Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Yuletide Puzzle

by Ed Trotta

It's Christmas eve at 221B Baker Street. On the stroke of midnight, a delivery arrives addressed to Sherlock Holmes. The message is a cryptogram which reveals itself to be so obtuse that it has the famous consulting detective baffled. Holmes becomes so obsessed with revealing the secret of the cypher that Watson fears for his well-being in refusing to eat or sleep. Holmes can only deduce that time is of the essence, and that a means of deciphering must be discovered which has never before been employed. Watson wonders what new adventure will emerge should the puzzle be unraveled. Adaptation of the stage play of the same name.

63 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2022

Reviews

[Andrew Myers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, quite dull. Holmes never leaves his apartment for the entirety of the tale. I don't think this is one I'll be returning to. The character based portions before and after the mystery offer much more nourishment than the mystery itself.

Instead, I'd recommend Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Roger Riccard, a series of twelve festive themed short stories, and Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove, a festive novel which rockets along memorably.

[LuAnn · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I don’t mind a narrator with an American accent, having Watson speaking with one and Holmes with a British accent doesn’t is incongruous. The narrator has a nice resonant voice but a slightly odd cadence in reading. These by themselves aren’t too bad, but the story itself lags and the Christmas celebrations seem too modern. Also, Holmes and Watson’s relationship is off, too much . DNF
Thanks to MX Publishing for this free audio edition.

[Christa Saccullo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

I really liked the idea of a relaxing Christmas mystery and a look into the friendship of Holmes and Watson.
But....
It seemed every time I turned, they were bickering about something. Yes, apologies happened, but for a small book, it happened it bit much. Kinda dulled it for me.
Otherwise, a nice read for any reader's free time.

Christa

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

[bryan fothergill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a fun seasonal story for fans of Holmes.

[Margaret Tuomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Sherlock! He nailed it!