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Colin Pendragon Mysteries #1
The Arnifour Affair
Set against the fog-shrouded backdrop of turn-of-the-century London, Gregory Harris's new historical mystery series introduces tenacious sleuth Colin Pendragon, and a case that illuminates the darkness lurking in the heart of one of England's most noble families.
When a carriage bearing the Arnifour family crest--a vulture devouring a slaughtered lamb--arrives at the Kensington home of Colin Pendragon, it is an ominous beginning to a perplexing new case. Lady Arnifour's husband has been beaten to death and her niece, Elsbeth, left in a coma. Is the motive passion, revenge, or something even more sinister? Police suspicions have fallen on the groundskeeper and his son, yet the Earl's widow is convinced of their innocence.
Even as Colin and his partner Ethan Pruitt delve into the muddy history of the Arnifour family, a young street urchin begs their help in finding his missing sister. Ethan, regrettably familiar with London's underbelly, urges caution, yet Colin's interest is piqued. And in a search that wends from the squalid opium dens of the East End to the salons of Embassy Row, the truth about these seemingly disparate cases will prove disquieting, dangerous, and profoundly unexpected. . .
When a carriage bearing the Arnifour family crest--a vulture devouring a slaughtered lamb--arrives at the Kensington home of Colin Pendragon, it is an ominous beginning to a perplexing new case. Lady Arnifour's husband has been beaten to death and her niece, Elsbeth, left in a coma. Is the motive passion, revenge, or something even more sinister? Police suspicions have fallen on the groundskeeper and his son, yet the Earl's widow is convinced of their innocence.
Even as Colin and his partner Ethan Pruitt delve into the muddy history of the Arnifour family, a young street urchin begs their help in finding his missing sister. Ethan, regrettably familiar with London's underbelly, urges caution, yet Colin's interest is piqued. And in a search that wends from the squalid opium dens of the East End to the salons of Embassy Row, the truth about these seemingly disparate cases will prove disquieting, dangerous, and profoundly unexpected. . .
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
149 people are currently reading
1058 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Harris
6 books46 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Gregory Harris was born and raised outside of Chicago where he first developed a love of storytelling with the encouragement of a sister and cousin both blessed with fertile imaginations. He moved to Los Angeles where he attended and graduated from the University of Southern California.
He began his post collegiate career working at several talent agencies before moving into television and motion picture production, starting out on the landmark ABC television series, MOONLIGHTING, with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd.
From there he worked on several motion pictures including - CLEAN AND SOBER, LOVE AFFAIR and PICTURE PERFECT. He next moved to CBS Television where he worked on many notable on-air series among which were TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, CHICAGO HOPE, NOW AND AGAIN and PROMISED LAND.
After twenty years in the entertainment industry, Gregory decided it was time to begin writing on his own, and switched careers to give himself the freedom to do so. He entered the financial services industry and wrote a series of short stories before trying his hand at both a work of fiction and non-fiction. Just as the financial services business began to face harsh challenges, he finally turned his attentions to novel writing, specifically historical mysteries featuring Colin Pendragon and Ethan Pruitt. They would keep him focused through some rough times.
Gregory still resides in Southern California where he is able to indulge his passion for motorcycle riding. His other passion is travel - most notably prowling about the fog-shrouded byways of London once traversed by Colin and Ethan.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Gregory Harris was born and raised outside of Chicago where he first developed a love of storytelling with the encouragement of a sister and cousin both blessed with fertile imaginations. He moved to Los Angeles where he attended and graduated from the University of Southern California.
He began his post collegiate career working at several talent agencies before moving into television and motion picture production, starting out on the landmark ABC television series, MOONLIGHTING, with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd.
From there he worked on several motion pictures including - CLEAN AND SOBER, LOVE AFFAIR and PICTURE PERFECT. He next moved to CBS Television where he worked on many notable on-air series among which were TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, CHICAGO HOPE, NOW AND AGAIN and PROMISED LAND.
After twenty years in the entertainment industry, Gregory decided it was time to begin writing on his own, and switched careers to give himself the freedom to do so. He entered the financial services industry and wrote a series of short stories before trying his hand at both a work of fiction and non-fiction. Just as the financial services business began to face harsh challenges, he finally turned his attentions to novel writing, specifically historical mysteries featuring Colin Pendragon and Ethan Pruitt. They would keep him focused through some rough times.
Gregory still resides in Southern California where he is able to indulge his passion for motorcycle riding. His other passion is travel - most notably prowling about the fog-shrouded byways of London once traversed by Colin and Ethan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 7, 2018
This is a solidly constructed, well-executed slice of Victorian-set whodunit featuring a pair of private investigators who spend a considerable amount of time inspecting each other’s privates. The illegal and culturally taboo (for the time period, anyway) relationship between our male leads adds a layer of depth to what is otherwise a story that bumps very much along the surface of Victorian tropes, from the crumbling estates of fallen nobility to sordid opium dens to the hallowed (and stereotypically ineffectual) halls of Scotland Yard.
There are enough twists and turns in both the main plot and the primary subplot to keep the story moving, though in neither case are the revelations exceedingly pulse-pounding.
This feels somewhere in between 3 and 4 stars, so why round down? Well, like a blind man at an orgy, I had to feel my way through that decision. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact, while the story is technically sound and the characters generally engaging, I don’t feel compelled to pick up the sequel. Perhaps that mood will strike at some point and I’ll revise upward, but, for now, we’ll call it 3.5 stars with a minor deduction for indifference toward the prospect of continued adventures with our heroes.
(If you’re looking for some additional good, old-fashioned Victorian-set buddy detective shenanigans, I highly recommend The Revenant of Thraxton Hall: The Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.)
There are enough twists and turns in both the main plot and the primary subplot to keep the story moving, though in neither case are the revelations exceedingly pulse-pounding.
This feels somewhere in between 3 and 4 stars, so why round down? Well, like a blind man at an orgy, I had to feel my way through that decision. Ultimately, it comes down to the fact, while the story is technically sound and the characters generally engaging, I don’t feel compelled to pick up the sequel. Perhaps that mood will strike at some point and I’ll revise upward, but, for now, we’ll call it 3.5 stars with a minor deduction for indifference toward the prospect of continued adventures with our heroes.
(If you’re looking for some additional good, old-fashioned Victorian-set buddy detective shenanigans, I highly recommend The Revenant of Thraxton Hall: The Paranormal Casebooks of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.)
April 30, 2014
Tailor-made for Sherlock Holmes fans; this is one for those who've powered through all of Conan Doyle's detective's outings and are bemoaning the fact that there's no more to read. The detective here, Colin Pendragon, is clearly Holmes, and his sidekick/lover (the relationship is tastefully and obliquely referenced) is clearly Watson.
I think a lot of fans will enjoy it, although some purists will, of course, have objections.
Myself, I found it to be an enjoyable but fairly standard murder mystery. A renowned investigator is hired to look into the death of a wealthy woman's husband. Lady Arnifour's main concern seems to be clearing the name of the chief suspect, her groundskeeper. However, she seriously underestimates the investigator's abilities, and soon all manner of family dirty laundry is brought into view. Add in a subplot, a few quirky characters, and a hefty dose of 19th-century London atmosphere, and there we go. None of the revelations are anything we haven't heard before (scandal, drugs, exploitation of children), and the story succumbs to the temptation to have the detective deliver an overly long revelatory monologue at the denouement.
I received my copy through the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!
I think a lot of fans will enjoy it, although some purists will, of course, have objections.
Myself, I found it to be an enjoyable but fairly standard murder mystery. A renowned investigator is hired to look into the death of a wealthy woman's husband. Lady Arnifour's main concern seems to be clearing the name of the chief suspect, her groundskeeper. However, she seriously underestimates the investigator's abilities, and soon all manner of family dirty laundry is brought into view. Add in a subplot, a few quirky characters, and a hefty dose of 19th-century London atmosphere, and there we go. None of the revelations are anything we haven't heard before (scandal, drugs, exploitation of children), and the story succumbs to the temptation to have the detective deliver an overly long revelatory monologue at the denouement.
I received my copy through the Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!
November 1, 2014
3.5 stars - First off, this book will be appreciated by those who like gay mysteries, especially the historical kind, and are fine with diving into a *very Sherlock-inspired* mystery that has little to no heat between the detective and his live-in lover who also helps him solve crimes on the dark gritty streets of Victorian London.
I didn’t know what to make of Colin, to be honest. This is VERY MUCH an homage to Sherlock Holmes, but an homage where Sherlock and Watson were together, like together-together, albeit under the radar since this is Victorian England.
In this homage, Sherlock is named Colin Pendragon, who is the brilliant and handsome son of a high-ranking government official, is in his late 30’s, solves mysteries, has a cranky woman who runs his house (who is NOT named Mrs. Hudson), and who lives with his lover, Watson, but in this case, Watson is named Ethan, and is NOT from the military, but is from a well-to-do family that had fallen on hard times and had been an opium addict in his youth. Sometime in his terrible drug-addled travels, he was rescued from that life in the slums by Colin, and they have been together for over a decade.
That is all hinted backstory, and you only get a few glimpses when Ethan angsts about his past and falling back into his addiction, especially when their current case of solving an Earl’s murder takes them to a local opium den to find answers.
I didn’t know which Sherlock Harris was most tapping into, and I am not a Sherlock scholar since I think I only made it through the Hound of Baskervilles way back in my teens. Colin is very arrogant and rude, which made me ponder this Sherlock.
But he is also very handsome and athletic, features described in the text by his random habit of lifting dumb bells and doing pushups in the middle of a conversation, participating in fighting matches, and also having women literally fawn over him (while they side-eye Ethan with a “What’s HE doing here?” air.
Which made me ponder this Sherlock, since that version had some of the fighting, and Colin is mentioned to be shorter and more strapping/broad.
I also got the feeling that he was a bit of a Marty Stu, but maybe I’m just annoyed by characters who are brilliant and excessively attractive, who are fawned over by women, and who are really unlikeable. I didn’t understand why Ethan stuck around him, and assumed they must have some killer back-story with the whole getting-rescued-from-opium-den-youth.
Colin and Ethan as adults in their 30’s were a little dull, and I almost would have preferred a story set when they started their relationship, just to see how that happened, as opposed to the worn, comfort level that they are at now.
How was the mystery? It wasn’t bad. It kept me guessing, and is really very cozy and a closed-room mystery. Only a few minor thrills here, and I would have been much more involved in there was a dash or three more excitement, but if you like cozy, closed-room mysteries, this should be an interesting read. There were definitely some twists I hadn’t expected, so kudos for that.
What drove me nuts: There were a couple words I really wished the author stopped using, including:
Colin and Ethan snicker and smirk A LOT, as well as chortle, tease, roll their eyes, and drolly say things, and I found it hard to picture these two men in their mid-to-late 30’s smirking and snickering this much. It made it hard for me to take them seriously, especially when it would lead with a line of dialogue, which I would imagine them saying seriously, and then end with the tag of “I snickered” or “Colin smirked,” and I’d get kicked out of the scene as I now imagine these men laughing about. I wanted to cull all those tags out.
The romance is very low-heat. Seriously, don’t go in looking for a smoochfest between Sherlock and Watson, because you will be disappointed. I almost wondered if their love was subtext until a non-explicit, fade-to-black bath scene. There are a few mentions, and a few touches, but very low heat. In that way, it might be more in the Doyle style, but the romance-fan in me wished for a little more, especially since I hoped for Colin to be a little more human and caring in a way that showed why Ethan stuck around.
But if you like mysteries, especially those that are Sherlock-esque, then I’d say try it and see what you think. I got my copy at the library! That was a nice bonus, so I recommend also checking your library or if they don’t have it, asking if they’d purchase it. I also noticed that this volume is part of the Kindle Unlimited plan, for those using that.
I didn’t know what to make of Colin, to be honest. This is VERY MUCH an homage to Sherlock Holmes, but an homage where Sherlock and Watson were together, like together-together, albeit under the radar since this is Victorian England.
In this homage, Sherlock is named Colin Pendragon, who is the brilliant and handsome son of a high-ranking government official, is in his late 30’s, solves mysteries, has a cranky woman who runs his house (who is NOT named Mrs. Hudson), and who lives with his lover, Watson, but in this case, Watson is named Ethan, and is NOT from the military, but is from a well-to-do family that had fallen on hard times and had been an opium addict in his youth. Sometime in his terrible drug-addled travels, he was rescued from that life in the slums by Colin, and they have been together for over a decade.
That is all hinted backstory, and you only get a few glimpses when Ethan angsts about his past and falling back into his addiction, especially when their current case of solving an Earl’s murder takes them to a local opium den to find answers.
I didn’t know which Sherlock Harris was most tapping into, and I am not a Sherlock scholar since I think I only made it through the Hound of Baskervilles way back in my teens. Colin is very arrogant and rude, which made me ponder this Sherlock.
But he is also very handsome and athletic, features described in the text by his random habit of lifting dumb bells and doing pushups in the middle of a conversation, participating in fighting matches, and also having women literally fawn over him (while they side-eye Ethan with a “What’s HE doing here?” air.
Which made me ponder this Sherlock, since that version had some of the fighting, and Colin is mentioned to be shorter and more strapping/broad.
I also got the feeling that he was a bit of a Marty Stu, but maybe I’m just annoyed by characters who are brilliant and excessively attractive, who are fawned over by women, and who are really unlikeable. I didn’t understand why Ethan stuck around him, and assumed they must have some killer back-story with the whole getting-rescued-from-opium-den-youth.
Colin and Ethan as adults in their 30’s were a little dull, and I almost would have preferred a story set when they started their relationship, just to see how that happened, as opposed to the worn, comfort level that they are at now.
How was the mystery? It wasn’t bad. It kept me guessing, and is really very cozy and a closed-room mystery. Only a few minor thrills here, and I would have been much more involved in there was a dash or three more excitement, but if you like cozy, closed-room mysteries, this should be an interesting read. There were definitely some twists I hadn’t expected, so kudos for that.
What drove me nuts: There were a couple words I really wished the author stopped using, including:
Colin and Ethan snicker and smirk A LOT, as well as chortle, tease, roll their eyes, and drolly say things, and I found it hard to picture these two men in their mid-to-late 30’s smirking and snickering this much. It made it hard for me to take them seriously, especially when it would lead with a line of dialogue, which I would imagine them saying seriously, and then end with the tag of “I snickered” or “Colin smirked,” and I’d get kicked out of the scene as I now imagine these men laughing about. I wanted to cull all those tags out.
The romance is very low-heat. Seriously, don’t go in looking for a smoochfest between Sherlock and Watson, because you will be disappointed. I almost wondered if their love was subtext until a non-explicit, fade-to-black bath scene. There are a few mentions, and a few touches, but very low heat. In that way, it might be more in the Doyle style, but the romance-fan in me wished for a little more, especially since I hoped for Colin to be a little more human and caring in a way that showed why Ethan stuck around.
But if you like mysteries, especially those that are Sherlock-esque, then I’d say try it and see what you think. I got my copy at the library! That was a nice bonus, so I recommend also checking your library or if they don’t have it, asking if they’d purchase it. I also noticed that this volume is part of the Kindle Unlimited plan, for those using that.
January 6, 2014
A historical mystery that seems tailor made for fans of Sherlock Holmes, but are looking for a more edgy character and different angle on the relationship between the detective and his sidekick. The mystery was pretty well developed and the story has some nice twists.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine for the February 2014 issue: http://affairedecoeur.com.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine for the February 2014 issue: http://affairedecoeur.com.
December 28, 2013
Lady Arnifour has come to ask Colin Pendragon to investigate the murder of her husband, the Earle, and the attack on her niece which may well prove to be fatal also. She has no faith in Scotland Yard and is willing to pay the high fees demanded by the famed private detective even though the evidence of her crumbling estate would lead people to wonder how she would manage to scrape together the money. Pendragon and his colleague, Ethan Pruitt, find themselves thrown into the underbelly of Victorian London as their search for clues in this mystery and the sub-plot of a missing child takes them from foreign embassies to opium dens.
Unfortunately I found this novel to be a rather pale and shallow attempt to imitate the Holmes and Watson stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Attempts have been made to differentiate these characters from those, but without successfully establishing these as engaging or interesting characters in their own right. We are told that Colin Pendragon is a famous and successful private detective without any evidence being given to substantiate that claim. His friend Ethan Pruitt is vaguely mentioned as having some medical knowledge any yet the character himself repudiates that claim. Pruitt’s major contribution to the story is his past history of being addicted to opium and living on the streets during part of his childhood. There is no ambiguity as to the homosexual relationship between Pendragon and Pruitt though, since we are told they have been in a relationship for the last twelve years and some evidence of this is shown. The housekeeper (not landlady you will notice) who “does” for these two gentlemen is coarse and vulgar and goes by the unfortunate name of Mrs. Behmoth. I say unfortunate because each time I saw her name my brain turned that into Mrs. Behemoth, probably to suit the author’s descriptions of her. The Scotland Yard Inspector in charge of the case is certainly no friend of Pendragon or Pruitt and the three of them have a completely acrimonious relationship. The narration of the tale is performed by Pruitt and while Pendragon doesn’t play the violin he certainly does take up line after line in the book with his fiddling around with dumbbells and manipulating coins through his fingers. There is no equivalent character to Mycroft Holmes in this story so whenever Pendragon requires completely unrealistic actions be performed by the Foreign Ministry Office I couldn’t help but wonder why they acceded to his wishes. Maybe we will be told in stories to come?
I was interested enough in the story to continue reading in order to find out who the person responsible for the acts of violence against the Arinfour household was. Not that the revelation proved to be unexpected. There is a sub-plot involving a young street urchin who comes to plead with Pendragon in hopes he will search for his sister who has been missing for days. Despite the missing child this aspect of the novel was never written with any sense of urgency and days would pass without our sleuths working on this separate case. That was disappointing because it might have been a good way to inject some sense of foreboding or to have shown truly unusual deductive skills on the part of Pendragon. Instead, what stands out in my memory is the entirely ridiculous incident in the Bulgarian Embassy which was so poorly described that it required me reading it three times to believe what was written there. According to the information contained at the end of the egalley I was reading there will be a second book in the series released in September of 2014, titled “The Bellingham Bloodbath”. Hopefully by then the author will have consulted a Thesaurus for other descriptive words to replace “smirk” and “snicker”. A change would have been greatly appreciated by me.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Unfortunately I found this novel to be a rather pale and shallow attempt to imitate the Holmes and Watson stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Attempts have been made to differentiate these characters from those, but without successfully establishing these as engaging or interesting characters in their own right. We are told that Colin Pendragon is a famous and successful private detective without any evidence being given to substantiate that claim. His friend Ethan Pruitt is vaguely mentioned as having some medical knowledge any yet the character himself repudiates that claim. Pruitt’s major contribution to the story is his past history of being addicted to opium and living on the streets during part of his childhood. There is no ambiguity as to the homosexual relationship between Pendragon and Pruitt though, since we are told they have been in a relationship for the last twelve years and some evidence of this is shown. The housekeeper (not landlady you will notice) who “does” for these two gentlemen is coarse and vulgar and goes by the unfortunate name of Mrs. Behmoth. I say unfortunate because each time I saw her name my brain turned that into Mrs. Behemoth, probably to suit the author’s descriptions of her. The Scotland Yard Inspector in charge of the case is certainly no friend of Pendragon or Pruitt and the three of them have a completely acrimonious relationship. The narration of the tale is performed by Pruitt and while Pendragon doesn’t play the violin he certainly does take up line after line in the book with his fiddling around with dumbbells and manipulating coins through his fingers. There is no equivalent character to Mycroft Holmes in this story so whenever Pendragon requires completely unrealistic actions be performed by the Foreign Ministry Office I couldn’t help but wonder why they acceded to his wishes. Maybe we will be told in stories to come?
I was interested enough in the story to continue reading in order to find out who the person responsible for the acts of violence against the Arinfour household was. Not that the revelation proved to be unexpected. There is a sub-plot involving a young street urchin who comes to plead with Pendragon in hopes he will search for his sister who has been missing for days. Despite the missing child this aspect of the novel was never written with any sense of urgency and days would pass without our sleuths working on this separate case. That was disappointing because it might have been a good way to inject some sense of foreboding or to have shown truly unusual deductive skills on the part of Pendragon. Instead, what stands out in my memory is the entirely ridiculous incident in the Bulgarian Embassy which was so poorly described that it required me reading it three times to believe what was written there. According to the information contained at the end of the egalley I was reading there will be a second book in the series released in September of 2014, titled “The Bellingham Bloodbath”. Hopefully by then the author will have consulted a Thesaurus for other descriptive words to replace “smirk” and “snicker”. A change would have been greatly appreciated by me.
I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
May 31, 2016
For a story that's supposed to be set in Victorian London, there are far too many 20th and even 21st century American colloquialisms. When Colin refers to the countess as 'viral,' I almost put it down right there. Good storyline, two interesting mysteries, but the author needs to do more work on period atmosphere.
February 3, 2014
I seriously could not warm up to this book. I found it boring and I couldn't focus on the book so it took it longer to read than it should have. I also found it to be a dime a dozen book in that there was nothing to really grab my attention. This is definitely a series I wouldn't continue with.
November 20, 2017
First, let me just say that I'm always interested by novels with gay characters published by a mainstream press, second, I'm a big fan of Victorian Mysteries and third, this book could have been better!
This series introducing a pair of sleuths is obviously an homage to Sherlock Holmes which was a nice try if not completely successful in my opinion. Pendragon & Pruitt both have interesting personalities, I like them but there's not much of a backstory on either one. The plot was entertaining and twisted ("twisted" that's what I like!). But there's something important lacking in this book , I think, it's a true sense of the Victorian era. The dialogue in itself is not bad but it just doesn't have the right phrasing with the posh "British accent". The dialogue delivery can make all the difference! It doesn't help when you come across anachronisms here and there! Another thing is that if you're looking for romance, there's is none! (Personally, I don't mind).
So overall I liked it but I didn't love it. I'm not really sure I'll be following this series.
This series introducing a pair of sleuths is obviously an homage to Sherlock Holmes which was a nice try if not completely successful in my opinion. Pendragon & Pruitt both have interesting personalities, I like them but there's not much of a backstory on either one. The plot was entertaining and twisted ("twisted" that's what I like!). But there's something important lacking in this book , I think, it's a true sense of the Victorian era. The dialogue in itself is not bad but it just doesn't have the right phrasing with the posh "British accent". The dialogue delivery can make all the difference! It doesn't help when you come across anachronisms here and there! Another thing is that if you're looking for romance, there's is none! (Personally, I don't mind).
So overall I liked it but I didn't love it. I'm not really sure I'll be following this series.
December 27, 2013
Note: This review, as well as many more, can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca).
Note: My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My Review: I am always on the lookout for a new author that I will adore and impatiently eagerly await their next novel. Whether it's their amazing characters that I can't stop thinking about, their witty writing or the twists they put into their plots, there's just that special 'something' that leaves me wanting more.
I think I've found that in Gregory Harris.
The Arnifour Affair has everything I love in a good mystery. It's set in a historical setting(late Victorian era London, no less!), wonderfully dry humour and memorable characters. It's the successful mystery author's Hat Trick.
This is Harris' first novel and I was quite impressed with the depth of the mysteries, the character development and the quality of the writing that drew me in from the beginning. Pruitt and Pendragon have a wonderful and refreshing rapport with each other and I have to admit I was nicely surprised by the revelation of the extent of their relationship.
Harris has given the two men a very 'Sherlock and Watson' feel to them (without overdoing it) with Pruitt being the more cautious and quiet of the two and Pendragon being the intellectual (rather impetuous) driving force behind the detective work. I loved the addition of Pruitt's dark past and Pendragon's great quips and retorts. And the addition of the surly and ill-tempered Mrs Behmoth was the icing on the proverbial cake.
Harris doesn't waste any time and jumps into the mystery right away. The story is told from Pruitt's point of view as Harris gives his readers tidbits about some of Pruitt and Pendragon's past mysteries to give the reader a sense of their history and success together. That addition of the history of the main characters helped me to get a better feel for these two protagonists, gave their relationship more depth but didn't make me feel like I was missing out on their past exploits.
There are two mysteries that Pruitt and Pendragon are trying to solve. The main mystery kept me guessing until the end even though I will admit that it felt like it lost a bit of oomph towards the end of the book. The pace did pick up though and I enjoyed the main mystery but it was the secondary mystery that surprised me with its conclusion.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book. It has an engaging writing style, wonderful humour and memorable characters. I am eager to see what's future exploits Pruitt and Pendragon will get into next.
Highly recommended.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Note: My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a complimentary e-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
My Review: I am always on the lookout for a new author that I will adore and impatiently eagerly await their next novel. Whether it's their amazing characters that I can't stop thinking about, their witty writing or the twists they put into their plots, there's just that special 'something' that leaves me wanting more.
I think I've found that in Gregory Harris.
The Arnifour Affair has everything I love in a good mystery. It's set in a historical setting(late Victorian era London, no less!), wonderfully dry humour and memorable characters. It's the successful mystery author's Hat Trick.
This is Harris' first novel and I was quite impressed with the depth of the mysteries, the character development and the quality of the writing that drew me in from the beginning. Pruitt and Pendragon have a wonderful and refreshing rapport with each other and I have to admit I was nicely surprised by the revelation of the extent of their relationship.
Harris has given the two men a very 'Sherlock and Watson' feel to them (without overdoing it) with Pruitt being the more cautious and quiet of the two and Pendragon being the intellectual (rather impetuous) driving force behind the detective work. I loved the addition of Pruitt's dark past and Pendragon's great quips and retorts. And the addition of the surly and ill-tempered Mrs Behmoth was the icing on the proverbial cake.
Harris doesn't waste any time and jumps into the mystery right away. The story is told from Pruitt's point of view as Harris gives his readers tidbits about some of Pruitt and Pendragon's past mysteries to give the reader a sense of their history and success together. That addition of the history of the main characters helped me to get a better feel for these two protagonists, gave their relationship more depth but didn't make me feel like I was missing out on their past exploits.
There are two mysteries that Pruitt and Pendragon are trying to solve. The main mystery kept me guessing until the end even though I will admit that it felt like it lost a bit of oomph towards the end of the book. The pace did pick up though and I enjoyed the main mystery but it was the secondary mystery that surprised me with its conclusion.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book. It has an engaging writing style, wonderful humour and memorable characters. I am eager to see what's future exploits Pruitt and Pendragon will get into next.
Highly recommended.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
April 26, 2018
The Arnifour Affair (Colin Pendragon #1)
Gregory Harris
Kensington Books, 2014
Four stars
“It made me wonder, this business of family.”
As sometimes happens, I got started the wrong-way-round with these Colin Pendragon books, by reading the second in the series first. Oddly, I like the first in the series better, but I think that’s because I got to know the couple at the center of this gay-ish take on the Holmes and Watson tradition better by reading the second book first. I knew what to look for in book one.
The set-up is pure Conan Doyle: two thirty-something bachelors sharing a flat in London, cared for by an appalling harridan of a housekeeper (Mrs. Behmoth) who maintains a comic presence throughout the story. What I misunderstood in the second book is that both Colin Pendragon and Ethan Pruitt are gently born, and indeed knew each other at school; but Colin succeeded, while Ethan, brought low by an unspeakable family disaster, ended up a drug addict in Whitechapel until Colin literally pulled him out of it. These details figure significantly in the backstory of this mystery, which otherwise involves the violent murder of a peer and a case of child trafficking.
Of course, nothing is as it seems, a Holmesian affect that Gregory Harris pulls off very well.
The interest of the mysteries presented in the book are richly accented with the subtle and complicated byplay of Ethan and Colin. It seems a very austere relationship, except in those private moments when Colin’s genuine tenderness toward Ethan is allowed to show. We see clearly Ethan’s lingering self-doubts and sense of unworthiness, which contrast with Colin’s cocky self-assurance and willingness to flirt shamelessly to get information. Colin wounds Ethan continuously, but never intentionally; it is Ethan’s insecurity that allows Colin’s bravado to hurt him.
Harris writes very well, skirting very close to, but not seriously crossing the line into anachronism. It makes the books feel contemporary and readable, but maintains an atmosphere of late Victorian England, casting a very off-colored light on the goings-on in Victoria’s London.
I’m well hooked into this series. Can’t wait to see where it goes with the letter C.
Gregory Harris
Kensington Books, 2014
Four stars
“It made me wonder, this business of family.”
As sometimes happens, I got started the wrong-way-round with these Colin Pendragon books, by reading the second in the series first. Oddly, I like the first in the series better, but I think that’s because I got to know the couple at the center of this gay-ish take on the Holmes and Watson tradition better by reading the second book first. I knew what to look for in book one.
The set-up is pure Conan Doyle: two thirty-something bachelors sharing a flat in London, cared for by an appalling harridan of a housekeeper (Mrs. Behmoth) who maintains a comic presence throughout the story. What I misunderstood in the second book is that both Colin Pendragon and Ethan Pruitt are gently born, and indeed knew each other at school; but Colin succeeded, while Ethan, brought low by an unspeakable family disaster, ended up a drug addict in Whitechapel until Colin literally pulled him out of it. These details figure significantly in the backstory of this mystery, which otherwise involves the violent murder of a peer and a case of child trafficking.
Of course, nothing is as it seems, a Holmesian affect that Gregory Harris pulls off very well.
The interest of the mysteries presented in the book are richly accented with the subtle and complicated byplay of Ethan and Colin. It seems a very austere relationship, except in those private moments when Colin’s genuine tenderness toward Ethan is allowed to show. We see clearly Ethan’s lingering self-doubts and sense of unworthiness, which contrast with Colin’s cocky self-assurance and willingness to flirt shamelessly to get information. Colin wounds Ethan continuously, but never intentionally; it is Ethan’s insecurity that allows Colin’s bravado to hurt him.
Harris writes very well, skirting very close to, but not seriously crossing the line into anachronism. It makes the books feel contemporary and readable, but maintains an atmosphere of late Victorian England, casting a very off-colored light on the goings-on in Victoria’s London.
I’m well hooked into this series. Can’t wait to see where it goes with the letter C.
July 26, 2016
I really enjoyed The Arnifour Affair; it takes place in Victorian London, with a good amount of time spent in the famous Whitechapel district. The novel is follows work of a private detective Mr. Pendragon and his partner Mr. Pruitt as they use methods of detection to solve crimes. Mr. Pruitt is the narrator of this mystery; his narration of events adds authenticity to the time period this novel takes place in. I just adore the language that is used throughout the novel. The vocabulary Harris uses is indicative for the time and some of the language is no longer used in modern times. The language helps the reader become wholly immersed in the world that this mystery is taking place in. There isn't a moment that Harris deviates from the mood of the time, no inclines towards modern times. In The Arnifour Affair, Mr. Pendragon is hired to solve the murder of Mrs. Arnifour's husband and the attack on her niece who is left in a coma. Mrs. Arnifour wholly believes that the Yard is botching up the investigation and that they have the wrong man, so she seeks the help of Mr. Pendragon to find the real criminal. The Arnifour Affair is filled with lively colorful characters that make this novel a joy to read. I lost myself in this tale, a tale filled with opium dens, ruined reputations, clever criminals, and mouthy housekeepers.
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November 27, 2017
This was like reading a Sherlock Holmes/John Watson fan fic. To start with I didn’t mind, as I’ve enjoyed some truly great fan fic stories. But the flaws in the writing soon became hard to accept, with historical incongruities and Americanisms cropping up. Reading became a chore, rather than a pleasure. I persevered until the end, hoping to see some romantic interaction between Colin and Ethan (nothing doing), and to learn who the murderer was. The denouement was an anticlimax, but by then I didn’t really care much; it was all a bit boring
December 27, 2025
Set in the Victorian Era, The Arnifour Affair by Gregory Harris introduces Colin Pendragon as a detective with Ethan Pruitt as his assistant. They’re called on to prove the innocence of a man in what turns out to be a double murder, but of course they uncover much more.
I picked this up and smiled to myself at the use of the word “partner”, amused it could mean both assistant AND romantic, but was shocked when it did. A delighted shocked. There are reviews on here stupidly bitching that it was illegal at the time to be gay, and as we all know, things that are illegal are never, ever done. It’s not overt, it’s not obscene, and if you have a problem with it, it speaks MUCH more about YOU as a person. Not to mention there are multiple references in the text to it being illegal, so it’s not like the author is being anachronistic but rather the tutting people are just clutching pearls and being morons.
With that out of the way, let’s look at what I didn’t like:
•I think some of this is a wee bit fantastical; I’m not sure writing down that a man has syphilis would get them access to said man in a diplomatic area. Nor am I certain that crying out that he needs to be quarantined would work in getting them out of there without being stopped or seized given that they would have been exposed to whatever pathogen he’s meant to have had.
•Everyone, from titled down to the street, swear or are throwing themselves around for a bit of sex. I also find THAT hard to believe. If a woman especially is introduced, expect her to be swearing or trying to fuck Pendragon or both. And I get that Pendragon was charming women for info, but I’m fully on Pruitt’s side. It can’t be fun to have to watch him purr and let women drape themselves all over him.
•I felt certain the boy looking for his “sister” would connect to the main mystery, but it didn’t. It probably could have been snipped as it took away the impetus of the case they were trying to solve.
I can see this being an interesting series. Maybe that’s because I immediately guessed that the Earl was having an affair with his “niece” and that the killer was Kaylin. Felt very victorious reaching the conclusion.
I picked this up and smiled to myself at the use of the word “partner”, amused it could mean both assistant AND romantic, but was shocked when it did. A delighted shocked. There are reviews on here stupidly bitching that it was illegal at the time to be gay, and as we all know, things that are illegal are never, ever done. It’s not overt, it’s not obscene, and if you have a problem with it, it speaks MUCH more about YOU as a person. Not to mention there are multiple references in the text to it being illegal, so it’s not like the author is being anachronistic but rather the tutting people are just clutching pearls and being morons.
With that out of the way, let’s look at what I didn’t like:
•I think some of this is a wee bit fantastical; I’m not sure writing down that a man has syphilis would get them access to said man in a diplomatic area. Nor am I certain that crying out that he needs to be quarantined would work in getting them out of there without being stopped or seized given that they would have been exposed to whatever pathogen he’s meant to have had.
•Everyone, from titled down to the street, swear or are throwing themselves around for a bit of sex. I also find THAT hard to believe. If a woman especially is introduced, expect her to be swearing or trying to fuck Pendragon or both. And I get that Pendragon was charming women for info, but I’m fully on Pruitt’s side. It can’t be fun to have to watch him purr and let women drape themselves all over him.
•I felt certain the boy looking for his “sister” would connect to the main mystery, but it didn’t. It probably could have been snipped as it took away the impetus of the case they were trying to solve.
I can see this being an interesting series. Maybe that’s because I immediately guessed that the Earl was having an affair with his “niece” and that the killer was Kaylin. Felt very victorious reaching the conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2024
1899. Private detective Colin Pendragon is employed by Lady Arnifour, to determine who killed her husband, and niece Elsbeth. Also street urchin Michael wants him to find his missing sister. Aided by partner/lover Ethan Pruitt he investigates.
An enjoyable historical mystery
(Kilometers, slacks - anachronisms. Some swearing)
An enjoyable historical mystery
(Kilometers, slacks - anachronisms. Some swearing)
April 19, 2019
This read was good, but not great. It read very slowly, feeling a bit contrived. It felt like a less than convincing attempt to resurrect Sherlock and Holmes.
May 15, 2020
Fast, sassy, saucy!! I enjoyed reading the 1st of the Colin Pendragon series. Victoria’s London is on display, especially the seamy side of things. Pendragon & Pruitt are interesting protagonists to say the least.
Can’t wait to read Book 2!
Can’t wait to read Book 2!
February 23, 2016
Mr Pruitt and Mr Pendragon are hired to investigate the murder of Lady Arnifour's husband and the savage beating of her niece. A side project is the abduction of a young girl from the east end. They are a partnership similar to Watson and Holmes. Pruitt is a former opium addict whose family was ruined. Pendragon is his saviour and comes from a rich family. Together they fight crime.
I was pulled out of this book in the opening pages by Colin Pendragon's question to Lady Arnifour, "Were you having it off with him?" or something similar. It felt out of place for a serious Victorian murder mystery. If the book were a pastiche it would have worked.
Throughout, Colin seemed both too good to be true and his characterisation was paper thin. We are told he rescued Pruitt and they have been together for a number of years but barely given any traits. We are told he is very attractive and flirts to get things. As a character, he is able to get away with many things and a major plot point is fixed by a connection (naval). He can be rude to people or injure them without censure from Pruitt or others. Spoiler for major plot details:
I think Pruitt had the potential to be a far more interesting character but this is hampered by the first person narration. His background is interesting, but is rendered unreal by the thinness of Pendragon's characterisation and the silliness of the East End abduction plot in general. I wondered a couple of times about his appearance - first when a prostitute misconstrued why he was there and said she wouldn't sleep with him for money but would sleep with Pendragon, then when a man referred to him as a "monkey". Are we supposed to construe that he is POC?
Finally, the plot. The characterisation of some of the Arnifour suspects was nice and tempestuous - apart from the daughter - "suffragette" is simplistic. I hated the resolution of the abduction plot.
I was pulled out of this book in the opening pages by Colin Pendragon's question to Lady Arnifour, "Were you having it off with him?" or something similar. It felt out of place for a serious Victorian murder mystery. If the book were a pastiche it would have worked.
Throughout, Colin seemed both too good to be true and his characterisation was paper thin. We are told he rescued Pruitt and they have been together for a number of years but barely given any traits. We are told he is very attractive and flirts to get things. As a character, he is able to get away with many things and a major plot point is fixed by a connection (naval). He can be rude to people or injure them without censure from Pruitt or others. Spoiler for major plot details:
I think Pruitt had the potential to be a far more interesting character but this is hampered by the first person narration. His background is interesting, but is rendered unreal by the thinness of Pendragon's characterisation and the silliness of the East End abduction plot in general. I wondered a couple of times about his appearance - first when a prostitute misconstrued why he was there and said she wouldn't sleep with him for money but would sleep with Pendragon, then when a man referred to him as a "monkey". Are we supposed to construe that he is POC?
Finally, the plot. The characterisation of some of the Arnifour suspects was nice and tempestuous - apart from the daughter - "suffragette" is simplistic. I hated the resolution of the abduction plot.
March 12, 2014
A gay Sherlock Holmes? An opium addict Watson who is rescued by Holmes?
Well, not exactly, but that is where Harris is heading. Colin Pendragon is certainly gay and Ethan Pruitt is his partner, both sexually and in solving crimes. This could work.
But for me it doesn't. The book is written, as are the Sherlock Holmes stories, from the point of view of the "sidekick." He alludes to a mysterious past - his mother committed a horrible crime because she was insane, he ended up on the streets as an opium addict, etc. etc. But there is no discussion between the two characters of that past or how the two got together. Just allusions. Perhaps Harris is intending to parcel out the details as he continues through the series.
However, I won't be along on the ride. Unlike the Holmes stories, there is no explanation of Pendragon's "powers." Nothing like "having made a study of the types of ashes resulting from the smoking of English cigars, I can see that this man...." or "just look at his boots, Watson. They are highly polished and only military men keep their boots that well polished...." No, we are just told that Pendragon has amazing powers and given some statements to which other characters respond, "Why that's amazing! A man who lives up to his reputation."
Sorry, no can do. I'm not prudish and, of course, I'm sure everyone has wondered at one time or another what the "true" relationship between Holmes and Watson was (regardless of Watson's marriage). But I don't imagine it being written in this manner. Harris's style is too familiar, too unthinking - if I can use that word and actually make sense. He seems more flippant than serious about the whole matter.
Give it a try if you like. It got a lot of hype and good reviews. But it's certainly not to my taste.
Well, not exactly, but that is where Harris is heading. Colin Pendragon is certainly gay and Ethan Pruitt is his partner, both sexually and in solving crimes. This could work.
But for me it doesn't. The book is written, as are the Sherlock Holmes stories, from the point of view of the "sidekick." He alludes to a mysterious past - his mother committed a horrible crime because she was insane, he ended up on the streets as an opium addict, etc. etc. But there is no discussion between the two characters of that past or how the two got together. Just allusions. Perhaps Harris is intending to parcel out the details as he continues through the series.
However, I won't be along on the ride. Unlike the Holmes stories, there is no explanation of Pendragon's "powers." Nothing like "having made a study of the types of ashes resulting from the smoking of English cigars, I can see that this man...." or "just look at his boots, Watson. They are highly polished and only military men keep their boots that well polished...." No, we are just told that Pendragon has amazing powers and given some statements to which other characters respond, "Why that's amazing! A man who lives up to his reputation."
Sorry, no can do. I'm not prudish and, of course, I'm sure everyone has wondered at one time or another what the "true" relationship between Holmes and Watson was (regardless of Watson's marriage). But I don't imagine it being written in this manner. Harris's style is too familiar, too unthinking - if I can use that word and actually make sense. He seems more flippant than serious about the whole matter.
Give it a try if you like. It got a lot of hype and good reviews. But it's certainly not to my taste.
December 31, 2015
Essentially a Holmes and Watson story with changed names and a more explicitly romantic relationship between the pair of Victorian detectives, The Arnifour Affair isn't without its charms despite its derivative premise. Ethan Pruitt is our Dr. Watson and narrator, who spent his formative years living on the streets of East End as an addict and general urchin -- he was rescued from this life many years ago by Colin Pendragon, our genius detective with Holmesian attitude and arrogance. The pair live together with a curmudgeonly crude housekeeper by the name of Mrs. Behmoth, far less genteel and not nearly so kind as good old Mrs. Hudson.
This particular outing, the first in the series, involves the noble Arnifour family, which has just had its patriarch bludgeoned to death. Of course, there are plenty of sordid family secrets hidden at the crumbling Arnifour estate, and Pendragon and Pruitt are hired to clear the name of the groundskeeper -- who shares a more than professional relationship with the aged Lady Arnifour.
A second case involving a street urchin named Michael and his missing sister Angelyne adds some distraction and diversion from the core mystery and allows Harris time to divulge more of Pruitt's past.
There are opium dens, illegitimate children, an inept Scotland Yard detective to butt heads with -- it's all pretty typical fare for a Victorian mystery/Holmes knock-off. But it's still a fast-paced and relatively enjoyable read. There are enough deviations from the inspiration to intrigue, and I personally am very happy to see a detective partnership that doesn't simply queerbait but actually delivers the goods. A decent if not incredible read.
This particular outing, the first in the series, involves the noble Arnifour family, which has just had its patriarch bludgeoned to death. Of course, there are plenty of sordid family secrets hidden at the crumbling Arnifour estate, and Pendragon and Pruitt are hired to clear the name of the groundskeeper -- who shares a more than professional relationship with the aged Lady Arnifour.
A second case involving a street urchin named Michael and his missing sister Angelyne adds some distraction and diversion from the core mystery and allows Harris time to divulge more of Pruitt's past.
There are opium dens, illegitimate children, an inept Scotland Yard detective to butt heads with -- it's all pretty typical fare for a Victorian mystery/Holmes knock-off. But it's still a fast-paced and relatively enjoyable read. There are enough deviations from the inspiration to intrigue, and I personally am very happy to see a detective partnership that doesn't simply queerbait but actually delivers the goods. A decent if not incredible read.
March 18, 2018
I wanted badly to like this book, and made it all the way through on the strength of that desire, but it was impossible. The myster(y/ies) were reasonably competent for what they were, the low-key relationship was sweet, and it gets a second star for Ethan Pruitt (the John Watson expy), who was almost a thoroughly compelling character apart from some peculiarly petty jealousy, and free-floating misogyny. This latter I might have passed off as period-appropriate, except the author clearly had no notion of his Victorian period setting (author did NOT do the research), as despite throwaway mentions of Emmeline Pankhurst, there are women secretaries throughout, never once noted as remarkable. And the violence done to the idiom and language of the Victorian era was... inexcusable for a period novel.
The improbably-named Colin Pendragon (the Sherlock Holmes expy) made me wonder how anyone could have read Conan-Doyle's great detective and come away with such a different idea of what made him a timeless and compelling character than what seems to be generally agreed to be Holmes' shining parts. Also, don't get me started on the names. Did the author do any research on the period at all?
I soldiered on, hoping the casual misogyny (which was not confined to a single character, but more a general thing) and the anachronisms of speaking, naming, and social mores would be the worst of it. And then I reached the first of the non-white (and also female) characters, and that managed to be even worse. I'm not sure how I finished the book after that (angry hate-reading, really), but it did not reward the effort.
The improbably-named Colin Pendragon (the Sherlock Holmes expy) made me wonder how anyone could have read Conan-Doyle's great detective and come away with such a different idea of what made him a timeless and compelling character than what seems to be generally agreed to be Holmes' shining parts. Also, don't get me started on the names. Did the author do any research on the period at all?
I soldiered on, hoping the casual misogyny (which was not confined to a single character, but more a general thing) and the anachronisms of speaking, naming, and social mores would be the worst of it. And then I reached the first of the non-white (and also female) characters, and that managed to be even worse. I'm not sure how I finished the book after that (angry hate-reading, really), but it did not reward the effort.
February 16, 2014
The Arnifour Affair is a fairly interesting mystery novel set in Victorian London. Whislt I immediately thought of Sherlock and Holmes, the author did a good job of making his characters have their own personalities.
The main mystery, for me at least, felt a little lacking as I thought it was a bit too obvious and had been done before in other books, but the side mystery kept me interested and turning pages. I liked the dynamic created between the two main characters. They had a unique relationship and worked well side-by-side.
I was definitely a little irked by the repeated usage of certain words in this book and by repeated gestures, but not enough that I wished to stop reading.
The plot wasn't bad and the story kept pace pretty well. The dialogue was mostly well written and kept me engaged with the happenings in the story. I quite enjoyed some of quips in this novel and found a lot of the passages quote-worthy. Intelligent and well-spoken characters make me happy.
I would have liked to have seen more of a background history on the main characters, particularly on Colin, so we could see how he got to where he was when we first met him in this book.
Overall this was a good start to a new series that promises to satisfy a desire for mystery.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.
The main mystery, for me at least, felt a little lacking as I thought it was a bit too obvious and had been done before in other books, but the side mystery kept me interested and turning pages. I liked the dynamic created between the two main characters. They had a unique relationship and worked well side-by-side.
I was definitely a little irked by the repeated usage of certain words in this book and by repeated gestures, but not enough that I wished to stop reading.
The plot wasn't bad and the story kept pace pretty well. The dialogue was mostly well written and kept me engaged with the happenings in the story. I quite enjoyed some of quips in this novel and found a lot of the passages quote-worthy. Intelligent and well-spoken characters make me happy.
I would have liked to have seen more of a background history on the main characters, particularly on Colin, so we could see how he got to where he was when we first met him in this book.
Overall this was a good start to a new series that promises to satisfy a desire for mystery.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.
February 14, 2014
A clever and unique take on the Sherlock Homes style mystery novel. Set in Victorian London, Colin Pendragon and his long time partner Ethan Pruitt have a special relationship with one another that encompasses organic humor when appropriate as well as a depth that makes this book feel fresh. It is a relationship that will be fun to follow and see grow in the upcoming books.
Gregory Harris manages to not only create a authentic world but unique characters whose dynamics between one another keep the reader engaged until the very end.
The stories unfold well with a brisk pace that keeps the reader on their toes. There are many surprises throughout, all of which are nicely set up and never appear to come out of left field. Because his style mixes dark aspects with humor, it gives it a believable feel and makes the reading that much more enjoyable. Gregory is very adept at building tension and suspense and I couldn't wait to get to the end to see how it resolves. I was not disappointed.
Gregory Harris manages to not only create a authentic world but unique characters whose dynamics between one another keep the reader engaged until the very end.
The stories unfold well with a brisk pace that keeps the reader on their toes. There are many surprises throughout, all of which are nicely set up and never appear to come out of left field. Because his style mixes dark aspects with humor, it gives it a believable feel and makes the reading that much more enjoyable. Gregory is very adept at building tension and suspense and I couldn't wait to get to the end to see how it resolves. I was not disappointed.
January 21, 2015
I'm not sure why this book isn't getting better reviews. I thought it was great! I loved the historical period, I thought the main characters were really well developed and the mysteries kept me guessing. Maybe people aren't liking the obvious nod of the main characters to Sherlock Holmes and Watson? I actually enjoyed that. I thought these characters gave us everything that we have always secretly wondered about Holmes and Watson all along. And Mrs. Behmouth just added the perfect bit of comic relief.
October 28, 2014
Really liked this mystery set in England in the early 20th century. Very Holmes and Watson types as protagonist and some great characters to boot. It was witty, richly described and full of twists. I highly recommend this one.
March 11, 2014
It was just ok. The book could have been better. The characters and story were rather flat.
July 4, 2014
Tried this one but couldn't get past the first chapter. Characters didn't ring true to me and I felt like I was entering in the middle of a series, not in the first book.
November 30, 2015
While the relationship between the main characters had its moments, the book overall felt underdeveloped and derivative.
December 15, 2021
If you like Sherlock Holmes, you’ll love Colin Pendragon and his partner Ethan Pruitt!
April 18, 2018
This is a mystery about a detective and his assistant and romantic partner, set in Victorian times. I didn't really enjoy it.
The negative reviews I saw mentioned historical inaccuracies, and I noticed a few of those too. But that kind of thing doesn't bother me much. However, there are also a lot of awkward word choices. For example, someone throws a crystal ashtray against a mirror, and the ashtray "implodes." Unless this book is secretly set in another world where the laws of physics don't apply, "implodes" is not the right word. I noticed a lot of mistakes of this kind, where the author seemed to be choosing attention-grabbing and/or old-fashioned words, instead of choosing the correct words.
This is very much a reimagining of Sherlock Holmes, and I like Sherlock Holmes and have enjoyed a lot of similar works. But I never got too into BBC Sherlock fanfic, because the John/Sherlock pairing doesn't seem romantic to me. Sherlock lacks empathy, which makes it hard for me to get involved in a romance between him and John, unless the story handles Sherlock's emotional unavailability in an especially sensitive way.
The romance is very lowkey in this book, but the bond between Ethan, the Watson character here, and Colin, the detective, doesn't work for me, for the same reasons that I usually dislike Johnlock fic. I also don't feel that Ethan has much empathy himself. I think the author intends him to be empathetic, but he isn't. The ending, with Ethan musing about the meaning of family, makes me feel very slightly okay about the pairing. But for 99% of the book, their relationship is a fact that the author wants the reader to accept, while barely showing that they even care about each other.
The main mystery itself kept me guessing until the end, because all of the people who had motive and opportunity to commit the crimes are completely horrible people. Colin is also a pretty awful person, and Ethan, like most versions of Watson, does not have all that much personality beyond orbiting Colin's star. Most of the crime victims are also impossible to sympathize with. The side plot involves a missing child and is disturbing for a number of reasons, but most of all, I feel everyone involved should've gotten a clearer punishment.
Anyway, I doubt I will continue reading this series.
The negative reviews I saw mentioned historical inaccuracies, and I noticed a few of those too. But that kind of thing doesn't bother me much. However, there are also a lot of awkward word choices. For example, someone throws a crystal ashtray against a mirror, and the ashtray "implodes." Unless this book is secretly set in another world where the laws of physics don't apply, "implodes" is not the right word. I noticed a lot of mistakes of this kind, where the author seemed to be choosing attention-grabbing and/or old-fashioned words, instead of choosing the correct words.
This is very much a reimagining of Sherlock Holmes, and I like Sherlock Holmes and have enjoyed a lot of similar works. But I never got too into BBC Sherlock fanfic, because the John/Sherlock pairing doesn't seem romantic to me. Sherlock lacks empathy, which makes it hard for me to get involved in a romance between him and John, unless the story handles Sherlock's emotional unavailability in an especially sensitive way.
The romance is very lowkey in this book, but the bond between Ethan, the Watson character here, and Colin, the detective, doesn't work for me, for the same reasons that I usually dislike Johnlock fic. I also don't feel that Ethan has much empathy himself. I think the author intends him to be empathetic, but he isn't. The ending, with Ethan musing about the meaning of family, makes me feel very slightly okay about the pairing. But for 99% of the book, their relationship is a fact that the author wants the reader to accept, while barely showing that they even care about each other.
The main mystery itself kept me guessing until the end, because all of the people who had motive and opportunity to commit the crimes are completely horrible people. Colin is also a pretty awful person, and Ethan, like most versions of Watson, does not have all that much personality beyond orbiting Colin's star. Most of the crime victims are also impossible to sympathize with. The side plot involves a missing child and is disturbing for a number of reasons, but most of all, I feel everyone involved should've gotten a clearer punishment.
Anyway, I doubt I will continue reading this series.
March 6, 2023
This book was a story of contradictions. The writing was top notch. The description, the words, the metaphors all amazing. The characters on the other hand were absolutely flat. I felt nothing towards the two protagonists and they also seemed to feel nothing towards each other (besides the occasional “my love” there was literally no chemistry or affection between the two of them). And that just about ruined it. I couldn’t bring myself to care for either of them, they were cold, unexpressive, bland really. Finally, as much as they portrayed as paragons of moral rectitude, they commit some truly horrendous actions. They lure a girl into addiction so that she reveals her secrets to them (this will result in her burning down the place and killing a few people). Then one of them is constantly shown to resort to violence to get what he wants. But the most immoral thing they did was threaten a child with rape. They save one brother because to their eyes he is the victim but the other child ( literally mentioned he was between 13/15) you send to prison because of the awful choices he was forced to make given his situation and under the influence of their mother? How does that make sense? And not only that, they also make fun about how he is gonna be raped in prison as if it was a just punishment for what he did.
If for most of the book I didn’t really care for either of them (with even some moments of appreciation for their witty dialogues) , after that scene I found them both to be repugnant monsters, lacking any shred of morality or compassion.
If for most of the book I didn’t really care for either of them (with even some moments of appreciation for their witty dialogues) , after that scene I found them both to be repugnant monsters, lacking any shred of morality or compassion.
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