Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "james-lovegrove"

Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A gripping new case for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for the Yuletide season.

There have been many follow-ups and interpretations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, as well as spin-offs featuring other characters from the canon, both in print and in film and television. Some are widely successful - Anthony Horowitz's two authorised novels and Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' modern-setting BBC TV series amongst the most notable. James Lovegrove has written several Sherlock Holmes stories since 2013, with this the latest, published in 2019.

'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' begins a few days before Christmas in 1890 with the arrival of a potential new client in the form of Eve Allerthorpe, who is terrified that she is being haunted by preternatural forces - a ghost who may or may not be the spirit of her dead mother; and a folkloric demon known as the Black Thurrick, one of the many interpretations of a Christmas demon (Krampus being the most widely-known in the 21st century).

Intrigued by the story of her persecution, and not at all convinced her tormentor is supernatural in origin, Holmes agrees to take on the case. He and Watson travel to the Allerthorpe family home in Yorkshire, where they encounter Eve's immediate family, who immediately make it known they are not welcome. As Holmes begin to unearth secrets and lies, the Black Thurrick selects Watson as his next target, followed by a suspicious death that may finally crack open the case.

'Sherlock Holmes & The Christmas Demon' is a thrilling Victorian mystery, packed full of Holmes' deductive brilliance and wry wit, foreboding atmosphere and a seasonal chill. Revisiting Holmes and discovering a new story that captures the essence of Conan Doyle's storytelling and Holmes' character is a joyous gift - this reminiscent of a Christmas 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', with its remote setting, historic dynasty and folkloric horrors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this while enjoying a few days off over the Christmas period.

I sincerely hope that Lovegrove writes more Holmes mysteries in this vein. Synopses and reviews of his other Holmes' novels suggest they stray considerably from the tradition of Conan Doyle's stories, but on the merit of 'The Christmas Demon', I may explore them in the future.



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Sherlock Holmes and The Beast of the Stapletons by James Lovegrove

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A gripping, adventurous mystery and a sequel to, arguably, Sherlock Holmes’ most famous case – ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’.

It has been five years since Sherlock Holmes unmasked the nefarious villain behind the fearsome hound of the Baskervilles. But the Baskerville curse appears to have struck once again. Corporal Grier, an old friend of Sir Henry Baskerville, calls upon Holmes and begs him to intervene to save his friend’s sanity and uncover the latest vendetta against the family.

Sir Henry’s wife, Lady Audrey, was recently found dead, the blood drained from her body. Rumours abound that her life was claimed by a gigantic, vampiric moth, which has been seen in flight above the Dartmouth moorland at night. Holmes, of course, dismisses this supernatural explanation, and agrees to investigate the supposed reignited curse.

Amidst the harsh terrain of the mire, Holmes follows the trail in a quest to unmask the villain. But a twisted scheme is afoot, one that will prove to be more far-reaching and perilous as Holmes and Watson uncover the true horrors behind the beast of the Stapletons.

Having thoroughly enjoyed James Lovegrove’s ‘The Christmas Demon’, I was excited to discover this new adventure, one that would again delve into suspected folkloric persecution, and a return to the story of one of my favourites amongst Holmes’ cases – a true masterpiece by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

‘The Beast of the Stapletons’ did not disappoint – once again told by Dr Watson, this is a fast-paced tale full of twists and turns, packed with mystery and adventure. Witnessing Sherlock Holmes at work is always thrilling, the nefarious scheme at the centre of this plot amply testing his skills. This book is also packed with allusions to other Holmes’ cases, that will entertain any Sherlockian fan, as well as some amusing moments, and a final, satisfying twist.

Another brilliant addition to the ever-expanding Holmes universe, ‘Sherlock Holmes & The Beast of the Stapletons’ is wonderfully entertaining; highly recommended to fans old and new.



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Sherlock Holmes and The Three Winter Terrors by James Lovegrove

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Three cases of suspicious death surrounded by superstition for the master detective to unravel.

1889. Holmes investigates the drowning of a teenage boy that has been determined as accidental, while whispers of a curse cast by a witch centuries earlier are causing much unease. But, if foul play is at work, Holmes is convinced a human hand is behind it.

1890. A businessman demands Holmes aid him in uncovering the truth behind several unexplained events that suggest he is being haunted. The man is soon found dead, apparently frightened to death by a malign entity. Holmes, however, remains convinced there is a more rational explanation.

1894. Holmes is requested to investigate the death of an esteemed academic, following the cause being declared as an animal attack. But the bite marks on his body were human; suspicions aroused that he has been murdered by a cannibal.

‘The Three Winter Terrors’ is the third in this continuation series by James Lovegrove, following ‘The Christmas Demon’ and ‘The Beast of the Stapletons’, which sees Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson once again investigating murders, supernatural phenomena and folkloric history. Here, Watson presents three novellas, with threads linking them together, hence their collection in one volume.

Featuring the perfect Holmes blend of mystery and suspense with a dose of action and adventure, masterfully entwined with hints of the supernatural, all dominated by Holmes’ deductive brilliance, these three stories thrill on every page, taking us back to the late nineteenth century with vivid description, creating a sense of nostalgia for a time that none of us were yet born to witness. Watching Holmes at work through the eyes of Watson is always entertaining; as well as Holmes’ detective skills, the relationship between the two men makes Conan Doyle’s stories shine and Lovegrove captures that brilliantly, while also developing the supporting characters well throughout these fast-paced narratives.

The narrative mirrors Arthur Conan Doyle’s storytelling style and the voice of John Watson superbly, and the characterisation of Sherlock Holmes is perfection! A lot of attention to detail is paid to the timeline of Conan Doyle’s stories and their publication, with allusions to many of them as well as Lovegrove’s previous two novels, slotting the series perfectly amongst the canon of four novels and numerous short stories, as if these are indeed additional chronicles scribed by John Watson himself. If I had to choose a favourite amongst the tales, it would probably be the first, ‘The Witch’s Curse’, but I enjoyed them all immensely. Having devoured all three books over the last three winters, I very much hope we shall be treated to a fourth in the series.

‘Sherlock Holmes and the Three Winter Terrors’ is a gem for lovers of Sherlock Holmes, detective fiction and Victorian mysteries, as well as those who enjoy fiction with hints of the gothic and the supernatural in the heart of winter.



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