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Dr John Watson #1
Dead Man's Land
Deep in the trenches of Flanders Fields, men are dying in their thousands every day. So one more death shouldn't be a surprise.
But then a body turns up with bizarre injuries, and Sherlock Holmes' former sidekick Dr John Watson - unable to fight for his country due to injury but able to serve it through his medical expertise - finds his suspicions raised. The face has a blue-ish tinge, the jaw is clamped shut in a terrible rictus and the eyes are almost popping out of his head, as if the man had seen unimaginable horror. Something is terribly wrong.
But this is just the beginning. Soon more bodies appear, and Watson must discover who is the killer in the trenches. Who can he trust? Who is the enemy? And can he find the perpetrator before he kills again?
Surrounded by unimaginable carnage, amidst a conflict that's ripping the world apart, Watson must for once step out of the shadows and into the limelight if he's to solve the mystery behind the inexplicable deaths.
But then a body turns up with bizarre injuries, and Sherlock Holmes' former sidekick Dr John Watson - unable to fight for his country due to injury but able to serve it through his medical expertise - finds his suspicions raised. The face has a blue-ish tinge, the jaw is clamped shut in a terrible rictus and the eyes are almost popping out of his head, as if the man had seen unimaginable horror. Something is terribly wrong.
But this is just the beginning. Soon more bodies appear, and Watson must discover who is the killer in the trenches. Who can he trust? Who is the enemy? And can he find the perpetrator before he kills again?
Surrounded by unimaginable carnage, amidst a conflict that's ripping the world apart, Watson must for once step out of the shadows and into the limelight if he's to solve the mystery behind the inexplicable deaths.
496 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
61 people are currently reading
1000 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ryan
42 books81 followersaka Tom Neale
Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool but moved to London when he was eighteen to attend university. He lectured in natural sciences for several years before moving into journalism in the mid-1980s, first with The Face and then the Dylan Jones-edited Arena. During this time, he also wrote for The Daily Telegraph, US GQ, US Conde Nast Traveler, Esquire and The Sunday Times.
Robert Ryan lives in North London with his wife and three children.
Robert Ryan was born in Liverpool but moved to London when he was eighteen to attend university. He lectured in natural sciences for several years before moving into journalism in the mid-1980s, first with The Face and then the Dylan Jones-edited Arena. During this time, he also wrote for The Daily Telegraph, US GQ, US Conde Nast Traveler, Esquire and The Sunday Times.
Robert Ryan lives in North London with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this historical mystery featuring Dr Watson in WWI France. A pretty sad story, but I also learned many interesting facts about that time - and that’s a strong measure for me of how good a Hf mystery is.
November 28, 2013
Rob Ryan was one of our speakers at the Harrogate History Festival in October this year (it was a blast, did I mention? If you didn’t come this year, you should next) and I was so impressed by his talk that I brought one of his books back with me – and have just finished it.
Dead Man’s Land is based on the fact that at the very end of the Sherlock Holmes series, we discover that Dr Watson returned to his job in the RAMC – and it’s 1914, so guess where he ends up? There may be 1,000 books on the first world war about to hit the shelves, but this one got in early – it’s out in paperback already – and it’s utterly magnificent. I’m sure there will be others that are 5* and good coming out, but this is an excellent place to start: original, and yet comfortingly traditional, in the style of Conan Doyle, but brighter, sharper – and not a whiff of misogyny. In fact, strong women feature strongly. I had hopes that we’d see a woman/woman relationship, and we did, after a fashion, but I think it was intended to be the female version of the Watson/Holmes relationship – the one where the 21st century Watson has to keep saying, “I’m not gay” because at least one of them is and if it’s not him, then… Anyway, we didn’t go there. Where we did go is a satisfyingly tortuous piece of detection in the grim, ghastly, mud-filled, gas-filled, sniper-filled trenches: the place we think we know by now (and will certainly know inside out by this time next year) but there’s always some new horror to discover.
In this particular case, men are dying in ways that even war cannot entertain – because what better place to pursue a vendetta than in a battlefield where 50,000 men are dying every month. Watson is in the medical tents, trying out his new miracle technique (blood transfusions with citrated blood. I think he needs a brief lesson in agglutination, but that’s beside the point) and when one of his patients dies, he is duty bound to find out why. Missing his old friend and mentor, he has to engage his own little grey cells and does so in a satisfyingly roundabout way. We have vignettes from the German trenches, and particularly from a German sniper who does his best to wipe out some of the relevant characters and other input from the nurses and the sub-nurses of the VAD. But most of it is from Watson’s perspective and it’s cracking vintage stuff: well written, intelligent, illuminating… a perfect addition to the entire Post-Conan Doyle oeuvre of Sherlock Holmes. I loved it and I’ll be getting the sequel as soon as there’s room on my TBR pile.
Dead Man’s Land is based on the fact that at the very end of the Sherlock Holmes series, we discover that Dr Watson returned to his job in the RAMC – and it’s 1914, so guess where he ends up? There may be 1,000 books on the first world war about to hit the shelves, but this one got in early – it’s out in paperback already – and it’s utterly magnificent. I’m sure there will be others that are 5* and good coming out, but this is an excellent place to start: original, and yet comfortingly traditional, in the style of Conan Doyle, but brighter, sharper – and not a whiff of misogyny. In fact, strong women feature strongly. I had hopes that we’d see a woman/woman relationship, and we did, after a fashion, but I think it was intended to be the female version of the Watson/Holmes relationship – the one where the 21st century Watson has to keep saying, “I’m not gay” because at least one of them is and if it’s not him, then… Anyway, we didn’t go there. Where we did go is a satisfyingly tortuous piece of detection in the grim, ghastly, mud-filled, gas-filled, sniper-filled trenches: the place we think we know by now (and will certainly know inside out by this time next year) but there’s always some new horror to discover.
In this particular case, men are dying in ways that even war cannot entertain – because what better place to pursue a vendetta than in a battlefield where 50,000 men are dying every month. Watson is in the medical tents, trying out his new miracle technique (blood transfusions with citrated blood. I think he needs a brief lesson in agglutination, but that’s beside the point) and when one of his patients dies, he is duty bound to find out why. Missing his old friend and mentor, he has to engage his own little grey cells and does so in a satisfyingly roundabout way. We have vignettes from the German trenches, and particularly from a German sniper who does his best to wipe out some of the relevant characters and other input from the nurses and the sub-nurses of the VAD. But most of it is from Watson’s perspective and it’s cracking vintage stuff: well written, intelligent, illuminating… a perfect addition to the entire Post-Conan Doyle oeuvre of Sherlock Holmes. I loved it and I’ll be getting the sequel as soon as there’s room on my TBR pile.
January 18, 2015
The first book in the "Dr John Watson" series.
A World War I crime mystery starring Dr John Watson.
Murder in the gruesome trenches of Flanders Field. Dr John Watson face the enemy in front and a killer in the back.
This is an intense story where the aged Dr John Watson shows his detective qualities.
Strong characters - male AND female - in their daily fight to survive.
You do not read often the name of the famous detective. It is not necessary because you immediately identfy the chapters where he appears and I must say there have been passages which touched me deeply.
A World War I crime mystery starring Dr John Watson.
Murder in the gruesome trenches of Flanders Field. Dr John Watson face the enemy in front and a killer in the back.
This is an intense story where the aged Dr John Watson shows his detective qualities.
Strong characters - male AND female - in their daily fight to survive.
You do not read often the name of the famous detective. It is not necessary because you immediately identfy the chapters where he appears and I must say there have been passages which touched me deeply.
July 29, 2023
I wanted to read this due to my enduring interest in all things pertaining to The Great War. For that alone, this was well worth the time spent. Robert Ryan gives us a glimpse - but just a glimpse - of what it was like at the Front.
So. This is the fourth novel by Ryan that I have read this year. If I did not like the writing, three would have been more than enough. I thought the characterizations of the main characters were good. The supporting characters were definitely less than fully-fleshed while still making a contribution to the novel as whole. The plot isn't perfect, but I'm hard put to express what might have been different or more to my liking.
For me, the WWI parts were the best of this, but I think the mystery parts might be what others would appreciate most. I have added the second in the series to my over-burdened wish list and I suspect it won't be forever before I get to it. This is 4-stars, but probably in the middle or even lower-half of that group.
Although they were miles away, he could smell the trenches on the wind: a devil’s stew of overflowing latrines, unwashed bodies, cigarette smoke, stagnant mud and rotting corpses that clawed at the senses. Those who experienced the revolting aroma up close for the first time, he was told, were often physically sick. Within a week, they no longer noticed; indeed, they had become part of the stench.I'm glad technology hasn't been able to share odors. We are taken closer to the Front, though the action there is for us to understand the time period. There is a pretty good mystery, too. I admit I am not a Sherlock Holmes fan and one of the women echoed my thoughts on that subject. ‘All I was trying to say, Major Watson, and I appreciate it’s not a popular opinion, is that your Mr Sherlock Holmes always struck me as a vainglorious, smug, drug-addled, insufferable prig of a woman-hating clever-clogs.’ (Note: I had to look up the meaning of "clever-clogs" but it fits perfectly.)
So. This is the fourth novel by Ryan that I have read this year. If I did not like the writing, three would have been more than enough. I thought the characterizations of the main characters were good. The supporting characters were definitely less than fully-fleshed while still making a contribution to the novel as whole. The plot isn't perfect, but I'm hard put to express what might have been different or more to my liking.
For me, the WWI parts were the best of this, but I think the mystery parts might be what others would appreciate most. I have added the second in the series to my over-burdened wish list and I suspect it won't be forever before I get to it. This is 4-stars, but probably in the middle or even lower-half of that group.
July 19, 2017
Mix detektivky a válečného románu, při němž budete řešit, kdo je vrah a zároveň Vám bude fyzicky nevolno ze zákopů. Ryanovi se totiž povedlo naprosto skvěle vystihnout tu šílenou dobu Velké války (vždycky jsem měla tohle označení raději), které v mnohém ta Druhá nesahala ani po kotníky - bohudík. Při čtení mi opakovaně naskakovalo stylově podobné Valiant Hearts (byť to je PC hra).
Využití postavy majora Watsona jsem se nejdřív trochu bála, přece jen už je to starý pán a především za každým rohem může číhat Sherlock, ale nakonec to dopadlo o mnoho lépe než jsem čekala. Majorův věk zde funguje jako dobrá opozice divoké nové době a z Holmese je pouze okrajová, smutná postava, vlastně takový Watson. Jediné, co mi tak ve finále vadilo, bych Churchill - jeho přítomnost v ději je nadbytečná, ale třeba je to jen entrée pro druhý díl (pak by mě to s tím trochu smiřovalo).
Jako již Tereza přede mnou, i já musím zažehrat na české vydání - nekvalitní papír, gramatické chyby, ale i zásadní mezery v kontextu, které ovlivňují překlad (z Churchillovy manželky Clementine je tam nějaký Clement) - to všechno kazí dojem, a zbytečně. Jsem zvědavá, zda se to s dalšími díly zlepší.
Knížka, která se dobře čte, má zajímavé téma a občas i pomrkává na zasvěcené - tudíž přesně ten mix, který mi u oddechových knížek vyhovuje. Poctivé čtyři hvězdičky a rovnou si přečtu i další dva díly (druhý mám jako ebook a ten třetí jsem si půjčila v knihovně).
Kontext: Přinutilo mě to podívat se po osudech pradědečků, kteří padli za Velké války - v archivech jsou oba - jeden se ztratil hned v záři 1914 v Haliči a byl později prohlášen za mrtvého, druhý zemřel v táboře v Přímoří (dnešní Slovinsko) na podzim 1916. Je zvláštní koukat na ten naskenovaný list papíru s pár údaji - narozen, příslušen, zemřel, pochován - a vědět, že babičce tehdy byli jen tři roky.
První věta: "Když se pozorovací balon vznesl nad vytáhlé koruny okolních stromů, major sevřel okraj pleteného koše tak silně, až mu zbělely klouby."
Poslední věta: " "Ale mám dojem, že někdo ano." "
Využití postavy majora Watsona jsem se nejdřív trochu bála, přece jen už je to starý pán a především za každým rohem může číhat Sherlock, ale nakonec to dopadlo o mnoho lépe než jsem čekala. Majorův věk zde funguje jako dobrá opozice divoké nové době a z Holmese je pouze okrajová, smutná postava, vlastně takový Watson. Jediné, co mi tak ve finále vadilo, bych Churchill - jeho přítomnost v ději je nadbytečná, ale třeba je to jen entrée pro druhý díl (pak by mě to s tím trochu smiřovalo).
Jako již Tereza přede mnou, i já musím zažehrat na české vydání - nekvalitní papír, gramatické chyby, ale i zásadní mezery v kontextu, které ovlivňují překlad (z Churchillovy manželky Clementine je tam nějaký Clement) - to všechno kazí dojem, a zbytečně. Jsem zvědavá, zda se to s dalšími díly zlepší.
Knížka, která se dobře čte, má zajímavé téma a občas i pomrkává na zasvěcené - tudíž přesně ten mix, který mi u oddechových knížek vyhovuje. Poctivé čtyři hvězdičky a rovnou si přečtu i další dva díly (druhý mám jako ebook a ten třetí jsem si půjčila v knihovně).
Kontext: Přinutilo mě to podívat se po osudech pradědečků, kteří padli za Velké války - v archivech jsou oba - jeden se ztratil hned v záři 1914 v Haliči a byl později prohlášen za mrtvého, druhý zemřel v táboře v Přímoří (dnešní Slovinsko) na podzim 1916. Je zvláštní koukat na ten naskenovaný list papíru s pár údaji - narozen, příslušen, zemřel, pochován - a vědět, že babičce tehdy byli jen tři roky.
První věta: "Když se pozorovací balon vznesl nad vytáhlé koruny okolních stromů, major sevřel okraj pleteného koše tak silně, až mu zbělely klouby."
Poslední věta: " "Ale mám dojem, že někdo ano." "
April 19, 2015
I fell into this genre by accident a couple of years ago (I even know the name for it now!-pastiche :)) Up until now I have read two novels from this genre with varying degrees of disappointment. Which was why I started this novel with some trepidation. However I can say that in my opinion Robert Ryan has got it right! I was thinking about what made his novel work while others have not. One theory I have is: Ryan chose the 'sidekick' instead of the main (and very iconic) character. He is writing through the eyes of Dr Watson instead of Holmes. I think this reduces a lot of the risk involved with this genre. Fans know when their favourite main character is not being written 'correctly.' Fans know Holmes, Poirot etc inside out so by choosing the partner or sidekick (beloved but slightly less fleshed out characters) readers are more forgiving.
Anyway, I think Ryan did well. The novel is set during WW1. Watson is sent to a medical unit close to the front line at Flanders Fields. We are given a glimpse into what the conditions would have been like in the trenches, something that is particularly interesting with the lead up to the ANZAC centenary this year. The story is nicely paced. The characters are interesting and there are a number of tidbits dangled in front of the reader to make them chew through chapters to find out the answers. Ryan's writing style is descriptive without being too fussy or bogged down. Engaging from beginning to end. I'm officially hooked :)
Anyway, I think Ryan did well. The novel is set during WW1. Watson is sent to a medical unit close to the front line at Flanders Fields. We are given a glimpse into what the conditions would have been like in the trenches, something that is particularly interesting with the lead up to the ANZAC centenary this year. The story is nicely paced. The characters are interesting and there are a number of tidbits dangled in front of the reader to make them chew through chapters to find out the answers. Ryan's writing style is descriptive without being too fussy or bogged down. Engaging from beginning to end. I'm officially hooked :)
June 22, 2014
Gripping WW1 crime thriller set amid the dying on the Western Front where a serial killer appears to be as eager as the German enemy to kill British soldiers.
I liked the premise and loved the research that reflects on life and death in early MASH, here termed a CCS Casualty Clearing Station. Here amoung the nurses and VADs we find Major Watson an army doctor determined to save lives with blood transfussions.
The story is padded out by details of German snippers, a visit from Field Marshall Haig and a role for Churchill. However, it is the inclusion of Sherlock Holmes that will please and /or disappoint readers in equal measure. It isn't an attempt to extend his cannon of work but rather a true homage to this wonderful fictional detective often referred to in these pages as the Tweedy man or just the old man. Clearly he haunts Watson who appears to have severed all links with him as our story begins.
I felt the war setting and descriptions at the front were first rate and it makes for a wonderful detective story however I am not altogether comfortable with the aged Doctor Watson being the protagonist and his role lets the book down in my opinion.
A second book is available which I will read with enthusiasm but I remain unconvinced on the scope of this independent sleuth to carry the story and hold the readers' attention and credability throughout.
I liked the premise and loved the research that reflects on life and death in early MASH, here termed a CCS Casualty Clearing Station. Here amoung the nurses and VADs we find Major Watson an army doctor determined to save lives with blood transfussions.
The story is padded out by details of German snippers, a visit from Field Marshall Haig and a role for Churchill. However, it is the inclusion of Sherlock Holmes that will please and /or disappoint readers in equal measure. It isn't an attempt to extend his cannon of work but rather a true homage to this wonderful fictional detective often referred to in these pages as the Tweedy man or just the old man. Clearly he haunts Watson who appears to have severed all links with him as our story begins.
I felt the war setting and descriptions at the front were first rate and it makes for a wonderful detective story however I am not altogether comfortable with the aged Doctor Watson being the protagonist and his role lets the book down in my opinion.
A second book is available which I will read with enthusiasm but I remain unconvinced on the scope of this independent sleuth to carry the story and hold the readers' attention and credability throughout.
July 16, 2017
Naprosto naprosto!
Tuhle četbu jsem si opravdu užila. Detektivní román z válečného prostředí, kde není až tak důležité, že je detektivní, že je z války, a že je tam doktor Watson. Ta kniha je totiž podle mě skvěle napsaná i v těch zbývajících směrech. Čte se to snadno, i přes silně depresivní prostředí z toho vlastně čiší určitý milý dojem, který je tvořen nejen ústřední postavou majora Watsona.
Jsem ráda, že jsem si koupila rovnou dva díly a těším se na další.
K českému vydání bych řekla jen toliko. Hnus, velebnosti. Nenadchla mě kvalita papíru ani použitý font a sazba (i když by obojí mohlo být i o dost horší a přecejen je to jen detektivka a kniha po přečtení stále vypadá jako nová), ale ta absence korektury mě teda vytočila! Minimálně 15x jsem zaznamenala chybějící písmeno, chybné y/i nebo chybné skloňování. Ten kvalitní příběh to ale přebije :-)
Tuhle četbu jsem si opravdu užila. Detektivní román z válečného prostředí, kde není až tak důležité, že je detektivní, že je z války, a že je tam doktor Watson. Ta kniha je totiž podle mě skvěle napsaná i v těch zbývajících směrech. Čte se to snadno, i přes silně depresivní prostředí z toho vlastně čiší určitý milý dojem, který je tvořen nejen ústřední postavou majora Watsona.
Jsem ráda, že jsem si koupila rovnou dva díly a těším se na další.
K českému vydání bych řekla jen toliko. Hnus, velebnosti. Nenadchla mě kvalita papíru ani použitý font a sazba (i když by obojí mohlo být i o dost horší a přecejen je to jen detektivka a kniha po přečtení stále vypadá jako nová), ale ta absence korektury mě teda vytočila! Minimálně 15x jsem zaznamenala chybějící písmeno, chybné y/i nebo chybné skloňování. Ten kvalitní příběh to ale přebije :-)
December 17, 2017
Do polovice knihy sa nič neudialo a čítať o zákopoch sa dá i iných knihách. Potom to nabralo ako taký spád i mŕtvoly a vyšetrenia.
Otvorene priznávam, že som od tohto čakala viac. Dr. Watson je rozhádaný so svojím priateľom a tak chce aspoň zachrániť vojakov na fronte. O úspechu je možné diskutovať, keďže mŕtvol je tam habadej vďaka zúriacej vojne. Pozitívom je jeho snaha spropagovať transfúziu krvi a aj niektoré objavy, čo urobí. Ale je tu zopár ale....
Winston Churchill? Hmmm, uvažujem či namixovanie tejto postavy bolo také potrebné pre dej, rovnako aj nemecký ostreľovač Bloch, o ktorom viem až zbytočne veľa.
Poteší ženská linka a ženské postavy, napr. pani Gregsonová alias Červená Diablica sufražetiek a jej nekonvenčný náhľad na veci.
Inak by sa z tejto knihy dalo vyškrtať niekoľko strán a bolo by to prospešné. A ešte jedno na záver S.H. nečakajte priveľmi, spomínaný je často, aj mierne pripletený do deja, ale celkovo len na okrasu.
Otvorene priznávam, že som od tohto čakala viac. Dr. Watson je rozhádaný so svojím priateľom a tak chce aspoň zachrániť vojakov na fronte. O úspechu je možné diskutovať, keďže mŕtvol je tam habadej vďaka zúriacej vojne. Pozitívom je jeho snaha spropagovať transfúziu krvi a aj niektoré objavy, čo urobí. Ale je tu zopár ale....
Winston Churchill? Hmmm, uvažujem či namixovanie tejto postavy bolo také potrebné pre dej, rovnako aj nemecký ostreľovač Bloch, o ktorom viem až zbytočne veľa.
Poteší ženská linka a ženské postavy, napr. pani Gregsonová alias Červená Diablica sufražetiek a jej nekonvenčný náhľad na veci.
Inak by sa z tejto knihy dalo vyškrtať niekoľko strán a bolo by to prospešné. A ešte jedno na záver S.H. nečakajte priveľmi, spomínaný je často, aj mierne pripletený do deja, ale celkovo len na okrasu.
June 12, 2016
Robert Ryan: Krajinou mrtvých mužů
Zadná strana obálky knihy láka na výrok Daily Expressu: „Barvitý popis v zákopech… opravdu fascinující válečný román přibližující dobové reále.“ A románová prvotina Roberta Ryana z univerza o Sherlockovi Holmesovi presne taká aj je.
Asi 53-ročný Liverpoolčan, Robert Ryan, si so žurnalistikou potriasol ruku v Kente, kde začal prednášať o prírodných vedách. Miesto učiteľa mu otvorilo dvere k zvučným menám časopisov i magazínov (GQ, Guardian, The Face, Sunday Times...), ktoré mu dovolili vystriedať hneď niekoľko zaujímavých tém, a to vrátane cestopisne ladených článkov. Svoj prvý román Undredogs vydal v roku 1999. Úspešné uvedenie knihy do života podnietilo vznik ďalších prozaických textov, pričom prvý príbeh o doktorovi Watsonovi držali naši čitatelia v rukách už minulý rok v novembri.
Robert Ryan nie je ani prvým a ani posledným autorom, ktorý vo svojej tvorbe siahol po nejakej tej ikonickej literárnej postave. Detektívna fikcia i dnes predstavuje pútavý žáner, z ktorého sa dá vyťažiť maximum. Napriek tomu, že nezmenila svoju štruktúru od čias Edgara Allana Poa, zmiasť čitateľa, neodkrývať všetky stopy naraz či zavádzať prostredníctvom dobre vyprofilovaných sekundárnych postáv alebo zaujímavých spoločníkov, dotiahla do precíznosti. Nakoniec, odhaliť vraha je pomerne jednoduché, niekedy až priamočiare. Ale nájsť usvedčujúce dôkazy a ozrejmiť jeho pohnútky, predstavuje problém, s ktorým si neraz lámal hlavu nejeden svetový detektív.
Svojský Hercule Poirot sa na výslnie vrátil v roku 2014. Vraždy s monogramom koketujú s čitateľom a oddaným fanúšikom kráľovnej anglickej detektívnej fikcie, Agathy Christie, prostredníctvom hravého rukopisu Sophie Hannahovej, britskej poetky a prozaičky, ktorá má pomerne blízky vzťah so surrealizmom a Carrollovým nonsensom. Prácu detektíva však zvládla celkom bravúrne.
Opäť oživiť prípady korpulentného amerického vyšetrovateľa s veľkým srdcom a nehynúcou láskou k sedavému zamestnaniu, Nera Wolfa, sa po roku 1984 podarilo iba Robertovi Goldsboroughtovi. A aj to na podnet jeho vlastnej matky. Šikovné ruky a jeho zápal pre prácu Rexa Stouta držia pri živote unikátny archetyp drsnej americkej detektívnej školy ešte aj dnes.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle zomrel 7. júla 1930 a zanechal za sebou rozsiahle literárne dielo zahrňujúce okolo 60 kníh. Okrem unikátnej dvojice Holmes – Watson, ktorá sprevádzala čitateľa svojimi dobrodružstvami 56 poviedkami a 4 románmi, vytvoril i ďalšie nemenej pozoruhodné epické postavy. Tie síce sťažka dokázali prekročiť tieň muža s fajkou a husľami, avšak priaznivci Doylovej tvorby budú na ne s láskou spomínať aj po rokoch, ak nie desaťročiach. Nečudo, sir Arthur Conan Doyle je jednoducho značka. A to dosť dobrá. Veď fenomén extravagantného nevrlého asexuála so zmyslom pre čierny humor fascinuje svojou nehynúcou pôvabnosťou ťažko vyčísliteľný počet jeho milovníkov. Sherlock Holmes, podobne ako ostatní fiktívni kolegovia, predstavuje kvalitný materiál na spracovanie. Ovplyvňuje veľké masy konzumentov, ktoré hýbu svetom. Dovoľuje prežívať všetky dobrodružstvá opätovne, zároveň však inak, a sceľuje rôznorodé skupiny ľudí. Je poddajný, plastický a príjemne tvarovateľný. Zatiaľ čo televízne obrazovky prahnú po Sherlockovi z dielne BBC, čitatelia čoraz častejšie skloňujú meno Roberta Ryana.
Historický román s detektívnou zápletkou v duchu Psa Baskervillského vydalo vydavateľstvo PLUS. Ako vám už názov pôvodného Doylovho diela napovedá, rozprávačom nebude nikto iný ako doktor Watson, ostrieľaný veterán a obľúbený spoločník Sherlocka Holmesa, súkromného detektíva, detektíva amatéra i detektívneho konzultanta predovšetkým Scotland Yardu. Aby však nedošlo k omylu, Robert Ryan zasadil dej svojho príbehu do obdobia, ktorým Doyle dobrodružstvá Sherlocka Holmesa a doktora Watsona ukončil. Zatiaľ čo Sherlock Holmes chová včely, jeho spoločník, doktor Watson, sa na staré kolená rozhodol zaspomínať si na vôňu strelného prachu, hliny, potu neumývaných tiel a rozpadnutých lazaretov, ktoré denno-denne bojujú o životy zranených vojakov. Doktor Watson sa vracia na front. Rozpútala sa prvá svetová vojna, ktorá so sebou, paradoxne, priniesla aj sériového vraha.
Ryanov román má 464 strán a dva mínusy. Pre niekoho veľké, pre niekoho úplne štandardné. Podobne tak ako detektívne romány J. K. Rowlingovej aj tie od Roberta Ryana strácajú body pri svojej dĺžke. Dnes nie je problém prečítať takmer 500-stranovú knihu do niekoľkých dní (aj skôr), pokiaľ je vystavaná pútavo. Ryanov román pútavý je, ak ide o historické pozadie, miestami trošku prikrášlené, ako na to upozorňuje autor v doslove, čo sa však už nedá povedať o všetkých jeho kapitolách. Na jednej strane ako čitateľ a milovník dobrej detektívky, aj tej historickej, si uvedomujem, že isté aspekty, ktoré so sebou vojna vo všeobecnosti prináša, je potrebné rozviesť. Na druhej strane dejová odbočka v podobe nemeckého ostreľovača s určitým cieľom bola jednoducho zbytočná. Okrem istých sympatií k nepriateľom na druhej strane zákopov, ktorých už od prvej kapitoly vnímate ako ľudí z mäsa a kostí, s vlastnými pocitmi, ilúziami, útrapami aj povinnosťami, nevniesla do príbehu žiadne nové skutočnosti, zistenia ani stopy. Príbeh skôr brzdila. Nikam ho neposúvala, a to aj napriek tomu, že rozvíjala isté konšpiračné dohady o možnom plánovanom atentáte na Winstona Churchilla.
Nebyť tejto odbočky, román by sa vám čítal pomerne sviežo. Isté dni by odsýpali rezko ako živelné povahy sestier i dobrovoľníčok, alebo decentne ako húževnatosť hlavného vyšetrovateľa. Svedomitejšia práca editora by nielenže eliminovala vaše nutkanie preskakovať konkrétne kapitoly, ale zároveň by vás motivovala pokračovať v dobrodružnej ceste po stopách vraha – traviča aj vtedy, keď sú statické pasáže jednoducho v rámci rozuzlenia zápletky jedným z kľúčových bodov výstavby Ryanovej fikcie.
Druhé veľké – malé mínus postrehnete navôkol postavy doktora Watsona. Nikto neupiera snahu Roberta Ryana vykresliť populárny Doylov archetyp dôveryhodne a v známom farebnom spektre, na ktoré si čitateľ pri pôvodnej predlohe zvykol. Napriek tomu, že nenájdete veľmi veľa poviedok a ani románov, ktoré by doktora Watsona stavali do úlohy hlavného vyšetrovateľa, a Sherlocka, paradoxne do úlohy zručného manipulátora, minimálne Pes Baskervillský vo vás zanechaná silný dojem z nenahraditeľnosti detektívovho poradcu a odkryje vám Watsonovu povahu oveľa intenzívnejšie, ako to urobilo zvyšných 56 Doylových poviedok. Z tohto dôvodu, pochopiteľne, očakávate, že aj Ryanove vykreslenie postavy doktora Watsona sa bude snažiť priblížiť tomu Doylovu čo najdôveryhodnejšie, a zároveň si ho formovať podľa vlastného uváženia, a tak, aby do vymysleného prípadu prirodzene zapadlo.
V prvom rade ide o jeho prípad, na ktorom po dlhom čase participuje bez pomoci svojho nadaného kolegu – mentora. A to nefunguje. Od úvodnej kapitoly máte problém vidieť v Ryanovej postave práve toho známeho doktora Watsona, ktorého ste v Doylových príbehoch tak okázalo milovali. Ako čitateľ si síce uvedomujete, že nový príbeh delí od tých starých niekoľko rokov, ktoré povahu každého z nás zmenia. Rátate s tým, že doktor Watson bude iný, ale stále v ňom dokážete objaviť doktora, ktorým bol v čase svojej mladosti a v dobe, kedy po prvý raz stretol Sherlocka Holmesa. A presne týmto aspektom Ryanov hlavný hrdina neoplýva.
Nebyť niekoľkých Watsonových poznámok a spomienok, ako aj pár krátkych pasáži s detektívom na dôchodku neďaleko bojiska v hlavnej úlohe, nič by tento román nespájalo s Doylovým univerzom. Nič by vám nenašepkalo, že v rukách držíte pokračovanie slávnych dobrodružstiev Sherlocka Holmesa a doktora Watsona, kvalitnú fanfikciu, ktorá sa podobne ako iné pred ňou dočkala svojho knižného debutu.
Vzhľadom na to, že od roku 2013 vydal Robert Ryan tri ďalšie knihy spisujúce nové zážitky Sherlockovho kronikára, môže sa pokojne stať, že minimálne druhá časť prinesie doktorovu postavu v inom a pre nás možno nostalgickom svetle. To sa však dozvieme iba vtedy, keď budeme v rukách držať jej český preklad. A to je, zatiaľ, vyhliadka bez konkrétneho dátumu.
Avšak prečítať si Ryanov román je vašou povinnosťou. Nenájdete v ňom pravého Watsona a ani pravého Sherlocka. Objavíte v ňom však malý poklad, ktorým sa podobná tvorba zvykne vyznačovať. Je ním nehynúci zápal pre človeka - autora, ktorý vás roky inšpiroval. Ktorý pri vás stál v dobrom aj v zlom a pomáhal vám ísť za akýmkoľvek svojím snom. A čo je ešte zaujímavejšie, Ryanov rukopis, pokiaľ ide o skutočné reálie, má veľa spoločných atribútov s Doylovými historickými fikciami, ktoré začal publikovať v čase, kedy slávny detektív zomrel v Reichenbachských vodopádoch. Bez toho, aby ste si to uvedomili, pomáha vám Robert Ryan zaspomínať si na Doyla snáď na každej strane, do ktorej sa začítate, s patričnou úctou a detským nadšením.
Ryanov román s názvom Krajinou mrtvých mužů vzdáva hold nielen viktoriánskej ére, otcovi najpopulárnejšieho detektíva všetkých čias, ale aj samotnej detektívnej fikcie. Prinavracia jej slávu, a to podobne, ako to pred rokmi urobila Dorothy L. Sayersová, a posúva pohnútky vraha o malý kúsok ďalej, než sú pomyslené hranice známych fiktívnych archetypov. Je pozoruhodne citlivý, zaujímavo surový, príjemne historický, ale predovšetkým kvalitne detektívny, a to aj so svojimi muchami. A aj toto sa ráta.
Takže, čo viac by ste ešte chceli? Okrem Benedicta...
Fantasy-svet.net
Zadná strana obálky knihy láka na výrok Daily Expressu: „Barvitý popis v zákopech… opravdu fascinující válečný román přibližující dobové reále.“ A románová prvotina Roberta Ryana z univerza o Sherlockovi Holmesovi presne taká aj je.
Asi 53-ročný Liverpoolčan, Robert Ryan, si so žurnalistikou potriasol ruku v Kente, kde začal prednášať o prírodných vedách. Miesto učiteľa mu otvorilo dvere k zvučným menám časopisov i magazínov (GQ, Guardian, The Face, Sunday Times...), ktoré mu dovolili vystriedať hneď niekoľko zaujímavých tém, a to vrátane cestopisne ladených článkov. Svoj prvý román Undredogs vydal v roku 1999. Úspešné uvedenie knihy do života podnietilo vznik ďalších prozaických textov, pričom prvý príbeh o doktorovi Watsonovi držali naši čitatelia v rukách už minulý rok v novembri.
Robert Ryan nie je ani prvým a ani posledným autorom, ktorý vo svojej tvorbe siahol po nejakej tej ikonickej literárnej postave. Detektívna fikcia i dnes predstavuje pútavý žáner, z ktorého sa dá vyťažiť maximum. Napriek tomu, že nezmenila svoju štruktúru od čias Edgara Allana Poa, zmiasť čitateľa, neodkrývať všetky stopy naraz či zavádzať prostredníctvom dobre vyprofilovaných sekundárnych postáv alebo zaujímavých spoločníkov, dotiahla do precíznosti. Nakoniec, odhaliť vraha je pomerne jednoduché, niekedy až priamočiare. Ale nájsť usvedčujúce dôkazy a ozrejmiť jeho pohnútky, predstavuje problém, s ktorým si neraz lámal hlavu nejeden svetový detektív.
Svojský Hercule Poirot sa na výslnie vrátil v roku 2014. Vraždy s monogramom koketujú s čitateľom a oddaným fanúšikom kráľovnej anglickej detektívnej fikcie, Agathy Christie, prostredníctvom hravého rukopisu Sophie Hannahovej, britskej poetky a prozaičky, ktorá má pomerne blízky vzťah so surrealizmom a Carrollovým nonsensom. Prácu detektíva však zvládla celkom bravúrne.
Opäť oživiť prípady korpulentného amerického vyšetrovateľa s veľkým srdcom a nehynúcou láskou k sedavému zamestnaniu, Nera Wolfa, sa po roku 1984 podarilo iba Robertovi Goldsboroughtovi. A aj to na podnet jeho vlastnej matky. Šikovné ruky a jeho zápal pre prácu Rexa Stouta držia pri živote unikátny archetyp drsnej americkej detektívnej školy ešte aj dnes.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle zomrel 7. júla 1930 a zanechal za sebou rozsiahle literárne dielo zahrňujúce okolo 60 kníh. Okrem unikátnej dvojice Holmes – Watson, ktorá sprevádzala čitateľa svojimi dobrodružstvami 56 poviedkami a 4 románmi, vytvoril i ďalšie nemenej pozoruhodné epické postavy. Tie síce sťažka dokázali prekročiť tieň muža s fajkou a husľami, avšak priaznivci Doylovej tvorby budú na ne s láskou spomínať aj po rokoch, ak nie desaťročiach. Nečudo, sir Arthur Conan Doyle je jednoducho značka. A to dosť dobrá. Veď fenomén extravagantného nevrlého asexuála so zmyslom pre čierny humor fascinuje svojou nehynúcou pôvabnosťou ťažko vyčísliteľný počet jeho milovníkov. Sherlock Holmes, podobne ako ostatní fiktívni kolegovia, predstavuje kvalitný materiál na spracovanie. Ovplyvňuje veľké masy konzumentov, ktoré hýbu svetom. Dovoľuje prežívať všetky dobrodružstvá opätovne, zároveň však inak, a sceľuje rôznorodé skupiny ľudí. Je poddajný, plastický a príjemne tvarovateľný. Zatiaľ čo televízne obrazovky prahnú po Sherlockovi z dielne BBC, čitatelia čoraz častejšie skloňujú meno Roberta Ryana.
Historický román s detektívnou zápletkou v duchu Psa Baskervillského vydalo vydavateľstvo PLUS. Ako vám už názov pôvodného Doylovho diela napovedá, rozprávačom nebude nikto iný ako doktor Watson, ostrieľaný veterán a obľúbený spoločník Sherlocka Holmesa, súkromného detektíva, detektíva amatéra i detektívneho konzultanta predovšetkým Scotland Yardu. Aby však nedošlo k omylu, Robert Ryan zasadil dej svojho príbehu do obdobia, ktorým Doyle dobrodružstvá Sherlocka Holmesa a doktora Watsona ukončil. Zatiaľ čo Sherlock Holmes chová včely, jeho spoločník, doktor Watson, sa na staré kolená rozhodol zaspomínať si na vôňu strelného prachu, hliny, potu neumývaných tiel a rozpadnutých lazaretov, ktoré denno-denne bojujú o životy zranených vojakov. Doktor Watson sa vracia na front. Rozpútala sa prvá svetová vojna, ktorá so sebou, paradoxne, priniesla aj sériového vraha.
Ryanov román má 464 strán a dva mínusy. Pre niekoho veľké, pre niekoho úplne štandardné. Podobne tak ako detektívne romány J. K. Rowlingovej aj tie od Roberta Ryana strácajú body pri svojej dĺžke. Dnes nie je problém prečítať takmer 500-stranovú knihu do niekoľkých dní (aj skôr), pokiaľ je vystavaná pútavo. Ryanov román pútavý je, ak ide o historické pozadie, miestami trošku prikrášlené, ako na to upozorňuje autor v doslove, čo sa však už nedá povedať o všetkých jeho kapitolách. Na jednej strane ako čitateľ a milovník dobrej detektívky, aj tej historickej, si uvedomujem, že isté aspekty, ktoré so sebou vojna vo všeobecnosti prináša, je potrebné rozviesť. Na druhej strane dejová odbočka v podobe nemeckého ostreľovača s určitým cieľom bola jednoducho zbytočná. Okrem istých sympatií k nepriateľom na druhej strane zákopov, ktorých už od prvej kapitoly vnímate ako ľudí z mäsa a kostí, s vlastnými pocitmi, ilúziami, útrapami aj povinnosťami, nevniesla do príbehu žiadne nové skutočnosti, zistenia ani stopy. Príbeh skôr brzdila. Nikam ho neposúvala, a to aj napriek tomu, že rozvíjala isté konšpiračné dohady o možnom plánovanom atentáte na Winstona Churchilla.
Nebyť tejto odbočky, román by sa vám čítal pomerne sviežo. Isté dni by odsýpali rezko ako živelné povahy sestier i dobrovoľníčok, alebo decentne ako húževnatosť hlavného vyšetrovateľa. Svedomitejšia práca editora by nielenže eliminovala vaše nutkanie preskakovať konkrétne kapitoly, ale zároveň by vás motivovala pokračovať v dobrodružnej ceste po stopách vraha – traviča aj vtedy, keď sú statické pasáže jednoducho v rámci rozuzlenia zápletky jedným z kľúčových bodov výstavby Ryanovej fikcie.
Druhé veľké – malé mínus postrehnete navôkol postavy doktora Watsona. Nikto neupiera snahu Roberta Ryana vykresliť populárny Doylov archetyp dôveryhodne a v známom farebnom spektre, na ktoré si čitateľ pri pôvodnej predlohe zvykol. Napriek tomu, že nenájdete veľmi veľa poviedok a ani románov, ktoré by doktora Watsona stavali do úlohy hlavného vyšetrovateľa, a Sherlocka, paradoxne do úlohy zručného manipulátora, minimálne Pes Baskervillský vo vás zanechaná silný dojem z nenahraditeľnosti detektívovho poradcu a odkryje vám Watsonovu povahu oveľa intenzívnejšie, ako to urobilo zvyšných 56 Doylových poviedok. Z tohto dôvodu, pochopiteľne, očakávate, že aj Ryanove vykreslenie postavy doktora Watsona sa bude snažiť priblížiť tomu Doylovu čo najdôveryhodnejšie, a zároveň si ho formovať podľa vlastného uváženia, a tak, aby do vymysleného prípadu prirodzene zapadlo.
V prvom rade ide o jeho prípad, na ktorom po dlhom čase participuje bez pomoci svojho nadaného kolegu – mentora. A to nefunguje. Od úvodnej kapitoly máte problém vidieť v Ryanovej postave práve toho známeho doktora Watsona, ktorého ste v Doylových príbehoch tak okázalo milovali. Ako čitateľ si síce uvedomujete, že nový príbeh delí od tých starých niekoľko rokov, ktoré povahu každého z nás zmenia. Rátate s tým, že doktor Watson bude iný, ale stále v ňom dokážete objaviť doktora, ktorým bol v čase svojej mladosti a v dobe, kedy po prvý raz stretol Sherlocka Holmesa. A presne týmto aspektom Ryanov hlavný hrdina neoplýva.
Nebyť niekoľkých Watsonových poznámok a spomienok, ako aj pár krátkych pasáži s detektívom na dôchodku neďaleko bojiska v hlavnej úlohe, nič by tento román nespájalo s Doylovým univerzom. Nič by vám nenašepkalo, že v rukách držíte pokračovanie slávnych dobrodružstiev Sherlocka Holmesa a doktora Watsona, kvalitnú fanfikciu, ktorá sa podobne ako iné pred ňou dočkala svojho knižného debutu.
Vzhľadom na to, že od roku 2013 vydal Robert Ryan tri ďalšie knihy spisujúce nové zážitky Sherlockovho kronikára, môže sa pokojne stať, že minimálne druhá časť prinesie doktorovu postavu v inom a pre nás možno nostalgickom svetle. To sa však dozvieme iba vtedy, keď budeme v rukách držať jej český preklad. A to je, zatiaľ, vyhliadka bez konkrétneho dátumu.
Avšak prečítať si Ryanov román je vašou povinnosťou. Nenájdete v ňom pravého Watsona a ani pravého Sherlocka. Objavíte v ňom však malý poklad, ktorým sa podobná tvorba zvykne vyznačovať. Je ním nehynúci zápal pre človeka - autora, ktorý vás roky inšpiroval. Ktorý pri vás stál v dobrom aj v zlom a pomáhal vám ísť za akýmkoľvek svojím snom. A čo je ešte zaujímavejšie, Ryanov rukopis, pokiaľ ide o skutočné reálie, má veľa spoločných atribútov s Doylovými historickými fikciami, ktoré začal publikovať v čase, kedy slávny detektív zomrel v Reichenbachských vodopádoch. Bez toho, aby ste si to uvedomili, pomáha vám Robert Ryan zaspomínať si na Doyla snáď na každej strane, do ktorej sa začítate, s patričnou úctou a detským nadšením.
Ryanov román s názvom Krajinou mrtvých mužů vzdáva hold nielen viktoriánskej ére, otcovi najpopulárnejšieho detektíva všetkých čias, ale aj samotnej detektívnej fikcie. Prinavracia jej slávu, a to podobne, ako to pred rokmi urobila Dorothy L. Sayersová, a posúva pohnútky vraha o malý kúsok ďalej, než sú pomyslené hranice známych fiktívnych archetypov. Je pozoruhodne citlivý, zaujímavo surový, príjemne historický, ale predovšetkým kvalitne detektívny, a to aj so svojimi muchami. A aj toto sa ráta.
Takže, čo viac by ste ešte chceli? Okrem Benedicta...
Fantasy-svet.net
July 16, 2021
Dobrá detektivka (i když trochu moc dlouhá), kterou mírně hatí závěr, Watsonova výprava do krajiny nikoho, která se podobá špatnému béčkovému akčnímu filmu, kdy se statečný hrdina nesmyslně vydá do nebezpečí zastavit padoucha, jen aby mu morálka v konečném důsledku zabránila ho zabít - takže ho nechá zabít nepřítelem. Výsledek stejný, ale pro morálně čistého hrdinu spíše obhájitelný. No. To bylo trochu zklamání. Ale jinak jsem vděčná za knížku, která nepodává Watsona jako nekňubu.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2021
This was amazing! Well written and the audiobook was well read. I love Dr. John Watson and getting to see him single-handedly solve a murder mystery was fantastic. This is very much a novel about war, and I appreciated the level of details about the war and the setting. The secondary characters were great too. In fact, I do hope we get to see Mrs. Gregson again.
Already looking forward to starting the next book in the series!
Already looking forward to starting the next book in the series!
March 1, 2019
Once it going, I quite enjoyed this. Will look out for the next book(s) in the series.
September 23, 2020
3.5 stars. An interesting twist on the detective novel, staring Dr Watson. It was really interesting and a good story
October 19, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, great characterisation. As usual it’s very difficult to read about the waste of young lives during war but a great story
May 20, 2015
This book is just a bit unwieldy to be as good as its potential. Conan Doyle often crafted amazing stories in not a lot of space: short stories and novellas were the most he ever wrote (yes, probably in part because of how publishing worked at the time but still) and Ryan could have done with taking a leaf out of his book. There's too much going on, and so much of it turns out to be irrelevant that I think some serious slimming down could have been done with little to nothing being detracted from the actual story.
And while he had clearly done his research into the period and what life would have been like for the soldiers in the trenches and the nurses caring for the wounded, it didn't actually feel like 1914. I can't quite put my finger on what was missing, but I think a little more work on how the characters spoke and interacted would have made the world of difference. Because there were some really good and interesting characters (often the women). True, there were also some very flat characters (often the men), but all of the characters felt more modern than they should have done for a book supposedly set in 1914.
There was only one thing which might induce me to read the next in this series. And that is only might.
I think the best summation of my opinion of this book is expressed in the fact that the the most exciting and interesting part for me was finally working out - pretty definitively - what Jagermeister means.
And while he had clearly done his research into the period and what life would have been like for the soldiers in the trenches and the nurses caring for the wounded, it didn't actually feel like 1914. I can't quite put my finger on what was missing, but I think a little more work on how the characters spoke and interacted would have made the world of difference. Because there were some really good and interesting characters (often the women). True, there were also some very flat characters (often the men), but all of the characters felt more modern than they should have done for a book supposedly set in 1914.
There was only one thing which might induce me to read the next in this series. And that is only might.
I think the best summation of my opinion of this book is expressed in the fact that the the most exciting and interesting part for me was finally working out - pretty definitively - what Jagermeister means.
November 21, 2015
A book that ultimately had a great ending with a number of loose threads neatly drawing to a close. The story paints a raw image of what life would have been like in the trenches of WW1 and from a historical point of view there are some interesting factoids, my favourite being the 'Fray Bentos wound', which got the name from a soldier shooting himself in the foot through a can of 'bully beef' in the hope that the wound would become infected and therefore give him a more likelier chance of a 'blighty'.
It is on the whole a well written novel with fairly good character development but I can't help but wish Robert Ryan had gotten to the point as neatly and as quickly as Conan Doyle had done in his original series. I feel the book has too many general meanderings which do not have a significant impact on the story while there could have been a lot more clues for the reader to think about. The first 300 pages were disappointingly stagnant and especially as the story rarely removes itself from the trenches or the medical tent, it needs more engaging material.
I believe the story would have been more successful if it had been shortened by at least 100 pages but I must say if you do have enough patience to make it through the majority of the book then the end is well worth it.
It is on the whole a well written novel with fairly good character development but I can't help but wish Robert Ryan had gotten to the point as neatly and as quickly as Conan Doyle had done in his original series. I feel the book has too many general meanderings which do not have a significant impact on the story while there could have been a lot more clues for the reader to think about. The first 300 pages were disappointingly stagnant and especially as the story rarely removes itself from the trenches or the medical tent, it needs more engaging material.
I believe the story would have been more successful if it had been shortened by at least 100 pages but I must say if you do have enough patience to make it through the majority of the book then the end is well worth it.
January 9, 2017
A good read, old fashioned in its style and perfectly in keeping with the period and the quiet dignity of Watson and Holmes. Set in the First World War Watson is a medic at a casualty clearing station. He befriends the volunteer nurses and eventually finds a mystery to solve. I am a big fan of Robert Ryan's WW2 books but felt the pace here was a little slow. For example, it took about half the novel for the mystery to be revealed and then things got exciting as Watson turned detective. Overall it was an intriguing yarn with a medical spin, and not overly complicated although I was a little disappointed with such a simple solution to the puzzle. I'm not sure I would rush to read the next in the series.
August 12, 2015
Excellent. I loved the character of Watson in this setting. It really did work. I was hooked from the start.
Excellent characters. Excellent mystery. Excellent setting and harrowing account of the war. I even liked the slight references to Sherlock. So all in all an excellent read. Thank you Mr Ryan. Well done.
Excellent characters. Excellent mystery. Excellent setting and harrowing account of the war. I even liked the slight references to Sherlock. So all in all an excellent read. Thank you Mr Ryan. Well done.
March 10, 2014
An interesting, enjoyable piece of historical fiction with the added bonus of Holmes & Watson thrown in.
The novel moves along at a good pace and describes the horror of the trenches very well. I also learnt alot about WW1 medical practice along the way!
The novel moves along at a good pace and describes the horror of the trenches very well. I also learnt alot about WW1 medical practice along the way!
January 1, 2014
Dr Watson after Holmes. Sort of. Watson stumbles across mysterious deaths amidst the carnage of WW1, and investigates. Cameos for Churchill and Holmes himself raise interest, but while the mystery is competent and done well enough, it fails to catch light fully, either in plot or character.
March 12, 2016
Takový mix Na západní frontě klid a Sherlocka Holmese. A ač to zní jako zvláštní kombinace, myslím, že výsledek fakt stojí za přečtení :)
February 7, 2018
This is the first of the Dr John Watson series I've read, and I will definitely be starting on the second very soon. Regardless of one's interest or lack thereof in Holmes & Watson, it still works both as a detective story and a WW1 story; in fact I would rank it close to Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks as a WW1 novel, and its depictions of the carnage and the industrial scale waste of life are as powerful and graphic as any others I can think of.
Of course it does help if you're familiar with the Holmes canon, as the book is full of treats for the Holmes aficionado. Eg at one point Watson is struggling to remember his connection with Chicago, and you as the reader instantly think Abe Slaney in The Dancing Men. Holmes's occasional appearances throughout are also a treat, as is the more frequent presence of Winston Churchill.
The second most prominent character in the book however isn't Holmes, but a Mrs Gregson, a suffragette working as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse. Of all of the cast of non-Watson characters she is the most memorable - but this is partly because the sheer volume of them renders some quite difficult to distinguish from one another. This is one of my only minor criticisms; the other is that the action switches scene from chapter to chapter, and at 369 pages long and with 75 chapters this means each average only 5 pages, so in the space of 15 pages you might have 3 different protagonists in 3 different locations.
But minor quibbles aside Dead Man's Land is a worthy addition to post-Doyle Holmesian literature as well as to WW1 literature, and is a cracking murder mystery in its own right, whose pace gradually builds as the facts become clearer, which displays an immense technical knowledge of WW1 military hardware and surgical procedure (without ever bogging the reader down in tedious detail) and which overall is thoroughly impressive and a Good Read, goodreads readers.
Of course it does help if you're familiar with the Holmes canon, as the book is full of treats for the Holmes aficionado. Eg at one point Watson is struggling to remember his connection with Chicago, and you as the reader instantly think Abe Slaney in The Dancing Men. Holmes's occasional appearances throughout are also a treat, as is the more frequent presence of Winston Churchill.
The second most prominent character in the book however isn't Holmes, but a Mrs Gregson, a suffragette working as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse. Of all of the cast of non-Watson characters she is the most memorable - but this is partly because the sheer volume of them renders some quite difficult to distinguish from one another. This is one of my only minor criticisms; the other is that the action switches scene from chapter to chapter, and at 369 pages long and with 75 chapters this means each average only 5 pages, so in the space of 15 pages you might have 3 different protagonists in 3 different locations.
But minor quibbles aside Dead Man's Land is a worthy addition to post-Doyle Holmesian literature as well as to WW1 literature, and is a cracking murder mystery in its own right, whose pace gradually builds as the facts become clearer, which displays an immense technical knowledge of WW1 military hardware and surgical procedure (without ever bogging the reader down in tedious detail) and which overall is thoroughly impressive and a Good Read, goodreads readers.
September 1, 2020
I got this from a charity shop years ago and I have had it for so long. I love extra Holmes stories, especially when they focus around John Watson and how the world moves on into the 20th century.
This book is all about John Watson on the front lines as a doctor during the First World War. We find out that he had a fight with Holmes right before he travelled out to the front and he was widowed again a few years ago, but he runs into people connected to his past. When someone dies and Watson thinks he wasn't a 'natural' wartime death, he has to find his murderer but also prove that a medical procedure he introduced is not responsible for it. The book switches between many POVs, John Watson, a VAD Georgina Gregson, several bystanders and side characters, and a German sniper.
I enjoyed this book. The mystery was interesting enough and I liked how Watson had to adjust, not only in being on his own when a mystery comes up, but also having to keep up with the far younger doctors. The horrors of the First World War are introduced by Watson talking about how he experienced everything for the first time, as well as the POVs of people who had been at the frontline for a while. It was a fairly slow-paced book with a lot of description but it was very evenly paced.
I would say that one of the POVs didn't feel as necessary as the others. Yes, all the POVs were connected and this POV ran into the main characters more than once, but it didn't feel like we needed to see his POV since I felt like it didn't add anything to the story.
It is a book I would recommend if you like these kinds of Sherlock Holmes books (Holmes does show up briefly, but he's definitely not a main character, and it's more about Watson missing his friend) and I'll keep an eye out for the rest of the series. Apparently I have already read the next book in the series and can't remember it at all, but these books obviously do stand alone pretty well.
4 stars!
This book is all about John Watson on the front lines as a doctor during the First World War. We find out that he had a fight with Holmes right before he travelled out to the front and he was widowed again a few years ago, but he runs into people connected to his past. When someone dies and Watson thinks he wasn't a 'natural' wartime death, he has to find his murderer but also prove that a medical procedure he introduced is not responsible for it. The book switches between many POVs, John Watson, a VAD Georgina Gregson, several bystanders and side characters, and a German sniper.
I enjoyed this book. The mystery was interesting enough and I liked how Watson had to adjust, not only in being on his own when a mystery comes up, but also having to keep up with the far younger doctors. The horrors of the First World War are introduced by Watson talking about how he experienced everything for the first time, as well as the POVs of people who had been at the frontline for a while. It was a fairly slow-paced book with a lot of description but it was very evenly paced.
I would say that one of the POVs didn't feel as necessary as the others. Yes, all the POVs were connected and this POV ran into the main characters more than once, but it didn't feel like we needed to see his POV since I felt like it didn't add anything to the story.
It is a book I would recommend if you like these kinds of Sherlock Holmes books (Holmes does show up briefly, but he's definitely not a main character, and it's more about Watson missing his friend) and I'll keep an eye out for the rest of the series. Apparently I have already read the next book in the series and can't remember it at all, but these books obviously do stand alone pretty well.
4 stars!
July 7, 2019
Dead Man’s Land is the first book in the Dr Watson series set during the First World War. After parting ways with Sherlock Holmes, Watson has re-enlisted as a medical officer and headed to the trenches of Flanders where part of his mission is to extol the virtues of the new method of blood transfusion. His first post is in a relatively quiet section in a casualty clearing station where he discovers the Leigh Pals, a regiment he met a couple of months earlier in Egypt, are serving. When one of the pals dies after a blood transfusion Dr Watson suspects foul play. His initial investigation suggests this is not the first such death. Someone is using the cover of battlefield carnage to commit murder and Watson sets out to identify and capture him. Ryan does a nice job of building a story around Dr Watson and bringing him to the fore of the story, and in constructing a serial murder tale in the frontline area of Flanders. There is a good sense of place and historicisation as to conditions and operations at the front and medical services, and the dimensions of class and hierarchies within services (military and medical) are nicely realised. Beyond Watson, the nursing staff and the Leigh Pals are well realised and engaging, especially suffragette voluntary aid detachment nurse Mrs Gregson. The core of the plot is a nice murder mystery that has a good twist to it, however it has a couple of subplots that were a bit of a distraction involving a German sniper and Winston Churchill that felt like interest padding, and it was a shame in many ways for Holmes to be pulled into the story. Overall, an engaging tale that does a reasonable job of continuing the canon without it feeling overly pastiche.
May 29, 2018
Dead Man's Land is a powerhouse of a novel, easily the best Sherlock Holmes pastiche ever written. Robert Ryan should be commended for not only staying true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original vision, but also evolving it in compelling ways.
Dead Man's Land takes place in World War I, during the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915. The novel was officially approved by the Conan Doyle estate, meaning Ryan had total freedom to use the later Sherlock Holmes stories as a jumping off point. The novel follows the adventures of Sherlock's right hand man, Dr. John Watson, in his adventures during the battle.
If you remember, in "His Last Bow" by Conan Doyle, Dr. Watson says he'll be leaving Sherlock's side to rejoin the military. In Dead Man's Land, Dr. Watson and Sherlock are no longer on speaking terms, as the detective chastised Watson for wanting to serve in the war at his advanced age. Watson, thanks to Sherlock's usual harsh demeanor, only realized after he got to France that Sherlock was only worried for his safety. But now here he is, in the trenches of Flanders Field, desperately trying to save the lives of wounded men while holding onto his sanity against the horrors of the war.
And on top of that, there's a murder he has to solve without his friend's help.
Dead Man's Land is an excellent telling of Watson's adventures in the First World War, written in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Reading this book feels like you're reading a classic Sherlock story, albeit in third person and without Sherlock. The war isn't merely a backdrop either, it's a both a major plot point and a character unto itself. The horrors it create drive everybody mad, and present a constant danger at every moment. A few real life figures from history turn up, and Sherlock briefly appears in the form of written correspondence to Watson, but it never feels silly or out of place. This is a story about Dr. Watson not only fighting in the war or solving a murder, but finding his own way in the world.
Thanks to Robert Ryan, Watson finally gets the respect he deserves from pastiche writers.
Dead Man's Land takes place in World War I, during the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915. The novel was officially approved by the Conan Doyle estate, meaning Ryan had total freedom to use the later Sherlock Holmes stories as a jumping off point. The novel follows the adventures of Sherlock's right hand man, Dr. John Watson, in his adventures during the battle.
If you remember, in "His Last Bow" by Conan Doyle, Dr. Watson says he'll be leaving Sherlock's side to rejoin the military. In Dead Man's Land, Dr. Watson and Sherlock are no longer on speaking terms, as the detective chastised Watson for wanting to serve in the war at his advanced age. Watson, thanks to Sherlock's usual harsh demeanor, only realized after he got to France that Sherlock was only worried for his safety. But now here he is, in the trenches of Flanders Field, desperately trying to save the lives of wounded men while holding onto his sanity against the horrors of the war.
And on top of that, there's a murder he has to solve without his friend's help.
Dead Man's Land is an excellent telling of Watson's adventures in the First World War, written in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Reading this book feels like you're reading a classic Sherlock story, albeit in third person and without Sherlock. The war isn't merely a backdrop either, it's a both a major plot point and a character unto itself. The horrors it create drive everybody mad, and present a constant danger at every moment. A few real life figures from history turn up, and Sherlock briefly appears in the form of written correspondence to Watson, but it never feels silly or out of place. This is a story about Dr. Watson not only fighting in the war or solving a murder, but finding his own way in the world.
Thanks to Robert Ryan, Watson finally gets the respect he deserves from pastiche writers.
September 23, 2018
This may sound blasphemous, but I have never read any of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories but I love the BBC television series. I picked up this novel and was rewarded with a great tale that centers on Holmes' companion, Dr. John Watson, who, after a tiff with Holmes, returns to military service wIth the British Army. Watson is assigned to France to test out a new method of storing blood to use for emergency transfusions in battlefield conditions in World War I.
However, what Watson discovers is a sophisticated killer who is instituting horrendous death on seemingly random soldiers. This is in conjunction with a top German sniper who has been killing British officers and is assigned to murder a very important person in the English Army. Watson's key ally is Mrs. Gregerson, a nurse's aide with a checkered past in the women's movement and can ride a mean motorcycle.
The book is a page turner, with a more than cameo appearance from the consulting detective himself, and brings to life the fight in the trenches in the war that was supposed to end all wars. Watson is the self-doubting hero who is on his own from under Holmes ' shadow and does yeoman's work in solving the case with plenty of help from Mrs. Gregerson.
Highly recommended for mystery fans, even those unfamiliar with the Sherlock Holmes stories, as Dr. Watson shines on his own.
However, what Watson discovers is a sophisticated killer who is instituting horrendous death on seemingly random soldiers. This is in conjunction with a top German sniper who has been killing British officers and is assigned to murder a very important person in the English Army. Watson's key ally is Mrs. Gregerson, a nurse's aide with a checkered past in the women's movement and can ride a mean motorcycle.
The book is a page turner, with a more than cameo appearance from the consulting detective himself, and brings to life the fight in the trenches in the war that was supposed to end all wars. Watson is the self-doubting hero who is on his own from under Holmes ' shadow and does yeoman's work in solving the case with plenty of help from Mrs. Gregerson.
Highly recommended for mystery fans, even those unfamiliar with the Sherlock Holmes stories, as Dr. Watson shines on his own.
September 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. This is the first one that i have read from Robert Ryan and i was very impressed with it. I picked it up and decided to read it based on the blurb alone, i was completely oblivious that it was Dr Watson from Conan Doyle!
The story develops really well and has some really good descriptions of the trenches and the horrors of WW1. There is someone murdering people on the front line using a horrible method, with horrible results and Watson has been stuck right in the middle of everything trying to solve it while treating patients.
The research that has gone into this is phenominal. I am a bit of a WW1 fan and there were elements of the story which i have not read about in other non-fiction books that i had to research!
The only reason that i have given it four stars is that it does seem to drag around the middle of the book. As other readers have stated in their reviews it "stagnated" for a while. However this was bearable as there were still other things happening in the book such as Bloch the Sniper and Churchill doing his bit.
My only gripe aside, i would still recommend reading this. I have only read one Sherlock Holmes book (in school) and this has intrigued me to go back and see how great he really was. I will definitely be picking the other books in this timeline up.
Very good read!
The story develops really well and has some really good descriptions of the trenches and the horrors of WW1. There is someone murdering people on the front line using a horrible method, with horrible results and Watson has been stuck right in the middle of everything trying to solve it while treating patients.
The research that has gone into this is phenominal. I am a bit of a WW1 fan and there were elements of the story which i have not read about in other non-fiction books that i had to research!
The only reason that i have given it four stars is that it does seem to drag around the middle of the book. As other readers have stated in their reviews it "stagnated" for a while. However this was bearable as there were still other things happening in the book such as Bloch the Sniper and Churchill doing his bit.
My only gripe aside, i would still recommend reading this. I have only read one Sherlock Holmes book (in school) and this has intrigued me to go back and see how great he really was. I will definitely be picking the other books in this timeline up.
Very good read!
September 12, 2025
Absolutely fantastic! This is a very easy read because it is so gripping and entertaining- it took me a while because I wanted to make it last as long as possible, and I was also finishing my degree.
I wanted a book where Watson shines as the main character, and doing what he does best- being a doctor. And this had it all. I love Watson, he’s my favourite fictional character- above Holmes, yes. And Ryan captures him perfectly. In fact, after reading chapter one I went and ordered book two to be ready, albeit my studies delaying me in the end.
The chapters are short and the pacing is quick, so you’re never bored. It’s absolutely bursting with history, too, so you’re learning as well. The banter is great, the characters are believable- I rarely remembered I was looking at words on paper, it was so immersive.
Once I got my head around all the names (which is the common hurdle in any mystery book), I felt like I was being detective alongside Watson. Ryan also doesn’t shy away from the gore, which a lot of Holmes pastiches do (which is odd, considering the them of, you know, murders). But as unsettling as they were, they were required I think, to really emphasise the trench warfare conditions.
I wanted a book where Watson shines as the main character, and doing what he does best- being a doctor. And this had it all. I love Watson, he’s my favourite fictional character- above Holmes, yes. And Ryan captures him perfectly. In fact, after reading chapter one I went and ordered book two to be ready, albeit my studies delaying me in the end.
The chapters are short and the pacing is quick, so you’re never bored. It’s absolutely bursting with history, too, so you’re learning as well. The banter is great, the characters are believable- I rarely remembered I was looking at words on paper, it was so immersive.
Once I got my head around all the names (which is the common hurdle in any mystery book), I felt like I was being detective alongside Watson. Ryan also doesn’t shy away from the gore, which a lot of Holmes pastiches do (which is odd, considering the them of, you know, murders). But as unsettling as they were, they were required I think, to really emphasise the trench warfare conditions.
June 7, 2017
I enjoyed "Dead Man's Land". I really liked this version of Dr Watson, older, wiser and sadder but I still felt like he was ACD's Watson. The other characters were well written and the WW1 details showed a great deal of research had gone into the book, but the details did not overwhelm the story. The Great Detective is there and his influence over Watson's life is clearly seen. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WW1 fiction and also fans of the original Holmes canon. I found the story held my interest and condemned me to a late night before an early start, which is always a good recommendation from me. What was especially enjoyable was that unlike many Holmes pastiches it was a proper length novel rather than what are basically novellas. I bought this one on kindle as I stumbled across the third one in a bookshop and started reading it. Enjoyed it but then wanted to go back and 'meet'the characters in their first appearances in the and was definitely not disappointed.
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