Someone is killing sheep in the Cotswolds. Or something. As Holmes and Watson arrive in the tranquility of a little village of shepherds and farmers to enjoy a few restful days in the idyllic countryside, strange things start to occur. While Holmes locks himself in his hotel room, consumed by depression, Watson is left to explore the surroundings on his own, acquainting himself with both the local shepherding community, the eccentric vicar, and the local folklore concerning a mysterious werewolf. It isn't long before the murderer directs his attention to other prey than sheep, and Holmes is forced out of his ennui into a world of fog-enshrouded moors, wild men, pitchforks and a big bad wolf. This volume also includes four shorter stories in the vein of Conan Doyle: 'The Adventure of the Velvet Lampshade', 'The Adventure of the Missing Mudlark', 'The Adventure of the Forking Paths', and 'The Adventure of the One-Armed Pugilist'.
This great book comprises a novella: The Adventure of the Cotswolds Werewolf; and four short stories: The Adventure of the Velvet Lampshade, The Adventure of the Missing Mudlark, The Adventure of the Forking Paths, and The Adventure of the One-Armed Pugilist.
Usually with an anthology you get at least one dud story. Not this time. All five stories were excellent with each story being well plotted and well written. The titualar story has someone...or something, killing sheep in a small Cotswolds village. Holmes, reluctantly dragged there on holiday by Watson, takes on the challenge after the killer starts on people.
The friendship between Holmes and Watson is front and centre, which is something important to me in a pastiche.
A fabulous traditional Sherlock Holmes tale that will appeal to many. The Holmesian references scattered throughout are also fun to find.
The Cotswolds Werewolf and Other Stories of Sherlock Holmes By Peter K. Andersson Narrated by Nigel Peever)
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Peter K. Andersson’s The Cotswolds Werewolf and Other Stories of Sherlock Holmes offers a thrilling expansion to the legendary detective’s universe, blending the familiar with the supernatural. The collection breathes fresh life into the classic Holmes formula, incorporating eerie, mysterious, and spine-tingling cases while staying true to the spirit of Arthur Conan Doyle’s original creations. With the smooth, atmospheric narration by Nigel Peever, this audiobook delivers an immersive and entertaining experience for both, longtime Sherlockians and new fans alike.
The title story, The Cotswolds Werewolf, presents a case that teeters on the edge of the supernatural—a rumoured werewolf terrorizing the peaceful Cotswolds. Holmes, as ever the rationalist, approaches the investigation with scepticism, seeking a logical explanation for what appears to be a monstrous mystery. This tension between reason and myth is handled masterfully, and Andersson maintains the mystery throughout the story, drawing readers into a chilling atmosphere. The collection includes other short stories, each crafted to challenge Holmes and Watson with puzzles ranging from the bizarre to the macabre. Whether it’s a spectral figure haunting the night or an inexplicable death, Andersson’s Holmes navigates the cases with the sharp intellect and deductive brilliance readers have come to expect. What makes this collection stand out is the balance between homage and innovation—Holmes is still the keen, observant detective, and the stories feel fresh, with a slightly darker, supernatural tone.
Nigel Peever’s narration enhances the storytelling in remarkable ways. His clear voice effortlessly distinguishes between the characters, with Holmes’ sharp, analytical tones contrasting Watson’s more measured, contemplative voice. His pacing and tone are perfect for the atmospheric nature of the stories, adding an extra layer of suspense and intrigue. His narration of the darker, more gothic elements of the stories is especially effective, capturing the eerie ambience that makes the mysteries even more thrilling. Peever’s performance truly elevates the listening experience, making it engaging and immersive. His ability to bring emotional nuance to Holmes and Watson, while still maintaining their iconic personalities, is commendable.
I highly recommend both the book and the audio version to Sherlock Holmes fans who appreciate traditional logic-driven cases and the addition of gothic, supernatural mysteries. It’s a great pick for those looking for an engaging, atmospheric listen, especially during the spooky season. Nigel Peever’s narration makes it an even more worthwhile experience, bringing Andersson’s creative mysteries to life in a truly captivating way. 5 out of 5 stars.
This is a pleasantly decent pastiche, even though it feels slightly off my mark. Traditional, with nice pacing and I appreciate that the friendship between Holmes and Watson shines through.
I've listened to an audio adaptation, the narrator did a great job differentiating various characters and overall it was really enjoyable. The main story is bordering on a radio dramatisation with sound effects - for me, that's always a huge plus, as I can focus better when it's not "monotonous reading" - but from time to time there was a weird echo in the background.
Hic sunt spoilers, possibly:
The Cotswolds Werewolf - 4/5 Holmes is recuperating from one of his fits of depression as Watson persuades him to a holiday in the Cotswolds grasslands. The last remnants of Holmes' dark mood are dispelled as a series of violent attacks on sheep escalate to a murder. Perhaps a bit reminiscent of the Hound of the Baskervilles in its mood. I've enjoyed this story, although I have to admit that I've nearly eye-rolled myself into another dimension when it was revealed that the murderous beast was in fact .
The Adventure of the Velvet Lampshade - 4/5 Holmes is tasked with locating a maid missing from a household that employs released convicts. A particular lamp holds the key to the mystery.
The Adventure of the Missing Mudlark - 3/5 A distressed father employs Holmes to locate a missing boy, but the young mudlarks are a close-lipped band.
The Adventure of the Forking Paths - 3/5 Holmes is consulted on a seemingly impossible theft of a rare orchid.
The Adventure of the One-Armed Pugilist - 4/5 Inspector Bradstreet rouses the inhabitants of 221B Baker Street in the early hours of the morning, bringing in a brutally beaten man with an unusual story.
Ironically the title story in this excellent series is the weakest of the bunch, a bit generic and far fetched. The rest however are top quality and ring true to the original Conan Doyle stories. Nigel Peever does a superb job with the narration and brings the characters to life and the extra sound effects lift the recording to the next level. I received a complimentary copy of the audio from the narrator and am leaving a honest voluntary review.
Any story about Sherlock Holmes and Watson is an adventure of delight. The countryside was needed for the melancholy mood of Sherlock.it would take time and he was still retreating into his own world. Dismal with the rain Watson set out to meet the other guests and enjoy himself. With the narration by Nigel Peever is great . Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Audible:This was a wonderful version of this book. Sheep are being killed and then it escalates and Holmes shows up to investigate. Nigel Peever was an excellent narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A group of wonderful stories, starting with the Cotswolds, Sherlock Homes and Doctor Watson with villains that border on the supernatural or something worst. Loved Them!!
The Cotswolds Werewolf and Other Stories of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of stories inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle’s greatest characters. The first 9 chapters (8 book chapters, but 9 ‘audible’ chapters) contain the main story, The Cotswolds Werewolf, with an assortment of shorter tales following it.
As someone who lives in the town where ACD is said to have created his famous detective, I love a good Sherlock story, and have heard many reinventions at our annual HolmesFest. Yet I am always nervous that they will not be true enough to such familiar characters, and will pale in comparison with the originals. This collection allayed my fears within the first few chapters, as it was a fairly convincing Holmes and Watson mystery with a nicely paced plot and enough twists, turns, and gothic horror to feel reasonably authentic. It borrowed a lot of imagery from The Hound of the Baskervilles, but not so much that it felt like it was a ‘rip off’.
Nigel Peever's narration was also excellent. He was engaging throughout and his lively characterisation made the story a pleasure to listen to. My favourite thing about the whole book was the voice he chose for his portrayal of Holmes, as he sounded like Tom Baker. The image of a Doctor-Who-era Baker as Sherlock Holmes enriched it greatly, and brought an element of fun to a great production.
The only element I felt was distracting was the overuse of the echoey sound effect that was applied to far more of the audio than it really needed to be, as it did pull me out of the story at times, but that is a relatively minor complaint, all things considered.
I’m looking forward to hearing more from Peter K. Andersson, especially in conjunction with the same narrator. They made a great team, and I’d really recommend it to anyone who loves Sherlock Holmes and longs for a few new adventures from our favourite, flawed detective and his loyal aide.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I found the first story very much like the "Hound of the Baskervilles" and it just didn't catch my attention. But the other stories, the two I have read so far were much better. On the whole I like it but I still need to read the last. So far so good.
I have finished the stories in this book and have enjoyed them. They do sound very much as if they were written by Conan Doyle. I would recommend someone who likes Sherlock Holmes to read these as I think they would like to add to there collection.
Adding this after finishing the last story. The short stories were fine and better than the first story which I thought was too long, it could have been tightened up and just, as I said, to much like The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Initially I was going to rate it 4 stars, but the beast in the boat just seemed to push belief too far to fit the tale. The shorts were ok, but not special.