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The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books #15
Sherlock Holmes. L'uomo che scompare (Il Giallo Mondadori Sherlock)
It is 1896, and Sherlock Holmes is presented with his strangest case yet. While attempting to prove the existence of telekinesis to a scientific society, a self-proclaimed psychic named Kellway disappeared from a locked room, in front of several witnesses.
With a £10,000 reward at stake, Holmes is convinced Kellway is a charlatan - or he would be, if he had returned to claim his prize. But as Holmes and Watson investigate, the case only grows stranger and more difficult, as they have to contend with the interference of an 'occult detective'. Then one of the society's members is murdered, and Kellway himself reappears. But he is not the same man who vanished...
With a £10,000 reward at stake, Holmes is convinced Kellway is a charlatan - or he would be, if he had returned to claim his prize. But as Holmes and Watson investigate, the case only grows stranger and more difficult, as they have to contend with the interference of an 'occult detective'. Then one of the society's members is murdered, and Kellway himself reappears. But he is not the same man who vanished...
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2019
84 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Philip Purser-Hallard
44 books52 followersPhilip Purser-Hallard is a widely published and occasionally acclaimed author, editor and critic. He has written four Sherlock Holmes novels for Titan Books, all favourably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, and the Devices trilogy of urban fantasy thrillers for Snowbooks, as well as a plethora of shorter fiction. He is a founding editor of and frequent contributor to the Black Archive, a series of critical monographs about individual Doctor Who stories.
From his webpage:
"In my writing I like to reimagine and question established cultural icons, hence my four Sherlock Holmes novels for Titan Books. Writing dialogue between Holmes and Lady Bracknell, from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, may be the high point of my career. The Devices trilogy, published between 2013 and 2016, considers some of the icons of British mythology that I loved as a child, and how they relate to the political reality of Britain in the 21st century."
From his webpage:
"In my writing I like to reimagine and question established cultural icons, hence my four Sherlock Holmes novels for Titan Books. Writing dialogue between Holmes and Lady Bracknell, from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, may be the high point of my career. The Devices trilogy, published between 2013 and 2016, considers some of the icons of British mythology that I loved as a child, and how they relate to the political reality of Britain in the 21st century."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 19, 2020
Gets a bit slow in the middle but the solution and coda were good fun. Bonus points for the sly double-meaning of the title.
March 12, 2021
This across between C. S. Lewis Voyage to Venus and William Hope Hodgson little slow to start, but spending like train to a big crash this twist around the bends picking up steam.
C. S. Lewis puns and Costinein jokes. Skinner shame chose that name because say the Simpsons. One better endings with Injoke on Doyle which at the end.
C. S. Lewis puns and Costinein jokes. Skinner shame chose that name because say the Simpsons. One better endings with Injoke on Doyle which at the end.
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July 10, 2019There are tons of Holmes books by people other than Conan Doyle, which as a rule I wouldn't touch with someone else's. Hell, even when it comes to the originals, the one novel I read was iffy, so I tend to stick to the shorts. But this is by Philip Purser Hallard, whose cosmic-scale work on Who spin-offs wowed me enough that I overlooked the terrible covers on his subsequent Devices trilogy, finding therein the most underrated urban fantasy of recent years, and who as such is now firmly on the list where I'll give anything he does a try. Nor does this disappoint; where too much modern Holmes feels the need to chuck Mycroft and Moriarty in every five minutes, and have the fate of the Empire if not the world hinge on the case, Purser-Hallard remembers how many of the best Sherlock stories are content with a theft or even a simple puzzle, where no crime has necessarily taken place. So here, where Sir Newnham Speight, an industrialist with a sideline in psychical research, approaches Holmes over the disappearance from a locked room of his latest test subject. Has Kellway, the self-proclaimed 'Evolved Man', really translated himself to Venus, the home of his advanced mentors? Or has a murder been perpetrated, or a fraud? Speight's associates are a menagerie of late Victorian faddism, featuring thinly disguised versions of everyone from George Bernard Shaw to Blavatsky, and at times one might suspect that Purser-Hallard really fancied writing a satire on this ridiculous mob but realised that, in 2019, it might help him sell a few copies if he pegged it to a slightly more current Victorian name. Still, there's the obvious connection of Conan Doyle's own later interest in the supernatural, and implicitly critiquing the creator's gullibility by contrast with his most famous' creation's unerring rationalism. Then too, it allows for an interesting theme regarding Holmes' famous line about the impossible and the improbable – already fairly comprehensively monstered in a recent-ish book by another writer from the Whovian set, Paul Cornell. Purser-Hallard's angle, though, is less outright ridicule, more a question of nuance. After all, aren't there different sorts of impossibility – such as times when a man disappearing by unknown means might be more likely than a devoted retainer lying to his master?
The story is told, of course, by John Watson, whose voice Purser-Hallard captures well enough to convince me; I am, bear in mind, a terrible nitpicker of bad pastiches of historical voice, but I am by no means a hardcore Sherlockian, so I can't vouch for how well it would sit with one of them. And Watson's role in the story seems about right, too; he's not a complete jam Watson, but nor is he an equal partner, being something akin to an emotional support animal who helps Holmes be slightly less beastly to people, can be used for simple errands, and provides a handy sounding board. Holmes himself I pictured throughout as being played by Jeremy Brett, which is obviously a compliment. The investigation is complicated by the Shaw-substitute having engaged a purported occult detective, one Constantine Skinner; if he has a direct model, rather than being a representative for that whole largely forgotten type, then I confess I don't know enough of the originals to recognise it, though I confess to mild disappointment that the story couldn't have gone all-out and given us a Holmes/Carnacki crossover*. But then, that would necessarily make this a more definitely supernatural story, rather than one operating on the teasing margins of plausibility. Speaking of crossovers, though, I was struck by the way in which, with a little more moralising, the conclusion could easily have been at least as comfortable in a Father Brown story as a Holmes one. Still, if it's not quite as thought-provoking a read as the Devices books or the City of the Saved, this is nevertheless a very satisfactory entertainment.
*We know they inhabit a shared world, of course, because they've both collaborated with the Doctor. But then, ultimately everything is part of the Doctor's worlds; St Elsewhere's snowglobe has nothing on the TARDIS.
The story is told, of course, by John Watson, whose voice Purser-Hallard captures well enough to convince me; I am, bear in mind, a terrible nitpicker of bad pastiches of historical voice, but I am by no means a hardcore Sherlockian, so I can't vouch for how well it would sit with one of them. And Watson's role in the story seems about right, too; he's not a complete jam Watson, but nor is he an equal partner, being something akin to an emotional support animal who helps Holmes be slightly less beastly to people, can be used for simple errands, and provides a handy sounding board. Holmes himself I pictured throughout as being played by Jeremy Brett, which is obviously a compliment. The investigation is complicated by the Shaw-substitute having engaged a purported occult detective, one Constantine Skinner; if he has a direct model, rather than being a representative for that whole largely forgotten type, then I confess I don't know enough of the originals to recognise it, though I confess to mild disappointment that the story couldn't have gone all-out and given us a Holmes/Carnacki crossover*. But then, that would necessarily make this a more definitely supernatural story, rather than one operating on the teasing margins of plausibility. Speaking of crossovers, though, I was struck by the way in which, with a little more moralising, the conclusion could easily have been at least as comfortable in a Father Brown story as a Holmes one. Still, if it's not quite as thought-provoking a read as the Devices books or the City of the Saved, this is nevertheless a very satisfactory entertainment.
*We know they inhabit a shared world, of course, because they've both collaborated with the Doctor. But then, ultimately everything is part of the Doctor's worlds; St Elsewhere's snowglobe has nothing on the TARDIS.
December 19, 2025
A locked room escape mystery.
Activating my inner Holmes, I deduce as follows.
1. There is no way a man could get out of that room except through the door.
2. So the observers must have let him out.
3. Though there is no way a man could get in or out when the door was locked, small objects could have been taken into the room in a number of ways, and could have been passed under the door in either direction.
I therefore have formed a hypothesis that requires the smallest number of conspirators and some easily hidden props.
*****
It is a capital mistake, Watson, to begin theorising before all the facts are in. But that's exactly what I did. I rushed to judgement, picked the wrong man as the conspirator, and thereby discounted some very strong clues that I should have taken seriously. Oh well.
Activating my inner Holmes, I deduce as follows.
1. There is no way a man could get out of that room except through the door.
2. So the observers must have let him out.
3. Though there is no way a man could get in or out when the door was locked, small objects could have been taken into the room in a number of ways, and could have been passed under the door in either direction.
I therefore have formed a hypothesis that requires the smallest number of conspirators and some easily hidden props.
*****
It is a capital mistake, Watson, to begin theorising before all the facts are in. But that's exactly what I did. I rushed to judgement, picked the wrong man as the conspirator, and thereby discounted some very strong clues that I should have taken seriously. Oh well.
June 20, 2020
In case you missed it, Titan Books is publishing new novels featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. The books are written by a variety of different authors, and since I’m a fan of the original stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle, it’s interesting to see how close to the originals the books in this series feel. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I have previously reviewed The Red Tower by Mark A. Latham. I have also read A Betrayal in Blood by the same author as well as The Legacy of Deeds by Nick Kyme. For any reader who loves the original stories by Conan Doyle, I highly recommend all three of these books. The Vanishing Man by Philip Purser-Hallard is the latest book in this series to capture my attention. It’s not my favorite among the group of books I’ve read so far, but it is an entertaining and engaging read. It follows many of the Sherlockian conventions and I don’t think readers will walk away disappointed. If you are on a budget, be aware that I wasn’t able to find this book in my local library and it’s not available through my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I also couldn’t find a copy in my local used bookstore, so I paid full price for my book. If you want to read one of the books in this series and make your book budget dollars count, I humbly recommend starting with A Betrayal in Blood or The Red Tower, as both of these are the best books in the series I’ve read so far and well worth your book dollars.
In The Vanishing Man, Sherlock is asked to investigate the disappearance of one Thomas Kellway by his latest client, Sir Newnham Speight. Speight is the current director of the Society for the Scientific Investigation of Psychical Phenomena. The Society has had a history of inviting individuals who believe they possess some form of psychic ability to demonstrate their abilities in a controlled environment designed to allow the scientific method to be applied during the demonstrations. There is a long-standing offer of a reward of ten thousand pounds for any individual who can demonstrate abilities that the Society can prove scientifically. Speight’s description of the rigorous methods employed by members of the Society surely appeal to Sherlock’s penchant for logic and reason, and is likely one of the reason he agrees to take on the case. Speight explains that a few nights ago, Thomas Kellway had come to Parapluvium House, where the Society convenes, to demonstrate his ability for telekinesis. He outlines the experiment for Sherlock and Watson, which called for Kellway to sit in one room which had a glass window for observation, while in the next room there was a table upon which a box sat holding a billiard ball. The experiment was to observe Kellway move the billiard ball from the closed box upon the table with nothing but the power of his mind while sitting in the adjacent room. During the experiment, however, Kellway vanishes without a trace. Speight believes Kellway’s disappearance is an elaborate hoax intended to defraud the Society and earn the ten thousand pound reward. Speight asks Sherlock to investigate and determine if, should Kellway reappear, he is in fact owed the reward money. Sherlock takes the case.
In other reviews of the Sherlock Holmes stories, whether the originals or the new additions to the canon, I have emphasized my opinion that the main character and protagonist of these stories is Dr. John Watson. Whenever I read one of these books, I always read it through that lens, and when I think about how “true” to the original the book feels, my decision always takes into consideration how Watson is portrayed and characterized in the novel. In The Vanishing Man, Watson is narrating the story from a considerable distance of time. In the Foreword he writes for the reader, he explains that he has received various pieces of correspondence from Sherlock over the years that relate to the case he’s about to tell—fragments from books or newspaper articles. Watson includes some of this material in the book as a way to fill in some of the gaps in the story that aren’t uncovered at the time the investigation takes place (and thus, it’s important for the reader to pay attention to this supplemental material and look for clues). The date on the Foreword is 1928, telling us that he is writing the story well after his marriage to Mary and well after her death. I call this out because it speaks to Watson’s mindset—a young Watson whose acquaintance with Sherlock is relatively recent and who hasn’t yet met Mary has a much different perspective than the older Watson, who has had decades to reflect on his experiences and adventures with Holmes. The most successful stories from new writers of Sherlock and Watson adventures understand this nuance, and consequently offer richer narratives. In The Vanishing Man, Purser-Hallard shows he is more than familiar with the original canon of Sherlock stories, but his focus is much more on the logical, reasoning Sherlock than the more emotional and sometimes fallible Watson. Don’t get me wrong—Watson is tonally representative of the sidekick we all know and love. In this story, he’s just missing that extra something that makes him a special, memorable, and relatable character.
On the other hand, if you’re a reader who just wants to see more of Sherlock on the page, then The Vanishing Man will meet your expectations. One of the things that always turns me off about new entries into the series is when Sherlock goes off screen for long periods of time during the narrative (yes, I know—Conan Doyle does this very thing in The Hound of the Baskervilles. I didn’t really like it there, either). That doesn’t happen in this novel. Sherlock and Holmes are much more of a unit in this book, working together to solve the mystery of the missing Thomas Kellway. Another positive is the appearance of Inspector Lestrade. Purser-Hallard gives the Scotland Yard detective more page time than I usually see in other stories, and that’s a refreshing addition to the book. There’s even an entertaining use of Sherlock’s Irregulars, the scamps and street urchins who operate as Sherlock’s own network of informants. Like I said, the novel also has many of the usual Sherlockian conventions—including the final reveal of the mystery to a room full of Society members. However, one of the most interesting aspects of The Vanishing Man is the presence of a camera obscura on the roof of Parapluvium House and the repeated references Sherlock makes to wishing he could have something similar to the technology of a camera obscura all over London. In these comments, we see Purser-Hallard thinking about the evolution of surveillance and imagining how it can be traced back to something as seemingly benign as the camera obscura, and how Sherlock could see how such technology could aid criminal investigations. He can see how it could function as a deterrent to crime as well as an invasion of privacy. It’s a nice touch that close readers of the novel will pick up on immediately and adds unique depth to the reading experience.
While The Vanishing Man isn’t my favorite installment in the series of new Sherlock and Watson stories being published by Titan Books, I have to admit that I was invested in the story the whole time I was reading, and there wasn’t a moment when I wanted to quit the novel and put the book down (I say this because there have been a couple of books in this series where I have done just that). If you enjoy Sherlock and Watson stories, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.
Looking for more book reviews? Visit my book blog at endnotesbookblog.com
In The Vanishing Man, Sherlock is asked to investigate the disappearance of one Thomas Kellway by his latest client, Sir Newnham Speight. Speight is the current director of the Society for the Scientific Investigation of Psychical Phenomena. The Society has had a history of inviting individuals who believe they possess some form of psychic ability to demonstrate their abilities in a controlled environment designed to allow the scientific method to be applied during the demonstrations. There is a long-standing offer of a reward of ten thousand pounds for any individual who can demonstrate abilities that the Society can prove scientifically. Speight’s description of the rigorous methods employed by members of the Society surely appeal to Sherlock’s penchant for logic and reason, and is likely one of the reason he agrees to take on the case. Speight explains that a few nights ago, Thomas Kellway had come to Parapluvium House, where the Society convenes, to demonstrate his ability for telekinesis. He outlines the experiment for Sherlock and Watson, which called for Kellway to sit in one room which had a glass window for observation, while in the next room there was a table upon which a box sat holding a billiard ball. The experiment was to observe Kellway move the billiard ball from the closed box upon the table with nothing but the power of his mind while sitting in the adjacent room. During the experiment, however, Kellway vanishes without a trace. Speight believes Kellway’s disappearance is an elaborate hoax intended to defraud the Society and earn the ten thousand pound reward. Speight asks Sherlock to investigate and determine if, should Kellway reappear, he is in fact owed the reward money. Sherlock takes the case.
In other reviews of the Sherlock Holmes stories, whether the originals or the new additions to the canon, I have emphasized my opinion that the main character and protagonist of these stories is Dr. John Watson. Whenever I read one of these books, I always read it through that lens, and when I think about how “true” to the original the book feels, my decision always takes into consideration how Watson is portrayed and characterized in the novel. In The Vanishing Man, Watson is narrating the story from a considerable distance of time. In the Foreword he writes for the reader, he explains that he has received various pieces of correspondence from Sherlock over the years that relate to the case he’s about to tell—fragments from books or newspaper articles. Watson includes some of this material in the book as a way to fill in some of the gaps in the story that aren’t uncovered at the time the investigation takes place (and thus, it’s important for the reader to pay attention to this supplemental material and look for clues). The date on the Foreword is 1928, telling us that he is writing the story well after his marriage to Mary and well after her death. I call this out because it speaks to Watson’s mindset—a young Watson whose acquaintance with Sherlock is relatively recent and who hasn’t yet met Mary has a much different perspective than the older Watson, who has had decades to reflect on his experiences and adventures with Holmes. The most successful stories from new writers of Sherlock and Watson adventures understand this nuance, and consequently offer richer narratives. In The Vanishing Man, Purser-Hallard shows he is more than familiar with the original canon of Sherlock stories, but his focus is much more on the logical, reasoning Sherlock than the more emotional and sometimes fallible Watson. Don’t get me wrong—Watson is tonally representative of the sidekick we all know and love. In this story, he’s just missing that extra something that makes him a special, memorable, and relatable character.
On the other hand, if you’re a reader who just wants to see more of Sherlock on the page, then The Vanishing Man will meet your expectations. One of the things that always turns me off about new entries into the series is when Sherlock goes off screen for long periods of time during the narrative (yes, I know—Conan Doyle does this very thing in The Hound of the Baskervilles. I didn’t really like it there, either). That doesn’t happen in this novel. Sherlock and Holmes are much more of a unit in this book, working together to solve the mystery of the missing Thomas Kellway. Another positive is the appearance of Inspector Lestrade. Purser-Hallard gives the Scotland Yard detective more page time than I usually see in other stories, and that’s a refreshing addition to the book. There’s even an entertaining use of Sherlock’s Irregulars, the scamps and street urchins who operate as Sherlock’s own network of informants. Like I said, the novel also has many of the usual Sherlockian conventions—including the final reveal of the mystery to a room full of Society members. However, one of the most interesting aspects of The Vanishing Man is the presence of a camera obscura on the roof of Parapluvium House and the repeated references Sherlock makes to wishing he could have something similar to the technology of a camera obscura all over London. In these comments, we see Purser-Hallard thinking about the evolution of surveillance and imagining how it can be traced back to something as seemingly benign as the camera obscura, and how Sherlock could see how such technology could aid criminal investigations. He can see how it could function as a deterrent to crime as well as an invasion of privacy. It’s a nice touch that close readers of the novel will pick up on immediately and adds unique depth to the reading experience.
While The Vanishing Man isn’t my favorite installment in the series of new Sherlock and Watson stories being published by Titan Books, I have to admit that I was invested in the story the whole time I was reading, and there wasn’t a moment when I wanted to quit the novel and put the book down (I say this because there have been a couple of books in this series where I have done just that). If you enjoy Sherlock and Watson stories, then I think you’ll enjoy this book.
Looking for more book reviews? Visit my book blog at endnotesbookblog.com
February 23, 2022
Fantastic stuff. Literally the most basic mystery possible (a man vanishes from a locked room), but it's so intriguing you can't stop until you find out HOW. Wonderfully paced, the characters are all brilliantly observed (Reverend Small in particular reminded me of several unpleasant former colleagues) and enough twists & turns to keep you guessing until the end. Can't wait to read PP-H's next Sherlock Holmes book.
September 28, 2022
"The Vanishing Man" is an entertaining Sherlock Holmes story that sags a little in the middle. There's a reason that the original Holmes stories were short. I only want three things: 1. Set up the mystery. 2. Give me suspects and clues. 3. The big reveal/explanation. Don't make part 2 too long because at a certain point, I'm ready for part 3.
I had a good chunk of this figured out by the end but there were a few twists I didn't guess and one big part of the whole process I still don't understand but I blame my general stupidity for that. I'll definitely check out more books in this series.
I had a good chunk of this figured out by the end but there were a few twists I didn't guess and one big part of the whole process I still don't understand but I blame my general stupidity for that. I'll definitely check out more books in this series.
February 20, 2025
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️I listen this book on audible.
July 19, 2019
Sir Newnham - inventor and chairman of the Scientific Society seeks Sherlock Holmes advice on a strange occurrence.
The society has a £10,000 reward for anyone who can prove that they have real psychic powers, and a man who calls himself Kellway has claimed he is a higher being who has the power of telekinesis and who seems to disappear from a locked room before the society's eyes during an experiment. Is it real or some grand hoax? As Holmes and Watson start to investigate, the case becomes much stranger and then one of the society members is found dead, hanging by his feet with his head shaved.
The society has a £10,000 reward for anyone who can prove that they have real psychic powers, and a man who calls himself Kellway has claimed he is a higher being who has the power of telekinesis and who seems to disappear from a locked room before the society's eyes during an experiment. Is it real or some grand hoax? As Holmes and Watson start to investigate, the case becomes much stranger and then one of the society members is found dead, hanging by his feet with his head shaved.
October 16, 2019
Sherlock Holmes has been an inspiration for more than one hundred years. The great detective and his unique investigating skills are inspiration for many modern authors. Philip Purser-Hallard is one of them. In these modern times when modern thrillers and mysteries contain too much blood and creepiness, reading a book in an Arthur Conan Doyle style is a real refreshement.
The year is 1896, there is a psychic who is trying to prove the existence of telekinesis. Kellway locks himself in a room in front of witnesses and simply disappears. The door is locked, there are no windows, but he is gone. For the things to be more confusing, he reappears several days later, much younger, claiming to be teleported on another planet.
But the great detective can not be fooled easily. Sherlock Holmes is very much convinced that this is a case of a charlatan. Travelling on another planet? No way! All he needs to do is solve the case of the locked room. And the younger look of Mr. Kellway. Everything has a logical explanation. All he needs to do is to find it.
The investigation leads to a secret society. One of the society members is found dead. Sherlock Holmes has a murder to solve….
I love Sherlock Holmes stories and have a great time reading them. I admire the great detective and his unique investigating skills. This author is new to me and when I started to read this book, I didn’t know what to expect. The mystery is well constructed, the characters are well described. Holmes is one-of-a-kind detective and Watson is an excellent storyteller. The author created an intriguing plot that kept me interested till the last page. The Vanishing Man is a real refreshement in these modern time mysteries. Will be in the search of other books from this author.
The year is 1896, there is a psychic who is trying to prove the existence of telekinesis. Kellway locks himself in a room in front of witnesses and simply disappears. The door is locked, there are no windows, but he is gone. For the things to be more confusing, he reappears several days later, much younger, claiming to be teleported on another planet.
But the great detective can not be fooled easily. Sherlock Holmes is very much convinced that this is a case of a charlatan. Travelling on another planet? No way! All he needs to do is solve the case of the locked room. And the younger look of Mr. Kellway. Everything has a logical explanation. All he needs to do is to find it.
The investigation leads to a secret society. One of the society members is found dead. Sherlock Holmes has a murder to solve….
I love Sherlock Holmes stories and have a great time reading them. I admire the great detective and his unique investigating skills. This author is new to me and when I started to read this book, I didn’t know what to expect. The mystery is well constructed, the characters are well described. Holmes is one-of-a-kind detective and Watson is an excellent storyteller. The author created an intriguing plot that kept me interested till the last page. The Vanishing Man is a real refreshement in these modern time mysteries. Will be in the search of other books from this author.
June 8, 2019
Thank you to Titan Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A brand new Sherlock Holmes novel finds Holmes and Watson chasing around London after a man who has seemingly vanished. But of course the case isn't as simple as that, the circumstances of The Vanishing are a failed experiment in telekinesis in which the man in question claims to have been transported to Venus. Then one of the society's members is murdered and the vanished man Kellway reappears, but not as the man he was before...
I really enjoyed this, I think it's the first new Sherlock Holmes book I've read so I wasn't sure if it would live up to the originals but it did. The technological advances that hinted of things to come in the modern world as we know it, were a nice touch. I liked the usual camaraderie between Holmes and Watson and I really liked the fact that Watson got to go off and do some things on his own as well. The story was well written and well formed and I really didn't guess how the mystery would unfold.
I'll definitely be interested in reading more of these new Sherlock Holmes stories!
Synopsis: A brand new Sherlock Holmes novel finds Holmes and Watson chasing around London after a man who has seemingly vanished. But of course the case isn't as simple as that, the circumstances of The Vanishing are a failed experiment in telekinesis in which the man in question claims to have been transported to Venus. Then one of the society's members is murdered and the vanished man Kellway reappears, but not as the man he was before...
I really enjoyed this, I think it's the first new Sherlock Holmes book I've read so I wasn't sure if it would live up to the originals but it did. The technological advances that hinted of things to come in the modern world as we know it, were a nice touch. I liked the usual camaraderie between Holmes and Watson and I really liked the fact that Watson got to go off and do some things on his own as well. The story was well written and well formed and I really didn't guess how the mystery would unfold.
I'll definitely be interested in reading more of these new Sherlock Holmes stories!
September 28, 2019
The Holmes and Watson pastiche feels spot on so it’s great to see these characters revisited with respect.
The story, the miscreants, and the little asides that fill in some gaps and motivations that Holmes and Watson could never know are also really well done.
What let’s it down is that, at its core, there is a magic trick that is explainable in a myriad of ways but that the “mystery” of this trick is what 90% of the books content is about. As with all magic tricks the explanation is a bit of a let down so it feels a mistake to have concentrated so much on that aspect.
A decent read though.
The story, the miscreants, and the little asides that fill in some gaps and motivations that Holmes and Watson could never know are also really well done.
What let’s it down is that, at its core, there is a magic trick that is explainable in a myriad of ways but that the “mystery” of this trick is what 90% of the books content is about. As with all magic tricks the explanation is a bit of a let down so it feels a mistake to have concentrated so much on that aspect.
A decent read though.
January 2, 2020
Eine spannende Sherlock-Holmes-Geschichte aus Watsons Sicht mit einem klassischen "Geschlossener-Raum-Problem".
Nachdem bei einem esoterischen Experiment ein Mann aus einem geschlossenen Raum verschwindet, werden Holmes und Watson beauftragt herauszufinden, wie dieser Trick möglich war. Dabei treffen sie auf eine vielzahl skurriler Charaktere und als dann auch ein Mitglied aus dieser Gruppe ermordet wird, wird es endgültig richtig spannend.
Holmes und Watson werden den Originalen gerecht und es war ein schönes Detail, wie Mrs. Hudson und die Straßenkinder eingesetzt wurden.
Für alle Fans eine klare Leseempfehlung!
Nachdem bei einem esoterischen Experiment ein Mann aus einem geschlossenen Raum verschwindet, werden Holmes und Watson beauftragt herauszufinden, wie dieser Trick möglich war. Dabei treffen sie auf eine vielzahl skurriler Charaktere und als dann auch ein Mitglied aus dieser Gruppe ermordet wird, wird es endgültig richtig spannend.
Holmes und Watson werden den Originalen gerecht und es war ein schönes Detail, wie Mrs. Hudson und die Straßenkinder eingesetzt wurden.
Für alle Fans eine klare Leseempfehlung!
December 2, 2019
At best 2.7
The story is far too tedious far too often to rate higher.
The big reveal was frankly boring too.
Solid last pages twist that was kind of obvious, but does suggest a follow-up book.
The story is far too tedious far too often to rate higher.
The big reveal was frankly boring too.
Solid last pages twist that was kind of obvious, but does suggest a follow-up book.
December 26, 2019
Sherlock Holmes Vs Venus? Happily this is not what it seems and it’s an inventive take on the locked room mystery that I really enjoyed!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
May 6, 2022
A good Holmes novel. I did feel sometimes the author slipped out of Watson narrative, but this didn't take away from the read. I think Conan Doyle fans will give the seal of approval to this book.
August 26, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher.
Step back in time for a twisted mystery that has London peers baffled - a scientific society offering £10,000 for proof of psychic ability and a man who claims to be what they are looking for who disappears before their eyes in a locked room. There is only one man who can unlock this puzzle, Sherlock Holmes (and his trusted best friend, Watson of course).
But as is always the case in these matters, looks can often be deceiving and nothing is ever as magical or clear-cut as they appear. And when murder becomes the order of the day, Holmes and Watson may have bitten off more than they can chew ...
Engaging, excellently-depicted, and with many twists and turns along the way, THE VANISHING MAN by Philip Purser-Hallard is like reading something new from the original man himself, and I was sucked into this mystery immediately and effortlessly.
With Holmes' well-known wit and Watson's fastidiousness down to a tee, this story has got everything you could possibly wish for and more in a Sherlock Holmes novel.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE VANISHING MAN is excellent from beginning to end and a must-read for fans of this genre!
Step back in time for a twisted mystery that has London peers baffled - a scientific society offering £10,000 for proof of psychic ability and a man who claims to be what they are looking for who disappears before their eyes in a locked room. There is only one man who can unlock this puzzle, Sherlock Holmes (and his trusted best friend, Watson of course).
But as is always the case in these matters, looks can often be deceiving and nothing is ever as magical or clear-cut as they appear. And when murder becomes the order of the day, Holmes and Watson may have bitten off more than they can chew ...
Engaging, excellently-depicted, and with many twists and turns along the way, THE VANISHING MAN by Philip Purser-Hallard is like reading something new from the original man himself, and I was sucked into this mystery immediately and effortlessly.
With Holmes' well-known wit and Watson's fastidiousness down to a tee, this story has got everything you could possibly wish for and more in a Sherlock Holmes novel.
SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE VANISHING MAN is excellent from beginning to end and a must-read for fans of this genre!
August 6, 2021
I’ve read all of the Canon (that’s how Sherlockians refer to the Conan Doyle books) several times. I have read many of these Sherlock Holmes pastiches over the last 40 years. It’s extremely rare to find a great one—novel or short story. And I guess that’s as it should be.
This book, unfortunately, is no exception. The Holmes character is off. Just not Holmes. Watson is a little better but I was disappointed. The story is okay but certain aspects were easy to figure out.
It is clear that the author is a comparable writer. You might want to checkout his other non-Sherlock books.
This book, unfortunately, is no exception. The Holmes character is off. Just not Holmes. Watson is a little better but I was disappointed. The story is okay but certain aspects were easy to figure out.
It is clear that the author is a comparable writer. You might want to checkout his other non-Sherlock books.
December 22, 2021
As I've mentioned in numerous reviews, I'm a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes - both the original Arthur Conan Doyle canon and the numerous pastiches that have been written by other authors over the years. That includes the Titan Books series, of which this is one.
The reality is that some of the pastiches I read are so good they easily could pass as one of Conan Doyle's creations. Others, however, just don't capture the voice, feel, plot, setting, etc. of the original canon works.
This effort by Philip Purser-Hallard falls somewhere in between.
On one hand, I thought he captured the voice, feel, and setting of Conan Doyle's original canon. I especially focus on the sound of Holmes' and Watson's dialogue when evaluating a pastiche. And, for the most part, that dialogue rang true throughout this pastiche.
However, the one area that DIDN'T ring true was the plot. As you know, I never go into plot details in these reviews to avoid spoilers. But I will say that the novel's plot was exceptionally complicated - well beyond anything Conan Doyle wrote. I found myself struggling to keep track of the myriad characters. And the author's choice to include papers that Holmes had allegedly sent Watson years after the case (one after each chapter) didn't help. Again and again, I had to go back over those additions - as well as the actual text - to keep the plot, characters, and actions straight.
Despite these flaws, the book was still enjoyable enough. I didn't love it...but I didn't hate it. Hence the three stars. Also, I enjoyed it enough that I don't regret purchasing Mr Purser-Hallard's other pastiche ("The Spider's Web") which I'll probably start sometime after the New Year.
The reality is that some of the pastiches I read are so good they easily could pass as one of Conan Doyle's creations. Others, however, just don't capture the voice, feel, plot, setting, etc. of the original canon works.
This effort by Philip Purser-Hallard falls somewhere in between.
On one hand, I thought he captured the voice, feel, and setting of Conan Doyle's original canon. I especially focus on the sound of Holmes' and Watson's dialogue when evaluating a pastiche. And, for the most part, that dialogue rang true throughout this pastiche.
However, the one area that DIDN'T ring true was the plot. As you know, I never go into plot details in these reviews to avoid spoilers. But I will say that the novel's plot was exceptionally complicated - well beyond anything Conan Doyle wrote. I found myself struggling to keep track of the myriad characters. And the author's choice to include papers that Holmes had allegedly sent Watson years after the case (one after each chapter) didn't help. Again and again, I had to go back over those additions - as well as the actual text - to keep the plot, characters, and actions straight.
Despite these flaws, the book was still enjoyable enough. I didn't love it...but I didn't hate it. Hence the three stars. Also, I enjoyed it enough that I don't regret purchasing Mr Purser-Hallard's other pastiche ("The Spider's Web") which I'll probably start sometime after the New Year.
December 25, 2023
A very fun detective story with an engaging mystery, interesting and memorable characters, and a satisfying conclusion. Unlike most Holmes mysteries, the solution is actually presented to the reader piecemeal for them to figure it out themselves, which I did. Though it was a bit annoying watching the characters take a while longer to figure out what I already did.
The story's only major flaw in my opinion is that it's too long. There're too many long asides and things take a lot longer than they need to be. But it's not like the extra length is entirely wasted, since what it is, though it doesn't progress the mystery forward, is at least well written.
I'm looking forward to reading the author's other Holmes books (and maybe his non-Holmes books) soon.
The story's only major flaw in my opinion is that it's too long. There're too many long asides and things take a lot longer than they need to be. But it's not like the extra length is entirely wasted, since what it is, though it doesn't progress the mystery forward, is at least well written.
I'm looking forward to reading the author's other Holmes books (and maybe his non-Holmes books) soon.
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December 14, 2023This was maybe not the best book to get myself back into reading fiction. But I saw it at the grocery store for $5 and I had just watched both of the Enola Holmes movies so I thought surely this would be fun. The story is quite fine and I’m sure if I had been a better reader I really would have enjoyed this. There was just a lot of characters to keep track of for a brain that has been reading celebrity memoirs & tv behind the scenes books for the past year (and before that hadn’t been reading at all for like 5 years)
March 30, 2020
I had no idea who Kellway really was and how he vanished. I couldn’t figure out who nurseries the man hanging upside down. It was a very difficult book for me to follow. It bothers me that I don’t know the mystery. Maybe it was too wordy? Maybe too many distractions with children at home to really concentrate on it. I never got a Sherlock Holmes book in my life.
November 27, 2020
A Sherlock Holmes mystery
I have read many Holmes' mysteries. I decided that I would give this a try due to the ratings it received. I was not blown away by this story but it was an entertaining read. The author drew up the story line about the same way as Conan Doyle, but it felt sluggish. It was enjoyable, but I am not sure I will read the next. 3.4 out of 5 rating.
I have read many Holmes' mysteries. I decided that I would give this a try due to the ratings it received. I was not blown away by this story but it was an entertaining read. The author drew up the story line about the same way as Conan Doyle, but it felt sluggish. It was enjoyable, but I am not sure I will read the next. 3.4 out of 5 rating.
September 30, 2021
A good Sherlock Holmes story. This author is very good at using Watson's point of view. The descriptions of him and Holmes bring to mind the original stories.
Almost gave it four stars.
There was more about the psychic background and storyline than was needful and I just wanted it to get to the point several times.
Almost gave it four stars.
There was more about the psychic background and storyline than was needful and I just wanted it to get to the point several times.
November 1, 2023
A locked mystery solved by the legendary Holmes!
August 8, 2024
Words words words etc…
September 22, 2024
This is probably a better book than I think.
The Sherlock Holmes books are a bit too slow for me...not just those written by this author.
The Sherlock Holmes books are a bit too slow for me...not just those written by this author.
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