February Group read - "The Devil's Promise" by David Stuart Davies

[Ken B]

This is the thread for the Feb Group read of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Promise by David Stuart Davies.

Join us and the discussions. Be sure to use spoiler tags and chapter numbers to aid in discussion.

[Margaret]

Still waiting on my copy from the library.

[Amanda]

Just finished the first two chapters. I'm liking it so far.

[Ken B]

Finished Chapter 12

(view spoiler)[Davies is using the old blow to the back head ploy so often I feel like I am getting a concussion.

I'm not sure yet if I found an inconsistency or if this is some clue to be expounded upon later: When Watson is beaten and robbed, he expressly notes that his watch is lost. When he wakes the next morning, the first thing he does is check the time on his pocket watch. Did Watson get robbed of a different pocket watch or of a wrist watch? Wrist watches were being used at that time though not heavily, I believe. It will be interesting if this point is brought up again later or if it was just a slip. (hide spoiler)]

[Ken B]

Chapter 13

(view spoiler)[Appears the checking his pocket watch statement may have been a slip by Davies. In Chapter 13, Holmes notices that Watson is missing his pocket watch.

Here's to small editing issues! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

I'm on chapter 14.

(view spoiler)[I really want to know, what happen when Sherlock opened that church door. I have a feeling it has something to do with why Watson can't remember anything. The whole why Watson can't know what is happen, is making me want to read and read until I finish it. Its got me intrigued on what is going to happen.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

I noticed that too from chapter 13.

[Ken B]

Amanda wrote: "I noticed that too from chapter 13."

(view spoiler)[I was hoping that it was going to be something like:

He gets robbed and notices his pocket watch missing. The next morning, he wakes and, out of habit, checks the time on his pocket watch never, in his mental fog (from getting hit in the head so many times), realizes that he somehow has his watch again. Later, we would find out Holmes put it back on him to try to cover-up whatever it is he is up to.

But, alas, it appears to be nothing more than an editing error.

(hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

I'm on chapter 18.

(view spoiler)[ Watson is really doing some stupid things here. I understand he is confused, no thinks to Sherlock not telling him anything. But, that scene on the train was over the top. And I'm having a heard time believing, Watson could kill someone and just leave them in the woods. I'm really hoping, Sherlock isn't a bad guy. I don't like when Sherlock turns bad in pastiches. But that whole chapter 17 paragraph doesn't seem good to me. I'm hoping this turns out, that Sherlock has been warned to keep Watson away or Watson and maybe even Sherlock, will be killed.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

I finished this late last night. I'm not sure how I want to rate it through. Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars seems about right to me. I liked the beginning but, the middle and end just went down hill for me. I wasn't a big fan of the portrayal of Watson in this story. I liked Sherlock, he even surprised me in areas of the story. But, (view spoiler)[ I don't feel, we got a real answer to if Sherlock was still in the devil worshipers's powers or not. I really hope he isn't, and that he is still working the case since Arabelle Blackwood survived the church collapse.spoiler<> (hide spoiler)]

[Ken B]

Amanda wrote: "I finished this late last night. I'm not sure how I want to rate it through. Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars seems about right to me. I liked the beginning but, the middle and end just went down hi..."

I think I am in agreement with you on this one. It ranks 3 STARS tops. It just seemed to draw on and on. Even at 181 pages, it could and probably should have been shorter.

(view spoiler)[I think a lot of the issue in this one was editing. There were points in which the author uses the same expression or the same wording, even the same blow to the back of the head or hands around the throat are repeated too often. And then the issue with the pocket watch that I mentioned in previous comments. Somebody missed something in this one.

And, you are right it was left too open-ended, though it would seem that with Arabella's bowing to Holmes and beaming as she did that she was in some sense claiming victory, meaning of course that Holmes was still under some other power. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

I agree, not David Stuart Davies best story. I ended up giving it 2 stars.

(view spoiler)[Your probably right on Sherlock still being under their powers. I'm just looking for a way, to make is sound possible, where Sherlock isn't a bad guy. I never like pastiches when he turns bad, it doesn't ring true with the canon to me.<> (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

Picking it up on Saturday from the library. Not sure I want to read it now. :\

[Margaret]

Finished reading it last night. Not happy. My short review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...