Gods of War

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books #5

by James Lovegrove, Dennis Kleinman (Narrator)

1913. The clouds of war are gathering. The world’s great empires vie for supremacy. Europe is in turmoil, a powder keg awaiting a spark. A body is discovered on the shore below Beachy Head, just a mile from Sherlock Holmes’s retirement cottage. The local police are satisfied that it’s a suicide. The victim, a young man, recently suffered a disappointment in love, and Beachy Head is notorious as a place where the desperate and depressed leap to their deaths. Holmes, however, suspects murder. As he and Watson investigate, they uncover a conspiracy with shocking ramifications.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Historical Mystery, Detective

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published June 10, 2014

About the author

James Lovegrove is the author of several acclaimed novels and books for children.

James was born on Christmas Eve 1965 and, having dabbled in writing at school, first took to it seriously while at university. A short story of his won a college competition. The prize was £15, and it had cost £18 to get the story professionally typed. This taught him a hard but necessary lesson in the harsh economic realities of a literary career.

Straight after graduating from Oxford with a degree in English Literature, James set himself the goal of getting a novel written and sold within two years. In the event, it took two months. The Hope was completed in six weeks and accepted by Macmillan a fortnight later. The seed for the idea for the novel — a world in microcosm on an ocean liner — was planted during a cross-Channel ferry journey.

James blew his modest advance for The Hope on a round-the-world trip which took him to, among other places, Thailand. His experiences there, particularly what he witnessed of the sex industry in Bangkok, provided much of the inspiration for The Foreigners.

Escardy Gap was co-written with Pete Crowther over a period of a year and a half, the two authors playing a game of creative tag, each completing a section in turn and leaving the other to carry the story on. The result has proved a cult favourite, and was voted by readers of SFX one of the top fifty SF/Fantasy novels of all time.

Days, a satire on consumerism, was shortlisted for the 1998 Arthur C. Clarke Award (losing to Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow). The book’s genesis most probably lies in the many visits James used to make as a child to the Oxford Street department store owned by his grandfather. It was written over a period of nine months while James was living in the north-west suburbs of Chicago.

Subsequent works have all been published to great acclaim. These include Untied Kingdom, Worldstorm, Provender Gleed, The Age Of Ra and the back-to-back double-novella Gig. James has also written for children. Wings, a short novel for reluctant readers, was short-listed for several awards, while his fantasy series for teens, The Clouded World, written under the pseudonym Jay Amory, has been translated into 7 other languages so far. A five-book series for reluctant readers, The 5 Lords Of Pain, is appearing at two-monthly intervals throughout 2010.

He also reviews fiction for the Financial Times, specialising in the Young Adult, children’s, science fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novel genres.

Currently James resides in Eastbourne on the Sussex Coast, having moved there in August 2007 with his wife Lou, sons Monty and Theo, and cat Ozzy. He has a terrific view of the sea from his study window, which he doesn’t sit staring out at all day when he should be working. Honest.

Reviews

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read

Συνήθως δεν ενθουσιάζομαι να διαβάζω βιβλία με γνωστούς και αγαπημένους ήρωες που όμως είναι γραμμένα από κάποιον άλλο συγγραφέα. Αυτή η τακτική χρησιμοποιείται αρκετά είναι η αλήθεια τα τελευταία χρόνια και προσπαθώ να αποφεύγω τέτοιες προσπάθειες γιατί είμαι ίσως λιγάκι προκατειλημμένη. Έχοντας όμως ακούσει πολύ καλά λόγια για τη δουλειά του Lovegrove είπα να αφήσω τις προκαταλήψεις μου στην άκρη και να του δώσω μια ευκαιρία. Άλλωστε ο Χολμς είναι από τους αγαπημένους μου ήρωες. Διάβασα το βιβλίο του «Οι Θεοί του πολέμου» και δεν το μετάνιωσα καθόλου.

Βρισκόμαστε στην Αγγλία του 1913, πράγμα που σημαίνει ότι ο Χολμς δεν είναι πια παλικαράκι. αντίθετα έχει αποσυρθεί από το Λονδίνο και την ενεργό δράση. Έχει μετακομίσει στο Σάσεξ ελπίζοντας σε μια πιο ήρεμη ζωή. Εκεί τον επισκέπτεται ο αγαπητός του φίλος και συνοδοιπόρος σε πολλές υποθέσεις και επιτυχίες του παρελθόντος, ο δόκτωρ Γουάτσον. Σε μια πρωινή τους βόλτα βρίσκονται μπροστά σε ένα πτώμα. Ένας νεαρός άντρας που φαίνεται να έχει πέσει από το ακρωτήρι Μπίτσι Χεντ, αυτοκτονώντας ίσως μετά από μια ερωτική απογοήτευση. Τα χαρίσματα του Χολμς δεν τον έχουν εγκαταλείψει, έτσι χωρίς καν να προσπαθήσει θα δει κάποια στοιχεία πάνω στο πτώμα που δε συνηγορούν ακριβώς με αυτή την εξήγηση. Μην έχοντας όμως κάποια επίσημη σχέση με την υπόθεση, θα κάνει πίσω και θα αφήσει τη Σκότλαντ Γιαρντ να κάνει τη δουλειά της.

Μέχρι που ο πατέρας του νεαρού άντρα θα έρθει να του ζητήσει να ερευνήσει την υπόθεση και να αποδείξει ότι όντως πρόκειται για αυτοκτονία. Ήταν το χειρότερο που θα μπορούσε να κάνει, καθώς με αυτό του το αίτημα έπεισε τον Χολμς πως πρόκειται για εγκληματική ενέργεια. Παρέα με τον αγαπητό Γουάτσον, θα μπλεχτούν σε μια σκοτεινή υπόθεση και θα προσπαθήσουν να ξετυλίξουν το κουβάρι που έπεσε στα χέρια τους.

Οι δύο αγαπημένοι ήρωες είναι πλέον αρκετά μεγάλοι για να μπλέκουν σε επικίνδυνες υποθέσεις, αλλά η φύση του δαιμόνιου Χολμς δεν μπορεί να τον κρατήσει μακριά από τέτοιες ευκαιρίες. Έστω όμως και σε αυτή την ηλικία, στα 59 του Χολμς και στα 61 του Γουάτσον, ο νους τους παραμένει οξυδερκής στο βαθμό που ήταν και στη νιότη τους. Φαίνεται άλλωστε ο Χολμς σαν να αποζητάει αυτή την άσκηση, σαν να του έχει λείψει. Σίγουρα δεν μπορεί να της αντισταθεί όπως δεν μπορούσε και όταν ήταν νέος.

Ο Lovegrove καταφέρνει να αποδώσει πολύ πιστά τον γνωστό και αγαπημένο ήρωα με το κοφτερό μυαλό, την πίπα του καπνού και την κλίση στις μεταμφιέσεις. Ο ίδιος Χολμς που γνωρίζουμε και έχουμε αγαπήσει βρίσκεται κι εδώ, κρατώντας τα στοιχεία για τον εαυτό του, μέχρι την ώρα που θα κάνει τη μεγάλη αποκάλυψη, παρακινώντας τον Γουάτσον να δει όσα βλέπει κι εκείνος και να προσπαθήσει να ενώσει τα ίδια κομμάτια και παίρνοντας ρίσκα που κατά την άποψή του, θα του βγουν.

Διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο, ήρθαν στο νου μου εικόνες του Χολμς όπως τον υποδύθηκε ο Ρόμπερτ Ντάουνι Τζούνιορ, ένας από τους αγαπημένους μου Χολμς της μικρής και μεγάλης οθόνης, που έφτασε τον ήρωα σε όρια που τον έχουμε δει μέσα από τα βιβλία του Ντόιλ. Ενώ οι εικόνες που είχα για τον Γουάτσον ήταν αυτές από την ερμηνεία του Μάρτιν Φρίμαν από την τηλεοπτική σειρά του 2010. Ποτέ δεν μπόρεσα να συμπαθήσω τον Τζουντ Λόου σαν δόκτωρ Γουάτσον. Ήταν σαν να έκλεβε από την αίγλη του Χολμς.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the second time I read a book by James Lovegrove starring Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson after The Stuff of Nightmares.

Set in 1913 and taking place in the surrounding of Sherlock's retirement cottage, Gods of War gives on possible answer of the following question:
How will Sherlock Holmes (age of 59) and Dr Watson (age of 61) cope with their advancing age and inventions of the twentieth century on the eve on an upcoming war in Europe.

James Lovegrove did an excellent job with his answer to the question.
I loved the story from beginning to the end. I have had a great time to follow both gentlemen in a fresh and entertaining story with unexpected twist and full of stuff which will take easily one day to google them all.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love these Sherlock Holmes books and I found this a very enjoyable one set just before World War I. It features a much older Watson and Holmes as they have to figure out how to solve a mystery without Holmes' contacts, the power of his name and their youth and vigour. In this book, Watson goes to visit Holmes in the country and gets pulled into a jewellery heist case and then a murder case. Along the way they're split up, endangered and Watson is left to wonder what exactly Holmes is putting together in his mind. 

I do like how the mystery worked out. I had an inkling of what could have happened but that's only because it's a popular trope in modern literature. Or a sort of popular trope, but I could understand why Watson was left behind. I was a little iffy on the Elizabeth murdering the two of them and Holmes knowing what she wants to do and letting her. Yes, they probably wouldn't face jail time at all but the fact that Holmes knew and allowed Elizabeth to do that felt more than a little out of character for him.

This wasn't a mystery I loved about all others but it was enjoyable enough. I especially liked how Watson handled himself, despite the whole near drowning episode.

3.5 stars! 

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes: Gods of War by James Lovegrove

Challenging, dark, funny, hopeful, inspiring,
mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.

Medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5 Stars

I love the Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson dynamic. I love reading stories LIKE this, with other character inhabiting this same vibe, but of course...going back to the well...is so much fun. 

This series, The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, written by diverse authors...but with the same goal of furthering this mythos to a new generation of readers...is a lot of fun.

This story had me till about the three quarters mark, and for some reason...I just wasn't as interested, as I was previously. Not sure what happened, but SOMETHING did happen. Hmmm?

Still enjoyed the mystery and the conclusion was good, but it just couldn't make up for the downward trend the story took (in my opinion). 

I look forward to read the next one, though. 

[Vic Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovegrove does a fine job mimicking A. C. Doyle's voice and style. He's as close as anyone else I've read. Holmes and Watson sound and behave as one would expect.
The story has all the elements of a classic Sherlock Holmes tale; intrigue, danger, murder, secrets, and Holmes in the midst of it all.
The story would stand of its own accord even without the Holmes angle. It is a fine romp through the dark edges of wealth and power in pre WWI England with plenty of twists. The chapters are short (though sometimes the chapter title gives away the coming action) making for a quick read. I would recommend "Gods of War" to anyone who enjoys a Sherlock Holmes story or likes mystery thrillers.

[D'Ailleurs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Χαριτωμένο βιβλιαράκι με εκμοντερνισμένη περιπέτεια Χόλμς που προσπαθεί να διατηρήσει το κλασσικό στυλ αλλά αποτυγχάνει οικτρά. Διαβάζεται άνετα παρά τα εμφανή σημεία "γουατ δε φάκ". Επίσης αγαπητοί εκδότες, οκ ο συγγραφέας είναι "καλλιτέχνης" (λέμε τώρα) γράφει ότι θέλει, εσείς που επιμελείστε βάλτε ένα disclamer στις ακατάπαυστες αναφορές που συνήθως τις καταλαβαίνουν λίγοι και καλοί, δεν κάνει κακό. Θα έγραφα και άλλα, αλλά φουσκώνει ο καφές.

[ghostly_bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

CAWPILE 7.29

I really like James Lovegrove's writing and his version of Sherlock and Watson is one of my favorites bar the original.
I loved the fact the pair were older and retired in this book, complaining of creaky knees and Watson's weight! I also enjoyed seeing something as modern as an airplane in Sherlock's world.
I really enjoy the Titan Series of standalones and can't wait to get to some of the others on my shelf.

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars, another solid entry in new Sherlock Holmes series published by Titan Books. Watson visits Holmes in 1913, and they are soon investigating the death of a local wealthy man’s son, whom Holmes believes fell from a biplane. (Own)

[Bill Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become a huge fan of James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes stories. Gods of War shows us an older Holmes and Watson in pre-World War I England. They may be older and just a tad slower, they are just as sharp as ever. You'll enjoy!

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels are like reading comfort food or pizza -- even the middling efforts are quite satisfying if that's what you're in the mood for. This one finds the great detective in semi-anonymous retirement in a small village along the Sussex coast (quite close to where the excellent Foyle's War TV series was set). Dr. Watson has come to town for a visit, and soon enough they are embroiled in a jewel theft case. Unfortunately, the clues are somewhat telegraphed to the reader and the solution to that particular mini-episode is rather rote.

But the next day, as they hike along the beach, they encounter a washed-up body on the shore. It seems the son of a local industrialist has died -- but was it murder, suicide, or accident? Holmes is hired to investigate, and the story goes into some pretty bonkers territory. There are attempts to highlight the modernity of the times in contrast with the era of Holmes canon, and so a biplane plays a key role, as does a car chase. There are plenty of "action" scenes, and an intriguing female character gets introduced, but the underlying plot and villains are rather cartoonish. Still, as with pizza, having some Holmes is better than none.

[Sara Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes: Gods of War takes place after Holmes has retired from his adventurous life as a detective. Dr. John Watson plans a quiet visit to his old comrade. However, Watson should know that no visit is ever how he expects. Before he knows it, they're on a case which leads to cults, contortionists, and an attempt on the old doctor's life.

This Sherlock Holmes spin off was not my favorite but it was still an exciting read. The beginning of the story is a little slow; they solve a sort of mini-mystery before getting to the main plot. From there, while the chapters are engaging and fast paced, I felt like it took a while to reach any sort of conclusion.

As always, James Lovegrove's writing style is excellent and his voice captures the essence of the Arthur Conan Doyle's characters. This tale was also clean: no suggestive themes or profanity.

Overall, I give it 4 stars for another exciting tale!

[D.L. Morrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1913, and Holmes' old friend and companion Watson is visiting the retried (and perhaps bored) consulting detective at his small cottage in a quiet little seaside village. It's only supposed to be a bit of a holiday until they discover a body on the shore. Holmes immediately suspects murder, and when the victim's father asks him to investigate, he eagerly accepts.

It's been a while since I've read the original Holmes stories, but this felt very much like them. It's ostensibly narrated by Dr. Watson, and the characters seem true to the originals. It's not a reboot, or a retelling, or any other attempt to modernize the original. It simply picks up where those left off, a few years after Holmes retires. As much as I enjoy some of the spinoffs and remakes that try to make something new, I appreciate the attempt to keep true the old. The original Holmes tales were enjoyable, and so is this.

[Charles Oberonn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I asked for a more investigaty and less steampunky story when reading the last book and I got it in this one. Unfortunately it's not nearly as good or enjoyable.

It's still an enjoyable read. Lovegrove captures the characters and world and vibe of Sherlock Holmes very well. However the mystery writing itself isn't as good. This book had a lot of characters wondering about and padding. A bit disappointing compared to the tight pacing of the previous novel.

I will still be reading more of Lovegrove's Holmes, but I hope they'll be less like this one and more like Stuff of Nightmares or Three Winter Tales.

[Evi Routoula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ο Τζέιμς Λαβγκροβ κάνει καλή δουλειά ως συνεχιστής των περιπετειών του Σέρλοκ Χολμς. Φυσικά δεν είναι οι αυθεντικές ιστορίες του Σερ Άρθουρ Κόναν Ντόιλ , αλλά έχει γίνει της μόδας τελικά να γράφονται ιστορίες των διάσημων ντέτεκτιβ και ηρώων από άλλους συγγραφείς. Η συγκεκριμένη περιπέτεια είναι αξιοπρεπής και δεν βρήκα κάτι που να με απωθεί. Βρισκόμαστε στα 1913, παραμονές του Μεγάλου Πολέμου στην Αγγλία και οι γερασμένοι Χολμς και Γουάτσον αντιμεπτωπίζουν άλλη μαι περιπέτεια στην επαρχία του Σάσεξ.

[Dorthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Holmes & Watson pastiche from Lovegrove. Both our main characters are in character, so to speak, and happily released from the constraints of Conan Doyle's own time ('matters of the boudoir' can be even hinted at!)


Spoiler alert
*
*
*
*
The villains are idiots, of course - in the first place, calling upon gods to foment war is insane, and they haven't even got their gods straight. Calling Ares an Olympian ... and, worse, invoking Thor as the chief god of war. Idiots. No wonder they didn't get the assistance from Odin they would have wanted.

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be. I do not claim to have highbrow tastes in fiction! I thought this would be trash when I found it in the library, I hoped it would be trash when I picked it to take with me to read over a weekend of work, and it is indeed top-notch silly allusion-dropping complete trash. I'm a sucker for all these Sherlock Holmes pastiches/profics/lost adventures, and this was just the comfort reading I was looking for.

[Meng Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ripping yarn, moves along without a dull moment. Lovegrove's mimicry of Doyle's writing style on the one hand feels forced, on the other hand will appeal to those readers who appreciate an expanded or archaic vocabulary. The mini-mystery at the opening was not essential to the plot, neither was the "Home Alone"(or should that be Holmes Alone?)-like defence of Holmes's cottage and overall the story lacked plausibility, even so I delighted in the rehashing of familiar tropes.

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 3 out of 5]

Μου έκανε εντύπωση το πόσο κοντά στο αυθεντικό ήταν το στυλ της γραφής. Οι χαρακτήρες από την άλλη νομίζω πως σε κάποια σημεία ξέφευγαν λίγο. Η αλήθεια είναι βέβαια πως δεν έχω διαβάσει πολλά βιβλία με τον Σέρλοκ Χολμς, αλλά από αυτά που έχω διαβάσει αυτή την εικόνα σχημάτισα. Το μυστήριο είχε ενδιαφέρον, όμως μπόρεσα να μαντέψω αρκετά πράγματα και θα ήθελα να με εκπλήξει περισσότερο. Σε γενικές γραμμές διαβάζεται εύκολα και γρήγορα και χαίρομαι που το διάβασα.

[Honor (honorbound13) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is frankly ridiculous, but I’m impressed with how Lovegrove managed to tie all of the elements together into the big reveal. The overarching method of the crime was actually really interesting, and quite intelligent.

I’m also just a sucker for how Lovegrove writes Watson and Holmes, especially in this one. I mean, cmon, Watson calls Holmes his second wife. How can I not want to read more of that?

[Mabji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sehr gut!
Ich konnte in keinster Weise vorhersehen, in welche Richtung sich diese Geschichte entwickeln würde! Ewig lang habe ich gegrübelt, wie es denn nun zu diesem Titel gekommen ist, die Auflösung war total überraschend!
Wirklich gelungen! Ich liebe es, wenn ich auf die falsche Fährte geführt werde!

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another is this series of newer tales either relating some of those hinted adventures from the Conan Doyle stories or all new cases filling in between previous ones. This is another of those dealing with Holmes after he retired from London. A bit over drawn but well presented as Watson shows more his age and Holmes a bit less up to his old level of deduction.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story a did enjoy, but dropped from 4 stars to 3 only because the promised connections to the upcoming First World War didn’t play as prominent of a role as I hoped they would. It was still a well crafted Holmes story and I especially enjoyed the opening mystery at the circus that was mostly unrelated. Felt like the opening of a Bond or Indiana Jones movie.

[David Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with Lovegrove's Sherlock is that while it is super fun and enjoyable, it also going further and further away from any investigation. In Gods of War, the whole super convoluted murder scheme is discovered by Holmes somewhere behind the scenes and he just tells us "yeah so this is what I found out".
Still, a solid read before sleeping.

[Outlander · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost gave this pastiche 2 stars but the whole thing dragged on with a disappointing summing up, especially the car chase so 1 star is all I can award. Watson bumbles along (such a bore to depict him so), Holmes (or is that 007 ?), the villains are dastardly, and the heroine is enigmatic, resourceful and wrathful. All in all not a satisfyingly Holmes pastiche.

[Derek Mcknight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with previous reviewers that this book was a bit slow in the middle and while it is very much in the ACD style it is not quite there. Still it was a good read with a good climax and I would recommend it for those that enjoyed the original Sherlock books

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

An industrialist's son's body is found, but it is determined he died miles away. It happens to be near where Holmes has retired. Three other industrialists become involved as suicide is not ruled out. Not as "out there" as the first in this series, but still a top notch thriller.

[Tim Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holmes and Watson are in deadly peril rather too often in this adventure. Also, Holmes paints himself into a corner, showing an astonishing pack of foresight. Maybe they really should retire.

[David Manzolillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has the opposite issue of its predecessor. Where Stuff of Nightmares had a strong main story and weak climax, this has an okay story and strong climax. Hoping the next one takes it up a notch and is strong on both fronts.

[adelaidealum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as interesting. Just another group of entitled rich men who kill each other's significant others, or siblings, or children, or fathers, because they want the money or they're just a nuisance. Too much time just explaining things; not enough action. Good narration again.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you actually find out who the killers are and what the reasons are for the killings you will think the killers need a psychiatrist.