Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara

by Alan Vanneman

A fabulous diamond, a vanishing duke, and a murdered servant boy launch an original and ingeniously constructed Holmesian adventure

In a crafty new novel featuring the world's greatest literary detective, Alan Vanneman extends the boundaries of the Sherlock Holmes canon with an investigation that takes the celebrated sleuth and his cohort Dr. Watson far from the cozy Victorian comforts of 221B Baker Street. Indeed, enjoying the luxuries of the Orient Express, they travel the breadth of fin de siecle Europe to exotic Constantinople, though not strictly in pursuit of pleasure. For death, too, is traveling first class.

The mystery begins familiarly enough in London, in the middle of the night. Holmes and Watson are summoned to a crime scene that seems to vanish before their eyes, as they find themselves with neither evidence nor a client. They do not want for opposition, however, not with the governments of three great empires arrayed against them.

As Holmes strives to unmask his most ruthless and elusive foe, he is transported into a world of high finance rife with intrigue and crime. With a cast of characters that includes the enchanting Countess D'Espinau and Winston Churchill, as well as a beggar girl whom Watson adopts, Holmes follows a trail that leads ultimately and unpredictably to the fabled and fabulous lost Hapsburg Tiara.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Detective, Adult, Fiction, Historical Mystery

324 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2003

Reviews

[Annie ⚜️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admit I'm not that familiar with Sherlock Holmes stories, the only other one I've read was Hound of the Baskervilles, but I can't imagine they're like this. I know they are told from Watson's point of view but this felt like it was all Watson with a little Sherlock and mystery in the background. Why can't people edit?! An inordinate amount of time is spent on Watson's love life and his foot fetish! God help me. I don't want to hear anymore about the Contessa's toes! Ugh!!!

I admit, I really became enamored with Sherlock after finally giving in and watching the BBC Sherlock. I thought I wouldn't like a modern Sherlock but it was so well done, I loved it.

[Denise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably the worst Sherlock Holmes adaptation I've read so far. Watson has been reduced as Holmes's sidekick and is - erm - preoccupied not with the case through most of the novel; Holmes's character is barely believable as logical mastermind and detective extraordinaire and his *new* sidekick is a girl Watson randomly decides to adopt? I just can't.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly disappointing. Watson writing in excruciating detail about his sexual conquests? Watson having a foot fetish? Watson adopting a street urchin for no reason? A case taking over 10 years for Holmes to solve? A book where Holmes is in the background for most of the narration and yet not doing that in order to advance the plot like in The Hound of the Baskervilles?



No thank you.

And please, someone send Alan Vanneman and/or his publisher to a doctor. They have medicines for these things.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could also be called Dr Watson and the Foot Sex Fetish

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not Holmes and Watson. At all.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such enjoyable read, but it focused way too much on Dr. Watson's happenings. Including his amorous intentions, which had no bearing in the case.

[Janet Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun romp in the Sherlockian tradition, nicely performed by Simon Vance

[John Sherman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the introduction of Watson's adopted daughter but not the portrayal of Watson's character & why didn't Mycroft help out

[Melet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has the makings of a great story. Epic travels across Europe and beyond, winning characters and villains worthy of the name. A grand story that encompasses years and continents, and every bit the puzzle for Sherlock to decipher. The addition of an adopted daughter for Watson is without basis in canon, but entirely appropriate and a charming addition.

But… the completely unnecessary, out of canon, and frankly ludicrous sexual scenes and language describing Dr. Watson’s lecherous and numerous affairs- in particular the lurid descriptions of his time with the Countess- were just gross. Distracting from the excellent plot, they paint Watson as being led around by his genitalia, unable to think coherently or have any intelligent contributions once he meets her. It is in opposition to Watson’s canonical portrayal as a man of honor, kindness, and respectful attitudes towards women.

[Somerset County Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

STAFF PICK 📚🙂

Gabe Stuckey is a Technical Services Librarian for the Somerset County Library. He highly recommends "Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara" by Alan Vanneman.

Alan Vanneman extends the boundaries of the Sherlock Holmes canon with an investigation that takes the celebrated sleuth and his cohort Dr. Watson far from the cozy Victorian comforts of 221B Baker Street. The mystery begins familiarly enough in London, in the middle of the night. Holmes and Watson are summoned to a crime scene that seems to vanish before their eyes! If you enjoy mystery, this is the perfect read for you!

Find this title in our statewide catalog here: https://marina.relais-host.com/user/l......

[Eva Seyler]

Ok so this book was... weird. It was free on Audible Plus and read by Simon Vance, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

Pros: Simon Vance, decent mimicry of Doyle's flowery prose.

Cons: Lack of a clear arc for anything and anybody. The mystery was clear as the verses of Byron and an awful lot of time was spent on Watson's foot fetish and "amatory debauchery".

Basically I didn't see a lot of POINT to this story. It was mildly entertaining and I kept hoping for it to improve, because it had a lot of potential with the various settings, but in the end it failed to deliver IMO.

[Trevor W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this immensely — except for all the gratuitous sex scenes involving John H. Watson. I would prefer never to have encountered a timeline where Watson’s foot fetish was a thing. That this case spanned almost a decade was a unique twist, which worked. This pre-WWI time period is a great canvass on which to paint a Holmes story. Youngish Winston Churchill is irascible and arrogant and perfect.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of the original Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this book's masterful recreation of Doyle's writing voice and style. Told, as always, from Watson's point of view, this story actually leaves very little room for Holmes, giving us a view of Watson as a worldly man with adventures of his own. The plot could have used some tightening up, and the ending felt rather abrupt after 300 pages, but I found it as enjoyable as a visit from an old friend.

[Amy]

I got halfway through this book and wasn't particularly into it. I would have finished it just because, but then we got a rather detailed delve in Dr. Watson's foot fetish (for a suspected murderess who might be trying to kill them *facepalm*) and I was just done. Nope, no more, not sorry; I've got stuff to read that isn't as glacierlike or wackily out of character as this. DNF.
- November 2021

[Ryan Rauber · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent Sherlock Holmes story which takes him and Doctor Watson on the Orient Express to Istanbul to investigate the theft of a fabulous set of diamonds. The story dragged at times, but I enjoyed the character of Jenny, Watson’s adopted daughter. I’d only recommend this to diehard fans of Holmes mysteries.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another pretty fun adaptation of Holmes and Watson. The "love" scenes cross the border into ridiculous, but if you can live with that and enjoy this kind of mystery, this is a nice little Audible freebie.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I made it through most of this book - probably about 75%. It bores me. It is much more focused on John Watson than Sherlock Holmes which I didn't have an issue with in theory but the story just isn't interesting to me.

[Thia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not badly written or narrated (audio version) but the author brought way too many modern cultural themes into this world for my taste. Add to that a perpetually horny for every woman and girl in the book Dr. Watson and I’ll pass. This Dr. Watson is creepy, lecherous, and just gross.

[Mark Stratton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Horn Dog Watson and his burgeoning foot fetish aside, it was an interesting book. I did like the addition of Jenny, and would be interested in seeing what happens with her.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Sherlock Holmes- absolutely not Doctor Watson!

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started out strong but never really got into a stride. Took too long to find a voice and focused too much on watsons weird idiosyncrasies

[Debbie Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Sherlock, but without any suspense.

[Stasia Higgins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked Jenny, but the overall story was convoluted and hard to follow, and I was really weirded out by all of Watson’s talk of the Countess’s “delicate toes.”

[Jim Benton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story. Not a Sherlock Holmes story by any stretch of the imagination, but not a bad story.

[Jeff Summers · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story takes too long, has very little of Holmes (and what we get isn't "really Holmes"), and is more about Watson's infatuations than anything else.

Any generic detective could have been inserted in Holmes' place; there wasn't any of that marvelous deduction shown on display as in Doyle's original works or other excellent Holmes stories (a much better option is Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson by Lyndsay Faye).

[Bernadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I generally enjoyed the book overall, I found it to be more of a Dr. Watson novel than of Sherlock Holmes. And the addition of Dr. Watson's adoptive daughter, Jenny, was as unwelcome as the introduction of precocious youth tends to be (see Scrappy Doo). Still I would consider reading a sequel.

[Patrice Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this addition to the Sherlock Homes oeuvre, especially the addition of Jenny, the teenager that Watson begins overseeing. She brings freshness and delight. Once again, as in the Jason Goodwin 'Yashim' series, the background of Istanbul brings an added dimension to the setting.

I wish there was another by this same author!

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my first few Sherlock Holmes books. I found it very interesting. The relationship between Holmes and Watson is very familial. The quest to find diamonds and return it to its righful owner sends the two on a dangerous excursion halfway around the world.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is rather slow at times and features more Watson than Holmes, it is nonetheless a decent mystery with our old friends and featuring Watson's new adopted daughter. While I've read better, overall I enjoyed it.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice diversion - Vanneman captures the energy of Holmes that sometimes even Doyle lacked in his later years.