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Three Against the Dark: Collected Dr. Venn Occult Detective Mysteries
Follow a triumvirate of occult detectives, led by Dr. Anaxagoras Venn, alienist, antiquary, supreme master of occult wisdom, adept in ancient languages; and accompanied by his colleagues: Fr. Azor Sullivan, S.J., clairvoyant, exorcist, and the lovely Miss Rhiannon Jones, empath, who joins the team following her salvation from a potential demonic possession in the first episode.
These three traverse England and range up into Scotland in this first series of adventures. Along the way, they work with Dr. Joseph Bell, Abraham van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and a young Thomas Carnacki, as they tackle cases of involving demons, ghosts, a vampire, and witchery.
They join the ranks of those supernatural sleuths in the rich tradition of The Occult Detective.
These three traverse England and range up into Scotland in this first series of adventures. Along the way, they work with Dr. Joseph Bell, Abraham van Helsing, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and a young Thomas Carnacki, as they tackle cases of involving demons, ghosts, a vampire, and witchery.
They join the ranks of those supernatural sleuths in the rich tradition of The Occult Detective.
172 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 30, 2023
Following the time-honoured tradition of occult detectives, we have Dr. Venn and his associates dealing with forces of evil that are not man-made, but from another place— which we may call hell, another dimension, or anything else. This book contains following cases of Dr. Venn~
1. The Flyman;
2. An Evil Wind That Blows No Good;
3. The Egyptian Curse;
4. The Wild Ghost Show;
5. An Evil in Edinburgh;
6. The Promontory of Evil;
7. The Case of the Coven.
None of the tales have any mystery. The cases are solved straightaway, without much clash or adventures. Infact, the narratives are more concerned with homely details of Dr. Venn and his associates as they prepare for such events or otherwise go about their respective lives. Despite a very lucid and clean style of writing, the attempts to mix Thomas Carnacki, Sherlock Holmes et.al. into the narratives, don't improve the concerned tales by any measure. But...
Firstly, the book has striking cover and illustrations, courtesy Yves Tourigny, who has ably supported by the author's sketches, designs and diagrams.
Secondly, in terms of lay-out, the book is a genuine pleasure to behold and read.
Thirdly, the book is dedicated to all the previous creators of Occult Detectives and Ghost Hunters as well as the pioneers in fictional depiction of detection. This is a very noble gesture and is wholeheartedly appreciated.
It's a slim, beautiful volume which would undoubtedly provide you with a few hours of cosy reading experience.
1. The Flyman;
2. An Evil Wind That Blows No Good;
3. The Egyptian Curse;
4. The Wild Ghost Show;
5. An Evil in Edinburgh;
6. The Promontory of Evil;
7. The Case of the Coven.
None of the tales have any mystery. The cases are solved straightaway, without much clash or adventures. Infact, the narratives are more concerned with homely details of Dr. Venn and his associates as they prepare for such events or otherwise go about their respective lives. Despite a very lucid and clean style of writing, the attempts to mix Thomas Carnacki, Sherlock Holmes et.al. into the narratives, don't improve the concerned tales by any measure. But...
Firstly, the book has striking cover and illustrations, courtesy Yves Tourigny, who has ably supported by the author's sketches, designs and diagrams.
Secondly, in terms of lay-out, the book is a genuine pleasure to behold and read.
Thirdly, the book is dedicated to all the previous creators of Occult Detectives and Ghost Hunters as well as the pioneers in fictional depiction of detection. This is a very noble gesture and is wholeheartedly appreciated.
It's a slim, beautiful volume which would undoubtedly provide you with a few hours of cosy reading experience.
August 25, 2022
Fun throwback to the occult detective genre, with three likeable investigators (a worldly scholar of the occult, a soft-spoken priest, and a spunky young woman with extra-sensory abilities) solving quirky cases of ghosts, demons, witches, and vampires.
The stories themselves aren’t particularly suspenseful, and the solutions to the mysteries are sometimes obvious; there were times when I wished the author would subvert expectations more. But I loved the old-fashioned style and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters.
The three protagonists feel instantly familiar (you find yourself chuckling knowingly when Dr. Venn uses one of his familiar phrases, before remembering that his quirks of personality are entirely new to you); it also helps that they often cross paths with famous figures like Sherlock Holmes.
Overall, these tales have the feel of a charming episodic TV show. (My Canadian friends will be reminded of the spookier episodes of Murdoch Mysteries).
I hope Coffman writes more of these stories; I will read them.
The stories themselves aren’t particularly suspenseful, and the solutions to the mysteries are sometimes obvious; there were times when I wished the author would subvert expectations more. But I loved the old-fashioned style and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters.
The three protagonists feel instantly familiar (you find yourself chuckling knowingly when Dr. Venn uses one of his familiar phrases, before remembering that his quirks of personality are entirely new to you); it also helps that they often cross paths with famous figures like Sherlock Holmes.
Overall, these tales have the feel of a charming episodic TV show. (My Canadian friends will be reminded of the spookier episodes of Murdoch Mysteries).
I hope Coffman writes more of these stories; I will read them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews