Sherlock Holmes and the Abbey School Mystery

by John Hall

Ten years on from Holmes and Watson’s sleuthing days, something is amiss at the prestigious and exclusive Abbey School. Young Lord Whitechurch is accused of stealing money from the headmaster’s office. But as one of the wealthiest pupils, the question remains as to his motive. The mystery deepens following the apparent suicide of the Third's form master, Mr Greville. Unlike the staff and pupils, Holmes is not convinced that this was a tragic accident. His interest piqued, the famed detective enlists the help of his trusty side-kick Dr. Watson, who takes over Greville’s teaching position as he investigates the staff and unearths the school's secrets. What they find reaches far beyond the cloistered halls of the school, with the shadow of the late Moriarty looming in the distance... Sherlock Holmes and the Abbey School Mystery is the fifth of John Hall's Sherlockian pastiches and a brilliant addition to the Holmes and Watson casebooks. John Hall spent many years in the civil service before becoming a professional writer specialising in crime fiction. His book Death of a Collector won the Sherlock Magazine’s competition for the best new fictional detective. He is also the author of several other Sherlock mysteries.

Genres: Mystery

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2001

Reviews

[John Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was focused on Dr. Watson as the slueth. Holmes made minor ppearances early on, then disappeared until the last 15-20 pages, weakly solving the crime. It was like the first 140 pages were written by one writer, then another writer finished the last few pages of the book. This book might have entertained a teenage juvenile, but was not written to entertain an adult.

[Outlander · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was going to give this tale 2 stars but decreased it to 1 star. This tale was an odd one (set in 1903) as Dr Watson is sent under cover on the instructions of Sherlock Holmes, so a little of Sherlock and a lot of John. So it's Watson as Mr Harris the locum English teacher, questioning the teachers and pupils to try to uncover the mystery of a theft and an 'accidental death' at a prestigious boarding school. Lots of convoluted under cover dodgy political doings in this tale, explosions, suicides, murders and even a red herring or two. It reminds me of the plots of the Basil Rathbone versions of SH set in the war years.

[Mrs. A.A. Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watson tries investigating.

A theft occurs at an expensive private school and Watson tries his hand at solving the problem. He is attacked and Sherlock Holmes is brought in to continue the investigation.
Another interesting mystery from the pen of John Hall.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1903. At the prestigious and exclusive Abbey School, a pupil has been expelled because of accusations of theft, and a teacher has died, supposedly an accident. Holmes sends Watson undercover as a replacement teacher.
An enjoyable historical mystery

[Robert Ham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't know what to make of this one, in which Holmes doesn't make a real appearance until three quarters of the way through the book.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes and the Abbey School Mystery by John Hall

My thanks to Georgina Cutler of Endeavor Press for my Kindle™ copy of this book. You are too kind!

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson have not worked together for some time, Watson having married again and both he and his new wife agreeing that he needed to spend more time at home. The occasion of Mrs. Watson accompanying a friend who is going to Egypt for her health happens to coincide with Holmes needing Watson for a case. And so begins the story of the mystery at Abbey School, an exclusive place of learning for highly privileged youths.

Holmes had been contacted by the Duke of Greyminster when the Duke’s son, Lord Whitechurch, has been accused of theft and expelled from the school. Holmes sympathizes with the Duke, but tells him it would be as well simply to find another school. There would be much difficulty in proving the young man’s innocence.

However; a teacher at the school dies by jumping, falling, or being tossed off of the tower at the school, some eighty feet high. Holmes is suspicious and asks Watson to go undercover as the replacement teacher at the school.

Watson learns that there is an underground chamber on the grounds, part of the Abbey that once stood on the property. The area is off limits to the students, and the faculty is discouraged from exploring themselves. Nevertheless when Watson sees another teacher poking around the ruins, he decides to explore himself.

The story is well-paced and has that elusive feel of an original Holmes story by Doyle himself! Therefore, I am going to stop here before I give any spoilers! I will point out that to his amusement, Watson, under the name Harris, finds two students with his real name at the school, Watson Major and Watson Minor!

I will gladly give Mr. Hall five stars for this excellent story!

Quoth the Raven…

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the many HOLMESIAN novels I've read...this one felt closest to the real deal.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited One of several Sherlock Holmes stories by an assorted group of authors, wanted to go through them all. Liked it, just didn't love it, sort of the right style and all but....