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Mrs. Hudson #1
Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse: Holmes & Hudson Mystery, Book 1
From Book 1: What if Baker Street’s most gifted resident wasn’t called Sherlock Holmes?
An evil stalks London, blown in from the tropics. Stories of cursed giant rats and malign spirits haunt the garrets of Limehouse. A group of merchants are, one by one, dying. The elementary choice to investigate these mysterious deaths is, of course, Holmes and Dr Watson.
Yet the unique gifts of their housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, and her orphaned assistant Flotsam, will be needed to solve the case. Can she do it all under the nose of Sherlock himself?
From the coal fire at Baker Street to the smog of Whitechapel and the jungles of Sumatra, from snake bites in grand hotels to midnight carriage chases at the docks, it’s time for Mrs Hudson to step out of the shadows. Playfully breaking with convention, Martin Davies brings a fresh twist to classic Victorian mystery.
Martin Davies grew up in north-west England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on trains, and all his first drafts are written in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East, India and Sicily. In addition to the Holmes & Hudson Mysteries, he is the author of four other novels, including The Conjurer’s Bird, which sold over 150,000 copies and was selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club and Havana Sleeping, which was shortlisted for the 2015 CWA Historical Dagger award. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.
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First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Martin Davies
50 books92 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Martin Davies is a British author. He has written four novels about Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper and four other novels, including one about Joseph Banks and the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta, entitled The Conjuror's Bird, all of which have been published.
Martin Davies grew up in North West England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on tube trains, and an aversion to laptops means that he always works in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and substantial parts of THE UNICORN ROAD were written while travelling through Sicily. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.
Martin Davies is a British author. He has written four novels about Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper and four other novels, including one about Joseph Banks and the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta, entitled The Conjuror's Bird, all of which have been published.
Martin Davies grew up in North West England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on tube trains, and an aversion to laptops means that he always works in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and substantial parts of THE UNICORN ROAD were written while travelling through Sicily. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
January 29, 2026
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A pretty decent conceptualization (may not work for diehard SH fans)
With whispers of giant rats and malign spirits and the news of mysterious deaths of merchants, people turn to Baker Street for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve the case.
However, it is Mrs. Hudson and her orphaned assistant, Flotsam, who step out of the shadows to take on the case and expose the culprit(s).
The story comes in Flotsam’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
The book was first published in 2004, and the series currently has five other books. I have no idea if the content has changed for this version, though the cover is new.
The idea of Mrs. Hudson being a silent shadow detective was interesting. Since I read Enola Holmes, I expected Holmes and Watson to have relatively minor roles, with former not being his usual genius self. In a way, I was right. Holmes has to be made less intelligent for Mrs. Hudson to take the center stage. Sadly, that’s how the retellings seem to work these days.
I sure didn’t expect the narrator to be a teen. Flotsam is around 15 years (14+), so the voice is that of a YA. However, the contents are not really YAish, though the older YA-NA group should be fine with it. Many of them seem to read dark stuff anyway.
The choice of narrator does well to keep the focus on the main character (Mrs. Hudson). Oh, by the way, she looks a lot different from the TV series Sherlock, so don’t visualize her instead.
I was okay with Holmes displaying less than his usual brilliance (his acceptance of his housekeeper’s talents while still displaying a superiority complex seen in men of the time came out well). However, Watson seemed to be a little too much like a dizzy bumblebee.
The mystery as such is interesting and has quite a few additions, twists, etc. However, the pacing is really slow. Holmes’ stories have a steady pace matching his restless energy. Here, though, the pacing seems to align with Mrs. Hudson’s personality, though she can move fast when she wants.
As expected, there was quite a bit of info dump at the end, that too twice. It doesn’t exactly help the pace. The story should have been tightened since it is, anyway, being republished.
To summarize, Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse is an interesting start and establishes the characters and their backstories. I will read another book or two to see where it goes.
Thank you, NetGalley and Allison & Busby, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #Mrs HudsonAndTheSpiritsCurse
One Liner: A pretty decent conceptualization (may not work for diehard SH fans)
With whispers of giant rats and malign spirits and the news of mysterious deaths of merchants, people turn to Baker Street for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve the case.
However, it is Mrs. Hudson and her orphaned assistant, Flotsam, who step out of the shadows to take on the case and expose the culprit(s).
The story comes in Flotsam’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
The book was first published in 2004, and the series currently has five other books. I have no idea if the content has changed for this version, though the cover is new.
The idea of Mrs. Hudson being a silent shadow detective was interesting. Since I read Enola Holmes, I expected Holmes and Watson to have relatively minor roles, with former not being his usual genius self. In a way, I was right. Holmes has to be made less intelligent for Mrs. Hudson to take the center stage. Sadly, that’s how the retellings seem to work these days.
I sure didn’t expect the narrator to be a teen. Flotsam is around 15 years (14+), so the voice is that of a YA. However, the contents are not really YAish, though the older YA-NA group should be fine with it. Many of them seem to read dark stuff anyway.
The choice of narrator does well to keep the focus on the main character (Mrs. Hudson). Oh, by the way, she looks a lot different from the TV series Sherlock, so don’t visualize her instead.
I was okay with Holmes displaying less than his usual brilliance (his acceptance of his housekeeper’s talents while still displaying a superiority complex seen in men of the time came out well). However, Watson seemed to be a little too much like a dizzy bumblebee.
The mystery as such is interesting and has quite a few additions, twists, etc. However, the pacing is really slow. Holmes’ stories have a steady pace matching his restless energy. Here, though, the pacing seems to align with Mrs. Hudson’s personality, though she can move fast when she wants.
As expected, there was quite a bit of info dump at the end, that too twice. It doesn’t exactly help the pace. The story should have been tightened since it is, anyway, being republished.
To summarize, Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse is an interesting start and establishes the characters and their backstories. I will read another book or two to see where it goes.
Thank you, NetGalley and Allison & Busby, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #Mrs HudsonAndTheSpiritsCurse
November 13, 2021
This is a 4.5 star read.
A stunning new series for me with a different take on the Sherlock Holmes genre, this time from the viewpoint of his housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, who seems far more adept at solving crimes! A wonderful collection of characters with the exceedingly brave young Flotsam playing "Watson" to Mrs Hudson's far more humane, less egotistical version of "Holmes".
Well worth spending your pennies on!
A stunning new series for me with a different take on the Sherlock Holmes genre, this time from the viewpoint of his housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, who seems far more adept at solving crimes! A wonderful collection of characters with the exceedingly brave young Flotsam playing "Watson" to Mrs Hudson's far more humane, less egotistical version of "Holmes".
Well worth spending your pennies on!
August 14, 2011
I don't really know how I feel about this book. If I had been editing this, it would have asked the author to just go full on and make it a YA level book. The story is told from the POV of a young woman (15 or so) and the observations and emotions that come through are teetering toward that younger level. The amount of explanation needed also puts this at a younger level, but there are quite a lot of generic adult themes that don't fit the YA market. It was uneven.
I wasn't really happy with the portrayal of Holmes and Watson. I get that the author was all "Yay Mrs. Hudson!" but for some reason the author felt the need to portray both Holmes and Watson as dense, bumbling, and unobservant. It was just odd overall. The very, very, very long explanation at the end was completely unnecessary; the reader had been along on the entire adventure and didn't need to sit through the retelling to Holmes. It also annoyed me that Mrs. Hudson seemed to know things that would save lives, but didn't bother to tell anybody--resulting in people dying or being injured.
I wasn't really happy with the portrayal of Holmes and Watson. I get that the author was all "Yay Mrs. Hudson!" but for some reason the author felt the need to portray both Holmes and Watson as dense, bumbling, and unobservant. It was just odd overall. The very, very, very long explanation at the end was completely unnecessary; the reader had been along on the entire adventure and didn't need to sit through the retelling to Holmes. It also annoyed me that Mrs. Hudson seemed to know things that would save lives, but didn't bother to tell anybody--resulting in people dying or being injured.
October 18, 2020
I don't know that I will read any more books in this series. It was an entertaining tale, but Mrs. Hudson's sleuthing skills are over the top -- and to make her look incredible, the author has made Holmes look less than stellar by comparison.
February 2, 2017
An interesting take on the Sherlock Holmes canon. It mostly worked - although obviously Mrs Hudson had to have her own Watson, and I saw quite a bit of the plot coming. My main complaint was that the actual Watson seemed too slow and too fond of a dram in the evening. Still, it has potential and apart from Watson, the characters are done reasonably well.
December 18, 2011
This book made Mrs. Hudson seem smart at the expense of Sherlock Holmes. While I enjoy a good non-Conan Doyle Sherlock book, I don't like books that make Holmes out to be incompetent. I cannot recommend this to a true Sherlock fan.
November 12, 2015
Jaxx Maxx
This book held my interest throughout, however I found bad grammar and wrong word usage very distracting.:
Appraise instead of apprise
Repeated use of "I" instead of me when pronoun follows a preposition. Really no excuse.
This book held my interest throughout, however I found bad grammar and wrong word usage very distracting.:
Appraise instead of apprise
Repeated use of "I" instead of me when pronoun follows a preposition. Really no excuse.
May 31, 2024
Helping Holmes…
When her employer dies, housekeeper Mrs Hudson has to look for a new position. A friend tells her of a pair of young men intending to set up rooms together and on the lookout for a housekeeper, so Mrs Hudson and her young protegee, Flotsam, take up residence with Mr Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective, and his friend and sometimes colleague, Dr Watson. They are no sooner settled when Holmes’ first client turns up. Mr Moran tells a terrifying tale of how he and his partners had offended the spirits in colonial Sumatra, and even though they have fled back to London, it appears that the spirits are still set on revenge! Holmes and Watson set to, but they’re not very good at detection, though they both believe Holmes is a genius. Fortunately for them, Mrs Hudson has great intuition, excellent deductive skills and lots of contacts with useful people made during her long life in service…
I read the second book in this series, Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose, several years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it despite my general antipathy to Holmes pastiches. The humour was well done and kept the book on the cosy side. Flottie acts as Watson to Mrs Hudson, so she’s the narrator, and hers is an entertaining voice, the hard experiences of her orphaned childhood having given her a rather more adult outlook on life than might be usual for a fourteen-year-old. The plot was also fun.
This one is the first in the series, and doesn’t work quite so well, confirming again my view that it’s often wise to jump in to a series later on, when the author has had time to hone his style and technique. Again it’s fairly enjoyable, but there’s not so much humour, or at least it doesn’t work quite so well. By the second book, Holmes and Watson are so caricatured as bumbling fools that oddly they’ve passed beyond being annoying to purist fans – this one, at least. In this book, that characterisation isn’t so well developed, so I found their reliance on Mrs Hudson and Flottie harder to accept.
A good pastiche has to make the characters and their world reflect the original even if they’re being distorted for humorous effect, and Davies does that well for the most part. In this case, because the narrator is different, it’s fine that Flottie’s style doesn’t have the wonderful vocabulary and flow of a Watson narrative – in fact, it would feel wrong if it did. But when the characters of Holmes and Watson speak, they should sound like the originals – they should use vocabulary suited to their station in life, etc. In this one, Watson occasionally slips into Wodehouse silly-ass style, and that jars as not only wrong for the character, but wrong for the time.
It seems redundant to say that a pastiche is derivative, since that’s rather the point. But the plot in this one took too many elements from the original stories. I didn’t notice that in the second book, where the plot seemed more original, and therefore more interesting. I found this story only moderately interesting, and I felt it all took too long – one of the joys of the original Holmes stories is their brevity. I skimmed several chapters in the middle since it seemed reasonably clear where we were heading, and I didn’t feel I missed much. The mention in one of the original Holmes stories of an unwritten adventure concerning the Giant Rat of Sumatra has inspired many pastiches from many authors over the years, and I’m not sure another one was needed, nor that this one really comes up to the expectations aroused by that wonderfully tempting title.
I realise this review sounds very negative, but in fact the book was enjoyable enough – it just wasn’t as enjoyable as the second book, and the pastiche elements grated more on my personal antipathies this time. It’s an entertaining idea to have Mrs Hudson as the real detective in the household, though! I see Davies is up to book six in the series now. I’m not sure that I’m enthusiastic enough to stick with it, though I happily recommend the series as something a bit different if Holmes pastiches are your kind of thing.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When her employer dies, housekeeper Mrs Hudson has to look for a new position. A friend tells her of a pair of young men intending to set up rooms together and on the lookout for a housekeeper, so Mrs Hudson and her young protegee, Flotsam, take up residence with Mr Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective, and his friend and sometimes colleague, Dr Watson. They are no sooner settled when Holmes’ first client turns up. Mr Moran tells a terrifying tale of how he and his partners had offended the spirits in colonial Sumatra, and even though they have fled back to London, it appears that the spirits are still set on revenge! Holmes and Watson set to, but they’re not very good at detection, though they both believe Holmes is a genius. Fortunately for them, Mrs Hudson has great intuition, excellent deductive skills and lots of contacts with useful people made during her long life in service…
I read the second book in this series, Mrs Hudson and the Malabar Rose, several years ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it despite my general antipathy to Holmes pastiches. The humour was well done and kept the book on the cosy side. Flottie acts as Watson to Mrs Hudson, so she’s the narrator, and hers is an entertaining voice, the hard experiences of her orphaned childhood having given her a rather more adult outlook on life than might be usual for a fourteen-year-old. The plot was also fun.
This one is the first in the series, and doesn’t work quite so well, confirming again my view that it’s often wise to jump in to a series later on, when the author has had time to hone his style and technique. Again it’s fairly enjoyable, but there’s not so much humour, or at least it doesn’t work quite so well. By the second book, Holmes and Watson are so caricatured as bumbling fools that oddly they’ve passed beyond being annoying to purist fans – this one, at least. In this book, that characterisation isn’t so well developed, so I found their reliance on Mrs Hudson and Flottie harder to accept.
A good pastiche has to make the characters and their world reflect the original even if they’re being distorted for humorous effect, and Davies does that well for the most part. In this case, because the narrator is different, it’s fine that Flottie’s style doesn’t have the wonderful vocabulary and flow of a Watson narrative – in fact, it would feel wrong if it did. But when the characters of Holmes and Watson speak, they should sound like the originals – they should use vocabulary suited to their station in life, etc. In this one, Watson occasionally slips into Wodehouse silly-ass style, and that jars as not only wrong for the character, but wrong for the time.
It seems redundant to say that a pastiche is derivative, since that’s rather the point. But the plot in this one took too many elements from the original stories. I didn’t notice that in the second book, where the plot seemed more original, and therefore more interesting. I found this story only moderately interesting, and I felt it all took too long – one of the joys of the original Holmes stories is their brevity. I skimmed several chapters in the middle since it seemed reasonably clear where we were heading, and I didn’t feel I missed much. The mention in one of the original Holmes stories of an unwritten adventure concerning the Giant Rat of Sumatra has inspired many pastiches from many authors over the years, and I’m not sure another one was needed, nor that this one really comes up to the expectations aroused by that wonderfully tempting title.
I realise this review sounds very negative, but in fact the book was enjoyable enough – it just wasn’t as enjoyable as the second book, and the pastiche elements grated more on my personal antipathies this time. It’s an entertaining idea to have Mrs Hudson as the real detective in the household, though! I see Davies is up to book six in the series now. I’m not sure that I’m enthusiastic enough to stick with it, though I happily recommend the series as something a bit different if Holmes pastiches are your kind of thing.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
November 2, 2021
An interesting take on Sherlock Holmes, where Holmes isn’t the stunning genius he seems, and many of his insights are either off, or arrived at through the gentle prodding of the formidable Mrs. Hudson. A woman of many talents, including running a household, Mrs. Hudson has contacts in many of the gentries’ homes, as well as amongst shopkeepers and the poor.
After rescuing young Flotsam “Flottie” from a terrible situation, Mrs. Hudson raises the girl as a housemaid, but knows the girl needs more, so ensures she has a wide-ranging education delivered through Mrs. Hudson’s various contacts.
After the two move to Baker Street to maintain Sherlock Holmes’ home, the two women become involved in his cases, with Mrs. Hudson’s contacts providing legwork and information, all unbeknownst to the consulting detective, and delivered quietly by Mrs. Hudson in such a way that it becomes obvious that she’s brilliant and highly observant. Young Flottie becomes increasingly Mrs. Hudson’s eyes on cases, as Sherlock, after initially condescending to Mrs. Hudson’s female brain and supposed lack of knowledge beyond her kitchen, begins soliciting the women’s advice and opinions, and occasionally bringing Flottie with him or Watson, after Mrs. Hudson, and occasionally Flottie, arrive at conclusions that actually move the cases forward, unlike Sherlock’s tangential and sometimes irrelevant conclusions.
It’s a fun take on a character and mystery series that proves terrifically malleable and ripe for an inventive reinterpretation like this.
After rescuing young Flotsam “Flottie” from a terrible situation, Mrs. Hudson raises the girl as a housemaid, but knows the girl needs more, so ensures she has a wide-ranging education delivered through Mrs. Hudson’s various contacts.
After the two move to Baker Street to maintain Sherlock Holmes’ home, the two women become involved in his cases, with Mrs. Hudson’s contacts providing legwork and information, all unbeknownst to the consulting detective, and delivered quietly by Mrs. Hudson in such a way that it becomes obvious that she’s brilliant and highly observant. Young Flottie becomes increasingly Mrs. Hudson’s eyes on cases, as Sherlock, after initially condescending to Mrs. Hudson’s female brain and supposed lack of knowledge beyond her kitchen, begins soliciting the women’s advice and opinions, and occasionally bringing Flottie with him or Watson, after Mrs. Hudson, and occasionally Flottie, arrive at conclusions that actually move the cases forward, unlike Sherlock’s tangential and sometimes irrelevant conclusions.
It’s a fun take on a character and mystery series that proves terrifically malleable and ripe for an inventive reinterpretation like this.
December 30, 2018
Locations of Sherlock's London right here
Sherlock Holmes London through the eyes of Mrs Hudson the faithful housekeeper. Would this be any good I asked myself. I thought it an interesting twist and wanted to read something a little different set in cosy, dark and historical London crime fiction.
I was not disappointed in the slightest! Turns out Mrs Hudson is not only wonderfully clever but a very witty and steadfast character. Guess she's got to have something about her to deal with Sherlock and Holmes and all their carry on. She's there, seen it all and actually done most of it as well! Oh I wanted to hug her, cheer her and dance around that lovely warm kitchen of hers all at once.
She's rescued a girl called Flotsam from the streets and together they are quite the formidable team. They bounce off each other well, and the banter between them as the relationship grows is a joy to read. When Sherlock and Holmes do appear, they are often just off out on a adventure and I found myself feeling lucky I got to stay with Hudson and Flotsam ...but then whoosh, I was soon in a hansom cab with them off on another adventure..
It's actually really clever and not all that implausible - Mrs Hudson would have had a good network of contacts as chief housemaid and knows a whole host of people from those on the streets to the lords and ladies of homes she has worked in. Servants know everything about you so imagine what she knows and then uses to her advantage. There's lots of little snippets of how Mrs H has been of use in solving or resolving mysteries which have stumped Sherlock which was genius.
It was a joy to meet Mrs Hudson and have her come out of the shadows. The warmth of her kitchen and the glow of that fire! The food! The asides at Sherlock! The kindness she shows to Flotsam! All a joy to read. She's not one for show or pomp however and is always keen to tell Holmes not to include her when he writes up a case. You can hear her grinning with satisfaction from behind the door as he writes however.
Whether you are familiar with/love Sherlock or not, this is a unique spin on the life behind the closed doors of that famous Baker Street address . There are some great in-jokes for Holmes fans which are also in turn, a little salute to Conan Doyle. You can be assured that it was probably Mrs Hudson standing beside the author Martin Davies who arranged all that ;)
March 3, 2022
Our book-circle theme this month is to read a spin-off, which is a brilliant idea. Thank you Marta! There are many, many spin-offs available. Just reading Ms Austen spin-offs would take years. But instead I found this – and several others like it – in a list on Goodreads and bought it pretty cheaply for Kindle.
So it begins very well, loses a bit as it flows along and ends up in a bit of a morass but still flowing. I've already bought the second volume.
The premise is that Sherlock Holmes, while astute and clever is very much too full of himself and liable to rely too much on facts and his own talents. It is in fact, his housekeeper Mrs Hudson who is smarter than he is, more observant, and more open to inspiration. She is known from the canon as the merest background figure allowed to introduce the occasional client.
The hero of the tale is Flotsam, called Flottie, a foundling who escapes a fate worse than death and finds her way to Mrs Hudson who takes her under her wing. This is lucky for both of them.
"'Well, Flottie, I’ve come to understand that in this world facts are very largely used to keep the likes of us in our places... I’ve grown to know that if you start letting facts cloud your judgement you’ll spend most of your life being wrong for all the right reasons. No, Flottie, take my advice and learn to heed that little voice inside you that tells you what’s right even when all the facts get in the way.’"
Mrs Hudson is still Holmes and Watson's housekeeper.
"‘When we have discarded the inedible, what remains, however unlikely, will have to be dinner.’
Mr Holmes paused as though struck by an important thought. ‘Do you know, Mrs Hudson, I believe you may have something there.’"
Sherlock being himself:
"‘Really, Holmes!’ Watson expostulated. ‘You cannot seriously expect us to believe that even a mind such as yours can deduce all that from just a few lines of prose. Why, it’s an impossibility!’
... ‘On the contrary, Watson. Nothing I’ve said requires anything more than the most basic observation...'"
"'Let us, as you say, concentrate on the facts of the case,’ rejoined Mr Holmes, frowning at his pipe. I was aware of Mrs Hudson tutting very softly by my side."
In the canon – the works purportedly penned by A.C. Doyle – there are references to The Giant Rat of Sumatra, a case which is never told, to the delight of spin-off authors, not least Mr. Martin Davies. Among other clues to the story is the name Matilda Briggs, which is discovered to be not a person but a ship:
"...a second dagger had been cursed and was to be put aboard the Matilda Briggs, the regular London packet ship that served the islands..."
Sherlock condescends:
"'I consider you and Flottie worthy helpers in this case; you are the rods of base metal that help to conduct the lightning.'"
"‘Mrs Hudson, were you truly able to deduce how Watson’s day was to be spent merely by a glance in your larder?’
‘Of course, sir.’
He nodded to himself, as if uncertain what to make of this. ‘Extraordinary!’ he concluded.
‘Very simple, Mr Holmes,’ returned Mrs Hudson steadily. ‘One should never overlook the alimentary.’ And she turned quickly to the dresser as if a great deal of rapid concentration was required to disguise the joyous convulsions of her eyebrows.
"'I have promised Mrs Hudson and Flottie here that they may hear your tale from the horse’s mouth, for they are developing a taste for sensation and if you were ever to do as you vow and commit one of our adventures to paper, they would be your most loyal readers.’
Dr Watson directed a nod in our direction. ‘Jolly good! It will be a pleasure, Mrs Hudson. I daresay that in your line of work you observe a great deal of human nature.’ "
Which understates her gifts, but is the foundation in solving mysteries by another well-known sleuth, Miss Marple.
"‘Oh, yes,’ Mrs Hudson chuckled to herself. ‘Deduction and reasoning are all very well, but at the end of the day even Solomon, for all his wisdom, wasn’t above smiting the Hittites.’"
This is not only a mystery but more than a bit of an action thriller. Nor do we miss out on a car chase... albeit with hansom cabs across half of London...
Mr Davies manages to conjure up the bad old days of the deep London fogs/smogs and is artful in his metaphors:
"As he passed slowly away from me, the silence closed again. The fog smothered time with a damp hand and it became hard to guess the hour..."
"By nine, the November fogs would take hold and turn even the most riotous celebrants into little more than muffled travellers struggling from lamp to lamp."
"...‘Dead?’ The news seemed to hit him as unexpectedly as a blackjack in an alley.'"
"...Back in the street, I paused to look around. The crowds were only slightly thinner though it was darker now and the cold was flagrant in its attentions..."
A couple of incidental characters, Mr Rupert Spencer, a wealthy amateur scientist, and Miss Hetty Peters his ...future fiancé (possibly) are always a pleasure to read. Miss Peters talks too much and is delightfully naive.
"'Now, do you take milk? Lemon? Oh, I always take milk too. I can't bear all those tedious people who insist that milk ruins a perfectly good drink. Just because I haven't been to India and brewed my own tea at dawn on the banks of the Yangtze Kiang doesn't mean I don't know what's nice to drink and what isn't...'"
Requested at a later date to provide a distraction she surpasses expectation: "we could hear hysterical screams interspersed with a wild, manic cackle as Miss Peters got into her stride..."
This is a pretty good story. The plot is considerably convoluted, the suspects plentiful – to begin with – the nature of the crime and of the investigation less than obvious, the action plentiful and, above all, the characters are interesting. Holmes and Watson are much as they appear in the canon, though Watson is not as moronic as he often appears there, nor is Holmes as brilliant. Mrs Hudson is brilliant, and warm and safe, something which little Flottie appreciates as she has seen little of that side of humankind previously. The incidental characters, butlers, solicitors, chemists, coachmen all have some flair. The villains are truly despicable! The ending is satisfactory.
So it begins very well, loses a bit as it flows along and ends up in a bit of a morass but still flowing. I've already bought the second volume.
The premise is that Sherlock Holmes, while astute and clever is very much too full of himself and liable to rely too much on facts and his own talents. It is in fact, his housekeeper Mrs Hudson who is smarter than he is, more observant, and more open to inspiration. She is known from the canon as the merest background figure allowed to introduce the occasional client.
The hero of the tale is Flotsam, called Flottie, a foundling who escapes a fate worse than death and finds her way to Mrs Hudson who takes her under her wing. This is lucky for both of them.
"'Well, Flottie, I’ve come to understand that in this world facts are very largely used to keep the likes of us in our places... I’ve grown to know that if you start letting facts cloud your judgement you’ll spend most of your life being wrong for all the right reasons. No, Flottie, take my advice and learn to heed that little voice inside you that tells you what’s right even when all the facts get in the way.’"
Mrs Hudson is still Holmes and Watson's housekeeper.
"‘When we have discarded the inedible, what remains, however unlikely, will have to be dinner.’
Mr Holmes paused as though struck by an important thought. ‘Do you know, Mrs Hudson, I believe you may have something there.’"
Sherlock being himself:
"‘Really, Holmes!’ Watson expostulated. ‘You cannot seriously expect us to believe that even a mind such as yours can deduce all that from just a few lines of prose. Why, it’s an impossibility!’
... ‘On the contrary, Watson. Nothing I’ve said requires anything more than the most basic observation...'"
"'Let us, as you say, concentrate on the facts of the case,’ rejoined Mr Holmes, frowning at his pipe. I was aware of Mrs Hudson tutting very softly by my side."
In the canon – the works purportedly penned by A.C. Doyle – there are references to The Giant Rat of Sumatra, a case which is never told, to the delight of spin-off authors, not least Mr. Martin Davies. Among other clues to the story is the name Matilda Briggs, which is discovered to be not a person but a ship:
"...a second dagger had been cursed and was to be put aboard the Matilda Briggs, the regular London packet ship that served the islands..."
Sherlock condescends:
"'I consider you and Flottie worthy helpers in this case; you are the rods of base metal that help to conduct the lightning.'"
"‘Mrs Hudson, were you truly able to deduce how Watson’s day was to be spent merely by a glance in your larder?’
‘Of course, sir.’
He nodded to himself, as if uncertain what to make of this. ‘Extraordinary!’ he concluded.
‘Very simple, Mr Holmes,’ returned Mrs Hudson steadily. ‘One should never overlook the alimentary.’ And she turned quickly to the dresser as if a great deal of rapid concentration was required to disguise the joyous convulsions of her eyebrows.
"'I have promised Mrs Hudson and Flottie here that they may hear your tale from the horse’s mouth, for they are developing a taste for sensation and if you were ever to do as you vow and commit one of our adventures to paper, they would be your most loyal readers.’
Dr Watson directed a nod in our direction. ‘Jolly good! It will be a pleasure, Mrs Hudson. I daresay that in your line of work you observe a great deal of human nature.’ "
Which understates her gifts, but is the foundation in solving mysteries by another well-known sleuth, Miss Marple.
"‘Oh, yes,’ Mrs Hudson chuckled to herself. ‘Deduction and reasoning are all very well, but at the end of the day even Solomon, for all his wisdom, wasn’t above smiting the Hittites.’"
This is not only a mystery but more than a bit of an action thriller. Nor do we miss out on a car chase... albeit with hansom cabs across half of London...
Mr Davies manages to conjure up the bad old days of the deep London fogs/smogs and is artful in his metaphors:
"As he passed slowly away from me, the silence closed again. The fog smothered time with a damp hand and it became hard to guess the hour..."
"By nine, the November fogs would take hold and turn even the most riotous celebrants into little more than muffled travellers struggling from lamp to lamp."
"...‘Dead?’ The news seemed to hit him as unexpectedly as a blackjack in an alley.'"
"...Back in the street, I paused to look around. The crowds were only slightly thinner though it was darker now and the cold was flagrant in its attentions..."
A couple of incidental characters, Mr Rupert Spencer, a wealthy amateur scientist, and Miss Hetty Peters his ...future fiancé (possibly) are always a pleasure to read. Miss Peters talks too much and is delightfully naive.
"'Now, do you take milk? Lemon? Oh, I always take milk too. I can't bear all those tedious people who insist that milk ruins a perfectly good drink. Just because I haven't been to India and brewed my own tea at dawn on the banks of the Yangtze Kiang doesn't mean I don't know what's nice to drink and what isn't...'"
Requested at a later date to provide a distraction she surpasses expectation: "we could hear hysterical screams interspersed with a wild, manic cackle as Miss Peters got into her stride..."
This is a pretty good story. The plot is considerably convoluted, the suspects plentiful – to begin with – the nature of the crime and of the investigation less than obvious, the action plentiful and, above all, the characters are interesting. Holmes and Watson are much as they appear in the canon, though Watson is not as moronic as he often appears there, nor is Holmes as brilliant. Mrs Hudson is brilliant, and warm and safe, something which little Flottie appreciates as she has seen little of that side of humankind previously. The incidental characters, butlers, solicitors, chemists, coachmen all have some flair. The villains are truly despicable! The ending is satisfactory.
June 29, 2023
It was an interesting read, but I must say that I prefer the second book in the series.
Dr. Watson in this book felt as if he were only here as extra manpower, comedic relief and someone who could diagnose that someone else is dead. He was more in the way than he actually had things to do.
Sherlock Holmes seemed to make mistake after mistake and he didn’t seem as the genius that he normally portrayed at. But at least his relationship with mrs. Hudson was amazing.
Mrs. Hudson is the brain and operations, but she kept important information behind because she didn’t have any proof yet, but this led to the dead of others. I can understand this on one hand, because who would have believed her without proof, but she should have mentioned something. Yet by not doing this, we as the readers are kept in the dark until the very conclusion.
Then we get to our MC: Flotsam, because even though the book is called Mrs. Hudson and the case is the spirit’s curse, the whole book is written from Flotsam’s point of view. First things first, I feel sorry for her with that name. Really, who ever cam up with that name? Second, Flotsam was written dubiously, one moment she was a complete helpless young girl the other she was really smart and went off on her own to get important evidence without telling anyone. She is difficult to pinpoint, but she does absolutely adore Mrs. Hudson and would do everything for her.
Inspector Gregory makes a few appearances in the book and in those appearances you wonder how he became an inspector.
The case itself was interesting and well thought out. There were some details that you couldn’t have figured out without the characters telling you, but that made it even more interesting. Especially to see a case like this from a ‘household view’, whatever that means.
Dr. Watson in this book felt as if he were only here as extra manpower, comedic relief and someone who could diagnose that someone else is dead. He was more in the way than he actually had things to do.
Sherlock Holmes seemed to make mistake after mistake and he didn’t seem as the genius that he normally portrayed at. But at least his relationship with mrs. Hudson was amazing.
Mrs. Hudson is the brain and operations, but she kept important information behind because she didn’t have any proof yet, but this led to the dead of others. I can understand this on one hand, because who would have believed her without proof, but she should have mentioned something. Yet by not doing this, we as the readers are kept in the dark until the very conclusion.
Then we get to our MC: Flotsam, because even though the book is called Mrs. Hudson and the case is the spirit’s curse, the whole book is written from Flotsam’s point of view. First things first, I feel sorry for her with that name. Really, who ever cam up with that name? Second, Flotsam was written dubiously, one moment she was a complete helpless young girl the other she was really smart and went off on her own to get important evidence without telling anyone. She is difficult to pinpoint, but she does absolutely adore Mrs. Hudson and would do everything for her.
Inspector Gregory makes a few appearances in the book and in those appearances you wonder how he became an inspector.
The case itself was interesting and well thought out. There were some details that you couldn’t have figured out without the characters telling you, but that made it even more interesting. Especially to see a case like this from a ‘household view’, whatever that means.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
This was a fun and clever book that I read in one sitting. It is the story of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Mrs. Hudson, told from the point of view of a new member of the household, Flotsam. However, in this tale of the famous sleuth, Mrs. Hudson is more than his match in observation skills and reading people. I especially like how the author managed to take the same clues and situations and depict them from both Holmes and Hudson's points of view. They come to the same conclusions in the end, but in different ways. (Hudson's view is a little more on point, but it is her book after all.)
I have not read any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, as in the ones Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, but I have seen and read a number of different versions of the detective in books, on television, and in movies. I think this portrayal is fun. The added twist, that Mrs. Holmes is his match, but in a more subtle and domestic way, adds a lot.
Mrs. Hudson is definitely a beloved, though underdeveloped, character in the Holmes universe, so it was nice to read her getting her due, though she is seen through another character's lens. I think my only complaint is that Watson is once again reduced to an older and a bit dottery persona, which I think a bit odd for someone who was supposed to be a returned Afghanistan war hero. I prefer it when he is more a peer to Sherlock Holmes (like Martin Freeman or Jude Law's depictions).
I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
I have not read any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, as in the ones Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, but I have seen and read a number of different versions of the detective in books, on television, and in movies. I think this portrayal is fun. The added twist, that Mrs. Holmes is his match, but in a more subtle and domestic way, adds a lot.
Mrs. Hudson is definitely a beloved, though underdeveloped, character in the Holmes universe, so it was nice to read her getting her due, though she is seen through another character's lens. I think my only complaint is that Watson is once again reduced to an older and a bit dottery persona, which I think a bit odd for someone who was supposed to be a returned Afghanistan war hero. I prefer it when he is more a peer to Sherlock Holmes (like Martin Freeman or Jude Law's depictions).
I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
March 31, 2018
Libro escrito siguiendo la estela de las historias de Sherlock. En esta ocasión, es un caso que se presenta justo cuando acaban de mudarse y de contratar a la sra. Hudson como ama de llaves, cocinera...
El libro está escrito en primera persona, siendo la narradora la joven Flotsam, una huérfana a la que la sra. Hudson ha acogido como ayudante. El aliciente que presenta la novela es que la sra. Hudson es capaz de llegar a hipótesis totalmente válidas siguiendo el mismo método que el detective: la deducción.
Está escrito usando el mismo lenguaje, expresiones, etc que los originales. Había momentos en que realmente me parecía estar leyendo a ConanDoyle, en lugar de Martin Davies.
Muy recomendable si os gustan las historias del detective victoriano.
El libro está escrito en primera persona, siendo la narradora la joven Flotsam, una huérfana a la que la sra. Hudson ha acogido como ayudante. El aliciente que presenta la novela es que la sra. Hudson es capaz de llegar a hipótesis totalmente válidas siguiendo el mismo método que el detective: la deducción.
Está escrito usando el mismo lenguaje, expresiones, etc que los originales. Había momentos en que realmente me parecía estar leyendo a ConanDoyle, en lugar de Martin Davies.
Muy recomendable si os gustan las historias del detective victoriano.
July 20, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
This was a pleasant spin on the classic Holmes from the perspective of a young maid taken on by Mrs Hudson, the true detective…
The story was well done and the old favourites were still familiar despite the variations.
Enjoyed it and will look out for number 2.
This was a pleasant spin on the classic Holmes from the perspective of a young maid taken on by Mrs Hudson, the true detective…
The story was well done and the old favourites were still familiar despite the variations.
Enjoyed it and will look out for number 2.
November 19, 2025
This was fun - sure, it paints Watson and Holmes and a little oblivious, but fun nonetheless.
January 8, 2018
Okay, it's not Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it's still a good fun read. A look at one of the Holmes adventures hinted at in Doyle's books (the Sumatra affair), from the point of view of the indomitable Mrs. Hudson and her helpers, we find that more than one great mind resides on Baker Street. Unlike the Doyle books, the explanation for the true villain is not totally obscure until the final reveal and a somewhat cheesy use of another famed fictional character; but still the book was charming and fun to read. Fine for anyone old enough to read the Doyle books too.
August 13, 2015
Well, I found another novel riffing on the Sherlock Holmes theme, and, of course, I couldn’t resist asking for a review copy. This has been a good year for Holmes with a number of new Holmes books out: there’s a new Russell/Holmes from Laurie King; the start of a new Holmes/Watson series from Vasudev Murthy and Poisoned Pen Press; The Fifth Heart, pairing Holmes and Henry James; Holmes’ creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, was paired with Oscar Wilde in a new Paranormal Casebooks volume; and Zach Dundas has written a book exploring the history of and variations on the Holmes stories. If we stretch back into late 2014, we also had Anthony Horowitz’ Moriarty and a collection of Holmes stories edited by Leslie S. Klinger and Laurie R. King. And another major collection of Holmes related stories is due out in late October.
That’s a lot of Holmes, but as this publishing boomlet suggests, there’s always room for one more Sherlock. In Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse, Martin Davies brings us a Holmes and Watson very much in the Conan Doyle style and pairs them with their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, (who turns out to have quite a keen mind), and Flotsam—Flottie for short—a young orphan fleeing attempts to force her into prostitution.
The chief pleasure here is that while Holmes remains the intelligent man we’ve known him as, Davies plays on Holmes’ biases, using the Mrs. Hudson character to offer alternate interpretations for many clues Holmes uncovers. This Mrs. Hudson has a long history of solving crimes and an unusually broad group of acquaintances from all social strata to whom she turns for information and assistance.
At first, Holmes condescends to Mrs. Hudson, but it doesn’t take him long to realize he’s met a mind as sharp as (if also rather different from ) his own. Flottie gets her due as well. The least-respected character here is Watson. He’s companionable, but easily befuddled and uncertain at times in his actions.
The case focused on in Mrs. Hudson is a supposed curse placed on a trio of Englishmen returning to their native country after an unsuccessful attempt to build a fortune in Sumatra. It quickly becomes uncertain whether the men are more threatened by the curse or by one another.
If you’re looking to satisfy a craving for Holmesian reading, Mrs. Hudson will serve you well. The language is reminiscent of Conan Doyle’s, the story is carefully built—and it’s a true pleasure to see a pair of intelligent, self-reliant women alongside Holmes and Watson.
That’s a lot of Holmes, but as this publishing boomlet suggests, there’s always room for one more Sherlock. In Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse, Martin Davies brings us a Holmes and Watson very much in the Conan Doyle style and pairs them with their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, (who turns out to have quite a keen mind), and Flotsam—Flottie for short—a young orphan fleeing attempts to force her into prostitution.
The chief pleasure here is that while Holmes remains the intelligent man we’ve known him as, Davies plays on Holmes’ biases, using the Mrs. Hudson character to offer alternate interpretations for many clues Holmes uncovers. This Mrs. Hudson has a long history of solving crimes and an unusually broad group of acquaintances from all social strata to whom she turns for information and assistance.
At first, Holmes condescends to Mrs. Hudson, but it doesn’t take him long to realize he’s met a mind as sharp as (if also rather different from ) his own. Flottie gets her due as well. The least-respected character here is Watson. He’s companionable, but easily befuddled and uncertain at times in his actions.
The case focused on in Mrs. Hudson is a supposed curse placed on a trio of Englishmen returning to their native country after an unsuccessful attempt to build a fortune in Sumatra. It quickly becomes uncertain whether the men are more threatened by the curse or by one another.
If you’re looking to satisfy a craving for Holmesian reading, Mrs. Hudson will serve you well. The language is reminiscent of Conan Doyle’s, the story is carefully built—and it’s a true pleasure to see a pair of intelligent, self-reliant women alongside Holmes and Watson.
September 17, 2015
I very much enjoyed this different take on the Sherlock Holmes featuring his housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, as a sleuth of equal or greater ability. The difference as she tells it is that Holmes views cases through the eyes of a scientist while she views them through plain old common sense and life experiences. The story is told through the eyes of Mrs. Hudson's housemaid, Flotsam, or more commonly Flottie. She is a bright girl of about 14 who Mrs. Hudson had rescued from the streets years earlier. The story moves quickly to the tale of how they came to be in the household of Holmes and Dr. Watson. The plot involves a new client, Nathaniel Moran, who comes to Holmes with a story of how he and two friends had gone into business in Sumatra and how things had turned deadly when they angered a local medicine man who had cursed them. Their business suffers a series of gruesome supernatural deaths. The three were terrified and barely escaped with their lives, returning to London having lost everything. A package he has received makes him believe that the curse has followed them to London and that they are in grave danger. He asks for Holmes' help. But while Holmes and Watson launch their investigation, Mrs. Hudson and Flotsam are conducting an investigation of their own. Their efforts are hampered by the reappearance of a professional criminal seeking revenge on Flottie for past humiliations. This is a very different take on Sherlock Holmes and the characters of Mrs. Hudson and Flotsam are a delight. I recommend this to all Sherlock Holmes fans.
January 27, 2017
One evening Nathaniel Moran visits Holmes and Watson with a tale of malignant curses, vindictive spirits, and murders starting in Sumatra but now they have followed him to London and he needs their help.
But while Holmes investigates the bizarre, it is the housekeeper Mrs Hudson and the maid Flotsam, while studying the commonplace, who solve the mystery.
An interesting story which kept me entertained.
But while Holmes investigates the bizarre, it is the housekeeper Mrs Hudson and the maid Flotsam, while studying the commonplace, who solve the mystery.
An interesting story which kept me entertained.
February 12, 2025
An okay mystery.
However it falls into the trap of making Mrs Hudson smart by making Sherlock Holmes dumb. Dr Watson is poorly served here, his character more akin to the Nigel Bruce version of the bumbling fool rather than the actual novel Dr Watson. He still has his good heart though.
I enjoyed most of the little nods to the Holmes stories and it was an easy enough read, although it was obvious where many plot points are going.
I am interested to see how the series grows.
However it falls into the trap of making Mrs Hudson smart by making Sherlock Holmes dumb. Dr Watson is poorly served here, his character more akin to the Nigel Bruce version of the bumbling fool rather than the actual novel Dr Watson. He still has his good heart though.
I enjoyed most of the little nods to the Holmes stories and it was an easy enough read, although it was obvious where many plot points are going.
I am interested to see how the series grows.
September 15, 2008
This was a fun read. I still like Laurie King's books about Sherlock Holmes better, but this was good.
May 9, 2008
I love this series about how Sherlock Holmes housekeeper helps solve the mysteries and help people.
December 6, 2020
London, England. Scraggs (grocer’s boy) had caught up with Flotsam “Flottie” (aka Crikey, orphan girl) when she had tried to steal the rotten cabbage from the bin.
The newsboys were calling out the latest updates on the mysterious Brixton murder.
He introduced me to Mrs. Hudson (housekeeper).
She listened to my life’s story with utmost interest.
Flottie accepted the position of scullery maid/helper.
Mrs. Siskin (cook, Methodist) taught Flottie how to cook.
Swordsmith (butler) began to teach me rudimentary the 3R’s.
Mrs. Siskin moved to a household in Brighton, East Sussex county, S. England & Swordsmith went to work for young Lord Tregavin.
Mr. Rumbelow (family solicitor) had appeared at the door to speak with Mrs. Hudson, who was out at the moment.
Flottie (14) got him something to drink why he sat by the fire in the kitchen.
Mr. Rumbelow began to reveal a few interesting facts about her employer.
Mrs. Hudson arrived & Mr. Rumbelow gave her an update on matters at hand.
Mr. Sherlock Holmes & Dr. John H. Watson new tenants had just moved into # 221B Baker St. & wanted to obtain a housekeeper that was not scared of blood.
They were both hired.
A wax seal letter had arrived & Mrs. Hudson showed Mr. Holmes & Dr. Watson.
It was from Nathaniel Moran (30+, gentlemen, amateur naturalist).
Nathaniel had quite the personal adventure tale to tell them.
His companions: Whitfield died, fever, Postgate died, Neale, & Carruthers had gone to Sumatra (Sunda Islands), W. Indonesia to seek/find their fortune.
Mr. James Winterton of Winterton Shipping; Matilda Briggs (packet ship) owner & other vessels, is concerned about the evil spirits aboard his ships.
There were at least 23 confirmed deaths in/at Port St Mary village district SW Isle of Man.
St. James’s Hotel. Mr. Holmes & Dr. Watson had been summoned to investigate Mr. Carruthers murder.
Inspector Gregory (Scotland Yard) had arrived at the crime scene.
Underneath the body & fireplace poker, was a dead blue snake.
Dr. Watson & Mr. Moran are not fond of each other.
Were Carruthers, Neale & Moran all involved in the experiment in Sumatra?
Who came out on top?
Inspector Gregory called to tell us Fogarty had disappeared.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written English mystery book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great English mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Canelo; Digital original edition; BookZio; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The newsboys were calling out the latest updates on the mysterious Brixton murder.
He introduced me to Mrs. Hudson (housekeeper).
She listened to my life’s story with utmost interest.
Flottie accepted the position of scullery maid/helper.
Mrs. Siskin (cook, Methodist) taught Flottie how to cook.
Swordsmith (butler) began to teach me rudimentary the 3R’s.
Mrs. Siskin moved to a household in Brighton, East Sussex county, S. England & Swordsmith went to work for young Lord Tregavin.
Mr. Rumbelow (family solicitor) had appeared at the door to speak with Mrs. Hudson, who was out at the moment.
Flottie (14) got him something to drink why he sat by the fire in the kitchen.
Mr. Rumbelow began to reveal a few interesting facts about her employer.
Mrs. Hudson arrived & Mr. Rumbelow gave her an update on matters at hand.
Mr. Sherlock Holmes & Dr. John H. Watson new tenants had just moved into # 221B Baker St. & wanted to obtain a housekeeper that was not scared of blood.
They were both hired.
A wax seal letter had arrived & Mrs. Hudson showed Mr. Holmes & Dr. Watson.
It was from Nathaniel Moran (30+, gentlemen, amateur naturalist).
Nathaniel had quite the personal adventure tale to tell them.
His companions: Whitfield died, fever, Postgate died, Neale, & Carruthers had gone to Sumatra (Sunda Islands), W. Indonesia to seek/find their fortune.
Mr. James Winterton of Winterton Shipping; Matilda Briggs (packet ship) owner & other vessels, is concerned about the evil spirits aboard his ships.
There were at least 23 confirmed deaths in/at Port St Mary village district SW Isle of Man.
St. James’s Hotel. Mr. Holmes & Dr. Watson had been summoned to investigate Mr. Carruthers murder.
Inspector Gregory (Scotland Yard) had arrived at the crime scene.
Underneath the body & fireplace poker, was a dead blue snake.
Dr. Watson & Mr. Moran are not fond of each other.
Were Carruthers, Neale & Moran all involved in the experiment in Sumatra?
Who came out on top?
Inspector Gregory called to tell us Fogarty had disappeared.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written English mystery book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great English mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. To be continued. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Canelo; Digital original edition; BookZio; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
November 5, 2023
Ако смятате мисис Хъдсън за добра, кротка, леко сенилна женица, която само си вре любопитния нос в разследванията на Холмс и Уотсън, то Мартин Дейвис е решен да ви докаже, че не може да имате по-погрешна представа за великолепната госпожа Хъдсън, която всъщност разчиства кашите на великите детективи и върши основната работа по разиграване на сивите клетки. Тук уважаемата дама е силна във всеки смисъл на думата, яка като бик елитна домоуправителка с внушителни баници и с по-силни връзки из всички благородни домове на империята и от руски романичели бос в света на Джон Уик. И няма да ѝ се изплъзне нито един престъпник, освен тези, които самата тя не реши да остави на въздух, защото понякога справедливостта има повече от едно лице и нюанс.
Престъпленията пред Холмс и Уотсън не са от класиките на Дойл, а съвсем нови криминални драми, вариращи от убийства, през кражби, измами, стари мистерии с призрачен вкус, неразрешими събития, в които се сблъскват гениалните престъпни умове и екипът на двамата детективи, с огромната подкрепа на великолепната мисис Хъдсън и едно мило момиче, прибрано от улицата, със странното име Флотсам или останките от разбит кораб, какъвто е и живота ѝ. Да, това е повече книга за силните дамски образи и вероятно напълно фантастичните невъзможности за развитие в регентска Англия преди възкачването на Виктория, която между другото също получава малка, но абсолютно запомняща се роля, с която завинаги остава в сърцата като любимата литературна кралица.
И въпреки постоянния приток на престъпления, цялата поредица е безкрайно уютна, някак светла и окуражаваща дори в най-тъмните моменти, когато сякаш лошите ще победят, но надеждата, че само с бърз ум и добра подготовка ще се измъкнат любимите ни герои, винаги надделява над всичко. Кухнята на мисис Хъдсън ще стане вашето любимо място, където пред вечно бумтящия огън ще се четат секретни документи, измамни бележки, загубени писма, отчаяни вопли на хора от всякакъв род и калибър, които търсят малко правдина във време, когато такива работи не се случват на всеки. Очарователни книги, за всяка възр��ст и ум, при условие, че търсите загадките, топлите истории и страшно симпатичните странични герои, които често разрешават и най-заплетената ситуация със случайните си житейски прозрения. Просто хубави книги.
Престъпленията пред Холмс и Уотсън не са от класиките на Дойл, а съвсем нови криминални драми, вариращи от убийства, през кражби, измами, стари мистерии с призрачен вкус, неразрешими събития, в които се сблъскват гениалните престъпни умове и екипът на двамата детективи, с огромната подкрепа на великолепната мисис Хъдсън и едно мило момиче, прибрано от улицата, със странното име Флотсам или останките от разбит кораб, какъвто е и живота ѝ. Да, това е повече книга за силните дамски образи и вероятно напълно фантастичните невъзможности за развитие в регентска Англия преди възкачването на Виктория, която между другото също получава малка, но абсолютно запомняща се роля, с която завинаги остава в сърцата като любимата литературна кралица.
И въпреки постоянния приток на престъпления, цялата поредица е безкрайно уютна, някак светла и окуражаваща дори в най-тъмните моменти, когато сякаш лошите ще победят, но надеждата, че само с бърз ум и добра подготовка ще се измъкнат любимите ни герои, винаги надделява над всичко. Кухнята на мисис Хъдсън ще стане вашето любимо място, където пред вечно бумтящия огън ще се четат секретни документи, измамни бележки, загубени писма, отчаяни вопли на хора от всякакъв род и калибър, които търсят малко правдина във време, когато такива работи не се случват на всеки. Очарователни книги, за всяка възр��ст и ум, при условие, че търсите загадките, топлите истории и страшно симпатичните странични герои, които често разрешават и най-заплетената ситуация със случайните си житейски прозрения. Просто хубави книги.
January 25, 2026
Martin Davies has written a number of books about Sherlock Holmes’s housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, and her assistant, Flotsam (Flottie). Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse is the first of that series, republished over twenty years after its first appearance.
I loved this book. Not for the mystery – whodunnit becomes obvious, although the whydunit is very clever and skilfully revealed – but for the sheer joy and playfulness of the writing; and for the relish with which Davies shows Mrs Hudson outsmarting Holmes at his own business. The characters are brilliantly drawn: the upper-class Rupert Spencer, with his scientific skills and his adoring friend, Miss Hetty Peters; the villainous Smale and Fogarty; and the two “innocents”, as Mrs Hudson describes them, Holmes and Watson.
Davies is keen to give lines to Mrs Hudson that Dr Watson recycles in his accounts of Holmes’s work, published under the name Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. One of the many joys of this book is recognising such occasions:
“What is the second detail to which you wish to draw our attention?”
“To the peculiarity of the cheese souffle that Dr Watson enjoyed this evening.”
“But Mrs Hudson, there was nothing at all wrong with the cheese souffle. It was quite perfect.”
“That, Dr Watson, is the peculiarity I find so interesting.”
There are many Doyle-like throwaways such as “Had she not understood the significance of the dust accumulating beneath the stair rods, the fraud might never have come to light.”
Leaving aside the delightful fun, I was impressed by the depiction of Mrs Hudson and the fourteen-year-old Flottie as strong female characters. Flottie may be young and have missed out on many years of education, but she learns very quickly – she tells Holmes and Inspector Gregory the meaning of a Latin sentence in a letter from a murderer. It’s a realistic depiction: Flottie is young and makes some sub-optimal decisions that put her in harm’s way; and she isn’t physically strong. Although the narcissistic Holmes gives the impression that Mrs Hudson is simply articulating what he has already discovered; and the frankly docile Dr Watson acquiesces in whatever she suggests, it’s obvious that Mrs Hudson prefers things that way, as she can stay in the background, observing and quietly directing matters. Faultless!
#MrsHudsonandtheSpiritsCurse #NetGalley
I loved this book. Not for the mystery – whodunnit becomes obvious, although the whydunit is very clever and skilfully revealed – but for the sheer joy and playfulness of the writing; and for the relish with which Davies shows Mrs Hudson outsmarting Holmes at his own business. The characters are brilliantly drawn: the upper-class Rupert Spencer, with his scientific skills and his adoring friend, Miss Hetty Peters; the villainous Smale and Fogarty; and the two “innocents”, as Mrs Hudson describes them, Holmes and Watson.
Davies is keen to give lines to Mrs Hudson that Dr Watson recycles in his accounts of Holmes’s work, published under the name Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. One of the many joys of this book is recognising such occasions:
“What is the second detail to which you wish to draw our attention?”
“To the peculiarity of the cheese souffle that Dr Watson enjoyed this evening.”
“But Mrs Hudson, there was nothing at all wrong with the cheese souffle. It was quite perfect.”
“That, Dr Watson, is the peculiarity I find so interesting.”
There are many Doyle-like throwaways such as “Had she not understood the significance of the dust accumulating beneath the stair rods, the fraud might never have come to light.”
Leaving aside the delightful fun, I was impressed by the depiction of Mrs Hudson and the fourteen-year-old Flottie as strong female characters. Flottie may be young and have missed out on many years of education, but she learns very quickly – she tells Holmes and Inspector Gregory the meaning of a Latin sentence in a letter from a murderer. It’s a realistic depiction: Flottie is young and makes some sub-optimal decisions that put her in harm’s way; and she isn’t physically strong. Although the narcissistic Holmes gives the impression that Mrs Hudson is simply articulating what he has already discovered; and the frankly docile Dr Watson acquiesces in whatever she suggests, it’s obvious that Mrs Hudson prefers things that way, as she can stay in the background, observing and quietly directing matters. Faultless!
#MrsHudsonandtheSpiritsCurse #NetGalley
January 18, 2026
Mrs Hudson & the Spirits’ Curse is an absolute delight — playful, atmospheric, and brimming with the kind of Victorian intrigue that makes you want to curl up with a pot of tea and read straight through. Martin Davies takes a bold, refreshing angle on the Sherlock Holmes world, and it works beautifully. Instead of focusing on the great detective himself, the spotlight shifts to the woman who has always kept Baker Street running: Mrs Hudson. And what a revelation she is.
Sharp, observant, quietly formidable, and far more capable than anyone around her realises, Mrs Hudson steps out of the shadows with grace and wit. Paired with her spirited young assistant, Flotsam, she becomes the true heart of this mystery — navigating cursed rats, whispered spirits, and a string of unsettling murders with a blend of intuition and practicality that feels wonderfully original.
The settings are richly drawn, from the warm coal fire of Baker Street to the fog‑choked alleys of Whitechapel and the humid jungles of Sumatra. Each location adds texture and momentum, giving the story a cinematic sweep while still keeping its feet firmly planted in classic Victorian mystery.
What I loved most is how the book balances reverence for the Holmes canon with a playful willingness to break convention. Holmes and Watson are present, of course, but they’re not the ones truly unravelling the case — and watching Mrs Hudson quietly outpace them is immensely satisfying.
Clever, warm, and full of charm, Mrs Hudson & the Spirits’ Curse is a delightful start to a new series. Perfect for fans of traditional mysteries who enjoy a fresh perspective, a touch of adventure, and a heroine who has been waiting far too long for her moment in the spotlight.
My thanks to Martin Davies, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Sharp, observant, quietly formidable, and far more capable than anyone around her realises, Mrs Hudson steps out of the shadows with grace and wit. Paired with her spirited young assistant, Flotsam, she becomes the true heart of this mystery — navigating cursed rats, whispered spirits, and a string of unsettling murders with a blend of intuition and practicality that feels wonderfully original.
The settings are richly drawn, from the warm coal fire of Baker Street to the fog‑choked alleys of Whitechapel and the humid jungles of Sumatra. Each location adds texture and momentum, giving the story a cinematic sweep while still keeping its feet firmly planted in classic Victorian mystery.
What I loved most is how the book balances reverence for the Holmes canon with a playful willingness to break convention. Holmes and Watson are present, of course, but they’re not the ones truly unravelling the case — and watching Mrs Hudson quietly outpace them is immensely satisfying.
Clever, warm, and full of charm, Mrs Hudson & the Spirits’ Curse is a delightful start to a new series. Perfect for fans of traditional mysteries who enjoy a fresh perspective, a touch of adventure, and a heroine who has been waiting far too long for her moment in the spotlight.
My thanks to Martin Davies, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
January 23, 2026
Mrs Hudson and the Spirit’s Curse by Martin Davies is, obviously, a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The great detective features in much of the story as does the intrepid Dr. Watson, but as somewhat silent partners. Mostly, they had Mrs Hudson and Flottie, the all-around-maid. Mrs. Hudson has a cadre of homeless boys for running errands and watching. Flottie, an orphan, named Flotsam by some “caring” orphanage employee had been with Mrs. Hudson for two years now and had been subjected to her idea of an education so Flottie could now read and so sums, and so much more. Flottie answered the door when the letter arrived. She was frightened at the appearance of the man she found there. She and Mrs Hudson listened as Holmes was reading the letter aloud to Watson. As always, Holmes had a plethora of observations about its sender, sending them all into investigative mode.
Several more murders, plenty of questions, interesting personalities made this an engaging novel, full of twists and turns, depravity, and flat out criminality. Mrs. Hudson is an excellent character with as many skills of her own sort as the great Holmes himself. Flottie is in training and learning well. She is intelligent and clever, but doesn’t always think before she acts. Mrs. Hudson encourages Watson to write his stories and makes life-changing changes to his manuscript. This is an excellent pastiche in a field so wide it is difficult to navigate. The villain was excellent. I am sure we will see him again at some point. Highly recommend. I have read two books from this publisher in the last couple of days and they center all the text. I don’t love it.
I was invited to read Mrs Hudson and the Spirit’s Curse by Allison & Busby. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AllisonAndBusby #MartinDavies #MrsHudsonAndTheSpiritsCurse
Several more murders, plenty of questions, interesting personalities made this an engaging novel, full of twists and turns, depravity, and flat out criminality. Mrs. Hudson is an excellent character with as many skills of her own sort as the great Holmes himself. Flottie is in training and learning well. She is intelligent and clever, but doesn’t always think before she acts. Mrs. Hudson encourages Watson to write his stories and makes life-changing changes to his manuscript. This is an excellent pastiche in a field so wide it is difficult to navigate. The villain was excellent. I am sure we will see him again at some point. Highly recommend. I have read two books from this publisher in the last couple of days and they center all the text. I don’t love it.
I was invited to read Mrs Hudson and the Spirit’s Curse by Allison & Busby. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AllisonAndBusby #MartinDavies #MrsHudsonAndTheSpiritsCurse
April 3, 2022
This version of the Sherlock Holmes stories casts housekeeper Mrs. Hudson in a much more prominent role than stories in the canon. It is told by Flotsam, a poor young orphan girl, who is brought in as Mrs. Hudson's apprentice both in housekeeping and detective work.
The case begins when a man comes to Baker Street to try to hire Holmes. He tells a complex tale including a curse laid on him in Sumatra which has followed him home. He is in great fear and begs Holmes' help.
Mrs. Hudson has some doubts about the man's story and begins her own investigation among her wide variety of acquaintances in London who range from a solicitor to a boy sells vegetables in the market. While Holmes is using his brain and deductive skills, Mrs. Hudson is finding out what is really going on (and giving Holmes hints to guide him to a proper solution.)
Throughout the story are hints that Mrs. Hudson has had a long career solving problems and collecting a lot of favors. She even has a long history with a man named Fogarty who is the reason Flotsam found herself on the street, fleeing villains, before she met Mrs. Hudson. Fogarty has quite a role in this mystery which moves it from curses in Sumatra to murders in London.
I really liked the setting and the historical detail. I enjoyed this new take which gives Mrs. Hudson an enhanced role and an apprentice. It was a fun story.
The case begins when a man comes to Baker Street to try to hire Holmes. He tells a complex tale including a curse laid on him in Sumatra which has followed him home. He is in great fear and begs Holmes' help.
Mrs. Hudson has some doubts about the man's story and begins her own investigation among her wide variety of acquaintances in London who range from a solicitor to a boy sells vegetables in the market. While Holmes is using his brain and deductive skills, Mrs. Hudson is finding out what is really going on (and giving Holmes hints to guide him to a proper solution.)
Throughout the story are hints that Mrs. Hudson has had a long career solving problems and collecting a lot of favors. She even has a long history with a man named Fogarty who is the reason Flotsam found herself on the street, fleeing villains, before she met Mrs. Hudson. Fogarty has quite a role in this mystery which moves it from curses in Sumatra to murders in London.
I really liked the setting and the historical detail. I enjoyed this new take which gives Mrs. Hudson an enhanced role and an apprentice. It was a fun story.
January 30, 2019
I went into this with a little trepidation. How do you make Mrs Hudson the clever one without dethroning Holmes? The answer is to make them clever in slightly different ways and it does work…most of the time. There are one or two times that the plot needs Holmes to miss something that in any other incarnation he would see, like a stain on a letter he’s examining. But for the most part it work really well, like having Mrs Hudson more observant about a kitchen and how it should work. That is clever.
Two things really bug me.
Despite this, I did enjoy this rather different take on Sherlock Holmes and you can count me in for the next one.
Two things really bug me.
Despite this, I did enjoy this rather different take on Sherlock Holmes and you can count me in for the next one.
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