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One Must Tell the Bees: Abraham Lincoln and the Final Education of Sherlock Holmes
“President Lincoln is assassinated in his private box at Ford’s!”
When those harrowing words ring out during a children’s entertainment in Washington, D.C. the evening of Friday, April 14, 1865, a quick-thinking young English chemist named Holmes grabs Tad Lincoln, the 12 year-old son of the dying President and races the boy out the theater and into a city convulsed by the shooting of the man known as the Great Emancipator—and soon finds himself on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.
This is the extraordinary untold story of how that young chemist and a freed slave boy named Abraham tracked Booth through backwoods Maryland and across the Potomac River to the tobacco barn where Booth died.
It is the very first case of the detective we now know as Sherlock Holmes.
And as we learn in One Must Tell the Bees, it is nothing like his last…
When those harrowing words ring out during a children’s entertainment in Washington, D.C. the evening of Friday, April 14, 1865, a quick-thinking young English chemist named Holmes grabs Tad Lincoln, the 12 year-old son of the dying President and races the boy out the theater and into a city convulsed by the shooting of the man known as the Great Emancipator—and soon finds himself on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.
This is the extraordinary untold story of how that young chemist and a freed slave boy named Abraham tracked Booth through backwoods Maryland and across the Potomac River to the tobacco barn where Booth died.
It is the very first case of the detective we now know as Sherlock Holmes.
And as we learn in One Must Tell the Bees, it is nothing like his last…
568 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2021
261 people are currently reading
1240 people want to read
About the author
J. Lawrence Matthews
4 books20 followersJ. Lawrence Matthews has contributed fiction to the New York Times and NPR and is the author of three non-fiction books as Jeff Matthews. “One Must Tell the Bees” is his first novel. Written at a time when American history is being scrutinized and recast in the light of 21st Century mores, this fast-paced account of Sherlock Holmes’s visit to America during the final year of the Civil War illuminates the profound impact of Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation on slavery, the war and America itself. Matthews is now researching the sequel, which takes place a bit further afield—in Florence, Mecca and Tibet—but readers may contact him at jlawrencematthews@gmail.com. Those interested in the history behind “One Must Tell the Bees” will find it at jlawrencematthews.com.
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December 5, 2021
One Must Tell The Bees by J. Lawrence Matthews (Author), Thomas Judd (Narrator )
One Must Tell the Bees is a beautifully narrated historic fiction audiobook. Sherlock Holmes is inserted into the last year of the Civil War in America, rubbing elbows with noted figures of history. In a final manuscript that he writes fifty years later, in order to reveal truths that he could not or would not reveal earlier, Holmes is ready to come clean and explain his real beginnings, to Dr. Watson. And explain he does, as he goes on and on and on. This version of Sherlock Holmes, does not stop talking, all the while berating Watson for the way he wrote the stories of their adventures. I can assure you, if this Sherlock Holmes had written his own adventures, there would not have been enough paper to print the books.
The voices of Watson and Sherlock fit so well and I did enjoy listening to them except I think that if hours had been cut out of this story it would be more interesting. Sherlock talks endlessly and goes into such detail on every little thing. Who knew he was so involved in Abraham Lincoln's last days! Now fifty years later it all comes gushing out, proving to me what a good idea it was that the adventures of Holmes and Watson were told through the filter of Watson's writings. Clearly Holmes does not know how to get to a point. Bless poor Watson, when Holmes is actually telling parts of the story in person, he's admonished for asking questions. There is no cutting off Holmes, as he meanders through his memories.
I enjoyed learning about bees from Holmes and we learn where he was first introduced to beekeeping. Through this story we learn that many of the things we know about Holmes came from his time in America. We learn how he came about his name and how he learned to play the violin. We learn how he became such an expert in chemistry and we also learn more about his relationship with his older brother. We also learn about his last days, as we spend them with him once Watson arrives at the place Holmes has been living. All good things but it's the details that weigh this story down, as if the teller loses focus and we are swamped with such an information overload that I just wanted Sherlock to stop talking. The story is interesting but it could have been much, much better with heavy editing, in my opinion.
Pub Date May 22nd 2021
Thank you to East Dean Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
One Must Tell the Bees is a beautifully narrated historic fiction audiobook. Sherlock Holmes is inserted into the last year of the Civil War in America, rubbing elbows with noted figures of history. In a final manuscript that he writes fifty years later, in order to reveal truths that he could not or would not reveal earlier, Holmes is ready to come clean and explain his real beginnings, to Dr. Watson. And explain he does, as he goes on and on and on. This version of Sherlock Holmes, does not stop talking, all the while berating Watson for the way he wrote the stories of their adventures. I can assure you, if this Sherlock Holmes had written his own adventures, there would not have been enough paper to print the books.
The voices of Watson and Sherlock fit so well and I did enjoy listening to them except I think that if hours had been cut out of this story it would be more interesting. Sherlock talks endlessly and goes into such detail on every little thing. Who knew he was so involved in Abraham Lincoln's last days! Now fifty years later it all comes gushing out, proving to me what a good idea it was that the adventures of Holmes and Watson were told through the filter of Watson's writings. Clearly Holmes does not know how to get to a point. Bless poor Watson, when Holmes is actually telling parts of the story in person, he's admonished for asking questions. There is no cutting off Holmes, as he meanders through his memories.
I enjoyed learning about bees from Holmes and we learn where he was first introduced to beekeeping. Through this story we learn that many of the things we know about Holmes came from his time in America. We learn how he came about his name and how he learned to play the violin. We learn how he became such an expert in chemistry and we also learn more about his relationship with his older brother. We also learn about his last days, as we spend them with him once Watson arrives at the place Holmes has been living. All good things but it's the details that weigh this story down, as if the teller loses focus and we are swamped with such an information overload that I just wanted Sherlock to stop talking. The story is interesting but it could have been much, much better with heavy editing, in my opinion.
Pub Date May 22nd 2021
Thank you to East Dean Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 19, 2021
J. Lawrence Matthews might not be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - but he really sounds like him (in part of the novels). In the best of ways.
Very much like The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, the table of contents makes this look like an anthology of shorter stories - not that short, though. Judging from the number of pages, it's like 3 novellas framing a short novel. We'll come back to that thought later.
I was immediately satisfied upon realising that Watson would be my narrator throughout the book. Because, let's face it - there is only one way to tell a Holmes story, and that is through Watson. It's the right way.
Holmes needs Watson.
And with Watson reading a manuscript written by Holmes, the great detective also gets to tell a part of his story himself. This has also been done by Doyle before, take The Musgrave Ritual, for example.
I've stated that this looks like 3 novellas framing a novel (judging by the parts and the number of pages per part as stated in the toc). It's a fitting statement for the size (so this book is quite long - and longer than it should be), and in parts of the structure, but those stories are not separate, they belong together.
The problem here is size - and pace. Sure enough, no one would expect a high octane thriller when reading a Holmes story. And all historical fiction books have the added responsibility to explain their world to the reader. But I can't help thinking that this has been overdone here.
Holmes wrote his script with Watson as an intended audience, and they are nearly of the same age. So why does he keep explaining stuff to his former assistant? For the reader's sake, that's why. It's called an empty exposition, and it usually means that you're looking at a missed opportunity to shorten the text.
I felt this was the mantra of Holmes's script.
In this case, it also means you get thrown back between the present and the past multiple times, and quite frankly - this narrative structure started to become unnerving pretty fast. I couldn't follow one story to the end and always had to keep things in mind until we came back to it to resolve it. Or not resolve it, that happened sometimes, too.
So Holmes soon takes over as narrator, but it looks like we're seeing a very passive Holmes here. There are some great touches - like the chemist master who's way to think greatly influenced the later Sherlock - but there are many passages about the american civil war which struck me as unnecessary, because they are not furthering the plot. And yes, there are a great deal of historical details that blend together Fiction and History, but let's be honest: I don't need a footnote telling me the name and alias of the author of a historical book Holmes is perusing.
Which really means that the first third of this book is really dragging on, seemlessly forever. It took me far longer to get behind the 40 % threshold than it should have. The good news is that the pace gets better after that.
But when Booth is captured in the past - and Moriarty in the present - the tale starts to look like it should be coming to an end. Abs then you realize there is still a quarter of the book left to read. Which made me fear yet another drag fest in the end of the book. Sadly, I was right.
With Sherlock's intent of getting to know everything there is to know about young Moriarty (and quite some stuff that isn't worth knowing), we enter the longest epilogue in the history of literature at the 72 % mark.
My feelings about the first third and last quarter of the book.
And yes, Moriarty. Or a Moriarty, at least. Which makes me think this was kind of uncreative. Because - really? Do we need another Moriarty? I dare say we do not!
It's also an epilogue about the end of the first world war, and beekeeping and a thousand other things, and a minority of open ends left over from the main story, like the origin of the name Sherlock.
Because Matthews invented a lot of things new - a total new name for Mycroft and Sherlock, new names, new origins. He does this with the utmost care so it might fit the canon, and he's showing off that care, like Sherlock would be showing off his powers of deduction.
And then the epilogue turns into an epitaph - because if you're going to reinvent the life of Sherlock Holmes, you might as well go the full mile and do his death, too. So Matthews ended up telling two stories about Holmes never told, like the intro and the outro to the vast works already told. And as Sherlock's mind seems to wander in the end (from the christian Bible to the Baghavad Gita of buddhism and the arab poet Hafiz), it kind of matches the telling of this tale that meandered in it's own time.
Ordinarily, this well crafted and expertly told tale would gather my highest praise. But there are things to consider here - the really terrible pace in the beginning and the end, the unnecessary details, the meandering timelines (a little too overdone, and you never know which details you should try to remember till you get back to it). I end up with 3.5 stars, a half star decrease for every one of my three pain points, rounded down where half stars are not applicable. Yes, rounded down instead of up because of the final cause of death of Sherlock - after all this, he succumbs to [spoiler]? What a pity!
3.5 stars
You can also read this review on my Blog.
Disclaimer: I've received a free Advanced Reader's Copy and are leaving this review voluntarily.
Very much like The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, the table of contents makes this look like an anthology of shorter stories - not that short, though. Judging from the number of pages, it's like 3 novellas framing a short novel. We'll come back to that thought later.
I was immediately satisfied upon realising that Watson would be my narrator throughout the book. Because, let's face it - there is only one way to tell a Holmes story, and that is through Watson. It's the right way.
Holmes needs Watson.
And with Watson reading a manuscript written by Holmes, the great detective also gets to tell a part of his story himself. This has also been done by Doyle before, take The Musgrave Ritual, for example.
I've stated that this looks like 3 novellas framing a novel (judging by the parts and the number of pages per part as stated in the toc). It's a fitting statement for the size (so this book is quite long - and longer than it should be), and in parts of the structure, but those stories are not separate, they belong together.
The problem here is size - and pace. Sure enough, no one would expect a high octane thriller when reading a Holmes story. And all historical fiction books have the added responsibility to explain their world to the reader. But I can't help thinking that this has been overdone here.
Holmes wrote his script with Watson as an intended audience, and they are nearly of the same age. So why does he keep explaining stuff to his former assistant? For the reader's sake, that's why. It's called an empty exposition, and it usually means that you're looking at a missed opportunity to shorten the text.
I felt this was the mantra of Holmes's script.
In this case, it also means you get thrown back between the present and the past multiple times, and quite frankly - this narrative structure started to become unnerving pretty fast. I couldn't follow one story to the end and always had to keep things in mind until we came back to it to resolve it. Or not resolve it, that happened sometimes, too.
So Holmes soon takes over as narrator, but it looks like we're seeing a very passive Holmes here. There are some great touches - like the chemist master who's way to think greatly influenced the later Sherlock - but there are many passages about the american civil war which struck me as unnecessary, because they are not furthering the plot. And yes, there are a great deal of historical details that blend together Fiction and History, but let's be honest: I don't need a footnote telling me the name and alias of the author of a historical book Holmes is perusing.
Which really means that the first third of this book is really dragging on, seemlessly forever. It took me far longer to get behind the 40 % threshold than it should have. The good news is that the pace gets better after that.
But when Booth is captured in the past - and Moriarty in the present - the tale starts to look like it should be coming to an end. Abs then you realize there is still a quarter of the book left to read. Which made me fear yet another drag fest in the end of the book. Sadly, I was right.
With Sherlock's intent of getting to know everything there is to know about young Moriarty (and quite some stuff that isn't worth knowing), we enter the longest epilogue in the history of literature at the 72 % mark.
My feelings about the first third and last quarter of the book.
And yes, Moriarty. Or a Moriarty, at least. Which makes me think this was kind of uncreative. Because - really? Do we need another Moriarty? I dare say we do not!
It's also an epilogue about the end of the first world war, and beekeeping and a thousand other things, and a minority of open ends left over from the main story, like the origin of the name Sherlock.
Because Matthews invented a lot of things new - a total new name for Mycroft and Sherlock, new names, new origins. He does this with the utmost care so it might fit the canon, and he's showing off that care, like Sherlock would be showing off his powers of deduction.
And then the epilogue turns into an epitaph - because if you're going to reinvent the life of Sherlock Holmes, you might as well go the full mile and do his death, too. So Matthews ended up telling two stories about Holmes never told, like the intro and the outro to the vast works already told. And as Sherlock's mind seems to wander in the end (from the christian Bible to the Baghavad Gita of buddhism and the arab poet Hafiz), it kind of matches the telling of this tale that meandered in it's own time.
Ordinarily, this well crafted and expertly told tale would gather my highest praise. But there are things to consider here - the really terrible pace in the beginning and the end, the unnecessary details, the meandering timelines (a little too overdone, and you never know which details you should try to remember till you get back to it). I end up with 3.5 stars, a half star decrease for every one of my three pain points, rounded down where half stars are not applicable. Yes, rounded down instead of up because of the final cause of death of Sherlock - after all this, he succumbs to [spoiler]? What a pity!
3.5 stars
You can also read this review on my Blog.
Disclaimer: I've received a free Advanced Reader's Copy and are leaving this review voluntarily.
February 18, 2022
Sherlock Holmes' alternate backstory . . . in the United States . . . with Abe Lincoln . . . YES, YES, and YES! The author nailed the style of the early Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while offering a completely different evolution story for the well-known character. Doyle doled out vague tidbits of his Sherlock's backstory, leaving a vast garden for Matthews to rework and reap. His Sherlock hails from much humbler beginnings that he has intentionally hidden to keep up his well-fabricated image.
The story takes place when Sherlock is just a teen on a trip abroad to the United States. On the trip, he meets his hero, Allan Pinkerton, as well as Abraham and Mary Lincoln and their young son, and is pressed into service solving his first case at Lincoln's behest. It really is an over-the-top whale story of an adventure for the unassuming teenager, but since it's Sherlock Holmes we're talking about, it just works.
I really felt like I was reading Arthur Conan Doyle. It was that good and that true to the character. The setting, Civil War America, was a really nice touch and added a lot. I feel it needed the unique setting to add something new to the canon. I love reading different Holmes spin-offs and appreciate when they add a new take on the stories. Since this book felt so true to the original Holmes, the setting and the new backstory were needed to put a unique stamp on the work.
I listened to the audiobook version of this and I need to say that the narrator was such a good fit for this story. The sound quality was excellent and the narrator, Thomas Judd, was everything I wanted as Sherlock Holmes. He just had the deep, rich, cultured voice I expect the character to have. I've heard him before in Joseph Delaney's Starblade Chronicles series and really liked him in those as well. I'm definitely going to look for more audiobooks with this narrator.
I would highly recommend the book and I'm glad I got a chance to listen to the audiobook version because the performance was perfect and brought the story to a new level.
The story takes place when Sherlock is just a teen on a trip abroad to the United States. On the trip, he meets his hero, Allan Pinkerton, as well as Abraham and Mary Lincoln and their young son, and is pressed into service solving his first case at Lincoln's behest. It really is an over-the-top whale story of an adventure for the unassuming teenager, but since it's Sherlock Holmes we're talking about, it just works.
I really felt like I was reading Arthur Conan Doyle. It was that good and that true to the character. The setting, Civil War America, was a really nice touch and added a lot. I feel it needed the unique setting to add something new to the canon. I love reading different Holmes spin-offs and appreciate when they add a new take on the stories. Since this book felt so true to the original Holmes, the setting and the new backstory were needed to put a unique stamp on the work.
I listened to the audiobook version of this and I need to say that the narrator was such a good fit for this story. The sound quality was excellent and the narrator, Thomas Judd, was everything I wanted as Sherlock Holmes. He just had the deep, rich, cultured voice I expect the character to have. I've heard him before in Joseph Delaney's Starblade Chronicles series and really liked him in those as well. I'm definitely going to look for more audiobooks with this narrator.
I would highly recommend the book and I'm glad I got a chance to listen to the audiobook version because the performance was perfect and brought the story to a new level.
December 31, 2021
4.5 Stars
At times I had to pause the audiobook and google whether what was being said was fact or historical fiction. After listening to the story I want to read more works that involve Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. I also loved the narration of the book. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book.
At times I had to pause the audiobook and google whether what was being said was fact or historical fiction. After listening to the story I want to read more works that involve Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. I also loved the narration of the book. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book.
July 13, 2021
The game is afoot!
Sherlock Holmes in America? Investigating a case involving the assassination of Abraham Lincoln? At first, this seemed a little bit of a stretch, but I was quickly swept up in the story of Holmes’s first case in America, happening when he was just 16 years old.
One Must Tell the Bees is a book within a book: in the first tale, it is nearing the end of WWI (1918) when Dr. Watson receives an urgent summons from Holmes along with a manuscript detailing Holmes's early memoirs of his first “case” during the final days of the American Civil War (1865). We quickly become wrapped up in two tales of mystery and adventure at once: the past, through Holmes's manuscript, and the present as Watson reunites with his old friend.
The writing style is very accurate to the original stories, yet it is a completely fresh view of the characters, introducing aspects of their history that were never known before in a very believable way.
I was amazed at the level of detail regarding the historic details around the Civil War (complete with footnotes!), but after reading the author’s bio and realizing that he is a scholar of the Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln, it made total sense! This is a must-read for Civil War buffs as well as Sherlock Holmes fans.
Because I am a fan of American history, I think I enjoyed the Civil War timeline a little more. I would totally love to watch a movie or TV series based on this part of the story! Young Sherlock Holmes in America, investigating crimes with his freed slave companion, Abraham.
My only complaint about this book is it was very long - even after both mysteries wrapped up, it went on for another 50 pages or so. Personally, I could have done with less about the bees.
Thank you @booksforwardpr #booksforwardfriends for the #ARC of this book! It was published on May 22, 2021 (Sherlock Holmes Day!)
Sherlock Holmes in America? Investigating a case involving the assassination of Abraham Lincoln? At first, this seemed a little bit of a stretch, but I was quickly swept up in the story of Holmes’s first case in America, happening when he was just 16 years old.
One Must Tell the Bees is a book within a book: in the first tale, it is nearing the end of WWI (1918) when Dr. Watson receives an urgent summons from Holmes along with a manuscript detailing Holmes's early memoirs of his first “case” during the final days of the American Civil War (1865). We quickly become wrapped up in two tales of mystery and adventure at once: the past, through Holmes's manuscript, and the present as Watson reunites with his old friend.
The writing style is very accurate to the original stories, yet it is a completely fresh view of the characters, introducing aspects of their history that were never known before in a very believable way.
I was amazed at the level of detail regarding the historic details around the Civil War (complete with footnotes!), but after reading the author’s bio and realizing that he is a scholar of the Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln, it made total sense! This is a must-read for Civil War buffs as well as Sherlock Holmes fans.
Because I am a fan of American history, I think I enjoyed the Civil War timeline a little more. I would totally love to watch a movie or TV series based on this part of the story! Young Sherlock Holmes in America, investigating crimes with his freed slave companion, Abraham.
My only complaint about this book is it was very long - even after both mysteries wrapped up, it went on for another 50 pages or so. Personally, I could have done with less about the bees.
Thank you @booksforwardpr #booksforwardfriends for the #ARC of this book! It was published on May 22, 2021 (Sherlock Holmes Day!)
November 27, 2023
What a joy this was to read! Admittedly, I have always been a Sherlock Holmes fan, having read all his adventure. I am also an Abraham Lincoln historian, having read hundreds of books about him and written a few of my own. I met the author at a Lincoln conference and it seemed inevitable that we would agree to trade my most recent Lincoln book for his book combining Abraham Lincoln and Sherlock Holmes.
And what a book it is. The writing is superb. It doesn't take long to feel you are reading the work of Dr. Watson. And then there is an embedded manuscript within the manuscript most credibly written from the pen of Holmes himself. Matthews has masterfully intertwined Holmes's (revised) early life in America, where he solves his first mystery (theft of gunpowder from the DuPont works in Delaware) and tracks down Lincoln's killer, J. Wilkes Booth, and a traditional Watson/Holmes murder mystery in present day England. It's Sherlock (and Mycroft) Holmes at its best, and Lincoln's influence on Holmes is most credible. I found it a delightful read.
David J. Kent
Author, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln's Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America
President, Lincoln Group of DC
And what a book it is. The writing is superb. It doesn't take long to feel you are reading the work of Dr. Watson. And then there is an embedded manuscript within the manuscript most credibly written from the pen of Holmes himself. Matthews has masterfully intertwined Holmes's (revised) early life in America, where he solves his first mystery (theft of gunpowder from the DuPont works in Delaware) and tracks down Lincoln's killer, J. Wilkes Booth, and a traditional Watson/Holmes murder mystery in present day England. It's Sherlock (and Mycroft) Holmes at its best, and Lincoln's influence on Holmes is most credible. I found it a delightful read.
David J. Kent
Author, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln's Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America
President, Lincoln Group of DC
April 22, 2021
One Must Tell the Bees
by J. Lawrence Matthews
BLURB
“President Lincoln is assassinated in his private box at Ford’s!”
When those harrowing words ring out during a children’s entertainment in Washington, D.C. the evening of Friday, April 14, 1865, a quick-thinking young English chemist named Holmes grabs Tad Lincoln, the 12 year-old son of the dying President and races the boy out the theater and into a city convulsed by the shooting of the man known as the Great Emancipator—and soon finds himself on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.
This is the extraordinary untold story of how that young chemist and a freed slave boy named Abraham tracked Booth through backwoods Maryland and across the Potomac River to the tobacco barn where Booth died.
It is the very first case of the detective we now know as Sherlock Holmes.
And as we learn in One Must Tell the Bees, it is nothing like his last…
REVIEW
I cannot claim to be any kind of expert on Sherlock Holmes. I've never read any of the Arthur Conan Doyle novels; indeed my only real exposure to Holmes has been on television. I remember watching old Basil Rathbone movies as a kid, loved the Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective; saw a few of the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock episodes, and that's about it. As for the American Civil War, I am not a 'professional' historian, but I have been reading and studying American history all of my life - indeed my major in college was History, and it is a pursuit I have kept active for 60+ years. So when I received a request to read and review One Must Tell the Bees, it was the Civil War/Lincoln aspect that convinced me to accept it. However, it was clear early on, in this scintillating tale, that the Holmesian twist, and the subsequent telling of the last days of Sherlock Holmes, had me totally in thrall. This powerful imagining by the author not only entertains with the story, but it is chock full of superbly written characters. The historical figures loom large in this tale, and are portrayed in a realistic manner, but the thing that I find most impressive (and something I look for in every historical-fiction book I read) is that the fictional characters are crafted in such a way as to make them appear to be historical as well...and that, my fellow readers, is the mark of excellent storytelling where the line between history and fiction has vanished into the realm of believability.
Not being an aficionado of the Sherlock Holmes genre, I am at least acquainted enough with his demeanor/mannerisms/his familiar attire, etc., to recognize that One Must Tell the Bees brings Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes to life as surely as the new garden varietals brings Holmes' bees back to the hives. Like pollen laden bees, and the hives bursting with honeycomb, the pages are redolent with superb storytelling that kept this reader more than entertained, it was nourishment for the soul. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
by J. Lawrence Matthews
BLURB
“President Lincoln is assassinated in his private box at Ford’s!”
When those harrowing words ring out during a children’s entertainment in Washington, D.C. the evening of Friday, April 14, 1865, a quick-thinking young English chemist named Holmes grabs Tad Lincoln, the 12 year-old son of the dying President and races the boy out the theater and into a city convulsed by the shooting of the man known as the Great Emancipator—and soon finds himself on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth.
This is the extraordinary untold story of how that young chemist and a freed slave boy named Abraham tracked Booth through backwoods Maryland and across the Potomac River to the tobacco barn where Booth died.
It is the very first case of the detective we now know as Sherlock Holmes.
And as we learn in One Must Tell the Bees, it is nothing like his last…
REVIEW
I cannot claim to be any kind of expert on Sherlock Holmes. I've never read any of the Arthur Conan Doyle novels; indeed my only real exposure to Holmes has been on television. I remember watching old Basil Rathbone movies as a kid, loved the Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective; saw a few of the Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock episodes, and that's about it. As for the American Civil War, I am not a 'professional' historian, but I have been reading and studying American history all of my life - indeed my major in college was History, and it is a pursuit I have kept active for 60+ years. So when I received a request to read and review One Must Tell the Bees, it was the Civil War/Lincoln aspect that convinced me to accept it. However, it was clear early on, in this scintillating tale, that the Holmesian twist, and the subsequent telling of the last days of Sherlock Holmes, had me totally in thrall. This powerful imagining by the author not only entertains with the story, but it is chock full of superbly written characters. The historical figures loom large in this tale, and are portrayed in a realistic manner, but the thing that I find most impressive (and something I look for in every historical-fiction book I read) is that the fictional characters are crafted in such a way as to make them appear to be historical as well...and that, my fellow readers, is the mark of excellent storytelling where the line between history and fiction has vanished into the realm of believability.
Not being an aficionado of the Sherlock Holmes genre, I am at least acquainted enough with his demeanor/mannerisms/his familiar attire, etc., to recognize that One Must Tell the Bees brings Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes to life as surely as the new garden varietals brings Holmes' bees back to the hives. Like pollen laden bees, and the hives bursting with honeycomb, the pages are redolent with superb storytelling that kept this reader more than entertained, it was nourishment for the soul. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 24, 2021
One Must Tell the Bees is a brilliant story revisiting one of my favorite characters of all time, Sherlock Holmes. The narration is very accurate to the original stories. I felt like I was reading the authentic works and yet it is a completely fresh view of the character, introducing aspects of his history that were never known before, in a very believable way.
It is nearing the end of WWI when Dr Watson receives an urgent summons from Holmes along with a manuscript detailing Holmes's first adventure during the final days of the American Civil War. Watson rushes to help his friend and during his travel he begins to read the manuscript, learning details about Sherlock Holmes's early life that he never knew.
We quickly become wrapped up in two tales of mystery and adventure at once. The past, through Holmes's Memoir and the present as Watson reunites with his old friend.
The historic details, around the Civil War portions of the story, are very well crafted.
This is a must read for Civil War buffs as well as Sherlock Holmes fans.
Warning: If you tend to get emotional over a favorite character, keep a box of tissues close by, you will need it.
Thank you to East Dean Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.
It is nearing the end of WWI when Dr Watson receives an urgent summons from Holmes along with a manuscript detailing Holmes's first adventure during the final days of the American Civil War. Watson rushes to help his friend and during his travel he begins to read the manuscript, learning details about Sherlock Holmes's early life that he never knew.
We quickly become wrapped up in two tales of mystery and adventure at once. The past, through Holmes's Memoir and the present as Watson reunites with his old friend.
The historic details, around the Civil War portions of the story, are very well crafted.
This is a must read for Civil War buffs as well as Sherlock Holmes fans.
Warning: If you tend to get emotional over a favorite character, keep a box of tissues close by, you will need it.
Thank you to East Dean Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.
November 24, 2021
This unique book within a book tells the imagined history of how Sherlock Holmes got his start by taking a fantastical swing through America during the Civil War. He meets up with historical figures of the time like Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. The story of Sherlock’s American adventures takes the form of a manuscript that Sherlock has given to Watson. Watson is on his way to visit Sherlock and he loses the manuscript when someone is murdered on the train. This is just a small summary of the book, there so so much more!
I enjoyed hearing Sherlock’s ‘origin story’. It was extremely creative to plunk young Sherlock in Civil War America. It was interesting, but could have been wrapped up much quicker. For example, I did not need the pages of detail on the chase and capture of John Wilkes Booth. Also the level of detail about working for DuPont made those chapters drag on too long.
As I mentioned this is a long audiobook, over 19 hours worth! This almost felt like a book and a half worth of story crammed into one book.
Overall, this was a very nice wrap up/ backstory of Sherlock’s early life and some background on Moriarity. Some unanswered questions about Sherlock Holmes are imaginatively answered in this book.
Narration: excellent, voiced several characters distinct enough to know who was speaking. One minor issue was that at times the American characters were given southern accents. I’m sure some of them might have had southern accents, but not all of them, including Abraham Lincoln.
I received a free review copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed hearing Sherlock’s ‘origin story’. It was extremely creative to plunk young Sherlock in Civil War America. It was interesting, but could have been wrapped up much quicker. For example, I did not need the pages of detail on the chase and capture of John Wilkes Booth. Also the level of detail about working for DuPont made those chapters drag on too long.
As I mentioned this is a long audiobook, over 19 hours worth! This almost felt like a book and a half worth of story crammed into one book.
Overall, this was a very nice wrap up/ backstory of Sherlock’s early life and some background on Moriarity. Some unanswered questions about Sherlock Holmes are imaginatively answered in this book.
Narration: excellent, voiced several characters distinct enough to know who was speaking. One minor issue was that at times the American characters were given southern accents. I’m sure some of them might have had southern accents, but not all of them, including Abraham Lincoln.
I received a free review copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
February 6, 2022
This original audiobook transports listeners directly to the civil war through conversations with Lincoln, war secretary Stanton, and a young slave named Abraham, among others.
Read full review in the 2022 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2022 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read
October 14, 2021I love Sherlock Holmes retellings, so I was really excited to snag this audiobook. Unfortunately, this particular version of Holmes just didn't work for me. For one thing, it's just too long. Nineteen hours? Nuh-uh. For another, while the idea that Sherlock and Mycroft were actually from dirt poor backgrounds and basically invented themselves from the ground up was both brilliant and fascinating, the execution lacked immediacy and emotional depth. I'm fine with Holmes actually being an emotional, gooey sweetheart inside a possibly nuero-atypical, traumatized shell (see Katherine Addison's Angel of the Crows) but the framing of this story just did not do that premise any favors. Also, the handling of Sherlock's observances of racism in America, while well-intentioned, felt kind of clumsy. He basically acted as if he'd never seen A Racism before, which I think we can all agree that that is just...highly unlikely? Anyway, I thought the narrator did a great job, and if you are also into Holmsiana, check it out! It may work better for you than me.
May 20, 2021
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated whilst at the theatre. The story goes behind the scenes how a chemist by the name of Holmes accompanied by a smart young boy called Abraham is called upon by Lincoln's advisor to go find the assassin and bring him back. Holmes has to pit his wits against the famous detective Alan Pinkerton as well as the wiley Boothe the assassin himself who has support in unexpected quarters.
Traversing America ending where Boothe was holed up and where he died is part of the story. The other is the memoir that Watson receives, detailing Holmes own version of the Lincoln events and which culminate in Watson meeting up with Holmes to continue the story of what is actually happening now at the end of WWI.
The two stories are distinct though the Lincoln one takes up most of the book. It was fascinating reading, detailed and descriptive of two extremely clever, innovative men who went far beyond the call of duty to do what had to be done at all times.
This was a story that had to be read slowly to assimilate all that was going on.
Traversing America ending where Boothe was holed up and where he died is part of the story. The other is the memoir that Watson receives, detailing Holmes own version of the Lincoln events and which culminate in Watson meeting up with Holmes to continue the story of what is actually happening now at the end of WWI.
The two stories are distinct though the Lincoln one takes up most of the book. It was fascinating reading, detailed and descriptive of two extremely clever, innovative men who went far beyond the call of duty to do what had to be done at all times.
This was a story that had to be read slowly to assimilate all that was going on.
May 22, 2021
I've never read a Sherlock Holmes mystery so I have no idea what they're like. I thought that it was a clever idea to place Sherlock Holmes in the United States during the American Civil War. I also enjoyed how the novel is written in the format of a story within a story.
I enjoyed reading how Holmes' personality traits, from his ability to put on an upper class accent to his ability to be a good judge of character, shaped him into the detective that the world would come to recognize many years later. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and now have an interest in reading some of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.
Thank you to Books Forward for the ARC. This review is my honest opinion.
I enjoyed reading how Holmes' personality traits, from his ability to put on an upper class accent to his ability to be a good judge of character, shaped him into the detective that the world would come to recognize many years later. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and now have an interest in reading some of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.
Thank you to Books Forward for the ARC. This review is my honest opinion.
November 2, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.
As many have said before - this is long. Too long. I would probably give this a 3.5
Extremely well done from the storyline and the explanation of many of Sherlock Holmes' mysteries - where he came from, where did he get his start, and what happened to Sherlock after his last case. Intertwined in all of this is his experiences in the United States during one of the most tumultuous times in history and surrounded by major events and figures.
Ultimately I felt there were just a few too many stories intertwined.
Regarding the audio : excellent. The voices were enjoyable, clear and entertaining.
Worth reading, or listening.
As many have said before - this is long. Too long. I would probably give this a 3.5
Extremely well done from the storyline and the explanation of many of Sherlock Holmes' mysteries - where he came from, where did he get his start, and what happened to Sherlock after his last case. Intertwined in all of this is his experiences in the United States during one of the most tumultuous times in history and surrounded by major events and figures.
Ultimately I felt there were just a few too many stories intertwined.
Regarding the audio : excellent. The voices were enjoyable, clear and entertaining.
Worth reading, or listening.
November 18, 2024
The book is written by someone who genuinely loves Sherlock Holmes and the legacy Doyle’s books have left. It actually sounds like Doyle, in the best way. The commentary on American race relations in the last part was a bit preachy, but everything else was great. I knew what “tell the bees” meant going in, yet that scene still was the best of the book.
April 24, 2022
Creative imagining of Sherlock Holmes from youth until old age. Watson describes his long friendship with Holmes and the events that influenced the famous sleuth. Very different. I enjoyed it very much.
October 8, 2025
If I could give this one a 4.5 stars I would-that's how much I enjoyed it. It was a fun read and it included several substantive references to Abraham Lincoln! This book took place in and included descriptions of some areas close to me (and some close to my heart) e.g. the Brandywine River, Gettysburg battlefield, the DuPont powder works. And it was written in the style of Conan Doyle. So if you're a Sherlock fan, I would imagine this book would be some fun and informative ear/eye candy, as it was to me.
January 7, 2022
One Must Tell the Bees by J. Lawrence Matthews is 548 pages of Sherlock Holmes story.
It is unusual for the mix of threads combined, I thought. First there is the growing up years of the brothers, where/how they began and how they acquired their well-known names.
There is the manuscript. In much there is the story of Sherlock sent to America by Mycroft, meeting Abraham Lincoln and later tracking down John Wilkes Booth.
Finally Sherlock's retirement and Watson finding him. Long after they moved from Baker Street.
Like I said, there are many threads. But, if you like Sherlock Holmes stories, I recommend this.
It is unusual for the mix of threads combined, I thought. First there is the growing up years of the brothers, where/how they began and how they acquired their well-known names.
There is the manuscript. In much there is the story of Sherlock sent to America by Mycroft, meeting Abraham Lincoln and later tracking down John Wilkes Booth.
Finally Sherlock's retirement and Watson finding him. Long after they moved from Baker Street.
Like I said, there are many threads. But, if you like Sherlock Holmes stories, I recommend this.
June 23, 2021
This is a stellar addition to the Sherlock Holmes compendium. J. Lawrence Matthews has provided very satisfying bookends to Doyle’s tales of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, with a look at the young Holmes and how he developed into the master detective known worldwide, and brings the tales to a close as Holmes reflects on his life during his retirement. Matthews takes the young Holmes to Civil War America, and inserts him into high-stakes thievery, and the manhunt for J. Wilkes Booth immediately after the assassination of Lincoln. And in his retirement, we find Holmes pondering his life, while still fighting the legacy of his arch nemesis.
Matthews has stayed true to the language and structure of Doyle’s literary style. Extensive research into the American Civil War and WWI England is evident throughout this work. Having read, and loved, all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I felt like I was being drawn seamlessly back into the cases and intrigue that surrounded Holmes and Watson. Highly recommend to any Sherlock Holmes lovers.
Thank you to BooksForward for offering me an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Matthews has stayed true to the language and structure of Doyle’s literary style. Extensive research into the American Civil War and WWI England is evident throughout this work. Having read, and loved, all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I felt like I was being drawn seamlessly back into the cases and intrigue that surrounded Holmes and Watson. Highly recommend to any Sherlock Holmes lovers.
Thank you to BooksForward for offering me an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2021
This book is so well written that at times I would have to stop and catch myself because I was fully believing every word I read! I would have to remind myself that this story, along with all the other Sherlock Holmes' tales are works of fiction, completely made-up, he did not really exist! J. Lawrence Matthews brings Homes and Watson to life in such a way that I as the reader would argue the fact of it being a fictitious story.
This is the biography of Sherlock Holmes' early years, pre-famous detective years. It is written by Sherlock himself as a manuscript for Dr. Watson. Holmes tells of his early education, of how a poor lad from the seedier side of London's streets became Sherlock Holmes, world-famous detective. We even learn how the name Sherlock Holmes came about.
Holmes is dispatched from London to America by his older brother Mycroft to work in one of the most prosperous American factories, the DuPont factory s an amateur chemist making gunpowder for the Union Army during the height of the Civil War.
From there we read on through to Holmes' association with War Secretary Stanton. We learn of Mr. Stanton's enlistment of Holmes to find out about gunpowder that has been disappearing from the DuPont factory, which turns out to be the first case of Sherlock's career. From there we go to Washington City where Sherlock meets President Lincoln and becomes caretaker of his son Tad. We read of the President's reelection and then of the assassination. All of this told in a truly believable manner.
J. Lawrence Matthews does an extraordinary job of retaining Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style. The tone and language are consistent with the original Sherlock Holmes' tales, making it virtually impossible to tell they are written by two different people, eras apart.
Matthews' flawlessly weaves history and fiction together until the edge between real and not real blurs together, the fictional characters fitting the history so well it is hard to differentiate between the two. The characters become as much a part of the true history as do the real people involved. An excellent story from a master story teller.
This book is a must read for any Sherlock Holmes fan. From Sherlocks first case ever to his last, an adventurous journey with the world's most famous detective.
I give 5 stars, I was completely and thoroughly entertained throughout the book's entire length and it is a lengthy book, but worth every minute spent reading it. I am not a huge Homes fan, I have read a couple of Doyle's' original works and enjoyed them well enough, this one is so good because of the liberties/imaginings? of the writer and the unique perspective in which it is written. This novel is on the stands now so make sure you grab a compy and enjoy the journey.
Thank you to the publisher and Books Forward Friends for the free ARC of this book, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily in return.
#OneMustTellTheBees
#BooksForwardFriends
#JLawrenceMatthews
This is the biography of Sherlock Holmes' early years, pre-famous detective years. It is written by Sherlock himself as a manuscript for Dr. Watson. Holmes tells of his early education, of how a poor lad from the seedier side of London's streets became Sherlock Holmes, world-famous detective. We even learn how the name Sherlock Holmes came about.
Holmes is dispatched from London to America by his older brother Mycroft to work in one of the most prosperous American factories, the DuPont factory s an amateur chemist making gunpowder for the Union Army during the height of the Civil War.
From there we read on through to Holmes' association with War Secretary Stanton. We learn of Mr. Stanton's enlistment of Holmes to find out about gunpowder that has been disappearing from the DuPont factory, which turns out to be the first case of Sherlock's career. From there we go to Washington City where Sherlock meets President Lincoln and becomes caretaker of his son Tad. We read of the President's reelection and then of the assassination. All of this told in a truly believable manner.
J. Lawrence Matthews does an extraordinary job of retaining Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style. The tone and language are consistent with the original Sherlock Holmes' tales, making it virtually impossible to tell they are written by two different people, eras apart.
Matthews' flawlessly weaves history and fiction together until the edge between real and not real blurs together, the fictional characters fitting the history so well it is hard to differentiate between the two. The characters become as much a part of the true history as do the real people involved. An excellent story from a master story teller.
This book is a must read for any Sherlock Holmes fan. From Sherlocks first case ever to his last, an adventurous journey with the world's most famous detective.
I give 5 stars, I was completely and thoroughly entertained throughout the book's entire length and it is a lengthy book, but worth every minute spent reading it. I am not a huge Homes fan, I have read a couple of Doyle's' original works and enjoyed them well enough, this one is so good because of the liberties/imaginings? of the writer and the unique perspective in which it is written. This novel is on the stands now so make sure you grab a compy and enjoy the journey.
Thank you to the publisher and Books Forward Friends for the free ARC of this book, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily in return.
#OneMustTellTheBees
#BooksForwardFriends
#JLawrenceMatthews
October 9, 2021
Examine the data, Watson! I could hear him say, urging upon me the kind of logical reflection which my haste typically did not allow. There are too many unanswered questions, don’t you think?
Letters from Sherlock Holmes were infrequent and never marked as urgent. Dr John Watson had, at first, dismissed the package and its contents, believing them to be nothing more than an ill-conceived prank. Holmes had long since been cured of his opiate infirmity, and therefore, the urgency of the note attached to the package made for nonsensical reading. But, on closer inspection of the contents of the package, Watson discovers a timetable, an Ordnance Survey Map and a slim manuscript titled:
The Art of Science and Rational Deduction
By Sherlock Holmes
The handwriting was Holmes’, and the neatly typed manuscript with the crippled Q, not to mention the editing notes in Holmes’ hand, led Watson to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, this package and letter were genuine. Watson immediately answers his dear friend’s call for help. But, as Watson soon discovers, not everything is as it seems…
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle has been mesmerising readers for over 100 years, so much so that Doyle's stories, and larger-than-life characters have, under the disguise of metamorphosis, transformed into legendary historical characters. Such is the fame, and the endless fascination with these two characters that it goes without saying, if Holmes and Watson were not actual historical characters, then perhaps they should have been. J. Lawrence Matthews has run with this idea that these characters were “real” and by doing so he has penned a story that is not only vastly entertaining but one where the realism is almost tangible and the historical backdrop is second to none.
Sherlock Holmes conjures up images of a man with an almost superhuman mind. He can predict outcomes, he can read situations, and he is constantly one step ahead of his enemies, and more often than not, he is one step ahead of himself as well! The cases that Holmes solves are not done so with the primary motive for justice, but because of something as simple as boredom. They present an intellectual challenge. They are a puzzle to be solved. This superhuman is in fact very human, and his very nature, his desperate desire for seclusion and to live a life where his main concern is the welfare of his bees, is very telling. However, this story does not focus on Holmes’ career as a highly successful “consulting detective”, but instead it takes the reader back in time to Holmes’ childhood, where secrets, that he has not even shared with Watson, are finally revealed. Who is the real Sherlock Holmes? This novel answers that question. J. Lawrence Matthews has penned a luxuriantly detailed and highly appealing character with his depiction of Holmes. As we follow the young Sherlock Holmes, the author describes how this young man became such a force to be reckoned with. The one very clear thing, and in keeping with his character, is that he notices everything, even from a young age. His journey from a destitute little boy on the streets of Wapping, to England’s most respected detective, has been wonderfully depicted. Written with not only elegance but a strong sense of authority, J. Lawrence Matthews has created a character that I think even Doyle would not have objected to. I thought Holmes’ depiction was utterly sublime and marvellous in the telling.
The good doctor, as one would expect, is always one step behind Holmes, and yet, ironically, the one thing he brings to the table, the reason why this partnership has been so successful, is because of his grand gift of silence. Watson is often caught up in the events that he is living, but his ability to read a situation is far more scientific than subjective. Watson is the sounding board for the infamous detective, but there is also an edge of playfulness between the two, as well as mutual respect. Although there are times when Holmes toys with Watson, as he did in the original stories, by and large, it is Watson that keeps Holmes and his ego grounded. I thought Watson’s depiction was fabulously drawn. He is a man of deep integrity, and he is also unwittingly Holmes' eyes and ears—through careful questioning, Holmes can inconspicuously gather clues. Watson’s love for Holmes is unquestionable. The two have, after all, gone through many things together, and despite so long apart, these two elderly gentlemen can still read one another, which means when together, they are a formidable opponent for even the most skilled and quick-witted villain. I thought that J. Lawrence Matthews has really captured the essence of Watson’s character and has brought him marvellously to life.
The attention is the historical detail is outstanding and must be given the praise that it is due. J. Lawrence Matthews has immersed his readers into a highly volatile world, where strong emotions and unprecedented strife and war have been portrayed with a keen understanding of the era. This is a novel that is so impeccably researched that I found no fault, no glaring inaccuracy. There are no corners cut. No second guessing. Everything from the depiction of the historical characters and events to the more mundane everyday life of this period has been depicted with a seemingly flawless crystalline understanding. Everything has been thoroughly researched, which means this novel screams authenticity. To read such a well-researched novel was a treat that I thoroughly appreciated. The fact that Holmes slips easily into this period of history and the events that occurred, is very telling of the author's skill.
The narrative of this novel is incredibly fast-paced, think Guy Ritchie’s (2009) Sherlock Holmes. To be able to write so comprehensively and keep the pace throughout the length of this novel is especially difficult to do, but J. Lawrence Matthews has done so with the utmost of ease, and although this novel is very long, coming in at 490 pages, it did not feel at all drawn out and nor did it lose momentum.
One Must Tell the Bees: Abraham Lincoln and the Final Education of Sherlock Holmes by J. Lawrence Matthews is a brilliantly executed novel. It is in every way a historical fiction masterpiece and one that I could happily read over and over again.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
October 25, 2021
I will start by saying that I have only read two canon Sherlock Holmes stories, “The Final Problem” and “Hound of the Baskervilles” and that was many years ago. I also read "The 7% Solution” which this novel comes close to in its presentation. Being only cursorily familiar with the original, the multiple movies and television series I have watched don’t count, and not willing to do extensive research, I assume the author has represented details of Holmes’ past cases accurately. Where there are contradictions of earlier stories, the author acknowledges this and gives a reasonable explanation, thus highlighting the author’s use of literary license. I do not know if avid fans will take exception with the points of deviance from Holmes canon. The author provides footnotes for those who wish to verify or learn more. I appreciate this extra effort and wish there was more of it in historical fiction. I plan on doing this in my novels.
The vast majority of the recurring characters from earlier Holmes stories are present and are in keeping with the personalities the reader already knows and loves or hates. In that aspect, there is little character development other than in Holmes himself. As the novel spends a majority of the time filling in details of Holmes’ backstory, including his childhood and teen years, thus explaining much of how Sherlock came to be. The only issue I have is that in the last quarter of the book the author felt the need to belabor Holmes secret kindnesses to others and in so doing made him lose some qualities which gave the character his flaws and that made him seem as real as many people believe he was. He became too perfect.
The story itself is actually two interwoven stories for three quarters of the book. It skips back and forth seamlessly between Holmes’ earlier life and the present day murder mystery that gives the book its authentic appeal. The diction and point of view mimics Arthur Conan Doyle’s style to tell the murder mystery. Using a manuscript written by Holmes to tell the backstory works exceedingly well. Both stories were very compelling and while both were present, I was quite enthralled.
However, I found the last quarter of the book belabored. Never have I read a book in which the denouement was so lengthy. Some of the ending felt tacked on to fulfill a specific agenda which the author hints at in the afterward. It became very “preachy” on several points. Among these were the greatness of Abraham Lincoln and the characters’ fondness for religious topics and quotations. I believe Lincoln was an exceptional man, but it seemed a bit of deification on the author’s part. To his credit, the author includes a variety of religions in the character’s discussions, but verged on over dwelling. I found myself hoping to get to the end of the book sooner rather than wishing for it to go on as one does with an excellent book. This brought my review to a 4.5 rather than a 5, which I would have given the first three quarters.
The accuracy of the history in this book is excellent. I was initially afraid this would not be the case because of young Holmes' fascination with Allan Pinkerton. But happily, this was corrected upon Holmes meeting the famous detective. This was actually quite ingenious, as it served a literary and character purpose. It is an example of the author’s attention to detail and skillful storytelling.
The author’s attention to detail is also obvious in that the novel is free of technical errors, such as spelling and grammar mistakes. However, a major distraction when reading on a Kindle is double justification creates uneven spacing between words, sometimes within a word, or words split between lines without proper hyphenation. I assume the physical book is free from this annoyance, but have not checked.
Overall, the story was worth the time I spent reading it even though I did not learn that much, but those less familiar with the Civil War will. “One Must Tell the Bees” is an excellent novel and I highly recommend it.
I was given a copy of this book to review on my book blog and post it here as well of my own accord.
The vast majority of the recurring characters from earlier Holmes stories are present and are in keeping with the personalities the reader already knows and loves or hates. In that aspect, there is little character development other than in Holmes himself. As the novel spends a majority of the time filling in details of Holmes’ backstory, including his childhood and teen years, thus explaining much of how Sherlock came to be. The only issue I have is that in the last quarter of the book the author felt the need to belabor Holmes secret kindnesses to others and in so doing made him lose some qualities which gave the character his flaws and that made him seem as real as many people believe he was. He became too perfect.
The story itself is actually two interwoven stories for three quarters of the book. It skips back and forth seamlessly between Holmes’ earlier life and the present day murder mystery that gives the book its authentic appeal. The diction and point of view mimics Arthur Conan Doyle’s style to tell the murder mystery. Using a manuscript written by Holmes to tell the backstory works exceedingly well. Both stories were very compelling and while both were present, I was quite enthralled.
However, I found the last quarter of the book belabored. Never have I read a book in which the denouement was so lengthy. Some of the ending felt tacked on to fulfill a specific agenda which the author hints at in the afterward. It became very “preachy” on several points. Among these were the greatness of Abraham Lincoln and the characters’ fondness for religious topics and quotations. I believe Lincoln was an exceptional man, but it seemed a bit of deification on the author’s part. To his credit, the author includes a variety of religions in the character’s discussions, but verged on over dwelling. I found myself hoping to get to the end of the book sooner rather than wishing for it to go on as one does with an excellent book. This brought my review to a 4.5 rather than a 5, which I would have given the first three quarters.
The accuracy of the history in this book is excellent. I was initially afraid this would not be the case because of young Holmes' fascination with Allan Pinkerton. But happily, this was corrected upon Holmes meeting the famous detective. This was actually quite ingenious, as it served a literary and character purpose. It is an example of the author’s attention to detail and skillful storytelling.
The author’s attention to detail is also obvious in that the novel is free of technical errors, such as spelling and grammar mistakes. However, a major distraction when reading on a Kindle is double justification creates uneven spacing between words, sometimes within a word, or words split between lines without proper hyphenation. I assume the physical book is free from this annoyance, but have not checked.
Overall, the story was worth the time I spent reading it even though I did not learn that much, but those less familiar with the Civil War will. “One Must Tell the Bees” is an excellent novel and I highly recommend it.
I was given a copy of this book to review on my book blog and post it here as well of my own accord.
October 26, 2021
One Must Tell the Bees by J Lawrence Matthews is a Sherlock Holmes/John Watson mystery in two parts: one a memoir written by Holmes about this time in the United States during the Civil War and his association with Edwin Stanton, the Minister of War; and the other a mystery contemporary to his time, 1918, and featuring all Holmes' enthusiast's favorites. The memoir was a historical digest, a little on the boring side but outlining people in Holmes' life who had the most influence on him, and his adventures, as well as his opinions on the institution of slavery and how it originated. The second is a story, much like some others, which takes place after Holmes' retirement from detecting and during his time as a beekeeper. Watson has sold his practice but still backs up the young friend to who purchased his practice. He has just come from a difficult birth, which had taken, all night, and is about to relax when his wife points out an envelope for him from his friend, Sherlock Holmes. The letter reveals Holmes is once more in the clutches of an opiate, much worse than the others, and requests Watson's presence. He has also included a manuscript (the memoir mentioned), a map with his house, circled, and a train schedule, with the morning train circled. Odd. While he is napping on the train, he awakens to find a murder has taken place. Putting on his Holmes' hat, he points out the clues to the inspector and starts off walking to Holmes' cottage. Along the way a kindly young Frenchman gives him a ride. It's not too long before Holmes starts putting all the clues together and predicts a murder: his. As always, he lays it all out so those of us who are regular can follow his thinking. Watson, too, of course. Matthews has a good grip of the characters of Holmes, Watson, and Mycroft. Much of Holmes' early life and childhood is explained, interestingly enough, and nearly everyone survives. In my opinion, it was overly long, and although it may have been purposeful, the Holmes memoir was boring. It did contain lots of interesting information, ironically. It was a good read and a must read for any Sherlockian who wants a comprehensive look at Holmes' life. Watson is right there; the supportive friend, and Mycroft are spending the Crown's money on Sherlock, as always. J. Lawrence Matthews does an extraordinary job of retaining Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style. The tone and language are consistent with the original Sherlock Holmes' tales, making it virtually impossible to tell they are written by two different people, eras apart. Matthews' flawlessly weaves history and fiction together until the edge between real and not real blurs together, the fictional characters fitting the history so well it is hard to differentiate between the two. The problem here is size - and pace. Sure enough, no one would expect a high octane thriller when reading a Holmes story. And all historical fiction books have the added responsibility to explain their world to the reader. But I can't help thinking that this has been overdone here. The book I rounded down due to the pure length of the book.
May 6, 2021
One Must Tell the Bees by J Lawrence Matthews is a Sherlock Holmes/John Watson mystery in two parts: one a memoir written by Holmes about this time in the United States during the Civil War and his association with Edwin Stanton, the Minister of War; and the other a mystery contemporary to his time, 1918, and featuring all Holmes' aficionado's favorites. The memoir was a historical tome, a little on the boring side but outlining people in Holmes' life who had the most influence on him, and his adventures, as well as his opinions on the institution of slavery and how it cam to be. The second is a story, much like some others, which takes place after Holmes' retirement from detecting and during his time as a beekeeper. This was much more interesting than the memoir, from my perspective.
Watson has sold his practice but still backs up the young friend to who he sold out. He has just come from a difficult birth, which had taken, all night, and is about to relax when his wife points out an envelope for him from his friend, Sherlock Holmes. In it Holmes reveals he is once more in the clutches of an opiate, much worse than the others, and requests Watson's presence. He has also included a manuscript (the memoir mentioned), a map with his house, circled, and a train schedule, with the morning train circled. Odd. While he is napping on the train, he awakens to find a murder has taken place. Putting on his Holmes' hat, he points out the clues to the inspector and starts off walking to Holmes' cottage. Along the way a kindly young Frenchman gives him a ride. It's not too long before Holmes starts putting all the clues together and predicts a murder: his. As always, he lays it all out so those of us who are regular can follow his thinking. Watson, too, of course. Matthews has a good grip of the characters of Holmes, Watson, and Mycroft. Much of Holmes' nearly life and childhood is explained, interestingly enough, and nearly everyone survives. In my opinion, it was overly long, and although it may have been purposeful, the Holmes memoir was boring. It did contain lots of interesting information, though. It was a good read and a must read for any Sherlockian who wants a comprehensive look at Holmes' life. Watson is right there; the supportive friend, and Mycroft are spending the Crown's money on Sherlock, as always. Well worth my time.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of One Must Tell the Bees by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #onemusttellthebees
Watson has sold his practice but still backs up the young friend to who he sold out. He has just come from a difficult birth, which had taken, all night, and is about to relax when his wife points out an envelope for him from his friend, Sherlock Holmes. In it Holmes reveals he is once more in the clutches of an opiate, much worse than the others, and requests Watson's presence. He has also included a manuscript (the memoir mentioned), a map with his house, circled, and a train schedule, with the morning train circled. Odd. While he is napping on the train, he awakens to find a murder has taken place. Putting on his Holmes' hat, he points out the clues to the inspector and starts off walking to Holmes' cottage. Along the way a kindly young Frenchman gives him a ride. It's not too long before Holmes starts putting all the clues together and predicts a murder: his. As always, he lays it all out so those of us who are regular can follow his thinking. Watson, too, of course. Matthews has a good grip of the characters of Holmes, Watson, and Mycroft. Much of Holmes' nearly life and childhood is explained, interestingly enough, and nearly everyone survives. In my opinion, it was overly long, and although it may have been purposeful, the Holmes memoir was boring. It did contain lots of interesting information, though. It was a good read and a must read for any Sherlockian who wants a comprehensive look at Holmes' life. Watson is right there; the supportive friend, and Mycroft are spending the Crown's money on Sherlock, as always. Well worth my time.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of One Must Tell the Bees by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #onemusttellthebees
May 24, 2021
The tone and feel of this story will be familiar to anyone who has read Arthur Conan Doyle’s work. The writing is very reminiscent of the original Holmes stories, but with a big twist.
One Must Tell the Bees reimagines Holmes’ origin story. The year is 1918 and Dr. Watson has just received a summons and a manuscript from his old friend Holmes (now retired). As Watson makes his way to meet with Holmes, he starts to read the document and realises that it is the story of Holmes’ very first case, written down by Holmes himself. Details of Holmes time in the United States are brought to light during this tale, and his involvement in the Civil War. Yes, you read that right – Sherlock Holmes very first case was in the United States.
The tale moves along at a leisurely pace, unwrapping details of the mystery and how Holmes solved it. There are a lot of historical details and both historical and fictional characters populate the story with ease and mesh together seamlessly.
The title, of course, comes from the old tradition of beekeepers to “tell the bees” of any important news. I’ve heard of this custom in many different stories and it always sounds so charming. For those that haven’t heard of it before, (from Wikipedia): “Telling the bees is a traditional custom of many European countries in which bees would be told of important events in their keeper’s lives, such as births, marriages, or departures and returns in the household. If the custom was omitted or forgotten and the bees were not “put into mourning” then it was believed a penalty would be paid, such as the bees leaving their hive, stopping the production of honey, or dying.”
This isn’t a light read – the book is quite long and there is a lot of historical detail to wade through. I don’t have a huge interest in US history, so the slow pacing and detailed description of the Civil War was a bit slow for me, but I understand the need for it as it added a lot of background to the story.
I did enjoy this new take on Sherlock Holmes and seeing his first and “last” case. This book is definitely ambitious and aims to cover a lot of Holmes’ history (both canon and newly created) and it was a very interesting take at a character that is so well known.
After reading a variety of Holmes pastiches, this is definitely one that falls into the “feels like the real thing” category. It would have been a perfect read if it had been a touch shorter (I don’t really have the time for long books these days) and (for me) a bit lighter on the US history (not a subject I prefer reading about), but it’s definitely a great addition to the secondary world of Sherlock Holmes.
One Must Tell the Bees reimagines Holmes’ origin story. The year is 1918 and Dr. Watson has just received a summons and a manuscript from his old friend Holmes (now retired). As Watson makes his way to meet with Holmes, he starts to read the document and realises that it is the story of Holmes’ very first case, written down by Holmes himself. Details of Holmes time in the United States are brought to light during this tale, and his involvement in the Civil War. Yes, you read that right – Sherlock Holmes very first case was in the United States.
The tale moves along at a leisurely pace, unwrapping details of the mystery and how Holmes solved it. There are a lot of historical details and both historical and fictional characters populate the story with ease and mesh together seamlessly.
The title, of course, comes from the old tradition of beekeepers to “tell the bees” of any important news. I’ve heard of this custom in many different stories and it always sounds so charming. For those that haven’t heard of it before, (from Wikipedia): “Telling the bees is a traditional custom of many European countries in which bees would be told of important events in their keeper’s lives, such as births, marriages, or departures and returns in the household. If the custom was omitted or forgotten and the bees were not “put into mourning” then it was believed a penalty would be paid, such as the bees leaving their hive, stopping the production of honey, or dying.”
This isn’t a light read – the book is quite long and there is a lot of historical detail to wade through. I don’t have a huge interest in US history, so the slow pacing and detailed description of the Civil War was a bit slow for me, but I understand the need for it as it added a lot of background to the story.
I did enjoy this new take on Sherlock Holmes and seeing his first and “last” case. This book is definitely ambitious and aims to cover a lot of Holmes’ history (both canon and newly created) and it was a very interesting take at a character that is so well known.
After reading a variety of Holmes pastiches, this is definitely one that falls into the “feels like the real thing” category. It would have been a perfect read if it had been a touch shorter (I don’t really have the time for long books these days) and (for me) a bit lighter on the US history (not a subject I prefer reading about), but it’s definitely a great addition to the secondary world of Sherlock Holmes.
March 17, 2022
What more could a book lover want than a story about Sherlock Holmes and Abraham Lincoln?
John Watson is sent a request to come and help his old friend Sherlock Holmes, who supposedly had fallen off the wagon of his Morphine/Cocaine addiction. With the request was a manuscript, written by Holmes, that explained his true upbringing and his first case before becoming the world's most famous detective.
This very long book, which I listened to as an Audiobook, is actually three stories.
Holmes' very first case and his path crossing with that of our greatest President, the appearance of an old nemesis' son, come to get vengeance and the end. The death of Sherlock Holmes.
As a young man, and before he took the name Sherlock, Holmes was sent to America to work at the Dupont labs in Delaware to help create gunpowder. From that simple request, he becomes involved in the workings of the Civil War and moves between the pages of history like a mist. Witness to the assassination, assisted in the hunt for John Wilkes Booth, and to see the end of the war as the real human joy brought from the Emancipation Proclamation.
There is no finer tale than one that mixes fiction with real history and Jeffery Matthews does an amazing job recreating not just the feel and meter of an original Sherlock Holmes novel, but a seamless mix of major moments of American history into his lineage.
I'll admit the story is long. As an audiobook, it is over 18 hours. But I remember from my early years when I read the Holmes novels, Sherlock talks a LOT! And again Mathews stays true. He takes you into the mystery, the spends as much time as Author Conon Doyle did, to explain how the resolution was found. Not a minute wasted. Every word made this a gem of a book and will stay in my mind as one of the best I've read this year, or will read this year.
Thomas Judd, the narrator, is excellent. His change from one character to another is never messy or hard to follow. As is his change from the Queen's English to American English.
I learned a lot listening to this, much that will stay with me long after now. Thank you Mr. Matthews for doing what I had hoped for. You made Sherlock Holmes human and approachable. Now I must go and tell the bees.
Thanks to @Netgalley, East Dean Press, Thomas Judd, and J. Lawrence Matthews for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion
John Watson is sent a request to come and help his old friend Sherlock Holmes, who supposedly had fallen off the wagon of his Morphine/Cocaine addiction. With the request was a manuscript, written by Holmes, that explained his true upbringing and his first case before becoming the world's most famous detective.
This very long book, which I listened to as an Audiobook, is actually three stories.
Holmes' very first case and his path crossing with that of our greatest President, the appearance of an old nemesis' son, come to get vengeance and the end. The death of Sherlock Holmes.
As a young man, and before he took the name Sherlock, Holmes was sent to America to work at the Dupont labs in Delaware to help create gunpowder. From that simple request, he becomes involved in the workings of the Civil War and moves between the pages of history like a mist. Witness to the assassination, assisted in the hunt for John Wilkes Booth, and to see the end of the war as the real human joy brought from the Emancipation Proclamation.
There is no finer tale than one that mixes fiction with real history and Jeffery Matthews does an amazing job recreating not just the feel and meter of an original Sherlock Holmes novel, but a seamless mix of major moments of American history into his lineage.
I'll admit the story is long. As an audiobook, it is over 18 hours. But I remember from my early years when I read the Holmes novels, Sherlock talks a LOT! And again Mathews stays true. He takes you into the mystery, the spends as much time as Author Conon Doyle did, to explain how the resolution was found. Not a minute wasted. Every word made this a gem of a book and will stay in my mind as one of the best I've read this year, or will read this year.
Thomas Judd, the narrator, is excellent. His change from one character to another is never messy or hard to follow. As is his change from the Queen's English to American English.
I learned a lot listening to this, much that will stay with me long after now. Thank you Mr. Matthews for doing what I had hoped for. You made Sherlock Holmes human and approachable. Now I must go and tell the bees.
Thanks to @Netgalley, East Dean Press, Thomas Judd, and J. Lawrence Matthews for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion
March 11, 2022
One Must Tell The Bees by J. Lawrence Matthews
This story twists us through a tale of Sherlock Holmes modest beginning and how he goes to America in the final year of the Civil War. Holmes meets some of the most talked about important people of the time such as Abe Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. This is a historical fiction book that gives a different spin of Sherlock Holmes who Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so eloquently wrote about. In this version it seems Holmes never stops talking he tells a story about himself and tales of his and Watsons many adventures. This story is written into a manuscript from Holmes point of view of their adventures together. He let's Watson know that Watson's version of the adventures where different so he berates Watson through his story telling in the manuscript.
The narrator did an amazing job bringing the Characters to life in the story. You can tell when characters change the change in voices made it easy to follow along who was talking. I really felt like Matthews got the history parts right and he brought back a beloved character in Shelock Holmes and Watson. This story felt like a continuation of what Doyle wrote even though Doyle did give little bits and pieces of Holmes humble beginning and Matthews took it further to entertain the reader with this version in America.
I like that the book had historical facts right but also thought that the book dragged on and some things could of been left out to shorten the story. I did enjoy learning about the Bees but felt like this could of been left out of the book. I also like that this book was a story within a story. The cases that Holmes worked on in America and Watson along with Holmes reuniting in America was enough of a story for me.
I also enjoyed the characters in the book we get to meet Holme's brother Mycroft and a slave named Abraham who followed along with Holmes in America. This story was believable and felt as a continuation of Holmes and Watsons adventures. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history and Civil War time period as well as Sherlock Holmes fans. I gave this book 4 stars.
I want to thank Netgalley for the free audiobook for an honest review.
This story twists us through a tale of Sherlock Holmes modest beginning and how he goes to America in the final year of the Civil War. Holmes meets some of the most talked about important people of the time such as Abe Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth. This is a historical fiction book that gives a different spin of Sherlock Holmes who Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so eloquently wrote about. In this version it seems Holmes never stops talking he tells a story about himself and tales of his and Watsons many adventures. This story is written into a manuscript from Holmes point of view of their adventures together. He let's Watson know that Watson's version of the adventures where different so he berates Watson through his story telling in the manuscript.
The narrator did an amazing job bringing the Characters to life in the story. You can tell when characters change the change in voices made it easy to follow along who was talking. I really felt like Matthews got the history parts right and he brought back a beloved character in Shelock Holmes and Watson. This story felt like a continuation of what Doyle wrote even though Doyle did give little bits and pieces of Holmes humble beginning and Matthews took it further to entertain the reader with this version in America.
I like that the book had historical facts right but also thought that the book dragged on and some things could of been left out to shorten the story. I did enjoy learning about the Bees but felt like this could of been left out of the book. I also like that this book was a story within a story. The cases that Holmes worked on in America and Watson along with Holmes reuniting in America was enough of a story for me.
I also enjoyed the characters in the book we get to meet Holme's brother Mycroft and a slave named Abraham who followed along with Holmes in America. This story was believable and felt as a continuation of Holmes and Watsons adventures. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history and Civil War time period as well as Sherlock Holmes fans. I gave this book 4 stars.
I want to thank Netgalley for the free audiobook for an honest review.
April 29, 2021
In 1918, Dr. Watson receives a strange package from his friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. The package contains the astonishing memoir written by the detective himself. Dr. Watson makes his way to the country to join his friend, never imagining that the incredible words he is reading is about to lead him to Sherlock Holmes' final case.
This was a heavy read and it was very ambitious in what it covered. Not only does it share the "truth" about Sherlock Holmes' origins, it shares his first case as a young man, and ends with his death. Parts of the story were fun, such as when Watson is rushing to Holmes only to get waylaid by a murder and he attempts to make a deduction from what he sees. It mimics the original stories well and had some good humor.
While the tale of a boy Sherlock Holmes in America for the Civil War was interesting, it was tedious at times with all the details. It will be slow going for anyone who isn't very, very interested in the history of the Civil War. Towards the end, Mr. Holmes does share an interesting viewpoint of the war and how both sides handled matters.
There were some details that surprised me because they were stated as if they were well-known. Mary Morstan, Watson's first wife, had a half-sister? Watson was nearly taken advantage by someone who claimed to be his wife? I'm not as familiar with the last stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I'm not sure where these fit in.
I knew this would end sadly. How could a story concerning Sherlock Holmes death not be sad? This met that expectation, but I had reached the point where I was ready for it to end. The book was so long and I wanted it to be finished. That's not something I ever expected to feel about a Sherlock Holmes' tale.
I would recommend this to readers who are prepared for a complete rewriting of Sherlock Holmes' origins and who have a fondness for Civil War history.
I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
This was a heavy read and it was very ambitious in what it covered. Not only does it share the "truth" about Sherlock Holmes' origins, it shares his first case as a young man, and ends with his death. Parts of the story were fun, such as when Watson is rushing to Holmes only to get waylaid by a murder and he attempts to make a deduction from what he sees. It mimics the original stories well and had some good humor.
While the tale of a boy Sherlock Holmes in America for the Civil War was interesting, it was tedious at times with all the details. It will be slow going for anyone who isn't very, very interested in the history of the Civil War. Towards the end, Mr. Holmes does share an interesting viewpoint of the war and how both sides handled matters.
There were some details that surprised me because they were stated as if they were well-known. Mary Morstan, Watson's first wife, had a half-sister? Watson was nearly taken advantage by someone who claimed to be his wife? I'm not as familiar with the last stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I'm not sure where these fit in.
I knew this would end sadly. How could a story concerning Sherlock Holmes death not be sad? This met that expectation, but I had reached the point where I was ready for it to end. The book was so long and I wanted it to be finished. That's not something I ever expected to feel about a Sherlock Holmes' tale.
I would recommend this to readers who are prepared for a complete rewriting of Sherlock Holmes' origins and who have a fondness for Civil War history.
I received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
Read
November 18, 2021First thank you so so much @booksforwardpr for sending me an early copy of One Must Tell The Bees! And secondly, HAPPY PUB DAY!
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I truly, truly love Sherlock Holmes and was so intrigued when the team at @booksforwardpr reached out and asked if I wanted a copy of this very special Sherlock tale. Even more excited when I learned that the author had spent over 30 years studying all things Sherlock Holmes, and let me tell you it showed!
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This felt like a old fashioned Holmes and Watson tale and I loved that part of it so much! I was so impressed by how much this felt like an Arthur Conan Doyle tale. I just felt so swept away by the language and the feel of the story, it was so well done!
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While I felt like this was a tad long, to be honest it feels like it easily could have been three books instead of one, I truly appreciated the amount of research and storytelling that went into this novel. My only other small complaint was the way that full names were used so often, in the original stories Watson called Holmes, Holmes but in this he was always Sherlock Holmes over and over and over. It felt too formal and inauthentic.
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But we got to see a bit of Holmes’s childhood and meet some of the people that helped shape him as a great detective. We learned more about the darker side of Holmes as well as the true depth of his friendship with Watson. It was so rich in exciting detail that as a long time fan I was so entranced!
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I recommend this for true fans of Sherlock Holmes. It references a lot of his other cases but it might actually be a fun way to start your Holmes journey. It is a looong book so keep that in mind going in but I really loved that I read it. It was so great being back in the Sherlock Holmes world!
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TW/CW: drug use, talk of drugs, smoking, violence, misogyny, death, talk of slavery, talk of the Civil War, worship of Abraham Lincoln, I’m sure I missed some so I apologize.
⠀
I truly, truly love Sherlock Holmes and was so intrigued when the team at @booksforwardpr reached out and asked if I wanted a copy of this very special Sherlock tale. Even more excited when I learned that the author had spent over 30 years studying all things Sherlock Holmes, and let me tell you it showed!
⠀
This felt like a old fashioned Holmes and Watson tale and I loved that part of it so much! I was so impressed by how much this felt like an Arthur Conan Doyle tale. I just felt so swept away by the language and the feel of the story, it was so well done!
⠀
While I felt like this was a tad long, to be honest it feels like it easily could have been three books instead of one, I truly appreciated the amount of research and storytelling that went into this novel. My only other small complaint was the way that full names were used so often, in the original stories Watson called Holmes, Holmes but in this he was always Sherlock Holmes over and over and over. It felt too formal and inauthentic.
⠀
But we got to see a bit of Holmes’s childhood and meet some of the people that helped shape him as a great detective. We learned more about the darker side of Holmes as well as the true depth of his friendship with Watson. It was so rich in exciting detail that as a long time fan I was so entranced!
⠀
I recommend this for true fans of Sherlock Holmes. It references a lot of his other cases but it might actually be a fun way to start your Holmes journey. It is a looong book so keep that in mind going in but I really loved that I read it. It was so great being back in the Sherlock Holmes world!
⠀
TW/CW: drug use, talk of drugs, smoking, violence, misogyny, death, talk of slavery, talk of the Civil War, worship of Abraham Lincoln, I’m sure I missed some so I apologize.
January 24, 2022
The Review
Such an incredible story! The combination of the author’s ability to capture the tone and writing style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the narrator’s fluid and thematic speaking voice helped to draw the reader into the narrative. It was incredible how the author was able to bring to life the style of the original Sherlock Holmes novels that made him such an iconic literary figure. The amount of detail and precision that the author put not only in the narrative but into the dialogue of Sherlock Holmes himself was fascinating to read and watch unfold. The narrator was superb, really bringing that nineteenth-century English accent into the story and capturing the emotions and nostalgia that these characters and stories held for so many over the years.
The narrative itself was such a great story. The author found the perfect way to pay tribute to the original Sherlock Holmes stories through tone and atmosphere while shaking things up by exploring a young Sherlock Holmes and giving an alternate history that shows the famed London Detective taking to the streets of Washington DC and more. The addition of the detective’s hero being revealed as a Pinkerton agent was fascinating as well and allowed readers to get a glimpse into the formation of who Holmes would become known as in his future career.
The Verdict
Nostalgic, entertaining, and thought-provoking, author J. Lawrence Matthews’s “One Must Tell the Bees” is a must-read historical fiction mystery novel! The audiobook version really created the theatrical nature of the setting and the narrative harnessed that classic literature style that really made this feel like an authentic Sherlock Holmes read. The captivating addition of this time period and the era of American History is so influential on the foundation of Holmes and his career in the future was brilliantly told.
Such an incredible story! The combination of the author’s ability to capture the tone and writing style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the narrator’s fluid and thematic speaking voice helped to draw the reader into the narrative. It was incredible how the author was able to bring to life the style of the original Sherlock Holmes novels that made him such an iconic literary figure. The amount of detail and precision that the author put not only in the narrative but into the dialogue of Sherlock Holmes himself was fascinating to read and watch unfold. The narrator was superb, really bringing that nineteenth-century English accent into the story and capturing the emotions and nostalgia that these characters and stories held for so many over the years.
The narrative itself was such a great story. The author found the perfect way to pay tribute to the original Sherlock Holmes stories through tone and atmosphere while shaking things up by exploring a young Sherlock Holmes and giving an alternate history that shows the famed London Detective taking to the streets of Washington DC and more. The addition of the detective’s hero being revealed as a Pinkerton agent was fascinating as well and allowed readers to get a glimpse into the formation of who Holmes would become known as in his future career.
The Verdict
Nostalgic, entertaining, and thought-provoking, author J. Lawrence Matthews’s “One Must Tell the Bees” is a must-read historical fiction mystery novel! The audiobook version really created the theatrical nature of the setting and the narrative harnessed that classic literature style that really made this feel like an authentic Sherlock Holmes read. The captivating addition of this time period and the era of American History is so influential on the foundation of Holmes and his career in the future was brilliantly told.
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