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The Watson Chronicles
As his twenty-year partnership with the detective Sherlock Holmes draws to a close, a vibrant, young foreign woman captures Dr. Watson’s heart, complicating his already-strained relationship with his old partner. But when she manages to befriend Sherlock’s unsociable brother Mycroft, Sherlock must discover the mystery behind her true intentions.
The Watson Chronicles is a novel in stories collected from Watson’s private writings, giving the reader a unique insight into the latter years of the relationship between the good doctor and the great detective.
,
The Watson Chronicles is a novel in stories collected from Watson’s private writings, giving the reader a unique insight into the latter years of the relationship between the good doctor and the great detective.
,
283 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2012
55 people want to read
About the author
Ann Margaret Lewis
22 books25 followersAnn Margaret Lewis began her writing career writing tie-in children’s books and short stories for DC Comics. She then published two editions of Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species for DelRey/Random House. Moving from licensed publishing, Ann began writing science fiction/fantasy, historical fiction, and Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Her first book, Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes was the Independent Book Publisher’s Award Winner for 2010 and a finalist for the Catholic Arts and Letters Award. She followed that with another Sherlock Holmes novel entitled The Watson Chronicles: A Sherlock Holmes Novel in Stories.
Her latest book, Warrior of the Kizan, is a space opera. And her work has appeared in the anthologies To Be Men (2019) and Luna (release 2020).
Her latest book, Warrior of the Kizan, is a space opera. And her work has appeared in the anthologies To Be Men (2019) and Luna (release 2020).
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 17, 2015
I discovered Sherlock Holmes in junior high, when The Hound of the Baskervilles was required reading. It wasn’t bad, as far as required reading went, and I faintly remember voluntarily reading a few books of Holmes mysteries in those years.
Fast forward to this summer, when I discovered, much to my chagrin, that one of the books hiding on my review shelf was a book of Holmes goodness by a modern writer who captured my imagination a few years ago.
Ann Margaret Lewis, in The Watson Chronicles: A Sherlock Holmes Novel in Stories (Gasogene Books, 2014), steps away from Holmes and focuses the attention on Watson.
And what a character she paints, while she’s weaving in the delightful mysteries throughout. Watson Chronicles is filled with masterful writing and expert storytelling. Lewis introduces new characters and has an overall story that ties the chapters—which all could be independent mysteries—together quite nicely.
Holmes works through some of his issues, we find out what a family man Watson is, and we meet another Holmes (who I’m quite fond of). There are wonderful pen-and-ink illustrations throughout.
This wasn’t just a good summer read, but a book to share and keep on the “gifts to give” list.
Fast forward to this summer, when I discovered, much to my chagrin, that one of the books hiding on my review shelf was a book of Holmes goodness by a modern writer who captured my imagination a few years ago.
Ann Margaret Lewis, in The Watson Chronicles: A Sherlock Holmes Novel in Stories (Gasogene Books, 2014), steps away from Holmes and focuses the attention on Watson.
And what a character she paints, while she’s weaving in the delightful mysteries throughout. Watson Chronicles is filled with masterful writing and expert storytelling. Lewis introduces new characters and has an overall story that ties the chapters—which all could be independent mysteries—together quite nicely.
Holmes works through some of his issues, we find out what a family man Watson is, and we meet another Holmes (who I’m quite fond of). There are wonderful pen-and-ink illustrations throughout.
This wasn’t just a good summer read, but a book to share and keep on the “gifts to give” list.
July 9, 2014
Short version: Best Sherlock Holmes Novel EVER. Period.
Long version:
For those of you who are suffering from a deficit of Sherlock, wondering why Robert Downy Jr. hasn't made another Sherlock Holmes film already, and the okay-Elementary isn't really cutting it, have we got something for you.
A while back, Ann Margaret Lewis wrote Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, in which she had the venerable detective come face to face with Pope Leo XIII, with a guest cleric named Father Brown. Holmes solved mysteries that Arthur Conan Doyle only hinted at in his books -- Sherlock fans will recognize the title of the short story "The Vatican Cameos."
And now, Madam Lewis tackles the next great task in filling the Sherlockian mysteries -- namely, giving Dr. Watson a personal life.
The premise: this book takes place in the latter years of Sherlock Holmes' career. He is about to move to Sussex and raise bees (a retirement he had been threatening for years), and Watson decides to go back into private practice (since he had given up his last practice to live off of his stories published in The Strand). Watson has a nervous landlord, a sickly partner, and a lovely upstairs neighbor. But, as with Jessica Fletcher, the bodies are soon hitting the floor, and Watson is drawn into international intrigue and murder, and requires the aid of not one but two Holmes brothers.
And that's just the first part of The Watson Chronicles: A Sherlock Holmes Novel in Stories. True, it's broken down into short story format, but it's a novel, plain and simple. It's written in such a fashion as to mirror the writing style and structure as Arthur Conan Doyle. And if you don't believe that she writes in his style, I tell you that even the paragraph structure reads like Arthur Conan Doyle.
A good chunk of this book is a romance. No, not written porn, in the modern sense. There are some elements of romantic comedy, mixed with some solid drama (real drama, not forced conflict for sake of drawing it out). We have a good, strong female romantic lead in the upstairs neighbor, Lucyna Modjeska -- Lucy, for short (and if you quibble with me because she doesn't throw a single punch or kick in the book, I will answer that it takes more strength to deal with both Holmes brothers than could be managed by Xena: Warrior Princess). Lucy is a bit of a saint, with all the flaws that implies. And if you don't think a saint can be flawed, read some of the lives of the saints sometimes; there is a reason the church says that saints are to be admired, not necessarily imitated. It becomes an interesting time having a Polish-American Catholic working with two British Anglicans. She is a great addition to this established cast of characters, and works well with all the moving parts involved.
Great line: "One way to impress a Catholic girl is to tell her that you met the pope."
One of the fun parts of this book -- and there are so many, it's hard to count -- is the way Lewis has the stories interact with "reality." Basically, Watson's a writer, and writers get feedback, whether they like it or not. There are some stories that are published years apart, and why is that? How does Watson deal with his own fans? That sort of thing. Lewis also addresses the little feature of how it was ten years between Holmes' death and resurrection in print, but only 3 years in the Holmes universe, leading to lines like "I'm so glad to know you're not dead."
And Mycroft Holmes gets his own murder mystery to solve. It's fun. Then again, Mycroft and Sherlock actually act like brothers, at one point one-upping each other. (Great line #2: "Holmes, you do not like women. Well, I don't like people.") And then there's the story of his time in Montenegro, which makes for an interesting nod to another overweight genius in detective fiction.
I'm trying to put into words just how much I like this book, and it's hard. It truly is. Especially since I don't want to come off as a fanboy. This book is so good, I'm almost sad that there is no sequel already planned and penned; though the ending makes for such a good conclusion to Lewis' Sherlock works, as well as the entire Holmes canon. I'm not exaggerating. With with Murder in the Vatican, I want to go back and reread all of these stories in order with the original Arthur Conan Doyle works, but I'm afraid that he will come out the worst for it. But if I do, The Watson Chronicles will be the last thing I read, just so I can end it all on a high note.
Okay, let's skip to the interesting part. Buy this book. Buy this book now. If you didn't buy Murder in the Vatican, what are you waiting for? Buy that too. While you're at it, buy a dozen other copies for your friends and family.
You want more reasons? Because Ann Lewis has taken every single hole left by Arthur Conan Doyle and filled it. Did you know that Watson had three wives because Doyle couldn't keep track of the names or who he had killed? Ann Lewis filled all of that in. Did you know that ACD couldn't remember if Watson had been shot in the leg or the shoulder? Lewis addresses that too.
You're going to read this book for every little character touch between Holmes, Watson, Lucy and Mycroft -- Mycroft, who is a major player in this book that he never was in actual Sherlock canon, and he has some of the best lines in this book, even when he's not recreating natural law. You're going to read this book for Dr. Watson's wedding being presided over by the "inscrutable" Father Brown, and to see almost every single case Sherlock Holmes has ever solved come back to him in one of the most tightly written, canon-filled and canon-filling books put on paper.
And you're going to read this book because it is one of the best, most touching, hilarious, heart warming, tear-jerking Sherlock Holmes novels ever written.
Stop reading this review, click on the link, and start reading. Go. Now. Don't just stare at the page, go.
Long version:
For those of you who are suffering from a deficit of Sherlock, wondering why Robert Downy Jr. hasn't made another Sherlock Holmes film already, and the okay-Elementary isn't really cutting it, have we got something for you.
A while back, Ann Margaret Lewis wrote Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, in which she had the venerable detective come face to face with Pope Leo XIII, with a guest cleric named Father Brown. Holmes solved mysteries that Arthur Conan Doyle only hinted at in his books -- Sherlock fans will recognize the title of the short story "The Vatican Cameos."
And now, Madam Lewis tackles the next great task in filling the Sherlockian mysteries -- namely, giving Dr. Watson a personal life.
The premise: this book takes place in the latter years of Sherlock Holmes' career. He is about to move to Sussex and raise bees (a retirement he had been threatening for years), and Watson decides to go back into private practice (since he had given up his last practice to live off of his stories published in The Strand). Watson has a nervous landlord, a sickly partner, and a lovely upstairs neighbor. But, as with Jessica Fletcher, the bodies are soon hitting the floor, and Watson is drawn into international intrigue and murder, and requires the aid of not one but two Holmes brothers.
And that's just the first part of The Watson Chronicles: A Sherlock Holmes Novel in Stories. True, it's broken down into short story format, but it's a novel, plain and simple. It's written in such a fashion as to mirror the writing style and structure as Arthur Conan Doyle. And if you don't believe that she writes in his style, I tell you that even the paragraph structure reads like Arthur Conan Doyle.
A good chunk of this book is a romance. No, not written porn, in the modern sense. There are some elements of romantic comedy, mixed with some solid drama (real drama, not forced conflict for sake of drawing it out). We have a good, strong female romantic lead in the upstairs neighbor, Lucyna Modjeska -- Lucy, for short (and if you quibble with me because she doesn't throw a single punch or kick in the book, I will answer that it takes more strength to deal with both Holmes brothers than could be managed by Xena: Warrior Princess). Lucy is a bit of a saint, with all the flaws that implies. And if you don't think a saint can be flawed, read some of the lives of the saints sometimes; there is a reason the church says that saints are to be admired, not necessarily imitated. It becomes an interesting time having a Polish-American Catholic working with two British Anglicans. She is a great addition to this established cast of characters, and works well with all the moving parts involved.
Great line: "One way to impress a Catholic girl is to tell her that you met the pope."
One of the fun parts of this book -- and there are so many, it's hard to count -- is the way Lewis has the stories interact with "reality." Basically, Watson's a writer, and writers get feedback, whether they like it or not. There are some stories that are published years apart, and why is that? How does Watson deal with his own fans? That sort of thing. Lewis also addresses the little feature of how it was ten years between Holmes' death and resurrection in print, but only 3 years in the Holmes universe, leading to lines like "I'm so glad to know you're not dead."
And Mycroft Holmes gets his own murder mystery to solve. It's fun. Then again, Mycroft and Sherlock actually act like brothers, at one point one-upping each other. (Great line #2: "Holmes, you do not like women. Well, I don't like people.") And then there's the story of his time in Montenegro, which makes for an interesting nod to another overweight genius in detective fiction.
I'm trying to put into words just how much I like this book, and it's hard. It truly is. Especially since I don't want to come off as a fanboy. This book is so good, I'm almost sad that there is no sequel already planned and penned; though the ending makes for such a good conclusion to Lewis' Sherlock works, as well as the entire Holmes canon. I'm not exaggerating. With with Murder in the Vatican, I want to go back and reread all of these stories in order with the original Arthur Conan Doyle works, but I'm afraid that he will come out the worst for it. But if I do, The Watson Chronicles will be the last thing I read, just so I can end it all on a high note.
Okay, let's skip to the interesting part. Buy this book. Buy this book now. If you didn't buy Murder in the Vatican, what are you waiting for? Buy that too. While you're at it, buy a dozen other copies for your friends and family.
You want more reasons? Because Ann Lewis has taken every single hole left by Arthur Conan Doyle and filled it. Did you know that Watson had three wives because Doyle couldn't keep track of the names or who he had killed? Ann Lewis filled all of that in. Did you know that ACD couldn't remember if Watson had been shot in the leg or the shoulder? Lewis addresses that too.
You're going to read this book for every little character touch between Holmes, Watson, Lucy and Mycroft -- Mycroft, who is a major player in this book that he never was in actual Sherlock canon, and he has some of the best lines in this book, even when he's not recreating natural law. You're going to read this book for Dr. Watson's wedding being presided over by the "inscrutable" Father Brown, and to see almost every single case Sherlock Holmes has ever solved come back to him in one of the most tightly written, canon-filled and canon-filling books put on paper.
And you're going to read this book because it is one of the best, most touching, hilarious, heart warming, tear-jerking Sherlock Holmes novels ever written.
Stop reading this review, click on the link, and start reading. Go. Now. Don't just stare at the page, go.
August 26, 2016
I need to first start by stating I do not read a lot of mysteries these days. When I was younger I went through phases of reading mysteries mostly Robert B. Parker and Agatha Christie, but a smattering of others that came across my desk. But this wonderful book is more than just a mystery. This book is in part biography, part mystery but it is also the story of a relationship and a great friendship. The book is written as a private journal of Dr. John H. Watson, as in his own words he writes to understand, for in conversing with Holmes in the prologue ""I write here in my private journal for the same reason I write about
you," I said. "To understand."! And to be honest that is why I read, to understand others and understand myself better.
This book was a wonderful little read. I really enjoyed the way it was telling the chronology, of Watson's story but woven in and around memories of certain cases. There is also extensive involvement with Sherlock and his brother Mycroft. The is a wonderful young woman named Lucyna - Lucy Modjeska who plays a critical roll in the story and in a specific case. Lucy is a devote catholic and he faith has some influence on the three main men in this book, Watson, Holmes and Mycroft.
Ann Lewis has written a wonderful book, using characters we know, and staying true to their personalities. In many ways this book is like visiting old friends after a long absence. We pick up with Holmes and Watson and see them later in life. Holmes is preparing to retire, Watson has extended his practice and well Mycroft is Mycroft. This story was engrossing and entertaining. To be honest it left me wondering what happens next. I want volume 2 of the Watson Chronicles. And hope that someday Lewis will deliver it.
The book has some wonderful illustrations by Rikki Niehaus. There are not a lot of them but they are very well done and reminded me of illustrations in the Sherlock Holmes books that I read as a child.
This book won the Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval in 2013. And Adding my own praise I can state it is a wonderful fiction read. It is a great fiction story and the Catholic faith elements while subtle add a religious element to the story. I greatly enjoyed this read and to be honest am looking forward to sharing it with my father and being able to discuss the story. Overall I can highly recommend this book and look forward to reading Murder in the Vatican and hopefully soon more books from Ann.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
you," I said. "To understand."! And to be honest that is why I read, to understand others and understand myself better.
This book was a wonderful little read. I really enjoyed the way it was telling the chronology, of Watson's story but woven in and around memories of certain cases. There is also extensive involvement with Sherlock and his brother Mycroft. The is a wonderful young woman named Lucyna - Lucy Modjeska who plays a critical roll in the story and in a specific case. Lucy is a devote catholic and he faith has some influence on the three main men in this book, Watson, Holmes and Mycroft.
Ann Lewis has written a wonderful book, using characters we know, and staying true to their personalities. In many ways this book is like visiting old friends after a long absence. We pick up with Holmes and Watson and see them later in life. Holmes is preparing to retire, Watson has extended his practice and well Mycroft is Mycroft. This story was engrossing and entertaining. To be honest it left me wondering what happens next. I want volume 2 of the Watson Chronicles. And hope that someday Lewis will deliver it.
The book has some wonderful illustrations by Rikki Niehaus. There are not a lot of them but they are very well done and reminded me of illustrations in the Sherlock Holmes books that I read as a child.
This book won the Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval in 2013. And Adding my own praise I can state it is a wonderful fiction read. It is a great fiction story and the Catholic faith elements while subtle add a religious element to the story. I greatly enjoyed this read and to be honest am looking forward to sharing it with my father and being able to discuss the story. Overall I can highly recommend this book and look forward to reading Murder in the Vatican and hopefully soon more books from Ann.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
July 28, 2017
An excellent book less focused on mysteries than the original Sherlock Holmes stories, though there are several of those, too. This is a more character-driven story of the relationships between Sherlock, Watson, Mycroft Holmes, and the lovely Lucyna Modjeska, a Polish soprano who lives upstairs from Dr. Watson after he moves out of Baker Street. It's a story rich with humor and grace, both in the events and in the writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 31, 2018
Great book! Though I liked Murder in the Vatican better, perhaps.
August 23, 2014
Yes! It made this tough Jersey gal cry. That is the magic and talent of author Ann Margaret Lewis. In this, her latest novel, she weaves a tale of Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson as their detecting days are waning. John Watson has found a wonderful love who learns to share his friendship of the taciturn Holmes brothers. The setting is London, but the plot, dialogue, and prose is anything but foggy. I became lost in the pages of this book, missing all of my favorite TV shows, ignoring my husband, and letting the phone calls go to voice mail.
I cannot put this book into a genre. It is a romance. It is a mystery. It is historical. It is definitely spiritual. And yes, it bound to remain on my bookshelf as one of my favorite works. It is full of so many memorable lines that I had a hard time picking my favorite.
“I speak of charity in terms of the Latin ‘caritas.’ You may postulate that caritas is sentiment, an irrational emotion. And before that day I would have agreed with you. But considering Miss Lucy’s response and her actions to that point, I came to understand that charity – or, in fact, all love – is not irrational, but a rational choice; an act of the will.” pg. 119
It is a tender romance. We are moved by the attraction of the older Dr. Watson to the younger woman who lives upstairs. We follow as the attraction grows from physical attraction to a deep respect and appreciation of the spirit shared between these two characters. It is a mature, kind love that, as with most real loves, cannot be contained to just the two main lovers. The light of that love glows on all around them, but especially on Mycroft Holmes.
It is a fast-paced book of mysteries. Lewis draws us from one mystery to another tantalizing us with the wit and genus of the classic Sherlock Holmes and the characters we have learned to enjoy. Using the sharp minds and talents of the Holmes brothers we treated to logical and scientific brilliance that uses minor clues and observations to unravel the deepest mysteries. I was kept awake on more then one night until the crime was solved.
It is uniquely historical. The tale leads the reader into London at the turn of the twentieth century. Without skipping a beat, Lewis seamlessly pulls us into the language, culture, and scenes of a gentile moment in history. We are introduced to the Scottish culture through the history of the kilt of Dr. Watson, Polish culture through the culinary treats and Christmas traditions of Miss Lucy, and even get a dose of Russian culture through minor characters.
It is a spiritual work of the finest quality. With the introduction of Watson’s new love, we meet a devout Catholic. Miss Lucyna Modjeska is not just a Catholic in form. She embodies the very spirit of Christianity and Catholicism. Miss Lucy’s introduction to the three men transforms them. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, and Mycroft Holmes are changed. It is not by argument, evangelization, or Bible thumping that she brings the love of Christ into the rational, scientific minds of these characters. They are transformed by the pure Christian actions, thoughts, and spirit of this young talented woman. And as Lewis pulls the plot together, she gently ties the work with a tender and lovingly emotional ending. And yes, it made me cry!
I cannot put this book into a genre. It is a romance. It is a mystery. It is historical. It is definitely spiritual. And yes, it bound to remain on my bookshelf as one of my favorite works. It is full of so many memorable lines that I had a hard time picking my favorite.
“I speak of charity in terms of the Latin ‘caritas.’ You may postulate that caritas is sentiment, an irrational emotion. And before that day I would have agreed with you. But considering Miss Lucy’s response and her actions to that point, I came to understand that charity – or, in fact, all love – is not irrational, but a rational choice; an act of the will.” pg. 119
It is a tender romance. We are moved by the attraction of the older Dr. Watson to the younger woman who lives upstairs. We follow as the attraction grows from physical attraction to a deep respect and appreciation of the spirit shared between these two characters. It is a mature, kind love that, as with most real loves, cannot be contained to just the two main lovers. The light of that love glows on all around them, but especially on Mycroft Holmes.
It is a fast-paced book of mysteries. Lewis draws us from one mystery to another tantalizing us with the wit and genus of the classic Sherlock Holmes and the characters we have learned to enjoy. Using the sharp minds and talents of the Holmes brothers we treated to logical and scientific brilliance that uses minor clues and observations to unravel the deepest mysteries. I was kept awake on more then one night until the crime was solved.
It is uniquely historical. The tale leads the reader into London at the turn of the twentieth century. Without skipping a beat, Lewis seamlessly pulls us into the language, culture, and scenes of a gentile moment in history. We are introduced to the Scottish culture through the history of the kilt of Dr. Watson, Polish culture through the culinary treats and Christmas traditions of Miss Lucy, and even get a dose of Russian culture through minor characters.
It is a spiritual work of the finest quality. With the introduction of Watson’s new love, we meet a devout Catholic. Miss Lucyna Modjeska is not just a Catholic in form. She embodies the very spirit of Christianity and Catholicism. Miss Lucy’s introduction to the three men transforms them. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, and Mycroft Holmes are changed. It is not by argument, evangelization, or Bible thumping that she brings the love of Christ into the rational, scientific minds of these characters. They are transformed by the pure Christian actions, thoughts, and spirit of this young talented woman. And as Lewis pulls the plot together, she gently ties the work with a tender and lovingly emotional ending. And yes, it made me cry!
August 23, 2015
"Holmes turned the platter, inspecting the plum pudding as he would a cadaver at a crime scene."
It's challenge enough for a writer to find his or her own voice; it's even harder for an author to match her voice to another's. Especially when you get into the nerdy world of Sherlock Holmes fans, which is a cult with an obsession rivaling that of Trekkies.
In The Watson Chronicles, sequel to her earlier work Murder in the Vatican, Ann succeeds in matching style and voice to Arthur Conan Doyle's originals, while bringing a fresh perspective to the beloved character of Watson.
Perhaps my best part of The Watson Chronicles is Ann's ability to reach past Sherlock's veneer of misogyny and misanthropy. Through Lucy's feminine perception, we readers are given a masterful psychological insight into the famous detective. The end result is a compelling humanization of both Sherlock and Mycroft.
Watson, however, is the central character to these stories, a well-deserved tribute to a man who is far more than Holmes's sidekick. The good doctor is here in all his strength and kindness, learning to love again when he meets a Polish Catholic opera soprano. Lucy is a vibrant woman, full of faith and love, although amusingly scatterbrained.
The key theme of the whole book is friendship; indeed, friendship is the gear turning each part of the plot. Through friendship with Lucy, each of the three men close to her are brought closer to each other and towards faith, though in different ways. The character developments, and the influence of Lucy, are believable because Ann is able to delve into each individual as a whole person, not merely a personality.
Beyond the psychological and spiritual, it's a darned good set of mysteries! Ann was able to bring her own knowledge of music and culture to the book, plus a boatload of research, so the stories ring true in every respect.
Definitely worth a read, whether you like Holmes, mysteries, or just good fiction!
"I swear to you, on my honor as a gentleman, that if you grant this one small mercy upon her, it will not be so long before you and I speak again." - Watson
It's challenge enough for a writer to find his or her own voice; it's even harder for an author to match her voice to another's. Especially when you get into the nerdy world of Sherlock Holmes fans, which is a cult with an obsession rivaling that of Trekkies.
In The Watson Chronicles, sequel to her earlier work Murder in the Vatican, Ann succeeds in matching style and voice to Arthur Conan Doyle's originals, while bringing a fresh perspective to the beloved character of Watson.
Perhaps my best part of The Watson Chronicles is Ann's ability to reach past Sherlock's veneer of misogyny and misanthropy. Through Lucy's feminine perception, we readers are given a masterful psychological insight into the famous detective. The end result is a compelling humanization of both Sherlock and Mycroft.
Watson, however, is the central character to these stories, a well-deserved tribute to a man who is far more than Holmes's sidekick. The good doctor is here in all his strength and kindness, learning to love again when he meets a Polish Catholic opera soprano. Lucy is a vibrant woman, full of faith and love, although amusingly scatterbrained.
The key theme of the whole book is friendship; indeed, friendship is the gear turning each part of the plot. Through friendship with Lucy, each of the three men close to her are brought closer to each other and towards faith, though in different ways. The character developments, and the influence of Lucy, are believable because Ann is able to delve into each individual as a whole person, not merely a personality.
Beyond the psychological and spiritual, it's a darned good set of mysteries! Ann was able to bring her own knowledge of music and culture to the book, plus a boatload of research, so the stories ring true in every respect.
Definitely worth a read, whether you like Holmes, mysteries, or just good fiction!
"I swear to you, on my honor as a gentleman, that if you grant this one small mercy upon her, it will not be so long before you and I speak again." - Watson
October 19, 2020
An excellent follow-up to Ann Margaret Lewis's first Sherlock Holmes novel, "Murder in the Vatican!" Lewis gives us deeper insight into the mind of Watson, after a life of friendship and experience with Sherlock. The mysteries are sophisticated, and Lewis's prose is clever and elevated--a joy for any fan of Sherlock and Watson!
July 11, 2014
Amazing look at the life of Holmes right before his retirement to Sussex to raise bees. Ms. Lewis has truly mastered Conan Doyle's style and voice, while introducing elements that are wholly original.
Read this!
Read this!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews