called, all over Whitechapel.
While sending especially terrifying notes to Joanna. And seemingly holding Pretty Penny captive until he can display her fresh corpse as part of his grisly “final act”.
So what begins as the search for a kidnap victim turns into a deadly contest between Jack the Ripper and, in a peculiar way, Sherlock Holmes. It’s clear from the Ripper’s actions that in his mind his antagonist is the Great Detective himself, even if the person he is taunting is Holmes’ daughter – and her son.
Escape Rating B+: So the story here is really Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper – only once removed, sort of like cousins, as in “first-cousin once-removed”.
Which only serves to highlight the thing about this story that drove me absolutely freaking bananas.
Many writers have succumbed to the temptation to write the case that never was but should have been, that of Sherlock Holmes investigating the Ripper. If Holmes were factual rather than fictional, this is a case that would certainly have happened. The Ripper’s spree occurred between 1888 and 1891, while Holmes’ first case, A Study in Scarlet, was published in The Strand in 1887, so presumably took place in that year or the year before.
Holmes and Moriarty had their presumed fatal encounter at Reichenbach Falls in 1891, so if Holmes had truly been operating during the Ripper years, he would have either been called in by Scotland Yard or would have been drawn in by his own irrepressible curiosity. (If you’re curious, the best accounting that I have ever read of Holmes investigating the Ripper is still Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye.)
As this series features Holmes’ daughter Joanna, her husband (and chronicler) Dr. John H. Watson, Jr., AND his father, Holmes’ friend and chronicler Dr. John H. Watson, Sr., now retired, I kept expecting to see some references by the senior Watson to either Holmes’ own investigation of the Ripper or the reason that Holmes didn’t involve himself with the Ripper case. The lack of such a reference was annoying. In the extreme.
I ended up with a lot of mixed feelings about this entry in the series – although the series opener, the appropriately titled The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes, is still the best.
The progress of the case itself provided plenty of thrills and chills, to the point where some of the gruesome descriptions caused me to stop reading at bedtime. Some people have no problems sleeping after reading the details of human dismemberment but I’m not one of them.
So the investigation, and the hunt for Pretty Penny, had me riveted from the beginning to the surprisingly real sensation of relief at the end.
But it’s the things not said or not fully explained that keep this from true excellence.
As noted above, there should have been a reference either to Sherlock Holmes’ own investigation of the Ripper or an explanation of why such an investigation never took place. The lack was frustrating – infuriating even, like waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Likewise there seemed to be a bit of a lack of explanation of why the Ripper went dormant for 28 years only to suddenly reappear at this particular juncture. Reasons were implied but not well explained. This may be the result of a desire not to mess with the known history – that the Ripper was never identified. This story does a surprisingly good job of having its cake and eating it too in that particular regard. But in order to make that part work, explanations of his long hiatus and his “resurrection” felt a bit scant.
So, lots of mixed feelings. I got instantly caught up in the story and was riveted to the end. But at that end, the link to Sherlock Holmes that I come to these stories for, fell just a bit short.
The Abduction of Pretty Penny falls prey to a temptation that has proven irresistible to more than one writer of Sherlock Holmes pastiches, just as Pretty Penny herself seems to have fallen victim to one of the most notorious serial killers in history.
It looks like the star of the Whitechapel Playhouse, the Pretty Penny of the story’s title, has been kidnapped by a criminal who is notorious – not for kidnapping his victims, but for murdering and dismembering them, leaving their mutilated corpses to be found in the alleys of Whitechapel.
Of course, I’m referring to Jack the Ripper, and therein lies both the terror and the multiple conundrums of this story. Because Joanna Blalock Watson is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes. She has certainly inherited her father’s prodigious talents – but she is manifestly not his contemporary.
Joanna plies her inherited trade in the early years of the 20th century, while Jack committed his best-known crimes between 1888 and 1891. The heyday of Joanna’s famous father, and before her own birth.
It’s been 28 years since the Ripper stalked Whitechapel, but in addition to Pretty Penny’s abduction, Jack has been leaving his calling cards, the mutilated corpses of Unfortunates, as prostitutes are called, all over Whitechapel.
While sending especially terrifying notes to Joanna. And seemingly holding Pretty Penny captive until he can display her fresh corpse as part of his grisly “final act”.
So what begins as the search for a kidnap victim turns into a deadly contest between Jack the Ripper and, in a peculiar way, Sherlock Holmes. It’s clear from the Ripper’s actions that in his mind his antagonist is the Great Detective himself, even if the person he is taunting is Holmes’ daughter – and her son.
Escape Rating B+: So the story here is really Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper – only once removed, sort of like cousins, as in “first-cousin once-removed”.
Which only serves to highlight the thing about this story that drove me absolutely freaking bananas.
Many writers have succumbed to the temptation to write the case that never was but should have been, that of Sherlock Holmes investigating the Ripper. If Holmes were factual rather than fictional, this is a case that would certainly have happened. The Ripper’s spree occurred between 1888 and 1891, while Holmes’ first case, A Study in Scarlet, was published in The Strand in 1887, so presumably took place in that year or the year before.
Holmes and Moriarty had their presumed fatal encounter at Reichenbach Falls in 1891, so if Holmes had truly been operating during the Ripper years, he would have either been called in by Scotland Yard or would have been drawn in by his own irrepressible curiosity. (If you’re curious, the best accounting that I have ever read of Holmes investigating the Ripper is still Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye.)
As this series features Holmes’ daughter Joanna, her husband (and chronicler) Dr. John H. Watson, Jr., AND his father, Holmes’ friend and chronicler Dr. John H. Watson, Sr., now retired, I kept expecting to see some references by the senior Watson to either Holmes’ own investigation of the Ripper or the reason that Holmes didn’t involve himself with the Ripper case. The lack of such a reference was annoying. In the extreme.
I ended up with a lot of mixed feelings about this entry in the series – although the series opener, the appropriately titled The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes, is still the best.
The progress of the case itself provided plenty of thrills and chills, to the point where some of the gruesome descriptions caused me to stop reading at bedtime. Some people have no problems sleeping after reading the details of human dismemberment but I’m not one of them.
So the investigation, and the hunt for Pretty Penny, had me riveted from the beginning to the surprisingly real sensation of relief at the end.
But it’s the things not said or not fully explained that keep this from true excellence.
As noted above, there should have been a reference either to Sherlock Holmes’ own investigation of the Ripper or an explanation of why such an investigation never took place. The lack was frustrating – infuriating even, like waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Likewise there seemed to be a bit of a lack of explanation of why the Ripper went dormant for 28 years only to suddenly reappear at this particular juncture. Reasons were implied but not well explained. This may be the result of a desire not to mess with the known history – that the Ripper was never identified. This story does a surprisingly good job of having its cake and eating it too in that particular regard. But in order to make that part work, explanations of his long hiatus and his “resurrection” felt a bit scant.
So, lots of mixed feelings. I got instantly caught up in the story and was riveted to the end. But at that end, the link to Sherlock Holmes that I come to these stories for, fell just a bit short.
June 12, 2021
The Abduction of Pretty Penny is the fifth book in Leonard Goldberg's A Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mystery series. This is the first one I've read so far. Should you start from the beginning? I'd say yes; I wish I had. I feel like I missed quite a bit regarding getting a feel for these characters and their backgrounds. I believe I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous novels.
Joanna (the daughter of the deceased Sherlock Holmes), together with her husband Dr. John Watson the younger and his father Dr. John Watson the elder, are asked by the proprietor of the Whitechapel Playhouse to investigate the disappearance of beautiful young actress Pretty Penny. While they are looking for her they are asked by Scotland Yard to help in their investigation of a murder that bears a striking resemblance to the work of the infamous Jack the Ripper. It quickly becomes obvious that the killer actually IS the Ripper, reappearing 28 years after his string of murders stopped . Joanna believes that the Ripper abducted Pretty Penny and is killing prostitutes, keeping Penny for his grand finale. When Joanna starts getting close to honing in on the killer, she receives a letter from him threatening that her young son Johnny will be the next victim. Now Joanna and the Watsons frantically work to catch him before the Ripper kills both the actress and the boy they love before disappearing once more into the ether...
I admit that I have never read any of the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but of course am familiar with his famous characters. I was excited to read this story centered around the great detective's daughter. Except...I didn't care for Joanna. She was arrogant and condescending to everyone, including her husband and father-in-law, both of whom were intelligent and respected doctors. She called her father-in-law simply Watson, which I found disrespectful. She also smoked up a storm with Turkish cigarettes, disregarding others. This is why I think I would have been better served reading the previous books first; I would have come to know and respect Joanna by seeing more interactions with her and her family and learning about her past. However, once I really got into the mystery I became much more engaged. I've always found Jack the Ripper stories interesting though horribly gruesome. Joanna also became more human when she worried about her son. The story became much more exciting when she had the Ripper in her sights. Before I read the next book in the series, I do believe I will check out the prior books first to bring me up to speed.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Joanna (the daughter of the deceased Sherlock Holmes), together with her husband Dr. John Watson the younger and his father Dr. John Watson the elder, are asked by the proprietor of the Whitechapel Playhouse to investigate the disappearance of beautiful young actress Pretty Penny. While they are looking for her they are asked by Scotland Yard to help in their investigation of a murder that bears a striking resemblance to the work of the infamous Jack the Ripper. It quickly becomes obvious that the killer actually IS the Ripper, reappearing 28 years after his string of murders stopped . Joanna believes that the Ripper abducted Pretty Penny and is killing prostitutes, keeping Penny for his grand finale. When Joanna starts getting close to honing in on the killer, she receives a letter from him threatening that her young son Johnny will be the next victim. Now Joanna and the Watsons frantically work to catch him before the Ripper kills both the actress and the boy they love before disappearing once more into the ether...
I admit that I have never read any of the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but of course am familiar with his famous characters. I was excited to read this story centered around the great detective's daughter. Except...I didn't care for Joanna. She was arrogant and condescending to everyone, including her husband and father-in-law, both of whom were intelligent and respected doctors. She called her father-in-law simply Watson, which I found disrespectful. She also smoked up a storm with Turkish cigarettes, disregarding others. This is why I think I would have been better served reading the previous books first; I would have come to know and respect Joanna by seeing more interactions with her and her family and learning about her past. However, once I really got into the mystery I became much more engaged. I've always found Jack the Ripper stories interesting though horribly gruesome. Joanna also became more human when she worried about her son. The story became much more exciting when she had the Ripper in her sights. Before I read the next book in the series, I do believe I will check out the prior books first to bring me up to speed.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
May 15, 2021
I was given a free e-copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I have read all of the novels in Leonard Goldberg's Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series, and I am a bit disappointed in this installment.
Joanna, her husband John Watson Jr, and her father in law John Watson Sr are requested to look into the kidnapping of Whitechapel actress Pretty Penny. It would appear that many in Whitechapel deeply admired the young woman, and are devastated by her disappearance. Which also brings about it's own list of suspects. Joanna and Watsons follow a trail involving candy and jewelry to the sinister return of Jack the Ripper. As Jack's usual motive involves prostitutes named Unfortunates, our heroes must venture further into darkness than they ever have before. But how far down the rabbit hole must they go before they realize that the danger could be closer at home?
I enjoy the historical context that Leonard Goldberg flows through his chapters. The use of Jack the Ripper in a Sherlock pastiche is not new. However, this is the first time I have read one with a daughter being the main detective and not Sherlock. Since Jack was never caught, I also liked the idea that he had taken a "sabbatical" before continuing the deeds. I have read a few historical papers that say Jack and H.H. Holmes could be one and the same person. It is interesting to see the theories that historians and authors come up with.
I even like the addition of Joanna having a son/family because I believe it makes her more human and relatable. What I do not like is Joanna's warm and cold personality in this installment. In this particular case, Joanna's son is threatened with kidnapping and implied horrors. When such an event occurred, it seemed like Joanna could not decide on an emotion. I also felt that John Watson Sr was decided clumsy or slow at times, which seems contrary to a man who was beside Sherlock for many of his successes and teachings.
Joanna's son Johnny becoming involved felt unnecessary. It seemed like an addition to make the reader see the difference between father and daughter but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. For example, it is implied that Johnny will be kidnapped and harmed. While the family is supposedly on their guard, the kidnapping happens anyway, and I find that realistically impossible. Not just because Joanna is supposed to be specially observant, and Watson Sr has stated many times to remain at Johnny's side, but also because Johnny is aware of the danger and purposefully puts himself in a position to be out of sight. I cannot imagine that the grandson and son of a famous detective would purposefully cause such drama.
Overall I have to rate this 3 out of 5 stars. But I will continue to read Leonard Goldberg's series in the hopes that this was just the exception in his otherwise well admired series.
I have read all of the novels in Leonard Goldberg's Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series, and I am a bit disappointed in this installment.
Joanna, her husband John Watson Jr, and her father in law John Watson Sr are requested to look into the kidnapping of Whitechapel actress Pretty Penny. It would appear that many in Whitechapel deeply admired the young woman, and are devastated by her disappearance. Which also brings about it's own list of suspects. Joanna and Watsons follow a trail involving candy and jewelry to the sinister return of Jack the Ripper. As Jack's usual motive involves prostitutes named Unfortunates, our heroes must venture further into darkness than they ever have before. But how far down the rabbit hole must they go before they realize that the danger could be closer at home?
I enjoy the historical context that Leonard Goldberg flows through his chapters. The use of Jack the Ripper in a Sherlock pastiche is not new. However, this is the first time I have read one with a daughter being the main detective and not Sherlock. Since Jack was never caught, I also liked the idea that he had taken a "sabbatical" before continuing the deeds. I have read a few historical papers that say Jack and H.H. Holmes could be one and the same person. It is interesting to see the theories that historians and authors come up with.
I even like the addition of Joanna having a son/family because I believe it makes her more human and relatable. What I do not like is Joanna's warm and cold personality in this installment. In this particular case, Joanna's son is threatened with kidnapping and implied horrors. When such an event occurred, it seemed like Joanna could not decide on an emotion. I also felt that John Watson Sr was decided clumsy or slow at times, which seems contrary to a man who was beside Sherlock for many of his successes and teachings.
Joanna's son Johnny becoming involved felt unnecessary. It seemed like an addition to make the reader see the difference between father and daughter but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. For example, it is implied that Johnny will be kidnapped and harmed. While the family is supposedly on their guard, the kidnapping happens anyway, and I find that realistically impossible. Not just because Joanna is supposed to be specially observant, and Watson Sr has stated many times to remain at Johnny's side, but also because Johnny is aware of the danger and purposefully puts himself in a position to be out of sight. I cannot imagine that the grandson and son of a famous detective would purposefully cause such drama.
Overall I have to rate this 3 out of 5 stars. But I will continue to read Leonard Goldberg's series in the hopes that this was just the exception in his otherwise well admired series.
December 28, 2020
The Abduction of Pretty Penny is a fast-paced Sherlock Holmes-like mystery set in the 1800s. The protagonist in the novel is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes, Joanna, who much like her father, is able to solve mysteries by looking at clues no one else sees. The abduction of pretty Penny is the fifth in the series of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes novels written by Leonard Goldberg.
Joanna the daughter of Sherlock Holmes is approached by a woman from a local playhouse because one of the lead actresses, Pretty Penny, has gone missing. She believes there has been foul play while others feel Pretty Penny has just run away to a competing playhouse. Joanna feels that the woman is right and that Penny has been abducted and she is grave danger. Joanna, after interviewing the people in the Playhouse and surrounding shops, becomes more convinced that Pretty Penny will be murdered. There has been a series of serious murders in the city and Joanna for various reasons believes Pretty Penny is next in line. Will Joanna be able to find Pretty Penny before she becomes another victim of the vicious murderer who is currently the lurking about London?
I like this novel because it's very fast moving and the suspense builds as we learn that there are other murders linked to Pretty Penny’s abduction. This suspense builds even further near the end of the novel. The reveal and the motive for the murders are particularly interesting.
Joanna the protagonist is a very interesting character but so similar to Sherlock Holmes that one wonders what is new here. Watson is now retired but helps out, and his son, turns out to be Joanna’s husband. Both add interest to the story by acting as straight men for Joanna.
In my opinion, there are too many similar suspects and it is quite often difficult to separate one from the other. As well, if you haven't read the earlier instalments of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes novels it is a challenge to understand the relationship between Joanna, her husband, and Joanna’s son who appears suddenly and then becomes deeply involved in the plot. It would be interesting to have more background and character development so that you could actually read this novel independently.
This novel is particular interest to Sherlock Holmes fans and those who love suspenseful fast-moving murder mysteries. I give it a three on five primarily because I have not read some of the other novels and I do not feel that this novel is independent enough. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
Joanna the daughter of Sherlock Holmes is approached by a woman from a local playhouse because one of the lead actresses, Pretty Penny, has gone missing. She believes there has been foul play while others feel Pretty Penny has just run away to a competing playhouse. Joanna feels that the woman is right and that Penny has been abducted and she is grave danger. Joanna, after interviewing the people in the Playhouse and surrounding shops, becomes more convinced that Pretty Penny will be murdered. There has been a series of serious murders in the city and Joanna for various reasons believes Pretty Penny is next in line. Will Joanna be able to find Pretty Penny before she becomes another victim of the vicious murderer who is currently the lurking about London?
I like this novel because it's very fast moving and the suspense builds as we learn that there are other murders linked to Pretty Penny’s abduction. This suspense builds even further near the end of the novel. The reveal and the motive for the murders are particularly interesting.
Joanna the protagonist is a very interesting character but so similar to Sherlock Holmes that one wonders what is new here. Watson is now retired but helps out, and his son, turns out to be Joanna’s husband. Both add interest to the story by acting as straight men for Joanna.
In my opinion, there are too many similar suspects and it is quite often difficult to separate one from the other. As well, if you haven't read the earlier instalments of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes novels it is a challenge to understand the relationship between Joanna, her husband, and Joanna’s son who appears suddenly and then becomes deeply involved in the plot. It would be interesting to have more background and character development so that you could actually read this novel independently.
This novel is particular interest to Sherlock Holmes fans and those who love suspenseful fast-moving murder mysteries. I give it a three on five primarily because I have not read some of the other novels and I do not feel that this novel is independent enough. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
June 14, 2021
In The Abduction of Pretty Penny, the fifth book in the daughter of Sherlock Holmes series, the 221 b Baker Street investigators are hired to find out what happened to a popular young actress. The story begins with Joanna calling her husband, Dr. John Watson, Jr and her father-in-law, Dr. Watson to the window. She predicts the woman pacing on Baker Street is going to hire them. What is holding her back? I love how Joanna gives her partners a lesson in reading people’s body language using the woman’s indecision as a teachable moment.
I really enjoy this story and the audio performance. Joanna continues to show the skills she inherited from her father, Sherlock Holmes, and her mother, Irene Adler. She is clever, feisty, and determined to figure out the clues of the case. In other words, she is my kind of heroine. Like her father, Joanna doesn’t show a lot of emotion, except around her son. In some ways this is a little off-putting but her other qualities more than make up for it.
The Abduction of Pretty Penny, like the other books in the series is told from the point of view of Joanna’s husband. This story telling approach is reminiscent of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The story moves at a steady pace with some twists that are well placed. What begins as a missing person case, turns into something more sinister when the group realizes that Jack the Ripper has returned after twenty-eight years of inactivity.
Once again, the team calls on the Baker Street Irregulars to help. They are always a fun flashback to the original series and add a light break to an intense story. The suspects are an unusual group. They each add dimension and flavor to the story. Anyone of the suspects could be involved in the abduction as each one is hiding something. The disturbing question of has the ripper returned or do we have a copycat on the prowl?
Steve West continues as narrator for the series. He is terrific interpreting the essence of the story. John Watson’s emotions and his pride and admiration for his wife comes across clearly. West’s narration vividly evokes the setting of early 1900s London and the tension of the characters. Well done! West is the voice in my head for Dr. Watson, Jr.
If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, you need to check out this series. In my opinion, the series gets better as it progresses. I truly enjoyed listening to this audio.
#NETGALLEY #AUDIOBOOK
I really enjoy this story and the audio performance. Joanna continues to show the skills she inherited from her father, Sherlock Holmes, and her mother, Irene Adler. She is clever, feisty, and determined to figure out the clues of the case. In other words, she is my kind of heroine. Like her father, Joanna doesn’t show a lot of emotion, except around her son. In some ways this is a little off-putting but her other qualities more than make up for it.
The Abduction of Pretty Penny, like the other books in the series is told from the point of view of Joanna’s husband. This story telling approach is reminiscent of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The story moves at a steady pace with some twists that are well placed. What begins as a missing person case, turns into something more sinister when the group realizes that Jack the Ripper has returned after twenty-eight years of inactivity.
Once again, the team calls on the Baker Street Irregulars to help. They are always a fun flashback to the original series and add a light break to an intense story. The suspects are an unusual group. They each add dimension and flavor to the story. Anyone of the suspects could be involved in the abduction as each one is hiding something. The disturbing question of has the ripper returned or do we have a copycat on the prowl?
Steve West continues as narrator for the series. He is terrific interpreting the essence of the story. John Watson’s emotions and his pride and admiration for his wife comes across clearly. West’s narration vividly evokes the setting of early 1900s London and the tension of the characters. Well done! West is the voice in my head for Dr. Watson, Jr.
If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, you need to check out this series. In my opinion, the series gets better as it progresses. I truly enjoyed listening to this audio.
#NETGALLEY #AUDIOBOOK
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