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The Great Detective Universe #1
Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives, Volume One
All New Malevolent Mysteries and Perplexing Puzzles where Sherlock Holmes works with Classic and New Occult Detectives
As Carnacki the Ghost Finder, the famous literary occult detective, once said:
“I view all reported ‘hauntings’ as unproven until I have examined into them, and I am bound to admit that ninety-nine cases out of a hundred turn out to be sheer bosh and fancy.”
In these pages, a range of contemporary authors explore 'what happens next' when the Great Detective confronts mysteries which question reason. A summons from Irene Adler’s daughter; a chance encounter with one of Houdini’s fraud investigators; the enigma of Dr John Silence. Mysterious events at Mary Morstan’s old school, and a threat to Queen Victoria. The return of the German agent Von Bork, somewhat changed, and a desperate hunt for a killer through the alleys of London with none other than Professor Van Helsing.
Join us in the first volume of this two volume anthology as Holmes finds himself working with psychic investigators old and new in pursuit of answers, and must confront his own scepticism. Tales in the traditional style – but with a twist. Can Holmes’s logic work alongside the occult detectives’ willingness to embrace another set of rules entirely? Paranormal – or poppycock?
As Carnacki the Ghost Finder, the famous literary occult detective, once said:
“I view all reported ‘hauntings’ as unproven until I have examined into them, and I am bound to admit that ninety-nine cases out of a hundred turn out to be sheer bosh and fancy.”
In these pages, a range of contemporary authors explore 'what happens next' when the Great Detective confronts mysteries which question reason. A summons from Irene Adler’s daughter; a chance encounter with one of Houdini’s fraud investigators; the enigma of Dr John Silence. Mysterious events at Mary Morstan’s old school, and a threat to Queen Victoria. The return of the German agent Von Bork, somewhat changed, and a desperate hunt for a killer through the alleys of London with none other than Professor Van Helsing.
Join us in the first volume of this two volume anthology as Holmes finds himself working with psychic investigators old and new in pursuit of answers, and must confront his own scepticism. Tales in the traditional style – but with a twist. Can Holmes’s logic work alongside the occult detectives’ willingness to embrace another set of rules entirely? Paranormal – or poppycock?
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2020
54 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
John Linwood Grant
97 books41 followersJohn Linwood Grant lives in Yorkshire with a pack of lurchers and a beard. He may also have a family.
When he's not chronicling the adventures of Mr Bubbles, the slightly psychotic pony, he writes a range of supernatural, horror and speculative tales, some of which are actually published.
You can find him every week on his website which celebrates weird fiction and weird art, greydogtales.com, often with his dogs.
When he's not chronicling the adventures of Mr Bubbles, the slightly psychotic pony, he writes a range of supernatural, horror and speculative tales, some of which are actually published.
You can find him every week on his website which celebrates weird fiction and weird art, greydogtales.com, often with his dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 2, 2023
A fun anthology of eleven stories where in Sherlock Holmes solves cases in conjunction with various occult detectives. These detectives range from newly created by the authors, to Algernon Blackwood's classic character Doctor John Silence.
The stories are good and the selection well balanced. Of course, being an anthology, I do have favourite stories. They are:
The Adventure of the Faerie Coffin by Rebecca Buchanan
Sherlock Holmes and the Ghostly Reunion by Christopher Degni
The Adventure of Marylebone Manor by Naching T. Kassa.
This anthology is a fun read especially if, like me, you are fond of your Sherlock Holmes with a side order of weird.
I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading the other three volumes in the series.
The stories are good and the selection well balanced. Of course, being an anthology, I do have favourite stories. They are:
The Adventure of the Faerie Coffin by Rebecca Buchanan
Sherlock Holmes and the Ghostly Reunion by Christopher Degni
The Adventure of Marylebone Manor by Naching T. Kassa.
This anthology is a fun read especially if, like me, you are fond of your Sherlock Holmes with a side order of weird.
I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading the other three volumes in the series.
June 13, 2024
Mixed bag of mixed detective stories
Worth reading even if most of the stories are easily forgotten. As you would expect, the great detective is central but the portrayal is of very variable quality even to the point of being almost passive and therefore rather unconvincing.
Worth reading even if most of the stories are easily forgotten. As you would expect, the great detective is central but the portrayal is of very variable quality even to the point of being almost passive and therefore rather unconvincing.
August 30, 2020
Sherlock Holmes kohtaa yliluonnollisen. Vaikka hra Conan Doyle oli kovastikin spiritualismiin kallellaan, niin Sherlock ei moista suvainnut. Mutta nyt on pakko. Kirjoittajalla on paljon päätöksiä tehtävänään: Kerrotaan tarina tri Watsonin näkökulmasta (kuten alkuperäisissä tarinoissa), kolmannessa persoonassa (varsinkin jos tri Watson ei esiinny tarinassa) vain onko kertoja joku ihan muu tai peräti hra Holmes itse? Kun aletaan siirtyä yliluonnollisen puolelle, niin kuinka helposti Holmesin päästä napsahtaa ja hän hyväksyy kaiken, vai eikö siltikään hyväksy vaikka kaikki todisteet toiselle puolelle viittaavat? Entäpä tri Watson? Hyväksyykö hän? Pysyvätkö he ”samalla puolella” tässä asiassa? Entäpä kirjoitustyyli? Pyritäänkö pysymään vanhassa tutussa tyylissä, vai voidaanko välillä vähän vitsailla?
Ennen lukemista luulin, että suurin osa Sherlockin kohtaamista okkulttisista etsivistä olisi perustunut vanhoihin hahmoihin, mutta näin ei ole, vaan suurin osa on uusia. Voihan olla, että vanhoja hahmoja ei ole erityisen montaa eli kokoelma olisi jäänyt vähän pieneksi, tai kaikkien tekijänoikeudet eivät ole rauenneet tai osa on kronologisesti väärään aikaan (Carnakiin viitataan kahdessa tarinassa, mutta kummassakin hän on jo kuollut aikoja sitten). (Tai sitten osa vanhoista hahmoista ei vaan ole niin mielenkiintoisia että kukaan haluaisi heihin enää palata.)
Kyllähän tämän kanssa viihtyi. Loppujen lopuksi parhaat tarinat saattoivat olla ne, jossa tapahtui melkeinpä vähiten. Sitten kun tarinassa on liikaa liikkuvia osia, niin tarina voi olla ihan vetävä, mutta ei enää ihan niin sherlockholmes.
Ennen lukemista luulin, että suurin osa Sherlockin kohtaamista okkulttisista etsivistä olisi perustunut vanhoihin hahmoihin, mutta näin ei ole, vaan suurin osa on uusia. Voihan olla, että vanhoja hahmoja ei ole erityisen montaa eli kokoelma olisi jäänyt vähän pieneksi, tai kaikkien tekijänoikeudet eivät ole rauenneet tai osa on kronologisesti väärään aikaan (Carnakiin viitataan kahdessa tarinassa, mutta kummassakin hän on jo kuollut aikoja sitten). (Tai sitten osa vanhoista hahmoista ei vaan ole niin mielenkiintoisia että kukaan haluaisi heihin enää palata.)
Kyllähän tämän kanssa viihtyi. Loppujen lopuksi parhaat tarinat saattoivat olla ne, jossa tapahtui melkeinpä vähiten. Sitten kun tarinassa on liikaa liikkuvia osia, niin tarina voi olla ihan vetävä, mutta ei enää ihan niin sherlockholmes.
August 30, 2021
Really a 3.5. Three very good stories (featuring guest stars such as Mary Marston and AC Doyle), some good, one stinker and several meh. A fast read, but I got it on KU so didn't feel cheated. Don't pay too much. Could have used better proofreading and spellcheck on the British place names. Perfect for these dog days of summer.
January 8, 2023
Enjoyable, English-cozy mixture of Victorian detective and ghost stories
For one who enjoys Holmes and other classic detective stories, and also from time to time enjoys a good Victorian ghost story, these tales make for fun reading.
For one who enjoys Holmes and other classic detective stories, and also from time to time enjoys a good Victorian ghost story, these tales make for fun reading.
October 23, 2024
Supernatural Holmes stories, pairing Detective with his occult counterparts. Mixed bag, but overall worth checking for fan of unconventional SH stories.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews