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James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and The Beast of the Stapletons
New York Times bestselling author James Lovegrove’s continues the story of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles, as five years later, another monstrous creature stalks across Dartmoor…
1894. The monstrous Hound of the Baskervilles has been dead for five years, along with its no less monstrous owner, the naturalist Jack Stapleton. Sir Henry Baskerville is living contentedly at Baskerville Hall with his new wife Audrey and their three-year-old son Harry.
Until, that is, Audrey’s lifeless body is found on the moors, drained of blood. It would appear some fiendish creature is once more at large on Dartmoor and has, like its predecessor, targeted the unfortunate Baskerville family.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are summoned to Sir Henry’s aid, and our heroes must face a marauding beast that is the very stuff of nightmares. It seems that Stapleton may not have perished in the Great Grimpen Mire after all, as Holmes believed, and is hell-bent on revenge…
1894. The monstrous Hound of the Baskervilles has been dead for five years, along with its no less monstrous owner, the naturalist Jack Stapleton. Sir Henry Baskerville is living contentedly at Baskerville Hall with his new wife Audrey and their three-year-old son Harry.
Until, that is, Audrey’s lifeless body is found on the moors, drained of blood. It would appear some fiendish creature is once more at large on Dartmoor and has, like its predecessor, targeted the unfortunate Baskerville family.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are summoned to Sir Henry’s aid, and our heroes must face a marauding beast that is the very stuff of nightmares. It seems that Stapleton may not have perished in the Great Grimpen Mire after all, as Holmes believed, and is hell-bent on revenge…
404 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
About the author
James Lovegrove
154 books600 followersJames Lovegrove is the author of several acclaimed novels and books for children.
James was born on Christmas Eve 1965 and, having dabbled in writing at school, first took to it seriously while at university. A short story of his won a college competition. The prize was £15, and it had cost £18 to get the story professionally typed. This taught him a hard but necessary lesson in the harsh economic realities of a literary career.
Straight after graduating from Oxford with a degree in English Literature, James set himself the goal of getting a novel written and sold within two years. In the event, it took two months. The Hope was completed in six weeks and accepted by Macmillan a fortnight later. The seed for the idea for the novel — a world in microcosm on an ocean liner — was planted during a cross-Channel ferry journey.
James blew his modest advance for The Hope on a round-the-world trip which took him to, among other places, Thailand. His experiences there, particularly what he witnessed of the sex industry in Bangkok, provided much of the inspiration for The Foreigners.
Escardy Gap was co-written with Pete Crowther over a period of a year and a half, the two authors playing a game of creative tag, each completing a section in turn and leaving the other to carry the story on. The result has proved a cult favourite, and was voted by readers of SFX one of the top fifty SF/Fantasy novels of all time.
Days, a satire on consumerism, was shortlisted for the 1998 Arthur C. Clarke Award (losing to Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow). The book’s genesis most probably lies in the many visits James used to make as a child to the Oxford Street department store owned by his grandfather. It was written over a period of nine months while James was living in the north-west suburbs of Chicago.
Subsequent works have all been published to great acclaim. These include Untied Kingdom, Worldstorm, Provender Gleed, The Age Of Ra and the back-to-back double-novella Gig. James has also written for children. Wings, a short novel for reluctant readers, was short-listed for several awards, while his fantasy series for teens, The Clouded World, written under the pseudonym Jay Amory, has been translated into 7 other languages so far. A five-book series for reluctant readers, The 5 Lords Of Pain, is appearing at two-monthly intervals throughout 2010.
He also reviews fiction for the Financial Times, specialising in the Young Adult, children’s, science fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novel genres.
Currently James resides in Eastbourne on the Sussex Coast, having moved there in August 2007 with his wife Lou, sons Monty and Theo, and cat Ozzy. He has a terrific view of the sea from his study window, which he doesn’t sit staring out at all day when he should be working. Honest.
James was born on Christmas Eve 1965 and, having dabbled in writing at school, first took to it seriously while at university. A short story of his won a college competition. The prize was £15, and it had cost £18 to get the story professionally typed. This taught him a hard but necessary lesson in the harsh economic realities of a literary career.
Straight after graduating from Oxford with a degree in English Literature, James set himself the goal of getting a novel written and sold within two years. In the event, it took two months. The Hope was completed in six weeks and accepted by Macmillan a fortnight later. The seed for the idea for the novel — a world in microcosm on an ocean liner — was planted during a cross-Channel ferry journey.
James blew his modest advance for The Hope on a round-the-world trip which took him to, among other places, Thailand. His experiences there, particularly what he witnessed of the sex industry in Bangkok, provided much of the inspiration for The Foreigners.
Escardy Gap was co-written with Pete Crowther over a period of a year and a half, the two authors playing a game of creative tag, each completing a section in turn and leaving the other to carry the story on. The result has proved a cult favourite, and was voted by readers of SFX one of the top fifty SF/Fantasy novels of all time.
Days, a satire on consumerism, was shortlisted for the 1998 Arthur C. Clarke Award (losing to Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow). The book’s genesis most probably lies in the many visits James used to make as a child to the Oxford Street department store owned by his grandfather. It was written over a period of nine months while James was living in the north-west suburbs of Chicago.
Subsequent works have all been published to great acclaim. These include Untied Kingdom, Worldstorm, Provender Gleed, The Age Of Ra and the back-to-back double-novella Gig. James has also written for children. Wings, a short novel for reluctant readers, was short-listed for several awards, while his fantasy series for teens, The Clouded World, written under the pseudonym Jay Amory, has been translated into 7 other languages so far. A five-book series for reluctant readers, The 5 Lords Of Pain, is appearing at two-monthly intervals throughout 2010.
He also reviews fiction for the Financial Times, specialising in the Young Adult, children’s, science fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novel genres.
Currently James resides in Eastbourne on the Sussex Coast, having moved there in August 2007 with his wife Lou, sons Monty and Theo, and cat Ozzy. He has a terrific view of the sea from his study window, which he doesn’t sit staring out at all day when he should be working. Honest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 4, 2021
DON'T READ THIS IF HAVE NOT READ HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES but at end of day whole book is spoiler alert even the title..
In Hound Holmes isn't is in much, this reversed in this he turns Watson into yellow belly coward and it is ghastly. Instead we have Mr. Scarecrow and Mr. Chimney sweep. The idea that country village in 1890s had no racist views is crap. Makes no sense. Yet the Black friend of the Henry Baskerville is excepted with open arms is strange.
The silly moth is Lovegrove at his worst. I read all of Holmes stories but first part with no Watson is ghastly but then part three we get to twist and turns of race to the end.
Over all the chapter on plot of Hound is waste of paper, all blank pages chopped out this could been *****but its not.
In Hound Holmes isn't is in much, this reversed in this he turns Watson into yellow belly coward and it is ghastly. Instead we have Mr. Scarecrow and Mr. Chimney sweep. The idea that country village in 1890s had no racist views is crap. Makes no sense. Yet the Black friend of the Henry Baskerville is excepted with open arms is strange.
The silly moth is Lovegrove at his worst. I read all of Holmes stories but first part with no Watson is ghastly but then part three we get to twist and turns of race to the end.
Over all the chapter on plot of Hound is waste of paper, all blank pages chopped out this could been *****but its not.
November 18, 2020
Originally published at Risingshadow.
James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons is a beautifully written mystery novel to everybody who loves Sherlock Holmes stories. It's an impressive sequel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Ah, what a pleasure it was to read this novel! Being a fan of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, I'm more than happy to say that this novel is worthy of being in the same league as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous stories, because it reads like a good old-fashioned Sherlock Holmes story. When compared to Doyle's stories, the only difference is that this novel has a slightly more modern and sharper edge to it.
This mystery novel has all the necessary elements to keep the reader intrigued: adventure, intrigue, strangeness and excellent prose. The story will please readers of mystery fiction and speculative fiction alike, because it has elements of both genres. Although this novel is largely a mystery novel, it has a few elements that will fascinate speculative fiction readers (elements related to the possible mysterious monster and exsanguination shall undoubtedly be of interest to many readers).
The story begins with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson receiving information about an old acquaintance of theirs needing urgent help due to an acute crisis. The acquaintance in question is Henry Baskerville whom Holmes and Watson met a few years earlier. This time, it's not only Henry's life that is at stake, but his very sanity. Holmes and Watson hear that Henry's wife, Audrey, has been killed a short distance from the Baskerville Hall in a gruesome way. The rumour has it that she was killed by a monster. What makes her death strange is the fact that the body is completely drained of blood...
As the events begin to unfold after the first pages, the reader is treated to a deliciously dark and Gothic story that becomes increasingly intense and spellbinding towards the ending. In this story, the protagonists not only visit the Baskervill Hall on the moors, but also travel to South America, and they unearth a few secrets along the way.
The mystery and horror elements are in perfect balance in this novel and compliment each other. The rumours about a strange and unnatural monster make for an excellent read, because the author plays with the reader's expectations and gradually reveals how all the bits and pieces are connected to each other.
The characterisation is delightfully nuanced and perceptive. It was enjoyable to read about all of the characters and how they were introduced in the story.
The author's vision of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson feels remarkably authentic. He fleshes out both of their characteristics in a splendid way and makes them come alive with his prose. For example, by writing about how Dr Watson feels about the previous happenings on the moors the author lends depth to the character, and he manages to describe Holmes as the same kind of an intelligent man as he is in Doyle's stories.
It was interesting to read about Henry Baskerville and his son. The author's way of writing about these characters and their reactions to what is happening to them is excellent.
I have to admit that I'm amazed at how beautifully and atmospherically James Lovegrove writes Sherlockian fiction, because he manages to capture all the nuances that are present in Doyle's stories and then adds his own touch of modern flavour to the whole. I consider him to be one of the best modern authors of Sherlockian stories. To be honest, I thought that nobody could ever write a compelling sequel to the original story, because it's a well-known and respected classic within its own genre, but James Lovegrove has fully succeeded in it.
I love the author's prose, because he writes in an effortless way and pays attention to many details and atmosphere. There's something about his writing style that reminds me of classic stories that were written in the early 20th century. His fluent way of writing about the locales, the happenings and the characters is captivating and he succeeds in entertaining the reader with his story.
The Gothic nuances of the story are a nice touch of style and add fascination to the events. There's also a pleasant amount of humour in the story (not too much, but enough to add a touch of lightness to the story).
James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons is a wonderful piece of mystery excellence that should be on everybody's reading list. If you love mystery fiction, please invest time into reading this novel, because it's an amazing and rewarding reading experience. It's perfect escapism to everybody who loves good stories.
Highly recommended!
James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons is a beautifully written mystery novel to everybody who loves Sherlock Holmes stories. It's an impressive sequel to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Ah, what a pleasure it was to read this novel! Being a fan of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, I'm more than happy to say that this novel is worthy of being in the same league as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous stories, because it reads like a good old-fashioned Sherlock Holmes story. When compared to Doyle's stories, the only difference is that this novel has a slightly more modern and sharper edge to it.
This mystery novel has all the necessary elements to keep the reader intrigued: adventure, intrigue, strangeness and excellent prose. The story will please readers of mystery fiction and speculative fiction alike, because it has elements of both genres. Although this novel is largely a mystery novel, it has a few elements that will fascinate speculative fiction readers (elements related to the possible mysterious monster and exsanguination shall undoubtedly be of interest to many readers).
The story begins with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson receiving information about an old acquaintance of theirs needing urgent help due to an acute crisis. The acquaintance in question is Henry Baskerville whom Holmes and Watson met a few years earlier. This time, it's not only Henry's life that is at stake, but his very sanity. Holmes and Watson hear that Henry's wife, Audrey, has been killed a short distance from the Baskerville Hall in a gruesome way. The rumour has it that she was killed by a monster. What makes her death strange is the fact that the body is completely drained of blood...
As the events begin to unfold after the first pages, the reader is treated to a deliciously dark and Gothic story that becomes increasingly intense and spellbinding towards the ending. In this story, the protagonists not only visit the Baskervill Hall on the moors, but also travel to South America, and they unearth a few secrets along the way.
The mystery and horror elements are in perfect balance in this novel and compliment each other. The rumours about a strange and unnatural monster make for an excellent read, because the author plays with the reader's expectations and gradually reveals how all the bits and pieces are connected to each other.
The characterisation is delightfully nuanced and perceptive. It was enjoyable to read about all of the characters and how they were introduced in the story.
The author's vision of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson feels remarkably authentic. He fleshes out both of their characteristics in a splendid way and makes them come alive with his prose. For example, by writing about how Dr Watson feels about the previous happenings on the moors the author lends depth to the character, and he manages to describe Holmes as the same kind of an intelligent man as he is in Doyle's stories.
It was interesting to read about Henry Baskerville and his son. The author's way of writing about these characters and their reactions to what is happening to them is excellent.
I have to admit that I'm amazed at how beautifully and atmospherically James Lovegrove writes Sherlockian fiction, because he manages to capture all the nuances that are present in Doyle's stories and then adds his own touch of modern flavour to the whole. I consider him to be one of the best modern authors of Sherlockian stories. To be honest, I thought that nobody could ever write a compelling sequel to the original story, because it's a well-known and respected classic within its own genre, but James Lovegrove has fully succeeded in it.
I love the author's prose, because he writes in an effortless way and pays attention to many details and atmosphere. There's something about his writing style that reminds me of classic stories that were written in the early 20th century. His fluent way of writing about the locales, the happenings and the characters is captivating and he succeeds in entertaining the reader with his story.
The Gothic nuances of the story are a nice touch of style and add fascination to the events. There's also a pleasant amount of humour in the story (not too much, but enough to add a touch of lightness to the story).
James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes and the Beast of the Stapletons is a wonderful piece of mystery excellence that should be on everybody's reading list. If you love mystery fiction, please invest time into reading this novel, because it's an amazing and rewarding reading experience. It's perfect escapism to everybody who loves good stories.
Highly recommended!
May 8, 2022
This was too convoluted for my taste. It was too long, and I got bored midway.
It's a sad day when I figure out the culprit way before Sherlock Holmes!
It's a sad day when I figure out the culprit way before Sherlock Holmes!
April 8, 2024
"Why do we grow so cold to one another? Would that people were more like the stars, fixed and constant, following their set paths forever."
With The Beast of the Stapletons, James Lovegrove revisits Sir Arthur C. Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, as unfortunate Henry Baskerville suffers more loss upon the moors.
This Sherlock Holmes pastiche is, in this reader's opinion, far superior to Anthony Horowitz's Moriarty but, of course, not equal to Doyle's best editions. Holmes and, eventually, Watson are summoned to assist the Baskerville aristocrat after his new wife is harmed by what appears to be a large insect. Throughout the mystery, the author includes examples of Holmes's powers of deduction. We are given elements of danger and suspense. We are given bad English weather and bits of humour (from the American, not the British blokes. Goes without saying.)
Lovegrove's depiction of Holmes is more human than Doyle's. Less analytical, less aloof. One aspect of this installment might be viewed as hokey to some. Overall, The Beast of the Stapletons is a worthwhile addition to the Sherlock adventures. It is a fun read on par with Horowitz's The House of Silk.
With The Beast of the Stapletons, James Lovegrove revisits Sir Arthur C. Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, as unfortunate Henry Baskerville suffers more loss upon the moors.
This Sherlock Holmes pastiche is, in this reader's opinion, far superior to Anthony Horowitz's Moriarty but, of course, not equal to Doyle's best editions. Holmes and, eventually, Watson are summoned to assist the Baskerville aristocrat after his new wife is harmed by what appears to be a large insect. Throughout the mystery, the author includes examples of Holmes's powers of deduction. We are given elements of danger and suspense. We are given bad English weather and bits of humour (from the American, not the British blokes. Goes without saying.)
Lovegrove's depiction of Holmes is more human than Doyle's. Less analytical, less aloof. One aspect of this installment might be viewed as hokey to some. Overall, The Beast of the Stapletons is a worthwhile addition to the Sherlock adventures. It is a fun read on par with Horowitz's The House of Silk.
December 18, 2020
this book was such. a drag. and a letdown. I didn't enjoy a single thing about it. the plot, the casual racism, the fact that the only women in it were villains or got murderer, the pacing, the bad doyle emulation. listen, a pastiche either has to carry it's own wright with characterization or story OR it has to have an impeccable watson voice. this did neither. do holmes & watson even like each other here?? the thought that the hound in HOUN is the most horrifying thing that's stuck with watson for years considering that he believed his best friend, I don't know, was chucked off a cliff by an evil math professor and also his wife died?? nonsense. and the reverse-HOUN structure of holmes telling watson a tale instead didn't work at all. if you're going to tell a story in holmes's voice it has to sound like him. I wish more pastiche writers would give up attempting to write how they think doyle sounds & just write clearly and we'll in their own style. and don't get me started on the clumsy shoving of modern complex concerns about diversity (& that egregious little plot point about navajo spirituality). I hated this. just awful.
June 20, 2021
When Watson expressed fear of a mere German Shepherd in the beginning of the book, I knew I was headed for trouble. Still, the premise intrigued me so I kept reading.
Problems:
The author has a tendency to insert jarring modern phrases such as “kept his cool.” He doesn’t capture the voices of either Holmes or Watson. The giant moth turning out to be a kite was no surprise.
The worst? The villains’ motivations. Beryl, who had no resources, was able to make her way back to England, to exact revenge on Henry Baskerville, whom she jilted in the first place. Dr. Mortimer’s motivation is impossible to believe, that he was in love with Beryl and wanted to revenge his stepbrother, James Moriarty. The author has conveniently forgotten that Mortimer is married in the original story.
This is a mediocre piece of fan fiction and I regret paying $5 for it.
Problems:
The author has a tendency to insert jarring modern phrases such as “kept his cool.” He doesn’t capture the voices of either Holmes or Watson. The giant moth turning out to be a kite was no surprise.
The worst? The villains’ motivations. Beryl, who had no resources, was able to make her way back to England, to exact revenge on Henry Baskerville, whom she jilted in the first place. Dr. Mortimer’s motivation is impossible to believe, that he was in love with Beryl and wanted to revenge his stepbrother, James Moriarty. The author has conveniently forgotten that Mortimer is married in the original story.
This is a mediocre piece of fan fiction and I regret paying $5 for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2021
IF YOU ARE A SHERLOCK FAN DROP WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING AND READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW! IT IS AMAZING AND IT WILL CHANGE YOUR SHERLOCKIAN LIFE!!!
This story is a continuation of The Hound of The Baskervilles, and it takes place after Sherlock's return from Reichenbach. Lady Audry, the wife of Sir Henry Baskerville, has been murdered on the moor. There is a mysterious creature out on the moor, and many suspects that may have control over it. Is Jack Stapleton still alive? Or is someone else pulling the strings? Nothing is as it seems. You will get to reunite with old characters like Sir Henry, Dr. Mortomer, Laura Lyons, and the Barrymores. And be on the lookout for references to an old and formidable foe from the past. Revenge seems to be the motive, but many people seem to want it...
This story is a continuation of The Hound of The Baskervilles, and it takes place after Sherlock's return from Reichenbach. Lady Audry, the wife of Sir Henry Baskerville, has been murdered on the moor. There is a mysterious creature out on the moor, and many suspects that may have control over it. Is Jack Stapleton still alive? Or is someone else pulling the strings? Nothing is as it seems. You will get to reunite with old characters like Sir Henry, Dr. Mortomer, Laura Lyons, and the Barrymores. And be on the lookout for references to an old and formidable foe from the past. Revenge seems to be the motive, but many people seem to want it...
November 9, 2023
I loved it. It continues the story of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Written in the style of Conan Doyle and using his famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock returns to the scene of a previous crime scene and the Baskerville family. This time it is Sir Henry and his young son who are under threat, his wife having already been brutally murdered. It is weird, completely ridiculous and unrealistic, I think it must have appealed to my peculiar sense of humour though, of course, it wasn’t funny but bizarre!
December 29, 2022
Blood sucking mega moth(s) haunting Devon, just a few years after Holmes&Watson put the Hound of the Baskervilles to rest? This demands a closer look, of course.
I knew who was behind it early on, but it was still fun seeing Watson clueless and Holmes keeping his cards close to his chest.
I knew who was behind it early on, but it was still fun seeing Watson clueless and Holmes keeping his cards close to his chest.
December 29, 2020
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT:
[If you have this book but haven’t read it - or think you might want to read it, you might not want to read this review, as there are references in it that might ruin your enjoyment.]
I very much enjoyed this book until about the last 60 pages or so.
I did realize the subterfuge used by the unknown villain to create what appeared to be another supernatural or horrible beast upon the moors of Devon. Before the story actually revealed the unknown villain’s identity, I figured out who it was. I also did deduced that her accomplice was a former aid in the original Doyle novel.
But that’s okay, those did not contribute to my disappointment at the end. I’m even OK with the way they change the identity of one of the major players from the original Doyle story; that was done fairly well.
I was quite enthralled for the first 80% of the book.
What I did not like - or at least what I found to be pretty weak - was the motivation behind the villain’s crimes against the Baskervilles. I just have a hard time wrapping around wrapping my head around how her attitude and feelings can do such a 180. Maybe because being bitter at somebody else for the way my life turned out and blaming them for things that happen as a result of choices I made is not something I would do, I have a hard time envisioning it in other people - even though I see evidence of that daily. Still, I need a little stronger motivation from a character to do what she did in order for it to really work for me.
I certainly enjoyed his previous novel, “Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon,” and I’ll probably read more of his Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Still, it was disappointing that something which started out with such promise ended weakly, in my opinion.
One another note that has absolutely nothing to do with the writing, but also contributed to my disappointment, is the fact that the gilt lettering on the cover of the book wore off while I was reading it. I treat my books like gold, I’m very careful with them, I have pocketbooks that are 25 years old and look like they just came off the shelf in a bookstore. So it shouldn’t happen with a $25 hardcover book read over three nights.
While the author certainly has nothing to do with that - that’s on Titan Books - it does take away a little bit from my overall pleasure.
[If you have this book but haven’t read it - or think you might want to read it, you might not want to read this review, as there are references in it that might ruin your enjoyment.]
I very much enjoyed this book until about the last 60 pages or so.
I did realize the subterfuge used by the unknown villain to create what appeared to be another supernatural or horrible beast upon the moors of Devon. Before the story actually revealed the unknown villain’s identity, I figured out who it was. I also did deduced that her accomplice was a former aid in the original Doyle novel.
But that’s okay, those did not contribute to my disappointment at the end. I’m even OK with the way they change the identity of one of the major players from the original Doyle story; that was done fairly well.
I was quite enthralled for the first 80% of the book.
What I did not like - or at least what I found to be pretty weak - was the motivation behind the villain’s crimes against the Baskervilles. I just have a hard time wrapping around wrapping my head around how her attitude and feelings can do such a 180. Maybe because being bitter at somebody else for the way my life turned out and blaming them for things that happen as a result of choices I made is not something I would do, I have a hard time envisioning it in other people - even though I see evidence of that daily. Still, I need a little stronger motivation from a character to do what she did in order for it to really work for me.
I certainly enjoyed his previous novel, “Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon,” and I’ll probably read more of his Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Still, it was disappointing that something which started out with such promise ended weakly, in my opinion.
One another note that has absolutely nothing to do with the writing, but also contributed to my disappointment, is the fact that the gilt lettering on the cover of the book wore off while I was reading it. I treat my books like gold, I’m very careful with them, I have pocketbooks that are 25 years old and look like they just came off the shelf in a bookstore. So it shouldn’t happen with a $25 hardcover book read over three nights.
While the author certainly has nothing to do with that - that’s on Titan Books - it does take away a little bit from my overall pleasure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2020
"Why not help yourself to some shag?" My friend said. That's it. And I shall do likewise. This is, at the very least, a three - pipe recitation."
This is a thrilling sequel to The Hound of the Baskervilles, set five years after Jack Stapleton fell into the Grimpen mire.
Corporal Benjamin Grier - a friend of Henry Baskerville, calls on Sherlock Holmes to ask for assistance, as he believes his old friend is being tormented after his wife's body is found on the moors with a single puncture to the neck and the body drained of blood.
Written in the style of Conan Doyle, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was.
Fabulous!
This is a thrilling sequel to The Hound of the Baskervilles, set five years after Jack Stapleton fell into the Grimpen mire.
Corporal Benjamin Grier - a friend of Henry Baskerville, calls on Sherlock Holmes to ask for assistance, as he believes his old friend is being tormented after his wife's body is found on the moors with a single puncture to the neck and the body drained of blood.
Written in the style of Conan Doyle, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was.
Fabulous!
August 4, 2022
BDBS DOCTOR WATSON DOCTOR MOMENT AAA AMPUTATION?? AND HE SHOOTING?? EEEEEEEE
plz I actually love them, imma cry
plz I actually love them, imma cry
October 22, 2022
Good, clean fun! But you know... with murder.
February 13, 2023
In my opinion not as good as the other books in this series. But i liked it!
I needed an easy book to get back into reading and this hit the right spot for that.
I needed an easy book to get back into reading and this hit the right spot for that.
Read
February 1, 2023I recently enjoyed reading Lovegrove's Three Winter Terrors, which I will at some point review. On the basis of that book i would have said that Lovegrove is one of the better practitioners in this increasingly crowded area of Holmes pastiche, managing to stay close to the spirit and style of the originals with contemporary pacing and awareness [and only the odd jarring contemporary note]. I can definitely recommend that book, and was looking forward to reading this one. This one showed some promise as a sequel to the Hound of the Baskervilles. But there were jarring notes from the beginning, including an unconvincing and unsympathetic portrayal of Watson and a silly sounding monster. . And it soon became clear that the whole construction was built upon incoherent foundations. Sir Henry Baskerville's wife has been killed on the moors, apparently by some blood sucking monster, and his servants have left Baskerville Hall , with Sir Henry left to care for his young son alone. Sir Henry is terrified for the welfare of his child, threatened by the creature of the moors. Yet he stays on alone in the hall in anxiety and desperation. It soon becomes clear that he has enough immediately available funds to be able to go anywhere in the world and live comfortably and safely. Yet he does not leave the hall. No coherent rationale for this behaviour is provided by the author. Sir Henry appears to be acting in somewhat crazy fashion at the beginning of the story. But it turns out that he is basically sane. And neither his close friend nor Sherlock Holmes immediately insist or even suggest that he move to a place of safety. The authors failure to fill this gaping plot hole very seriously detracts from all the writing and plotting around it. Sadly there are plenty of other issues, concerning the behaviour and motivations of other characters, including Watson, clearly and accurately highlighted by other reviewers. I cannot recommend this book. It is very disappointing after the Winter Terrors book.
March 24, 2022
On one of the Goodreads groups that discuss Sherlock Holmes, one topic is "pastiche" versus "fan fiction." The consensus - and my opinion - is that a pastiche tries to imitate Conan Doyle's writing style and to keep the characters and setting faithful to the canon. Sherlock Holmes & the Beast of the Stapletons is fan fiction.
First the good: the book itself is well produced with a striking cover and attractive layout. It would make a good gift for a Sherlock reader, provided the reader hadn't actually read the Hound of the Baskervilles. I also thought the way Holmes himself came off was pretty faithful and the writing wasn't bad, but it wasn't Doyle.
Now, the problems: The rambling and implausible plot takes place 5 years after the adventure of the hound, and Henry Baskerville is a widower who has become a near recluse since the death of his wife, who appeared to have fallen victim to a mysterious giant moth plaguing the moors. Holmes is consulted about the mystery by Grier, a black man and Masonic brother of Henry, who is referred to as a "Canadian by birth." Now in HOB, Henry is English and had lived with his father on the South Coast (of England) and only after his father's death did he go to America. Stapleton, at one point is referred to as "Jack Baskerville" - he was, of course, aka "Jack Stapleton" but never "Jack Baskerville". he was the son of Rodger Baskerville and Holmes learns that his real name is also Rodger. Henry makes a comment about selling Baskerville Hall, which he can't do since it's entailed, and there are references to his romancing a few women after HOB,, but in the text Henry's nerves are shattered and he goes off on a long sea voyage around the world with Mortimer. Doctor Mortimer is unaccountably portrayed as and referred to as a "bachelor" - but Mortimer is a married man in HOB, and there are no suggestions that he was ever widowed.
There are more such errors (only a long-time dog owner like myself might recognize the one involving a German Shepherd) that made me wonder where the editors were on this, and whether the author had even read The Hound of the Baskervilles. I do like Holmes tales that bring back characters from previous stories, but as interesting as the premise of a new curse of the Baskervilles might be, this one was just riddled with too many Canonical errors.
First the good: the book itself is well produced with a striking cover and attractive layout. It would make a good gift for a Sherlock reader, provided the reader hadn't actually read the Hound of the Baskervilles. I also thought the way Holmes himself came off was pretty faithful and the writing wasn't bad, but it wasn't Doyle.
Now, the problems: The rambling and implausible plot takes place 5 years after the adventure of the hound, and Henry Baskerville is a widower who has become a near recluse since the death of his wife, who appeared to have fallen victim to a mysterious giant moth plaguing the moors. Holmes is consulted about the mystery by Grier, a black man and Masonic brother of Henry, who is referred to as a "Canadian by birth." Now in HOB, Henry is English and had lived with his father on the South Coast (of England) and only after his father's death did he go to America. Stapleton, at one point is referred to as "Jack Baskerville" - he was, of course, aka "Jack Stapleton" but never "Jack Baskerville". he was the son of Rodger Baskerville and Holmes learns that his real name is also Rodger. Henry makes a comment about selling Baskerville Hall, which he can't do since it's entailed, and there are references to his romancing a few women after HOB,, but in the text Henry's nerves are shattered and he goes off on a long sea voyage around the world with Mortimer. Doctor Mortimer is unaccountably portrayed as and referred to as a "bachelor" - but Mortimer is a married man in HOB, and there are no suggestions that he was ever widowed.
There are more such errors (only a long-time dog owner like myself might recognize the one involving a German Shepherd) that made me wonder where the editors were on this, and whether the author had even read The Hound of the Baskervilles. I do like Holmes tales that bring back characters from previous stories, but as interesting as the premise of a new curse of the Baskervilles might be, this one was just riddled with too many Canonical errors.
June 18, 2021
2.5 stars
I am disappointed. The blurb was so promising, but the final product didn’t live up to my expectations. I reread HOUND just before starting this, which made two things jump out at me. One was Lovegrove’s complete failure to capture Watson’s voice. The other was the fact that apparently he forgot that Dr. Mortimer was married.
In addition to failing to capture Watson’s voice, the author failed to capture his character. The book begins with Watson becoming frightened of a loose dog in a park, and then nearly coming to blows with the dog’s owner. Both are very unlike the Watson we know and love from the Canon. He goes on to visit Holmes and finds him with a client. Holmes is insulting to Watson, far more so than we see in the Canon and worse, he is this way in front of the client. I felt more like I was reading a script for Rathbone & Bruce than a pastiche, and we lacked the real life friendship of those two actors to soften the blow.
I like the characters of Grier and little Harry, and the plot was engaging, which is why I give the book 2.5 stars. If you’re looking for a good pastiche, however, give this one a pass.
I am disappointed. The blurb was so promising, but the final product didn’t live up to my expectations. I reread HOUND just before starting this, which made two things jump out at me. One was Lovegrove’s complete failure to capture Watson’s voice. The other was the fact that apparently he forgot that Dr. Mortimer was married.
In addition to failing to capture Watson’s voice, the author failed to capture his character. The book begins with Watson becoming frightened of a loose dog in a park, and then nearly coming to blows with the dog’s owner. Both are very unlike the Watson we know and love from the Canon. He goes on to visit Holmes and finds him with a client. Holmes is insulting to Watson, far more so than we see in the Canon and worse, he is this way in front of the client. I felt more like I was reading a script for Rathbone & Bruce than a pastiche, and we lacked the real life friendship of those two actors to soften the blow.
I like the characters of Grier and little Harry, and the plot was engaging, which is why I give the book 2.5 stars. If you’re looking for a good pastiche, however, give this one a pass.
July 5, 2020
This very Conan Doyle-like story of Holmes follows on from his return after Holmes' supposed death at Reichenbach Falls (The Final Problem) and five years after the events of "The Hound of the Baskervilles".
Lovegrove plots and paces his story in a manner that you might be forgiven for thinking this was a lost Conan Doyle manuscript. His take on Holmes and Watson is uncannily like the originals - and old characters from "The Hound" resurface.
The story is narrated by Watson of course - though Holmes himself does recount events which he classifies as "... a web of murder and deceit ...riddled with misgiving ..." when he sallied forth to Dartmoor in the company of one Corporal Grier to discover just what new beast was terrorising the Baskervilles. Just when you think all is solved, we the reader find ourselves only halfway there.
Definitely one for fans of Holmes and Watson - hope there are more tales on the horizon!
Lovegrove plots and paces his story in a manner that you might be forgiven for thinking this was a lost Conan Doyle manuscript. His take on Holmes and Watson is uncannily like the originals - and old characters from "The Hound" resurface.
The story is narrated by Watson of course - though Holmes himself does recount events which he classifies as "... a web of murder and deceit ...riddled with misgiving ..." when he sallied forth to Dartmoor in the company of one Corporal Grier to discover just what new beast was terrorising the Baskervilles. Just when you think all is solved, we the reader find ourselves only halfway there.
Definitely one for fans of Holmes and Watson - hope there are more tales on the horizon!
January 22, 2023
This was my christmas read for 2022 but it took me a couple of weeks to finish.
James Lovegrove is absolutely the best successor to Arthur Conan Doyle that I have read so far. His "Watson-voice" is very close to the original and the atmosphere in his books harkens back to the stories I loved to read as a teenager.
Did I enjoy this a lot? Yes, certainly: I crave more Sherlock at any time. However, of the three recent Lovegrove Sherlock books (the others being Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon and Sherlock Holmes & The Three Winter Terrors), this was the most disappointing. The story is not as predictable as The Three Winter Terrors, but that is mostly because the plot twists and villainous reasons at the end seem to come out of nowhere and don't really match with earlier stories and characterisations. This also goes for some other plot points, like Watson's canine PTSS which prevents him from going on a case with Holmes.
I believe there are still more Holmes books by Lovegrove that I haven't read. Hopefully they'll be as good as The Christmas Demon was.
James Lovegrove is absolutely the best successor to Arthur Conan Doyle that I have read so far. His "Watson-voice" is very close to the original and the atmosphere in his books harkens back to the stories I loved to read as a teenager.
Did I enjoy this a lot? Yes, certainly: I crave more Sherlock at any time. However, of the three recent Lovegrove Sherlock books (the others being Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon and Sherlock Holmes & The Three Winter Terrors), this was the most disappointing. The story is not as predictable as The Three Winter Terrors, but that is mostly because the plot twists and villainous reasons at the end seem to come out of nowhere and don't really match with earlier stories and characterisations. This also goes for some other plot points, like Watson's canine PTSS which prevents him from going on a case with Holmes.
I believe there are still more Holmes books by Lovegrove that I haven't read. Hopefully they'll be as good as The Christmas Demon was.
November 26, 2022
3.5 stars.
Was slow-paced to begin with, and I struggled picking it back up, however the last part is much more gripping and the twist at the end was unexpected, although I did correctly deduce the final suspect once the “snake amongst them” had been hinted at.
Was slow-paced to begin with, and I struggled picking it back up, however the last part is much more gripping and the twist at the end was unexpected, although I did correctly deduce the final suspect once the “snake amongst them” had been hinted at.
December 31, 2020
A new twist on the Baskervilles story.Yong Harry is held captive by Jack Stapleton's wife Beryl to exact revenge against the Baskervilles. Holmes, Watson & Grier a friend of Henry's pursue the truth. With a twist in the plot Moriarity is revealed with family ties to Dr Mortimer.
May 19, 2022
Great twists & turns again.
May 23, 2022
Not as charming as the original but enjoyable in it’s own right. The villainous motives were a bit unconvincing and farfetched for me though.
November 26, 2022
This was Really 👏 👏 👏 👏
March 13, 2023
This time featuring a sort of followup to the original Baskerville story, it undoubtedly falls short in every sense. The crime/mystery is too convoluted and far-fetched and not very interesting. I didn't really care for nor about any of the characters, except maybe the American colonel.
March 31, 2022
Too long by half! There was too much going on here - the overlong summary of The Hound of the Baskervilles, the multiple mysteries crammed into one tale, the OTT cheesiness of some reveals…It had its high points for sure but overall, like the book before it, did too much to be properly entertaining. Giving up on book 3.
Narration was A1 though.
Narration was A1 though.
July 14, 2024
I absolutely love this series, as a fan of Sherlock Holmes.
May 23, 2023
Listened to the audio version.
Good, but I felt it almost could have been two books, two separate cases, because it became rather convoluted at the end fitting it together. Gloriously gothic ending, however, and the first half on Dartmoor very much a joy to read
Good, but I felt it almost could have been two books, two separate cases, because it became rather convoluted at the end fitting it together. Gloriously gothic ending, however, and the first half on Dartmoor very much a joy to read
November 2, 2020
11/2/2020 3.5 stars rounded up. Still not sure how I felt about the biggest twist, tho I did very much enjoy the sly skewering of racism in the text. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
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