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Irregular Detective Mysteries #1
The Isolated Séance
7 hours, 30 minutes
Watch out, Sherlock! Introducing one-time Baker Street Irregular Timothy Badger and his partner-in-crime Benjamin Watson, two exciting and unconventional young consulting detectives, mentored by the great man himself, tackling intriguing and unusual cases in Victorian London with endearing verve and wit.
Sherlock Holmes's protégés Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson are catapulted into a tricky first case when a man is brutally murdered during a séance.
London, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, by opening his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. The intrepid duo are ready to make a name for themselves . . . if only they had clients!
Their luck changes when Sherlock recommends his protégés to Thomas Brent. Brent is eager to find out who killed his master, Horace Quinn, during a séance at Quinn's house. What was Quinn desperately trying to find out from his deceased business partner, Stephen Latimer, before he was stabbed through the heart?
It seems that everyone in Quinn's household had a reason to want him dead. Can Tim and Benjamin step out of Sherlock's shadow to navigate dark secrets and unexpected dangers in their pursuit of a cold-blooded killer?
Watch out, Sherlock! Introducing one-time Baker Street Irregular Timothy Badger and his partner-in-crime Benjamin Watson, two exciting and unconventional young consulting detectives, mentored by the great man himself, tackling intriguing and unusual cases in Victorian London with endearing verve and wit.
Sherlock Holmes's protégés Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson are catapulted into a tricky first case when a man is brutally murdered during a séance.
London, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, by opening his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. The intrepid duo are ready to make a name for themselves . . . if only they had clients!
Their luck changes when Sherlock recommends his protégés to Thomas Brent. Brent is eager to find out who killed his master, Horace Quinn, during a séance at Quinn's house. What was Quinn desperately trying to find out from his deceased business partner, Stephen Latimer, before he was stabbed through the heart?
It seems that everyone in Quinn's household had a reason to want him dead. Can Tim and Benjamin step out of Sherlock's shadow to navigate dark secrets and unexpected dangers in their pursuit of a cold-blooded killer?
8 pages, Audiobook
First published June 6, 2023
37 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Jeri Westerson
51 books430 followersLos Angeles native JERI WESTERSON currently writes two new series: a Tudor mystery series, the King’s Fool Mysteries, with Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth and a Sherlockian pastiche series called An Irregular Detective Mystery, with one of Holmes’ former Baker Street Irregulars opening his own detective agency. She’s also written fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated for thirteen awards from the Agatha, to the Macavity, to the Shamus. She’s written several paranormal series (including a gaslamp-steampunk fantasy series), standalone historical novels, and had stories in several anthologies, the latest of which was included in SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR, an Akashic Noir anthology. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), and is also a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com for discussion guides, book trailers, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
March 1, 2025
Prolific author, Jeri Westerson has begun a new series of books set in Victorian times and follows newly established detectives Timothy Badger and Ben Watson. What makes these two unique is that Badger formerly was part of Sherlock Holmes Baker Street Irregulars, and Watson is a black former chemist. Sherlock makes a few token appearances to help Badger establish the agency, but it is Badger and Watson that must solve the case of a man who was killed during a seance when the lights went out and when they came on the decedent was found with a knife in his heart. His servant is the key suspect and he hires these two to help find the real murderer. We have a well plotted mystery, with characters who are well developed and each of whom have a reason to want to have killed the gentleman. Lots of good characters who may very well appear in the future books in this series, this makes it a series that I want to follow and I think you will like it too!! My biggest criticism is that early on I could figure out the killer/killers but again, for the first book in the series I really enjoyed this read! A solid 3.5***
April 3, 2023
Like many a reader, I fell in love with the Sherlock Holmes stories in my early teens and have remained a fan ever since. I can happily reread the original stories, but I also like discovering new riffs on Holmes. The Isolated Séance is a new entry in the riff category, the first volume in a series featuring one of Holmes' Baker Street Irregulars and a friend who have decided to become private detectives themselves.
The Baker Street Irregular, now in his early 20s, is Tim Badger, who raised himself on the streets of London after his mother's disappearance. He's devoted to Holmes' process of deduction, but prone to acting on a whim and coming to conclusions without full information. Badger's partner is Ben Watson, a young Black man who has held a number of different jobs, his favorite being working as a chemist's assistant. The reader is given less information about this Watson than about Badger. Who are his parents? Are they still living? What has led him to his many different types of employment? How did he and Badger meet?
At the novel's start, Badger and Watson share an apartment in an unsalubrious London neighborhood, and have had little opportunity to work as the private detectives they hope to become. They're approached by a Thomas Brent, a servant whose master, a Mr. Quinn, was murdered during a seance. The room went dark, a strange mist appeared, and when the room's lamp was relighted, Quinn was found with a letter opener sticking out from his chest. Now Brent is accused of the murder and wants his name cleared.
Brent has come to Badger and Watson as a second choice. He first approached Holmes, who was too busy to take on an addition case, but who recommended Brent try this pair of young detectives. Brent is disheveled from being on the run, but Badger and Watson appear to be in no better state. Nonetheless, Brent hires the two, giving them his four remaining ha'pennies and Badger and Watson do solve the mystery—that's the way the genre works.
I have two complaints regarding The Isolated Séance. First, Badger and Watson tell those they approach that they are working in cooperation with the police, which seems like a claim that could get them in a great deal of trouble, but doesn't. I can, however, embrace their successes through my own willing suspension of disbelief. My second complaint regards the lack of correct identification of asphyxiation as evidenced (or as it should have been evidenced) by petechial haemorrhaging. I'm being a fuss budget, but there you have it: I expect mystery novels to reflect the scientific knowledge of the time in which they're set.
All in all, though, I have to say that I enjoyed The Isolated Séance a great deal. I'm curious to learn more about Badger and (particularly) Watson and to observe the development of their relationship with Holmes. These are characters I would willingly spend more time with.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.
The Baker Street Irregular, now in his early 20s, is Tim Badger, who raised himself on the streets of London after his mother's disappearance. He's devoted to Holmes' process of deduction, but prone to acting on a whim and coming to conclusions without full information. Badger's partner is Ben Watson, a young Black man who has held a number of different jobs, his favorite being working as a chemist's assistant. The reader is given less information about this Watson than about Badger. Who are his parents? Are they still living? What has led him to his many different types of employment? How did he and Badger meet?
At the novel's start, Badger and Watson share an apartment in an unsalubrious London neighborhood, and have had little opportunity to work as the private detectives they hope to become. They're approached by a Thomas Brent, a servant whose master, a Mr. Quinn, was murdered during a seance. The room went dark, a strange mist appeared, and when the room's lamp was relighted, Quinn was found with a letter opener sticking out from his chest. Now Brent is accused of the murder and wants his name cleared.
Brent has come to Badger and Watson as a second choice. He first approached Holmes, who was too busy to take on an addition case, but who recommended Brent try this pair of young detectives. Brent is disheveled from being on the run, but Badger and Watson appear to be in no better state. Nonetheless, Brent hires the two, giving them his four remaining ha'pennies and Badger and Watson do solve the mystery—that's the way the genre works.
I have two complaints regarding The Isolated Séance. First, Badger and Watson tell those they approach that they are working in cooperation with the police, which seems like a claim that could get them in a great deal of trouble, but doesn't. I can, however, embrace their successes through my own willing suspension of disbelief. My second complaint regards the lack of correct identification of asphyxiation as evidenced (or as it should have been evidenced) by petechial haemorrhaging. I'm being a fuss budget, but there you have it: I expect mystery novels to reflect the scientific knowledge of the time in which they're set.
All in all, though, I have to say that I enjoyed The Isolated Séance a great deal. I'm curious to learn more about Badger and (particularly) Watson and to observe the development of their relationship with Holmes. These are characters I would willingly spend more time with.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.
September 9, 2023
Tim Badger, one of Sherlock Holmes' Baker Street Irregulars, now grown to manhood, sets up a detective agency with his friend Benjamin Watson, a young, smart man whose attempts at getting ahead have been thwarted by racial prejudice. Hired by the leading suspect to investigate the death of a man at a seance, the two are helped by Holmes himself, and reminded to use his methods to find the real criminal. They are dogged by a young woman reporter, who proves almost too attractive to the susceptible Badger.
May 9, 2023
A Sherlock Holmes pastiche with an original twist; one of the Baker Street Irregulars is all grown up and setting himself up as a private detective, along with the aptly named Watson as his partner. Victorian London is marvelously recreated with all its flaws, faults, and dangers. Timothy Badger and Benjamin Watson receive help from Holmes, who sets them up in better lodgings and watches them while in disguise, nudging them in the right direction as needed. It is great fun following the mystery as well as the development of these intriguing characters. Waiting for the next one!
March 26, 2024
This is a light and entertaining read, with likable leads. Badger and Watson are both fun, and their friendship is undoubtedly the best part of the book. Another great element is their discomfort with their newfound prosperity and seeing how quickly they adjusted to some things but not to others as they moved between various social classes. I did have a little trouble discerning the tone at first, as it felt very Young Adult, while the leads and content were clearly older. Once I accepted this incongruity, however, I settled in and enjoyed the adventure!
My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2023
I've always enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, and books inspired by the characters. I was looking forward to reading this book and I absolutely was not disappointed. Badger and Ben are characters with a great dynamic, and are written well enough that I felt like I know them by the time I was half way through the book. They are complex and well-rounded, and absolutely engaging as characters. They are looking to solve a murder, and the story has several twists, all of which felt organic and fluid in terms of how the story flows and the pacing. One of my favorite things about the writing style of the author is how natural the dialogue is, and paired with the myriad of small details used for setting and characters, it brings the story to life. From facial expressions, to small gestures, to details on clothing and room, all these small details that show what the characters are, rather than relying on a narrative to just tell the reader, always makes me feel like I'm on a discovery to learn about the character as I read, and the more the story progresses, the more I feel connected to the characters. I truly found this hard to put down, it was engaging and fun.
January 9, 2025
4.5 I quite enjoyed this. I'm looking forward to the next one. Full RTC
September 13, 2023
The Game is a Foot
If you are fan of mystery and Sherlock Holmes then the Isolated Seance will be your cup of tea. I found myself totally engrossed in the mystery and the very capable students of Holmes & Watson, Mr. Tim Badger and Mr. Ben Watson. Jeri Westerson has a real knack for story telling in the Victorian voice which keep me interested Badger & Watson’s adventure.
If you are fan of mystery and Sherlock Holmes then the Isolated Seance will be your cup of tea. I found myself totally engrossed in the mystery and the very capable students of Holmes & Watson, Mr. Tim Badger and Mr. Ben Watson. Jeri Westerson has a real knack for story telling in the Victorian voice which keep me interested Badger & Watson’s adventure.
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April 16, 2024tl;dr
A well-paced Victorian mystery that pays faithful homage to the Sherlock Holmes canon while introducing new characters. The young leads still have a lot to learn, leaving some of the solutions to feel more like luck than skill.
Thoughts
The author's notes briefly touch on the myriad Sherlock Holmes spinoffs that introduce new family members, include robot dinosaurs, or have him wake up in the 22nd century. To my pride/shame, I have seen all of those adaptations. And I am as surprised as the author that so few of them touch on the beloved Baker Street Irregulars (For completeness' sake, I will note I've seen the short-lived Netflix series "The Irregulars," but that one leaned very hard into supernatural elements and less into crime solving). And so I was delighted to see the start of a new series featuring Timothy Badger, a former irregular who was inspired to follow in Holmes' footsteps and become a private detective. His partner in crime solving is Benjamin Watson (no relation), a brilliant young man with a varied work history and the skills to show for it. Holmes believes in them enough that he's decided to sponsor them, and he's even sent them their first case - a complicated problem involving a man murdered in the dark of a seance.
This first book reads a lot like a pilot episode. The mystery is a tight one with a clean solution. Clues and reveals lead to more clues and reveals, with each piece fitting into the others very nicely. Our two leads still have the proverbial training wheels on, though. Holmes has to give them a hint more than once, and more reveals come from listening at the right time rather than the art of deduction. A few brief discussions about the racism, classism, and sexism common to this era don't come to any particular conclusion. The inclusion of a somewhat grating reporter (who's set up to maybe become a friend eventually) is also a point of frustration. The pilot-like feel of this book makes it a hard one to review on its own. There's a very purposeful "more to come" ending (despite it not being a cliffhanger), that makes this reader feel very dissatisfied. But it seems to be working, since I will definitely be tuning in for the next installment.
EDIT: I've read the second book now, and I like it. Check out my full review here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A well-paced Victorian mystery that pays faithful homage to the Sherlock Holmes canon while introducing new characters. The young leads still have a lot to learn, leaving some of the solutions to feel more like luck than skill.
Thoughts
The author's notes briefly touch on the myriad Sherlock Holmes spinoffs that introduce new family members, include robot dinosaurs, or have him wake up in the 22nd century. To my pride/shame, I have seen all of those adaptations. And I am as surprised as the author that so few of them touch on the beloved Baker Street Irregulars (For completeness' sake, I will note I've seen the short-lived Netflix series "The Irregulars," but that one leaned very hard into supernatural elements and less into crime solving). And so I was delighted to see the start of a new series featuring Timothy Badger, a former irregular who was inspired to follow in Holmes' footsteps and become a private detective. His partner in crime solving is Benjamin Watson (no relation), a brilliant young man with a varied work history and the skills to show for it. Holmes believes in them enough that he's decided to sponsor them, and he's even sent them their first case - a complicated problem involving a man murdered in the dark of a seance.
This first book reads a lot like a pilot episode. The mystery is a tight one with a clean solution. Clues and reveals lead to more clues and reveals, with each piece fitting into the others very nicely. Our two leads still have the proverbial training wheels on, though. Holmes has to give them a hint more than once, and more reveals come from listening at the right time rather than the art of deduction. A few brief discussions about the racism, classism, and sexism common to this era don't come to any particular conclusion. The inclusion of a somewhat grating reporter (who's set up to maybe become a friend eventually) is also a point of frustration. The pilot-like feel of this book makes it a hard one to review on its own. There's a very purposeful "more to come" ending (despite it not being a cliffhanger), that makes this reader feel very dissatisfied. But it seems to be working, since I will definitely be tuning in for the next installment.
EDIT: I've read the second book now, and I like it. Check out my full review here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
June 10, 2023
3'5 ⭐ YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
Soy una gran fan de todo lo relacionado con Sherlock Holmes, de modo que cuando llegó a mis oídos la existencia de este libro, protagonizado por uno de los antiguos Irregulares de Baker Street reconvertido en detective, supe que tenía que leerlo.
Reconozco que al principio me costó un poco entrar en la historia, creo que principalmente porque lo he leído en inglés y el origen de los personajes principales es humilde, por lo que había mucha jerga que no acababa de entender, porque no se trata solo de jerga de los bajos fondos, sino de los bajos fondos de la época victoriana, que, a ver, no es algo que tenga por la mano. Ojalá haber descubierto antes el glosario (no sé por qué siempre lo ponen al final, si no advierten, yo no sé que está ahí), pero bueno, logré acostumbrarme y a partir de ese momento, me metí de lleno en la historia.
Debo decir que en general he disfrutado mucho de la historia, tanto de la trama de misterio, que me ha parecido bien construida y entretenida, como de los personajes. Las apariciones puntuales de Sherlock me han encantado, por supuesto, pero nuestro Irregular (Tom) también me ha parecido un personaje bastante bien definido: huérfano, orígenes humildes, admirador ferviente de Holmes y de su método, que intenta aplicar, pero aún un pelín demasiado impulsivo y verde como para obtener los mismos resultados que su maestro (quien, no obstante, tiene mucha fe en él).
Y nuestro Irregular está acompañado de su Watson particular, personaje que, a pesar de ser la mitad del dúo detectivesco protagonista, sigue rodeado de bastante misterio. Lo conocemos bastante menos que a Tom. ¿Tiene alguna relación directa con el Watson de Holmes? No lo sabemos, pero teniendo en cuenta que es un hombre negro en el Londres de aquellos años, y teniendo en cuenta lo poco que se nos cuenta de su vida, que parece haber sido interesante hasta el momento, la verdad es que me genera mucha curiosidad. Supongo que será un misterio que irán resolviendo poco a poco en los siguientes libros. Además, por sus circunstancias, es más serio y más cauto, lo cual crea un contraste necesario con Tom.
También tenemos un personaje femenino bastante interesante (aunque frustrante al principio), una periodista que creo que acabará dando pie a una dinámica romántica en las siguientes entregas y que me ha creado curiosidad en ese sentido, en el de ir viendo cómo se desarrolla su relación con Tom.
El misterio también engancha, da unas cuantas vueltas pero te mantiene atrapado por lo mucho que se juegan los protagonistas: su reputación como detectives y la posibilidad (sobre todo económica) de poder seguir siéndolo.
En definitiva, una primera parte de saga bastante sólida cuyos personajes consiguen que quieras seguir leyendo las futuras entregas para saber más sobre ellos. Además, la ambientación en el Londres victoriano y las esporádicas apariciones de Holmes son un puntazo.
Soy una gran fan de todo lo relacionado con Sherlock Holmes, de modo que cuando llegó a mis oídos la existencia de este libro, protagonizado por uno de los antiguos Irregulares de Baker Street reconvertido en detective, supe que tenía que leerlo.
Reconozco que al principio me costó un poco entrar en la historia, creo que principalmente porque lo he leído en inglés y el origen de los personajes principales es humilde, por lo que había mucha jerga que no acababa de entender, porque no se trata solo de jerga de los bajos fondos, sino de los bajos fondos de la época victoriana, que, a ver, no es algo que tenga por la mano. Ojalá haber descubierto antes el glosario (no sé por qué siempre lo ponen al final, si no advierten, yo no sé que está ahí), pero bueno, logré acostumbrarme y a partir de ese momento, me metí de lleno en la historia.
Debo decir que en general he disfrutado mucho de la historia, tanto de la trama de misterio, que me ha parecido bien construida y entretenida, como de los personajes. Las apariciones puntuales de Sherlock me han encantado, por supuesto, pero nuestro Irregular (Tom) también me ha parecido un personaje bastante bien definido: huérfano, orígenes humildes, admirador ferviente de Holmes y de su método, que intenta aplicar, pero aún un pelín demasiado impulsivo y verde como para obtener los mismos resultados que su maestro (quien, no obstante, tiene mucha fe en él).
Y nuestro Irregular está acompañado de su Watson particular, personaje que, a pesar de ser la mitad del dúo detectivesco protagonista, sigue rodeado de bastante misterio. Lo conocemos bastante menos que a Tom. ¿Tiene alguna relación directa con el Watson de Holmes? No lo sabemos, pero teniendo en cuenta que es un hombre negro en el Londres de aquellos años, y teniendo en cuenta lo poco que se nos cuenta de su vida, que parece haber sido interesante hasta el momento, la verdad es que me genera mucha curiosidad. Supongo que será un misterio que irán resolviendo poco a poco en los siguientes libros. Además, por sus circunstancias, es más serio y más cauto, lo cual crea un contraste necesario con Tom.
También tenemos un personaje femenino bastante interesante (aunque frustrante al principio), una periodista que creo que acabará dando pie a una dinámica romántica en las siguientes entregas y que me ha creado curiosidad en ese sentido, en el de ir viendo cómo se desarrolla su relación con Tom.
El misterio también engancha, da unas cuantas vueltas pero te mantiene atrapado por lo mucho que se juegan los protagonistas: su reputación como detectives y la posibilidad (sobre todo económica) de poder seguir siéndolo.
En definitiva, una primera parte de saga bastante sólida cuyos personajes consiguen que quieras seguir leyendo las futuras entregas para saber más sobre ellos. Además, la ambientación en el Londres victoriano y las esporádicas apariciones de Holmes son un puntazo.
June 4, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I adore the Sherlock Holmes stories so when I had the opportunity to read a spin-off story featuring former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger and his friend Benjamin Watson, how could I possibly resist?
Badger and Watson are struggling to get their detection business off the ground. The fact that they are both from the lower classes does not help matters. When they’re approached by Thomas Brent and asked to find proof that Thomas didn’t murder his master Horace Quinn during a séance is an opportunity too good to reject.
Initially, their investigation is riddled with obstacles and even puts Badger in jail. But, not to worry because Holmes comes to the rescue. He gets Badger out of prison and sets the two youngsters up in more respectable quarters and a small budget. Their improved circumstances provide them with a better opportunity to conduct their investigation into what turns out to be a baffling mystery.
As for the actual crime, it is a classic case of a small and closed circle of suspects, none of whom appear to have an obvious motive at first sight. The investigation goes back and forth, the focus shifting as they move along until, eventually, they reach the surprising yet satisfying conclusion.
This story is filled with well-portrayed and interesting characters. Badger and Watson are great fun. Their friendship runs deep, and their interactions are at times laugh-out-loud funny. I loved Watson’s struggle with his improved circumstances and how to conduct himself in this new situation. I appreciate that he is black. It’s not a main thread in the plot but it does, of course, play a role in how he moves around London.
Sherlock Holmes appears in the story enough to maintain his connection with the story and its protagonists while never really imposing himself on the investigation. I love the idea of Holmes as a mentor to two ambitious young men. And enjoyed his appearances on the page whenever they happened.
I had my reservations about Ellsie Littleton, newspaper reporter, but once she stopped being insufferable and thoughtless about what she reported, I warmed to her a little. Having said that, I agree with Benjamin Watson when he has his reservations both about Badger’s infatuation with the young, upper-class woman. I also agree with him that allowing her a role in future investigations may cause issues. Let’s just say the jury is still out when it comes to Ellsie.
To summarise The Isolated Séance is a delightful mystery! Badger and Watson are adorable in their ambition to emulate Sherlock Holmes and his methods of detection and great fun in their interactions with each other and the rest of the world. The actual mystery was baffling enough to keep me on my toes and the solution was both satisfying and fair.
I adore the Sherlock Holmes stories so when I had the opportunity to read a spin-off story featuring former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger and his friend Benjamin Watson, how could I possibly resist?
Badger and Watson are struggling to get their detection business off the ground. The fact that they are both from the lower classes does not help matters. When they’re approached by Thomas Brent and asked to find proof that Thomas didn’t murder his master Horace Quinn during a séance is an opportunity too good to reject.
Initially, their investigation is riddled with obstacles and even puts Badger in jail. But, not to worry because Holmes comes to the rescue. He gets Badger out of prison and sets the two youngsters up in more respectable quarters and a small budget. Their improved circumstances provide them with a better opportunity to conduct their investigation into what turns out to be a baffling mystery.
As for the actual crime, it is a classic case of a small and closed circle of suspects, none of whom appear to have an obvious motive at first sight. The investigation goes back and forth, the focus shifting as they move along until, eventually, they reach the surprising yet satisfying conclusion.
This story is filled with well-portrayed and interesting characters. Badger and Watson are great fun. Their friendship runs deep, and their interactions are at times laugh-out-loud funny. I loved Watson’s struggle with his improved circumstances and how to conduct himself in this new situation. I appreciate that he is black. It’s not a main thread in the plot but it does, of course, play a role in how he moves around London.
Sherlock Holmes appears in the story enough to maintain his connection with the story and its protagonists while never really imposing himself on the investigation. I love the idea of Holmes as a mentor to two ambitious young men. And enjoyed his appearances on the page whenever they happened.
I had my reservations about Ellsie Littleton, newspaper reporter, but once she stopped being insufferable and thoughtless about what she reported, I warmed to her a little. Having said that, I agree with Benjamin Watson when he has his reservations both about Badger’s infatuation with the young, upper-class woman. I also agree with him that allowing her a role in future investigations may cause issues. Let’s just say the jury is still out when it comes to Ellsie.
To summarise The Isolated Séance is a delightful mystery! Badger and Watson are adorable in their ambition to emulate Sherlock Holmes and his methods of detection and great fun in their interactions with each other and the rest of the world. The actual mystery was baffling enough to keep me on my toes and the solution was both satisfying and fair.
May 27, 2023
Tim Badger and Ben Watson have their first case as private detectives. Their mentor Sherlock Holmes has recommended them to Thomas Brent, a man on the run from the police because he is wanted for the murder of his employer Mr Quinn. Brent is claiming innocence, and hires Badger and Watson to find the true murderer and clear his name. With everyone in the house having reasons to want Quinn dead, the investigation isn't an easy one for the detectives.
Written in the style of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this book is based around the Baker Street Irregulars. Tim Badger is one of Holmes' protegees, but is struggling to get his detective business started. This first case is his chance to prove himself.
In terms of the plot and the mystery itself, it is cleverly written and has plenty of substance to it. There are several suspects, and many of them are hiding things. As well as the murder, there is a side investigation involving finding the victim's long lost heir, which adds an extra level to things.
I thought Badger and Watson were interesting characters. Badger appears to be someone who rushes in to things, and doesn't always make the best decisions. It is a work in progress for him to become a great investigator like Holmes himself. I actually liked this portrayal, it helped to stop the book from being too similar to the Holmes mysteries. I found Miss Littelton to be incredibly frustrating though, and Badger's obsession with her seemed misplaced and a bit unrealistic.
The main drawback I had with the book was that the dialogue and writing style wasn't consistent. Although Westerson has attempted to keep the Victorian style, often word or phrases that didn't seem to fit with that time period were used. Badger and Watson often used words like me instead of my to help give the impression that they hadn't had a lot of education, however the rest of their dialogue didn't reflect this, so it felt out of place.
I like the concept and think this has the potential to become a great series, but this one isn't quite there yet. I think the characters need a little more development, and hopefully future books will feel more like a Victorian mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Written in the style of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this book is based around the Baker Street Irregulars. Tim Badger is one of Holmes' protegees, but is struggling to get his detective business started. This first case is his chance to prove himself.
In terms of the plot and the mystery itself, it is cleverly written and has plenty of substance to it. There are several suspects, and many of them are hiding things. As well as the murder, there is a side investigation involving finding the victim's long lost heir, which adds an extra level to things.
I thought Badger and Watson were interesting characters. Badger appears to be someone who rushes in to things, and doesn't always make the best decisions. It is a work in progress for him to become a great investigator like Holmes himself. I actually liked this portrayal, it helped to stop the book from being too similar to the Holmes mysteries. I found Miss Littelton to be incredibly frustrating though, and Badger's obsession with her seemed misplaced and a bit unrealistic.
The main drawback I had with the book was that the dialogue and writing style wasn't consistent. Although Westerson has attempted to keep the Victorian style, often word or phrases that didn't seem to fit with that time period were used. Badger and Watson often used words like me instead of my to help give the impression that they hadn't had a lot of education, however the rest of their dialogue didn't reflect this, so it felt out of place.
I like the concept and think this has the potential to become a great series, but this one isn't quite there yet. I think the characters need a little more development, and hopefully future books will feel more like a Victorian mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2023
The Isolated Séance Earns 5+/5 Spooky Séances … Engaging & Clever Gem!
It’s 1895, London. Two young men, Timothy Badger, once a Baker Street Irregular, and his friend, Benjamin Watson, hope to be success detectives. But, their first client, sent to them by Tim’s mentor Sherlock Holmes, is leery of the men’s abilities, but what they lack in funds, they gain in street smarts and determination. Thomas Brent explains his employer, Horace Quinn, has been murdered, and he fears he’s the prime suspect. He reports that Quinn held a private séance hoping to contact his recently departed business partner to get an answer to a question only Quinn is privy. The eerie situation is very intense with Quinn’s anger and demands for answers, then … the room goes dark, someone screams, and a misty glow appears. Thomas rushed to light a match to illuminate the room only to reveal his employer is dead. Are Tim and Ben over their head on this one?
Jeri Westerson is a favorite author brilliant at recreating eras centuries in the past with a very descriptive writing style and banter that adds the realism I expect; her late nineteenth century portrays well the societal quirks and class separations. The two young wannabes have Sherlock Holmes as a benefactor and with his occasional intervention, it gives them one up over other London detectives. One white and one black, the two young men vary in style and demeanor as well as experience and skill, and navigating their “equal” partnership with strengths that compliment, yet, outweigh their weaknesses. Their efforts to solve this locked-room murder mystery are hampered by a dogged reporter, Miss Ellsie Moira Littleton, who leans more toward sensationalism than accurate reporting. She may be a valuable resource, but is she only in it to promote herself? The investigation reveals some interesting details about the victim’s past and his interactions with others which leads to some shocking connections, identities, and a surprise conclusion. A couldn’t put it down experience worthy of a nomination for my best of 2023!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Severn House thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
It’s 1895, London. Two young men, Timothy Badger, once a Baker Street Irregular, and his friend, Benjamin Watson, hope to be success detectives. But, their first client, sent to them by Tim’s mentor Sherlock Holmes, is leery of the men’s abilities, but what they lack in funds, they gain in street smarts and determination. Thomas Brent explains his employer, Horace Quinn, has been murdered, and he fears he’s the prime suspect. He reports that Quinn held a private séance hoping to contact his recently departed business partner to get an answer to a question only Quinn is privy. The eerie situation is very intense with Quinn’s anger and demands for answers, then … the room goes dark, someone screams, and a misty glow appears. Thomas rushed to light a match to illuminate the room only to reveal his employer is dead. Are Tim and Ben over their head on this one?
Jeri Westerson is a favorite author brilliant at recreating eras centuries in the past with a very descriptive writing style and banter that adds the realism I expect; her late nineteenth century portrays well the societal quirks and class separations. The two young wannabes have Sherlock Holmes as a benefactor and with his occasional intervention, it gives them one up over other London detectives. One white and one black, the two young men vary in style and demeanor as well as experience and skill, and navigating their “equal” partnership with strengths that compliment, yet, outweigh their weaknesses. Their efforts to solve this locked-room murder mystery are hampered by a dogged reporter, Miss Ellsie Moira Littleton, who leans more toward sensationalism than accurate reporting. She may be a valuable resource, but is she only in it to promote herself? The investigation reveals some interesting details about the victim’s past and his interactions with others which leads to some shocking connections, identities, and a surprise conclusion. A couldn’t put it down experience worthy of a nomination for my best of 2023!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Severn House thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
May 29, 2023
Tim Badger and Ben Watson have their first case as private detectives. Their mentor Sherlock Holmes has recommended them to Thomas Brent, a man on the run from the police because he is wanted for the murder of his employer Mr Quinn. Brent is claiming innocence, and hires Badger and Watson to find the true murderer and clear his name. With everyone in the house having reasons to want Quinn dead, the investigation isn't an easy one for the detectives.
Written in the style of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this book is based around the Baker Street Irregulars. Tim Badger is one of Holmes' protegees, but is struggling to get his detective business started. This first case is his chance to prove himself.
In terms of the plot and the mystery itself, it is cleverly written and has plenty of substance to it. There are several suspects, and many of them are hiding things. As well as the murder, there is a side investigation involving finding the victim's long lost heir, which adds an extra level to things.
I thought Badger and Watson were interesting characters. Badger appears to be someone who rushes in to things, and doesn't always make the best decisions. It is a work in progress for him to become a great investigator like Holmes himself. I actually liked this portrayal, it helped to stop the book from being too similar to the Holmes mysteries. I found Miss Littelton to be incredibly frustrating though, and Badger's obsession with her seemed misplaced and a bit unrealistic.
The main drawback I had with the book was that the dialogue and writing style wasn't consistent. Although Westerson has attempted to keep the Victorian style, often word or phrases that didn't seem to fit with that time period were used. Badger and Watson often used words like me instead of my to help give the impression that they hadn't had a lot of education, however the rest of their dialogue didn't reflect this, so it felt out of place.
I like the concept and think this has the potential to become a great series, but this one isn't quite there yet. I think the characters need a little more development, and hopefully future books will feel more like a Victorian mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Written in the style of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this book is based around the Baker Street Irregulars. Tim Badger is one of Holmes' protegees, but is struggling to get his detective business started. This first case is his chance to prove himself.
In terms of the plot and the mystery itself, it is cleverly written and has plenty of substance to it. There are several suspects, and many of them are hiding things. As well as the murder, there is a side investigation involving finding the victim's long lost heir, which adds an extra level to things.
I thought Badger and Watson were interesting characters. Badger appears to be someone who rushes in to things, and doesn't always make the best decisions. It is a work in progress for him to become a great investigator like Holmes himself. I actually liked this portrayal, it helped to stop the book from being too similar to the Holmes mysteries. I found Miss Littelton to be incredibly frustrating though, and Badger's obsession with her seemed misplaced and a bit unrealistic.
The main drawback I had with the book was that the dialogue and writing style wasn't consistent. Although Westerson has attempted to keep the Victorian style, often word or phrases that didn't seem to fit with that time period were used. Badger and Watson often used words like me instead of my to help give the impression that they hadn't had a lot of education, however the rest of their dialogue didn't reflect this, so it felt out of place.
I like the concept and think this has the potential to become a great series, but this one isn't quite there yet. I think the characters need a little more development, and hopefully future books will feel more like a Victorian mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of The Isolated Seance, the first novel to feature Sherlock Holmes’ protégé and former Baker Street Irregular, Tim Badger, and his friend Ben Watson.
Tim and Ben have set up as private detectives, but they don’t have any clients. This changes when Sherlock Holmes sends Thomas Brent to them. He is under suspicion of murdering his employer Horace Quinn during a séance, but swears he didn’t do it. Tim and Ben soon find that the victim was not a nice man and had plenty of secrets.
The Isolated Séance is a pleasant read with a well conceived and executed plot. Unfortunately I found it difficult to connect with the characters, who seem a little cartoonish to me and I was unimpressed with the author’s attempts at the vernacular. It’s a petty point, but I was ready to scream at the constant use of drapes instead of curtains.
The novel follows Tim and Ben as they ineptly follow the clues, have several brushes with death and get several nudges in the right direction from the great man himself. I know that they are on a learning curve and their missteps are regarded by the author as humour, but I didn’t get it. It didn’t make me laugh, it made me long for the resolution and the accompanying answers, which, when they come, are clever but not overly convincing.
The novel, however, is not just about a murder as it has certain social overtones and a couple of diatribes. Ben Watson is black, so he encounters racism, but not nearly as much as I would have expected for the times and Tim Badger lived for years on the street, so he is an expert on poverty and the crimes committed to stay alive. It is an interesting construct to elevate them to a better social status and watch what they make of it. I don’t think the author totally gets the idea of the English class system and is more egalitarian in her outlook than the system would ever have been.
The Isolated Séance is not for me.
Tim and Ben have set up as private detectives, but they don’t have any clients. This changes when Sherlock Holmes sends Thomas Brent to them. He is under suspicion of murdering his employer Horace Quinn during a séance, but swears he didn’t do it. Tim and Ben soon find that the victim was not a nice man and had plenty of secrets.
The Isolated Séance is a pleasant read with a well conceived and executed plot. Unfortunately I found it difficult to connect with the characters, who seem a little cartoonish to me and I was unimpressed with the author’s attempts at the vernacular. It’s a petty point, but I was ready to scream at the constant use of drapes instead of curtains.
The novel follows Tim and Ben as they ineptly follow the clues, have several brushes with death and get several nudges in the right direction from the great man himself. I know that they are on a learning curve and their missteps are regarded by the author as humour, but I didn’t get it. It didn’t make me laugh, it made me long for the resolution and the accompanying answers, which, when they come, are clever but not overly convincing.
The novel, however, is not just about a murder as it has certain social overtones and a couple of diatribes. Ben Watson is black, so he encounters racism, but not nearly as much as I would have expected for the times and Tim Badger lived for years on the street, so he is an expert on poverty and the crimes committed to stay alive. It is an interesting construct to elevate them to a better social status and watch what they make of it. I don’t think the author totally gets the idea of the English class system and is more egalitarian in her outlook than the system would ever have been.
The Isolated Séance is not for me.
June 5, 2023
Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review The Isolated Seance. All opinions and comments are my own.
The author of the well-received Crispin Guest series has decided that it’s time for a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, and Jeri Westerson has accomplished that with The Isolated Séance, in which a former Baker Street Irregular and his partner have Mr. Holmes as a mentor (and financial benefactor) for their private detective agency. Good thing, too, as this case involves missing information from a dead man (need a séance for that, doncha know) and then a “locked room” murder. All of which will be satisfactorily explained away by the end of the book. But not before you get a lot of investigating, a lot of introspection from our detectives, Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson, and a lot of interesting information about Victorian London. There’s even a glossary at the beginning of the book, to help out.
Benjamin Watson is almost the more interesting of the two; a black man in a time when it was still an anomaly, obviously. He has faced discrimination, and relates it in the course of the book. But author Westerson has both him and Tim Badger (who has also not had an easy time) facing life and coming out on top, so far. (The chapters go back and forth between the two men.) They are both three dimensional, interesting characters who readers will want to continue to follow. Oh, and did I mention the young, female reporter who’s trying to make a name for herself? Maybe I should. The story line also includes mentions of women’s rights, the rights of the poor, and as noted, the treatment of people of color while providing a fast-paced murder investigation with plenty of twists and turns.
The end is tied up very neatly, with Tim and Ben working everything out. Hopefully Mr. Holmes will consider his investment money well spent, beginning with The isolated Séance.
The author of the well-received Crispin Guest series has decided that it’s time for a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, and Jeri Westerson has accomplished that with The Isolated Séance, in which a former Baker Street Irregular and his partner have Mr. Holmes as a mentor (and financial benefactor) for their private detective agency. Good thing, too, as this case involves missing information from a dead man (need a séance for that, doncha know) and then a “locked room” murder. All of which will be satisfactorily explained away by the end of the book. But not before you get a lot of investigating, a lot of introspection from our detectives, Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson, and a lot of interesting information about Victorian London. There’s even a glossary at the beginning of the book, to help out.
Benjamin Watson is almost the more interesting of the two; a black man in a time when it was still an anomaly, obviously. He has faced discrimination, and relates it in the course of the book. But author Westerson has both him and Tim Badger (who has also not had an easy time) facing life and coming out on top, so far. (The chapters go back and forth between the two men.) They are both three dimensional, interesting characters who readers will want to continue to follow. Oh, and did I mention the young, female reporter who’s trying to make a name for herself? Maybe I should. The story line also includes mentions of women’s rights, the rights of the poor, and as noted, the treatment of people of color while providing a fast-paced murder investigation with plenty of twists and turns.
The end is tied up very neatly, with Tim and Ben working everything out. Hopefully Mr. Holmes will consider his investment money well spent, beginning with The isolated Séance.
June 18, 2023
My thanks to Severn House for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Isolated Séance’ by Jeri Westerson.
This historical mystery set in 1895 is a pastiche of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. It features former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger. He is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, and so has opened his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. They are poised to make a name for themselves . . . now if only they had clients!
Their luck changes when Holmes recommends his protégés to Thomas Brent, who is eager to find out who killed his master, Horace Quinn, during a séance at Quinn's house. As they begin to investigate it seems that everyone in Quinn's household had a reason to want him dead. They seek to step out of Sherlock's shadow, though a determined lady reporter, Ellsie Moira Littleton, is complicating matters. No further details to avoid spoilers.
Overall, I found ‘The Isolated Séance’ a lot of fun and despite its modest length certainly contains plenty of mystery as well as atmospheric period detail. There are also references to Holmes’ previous cases scattered throughout that is sure to please fans. The author opens the book with a handy glossary of late Victorian slang used in the narrative.
‘The Isolated Séance’ is also the opening novel in her new Irregular Detective Mysteries series. An upcoming second novel, ‘The Mummy of Mayfair’ is listed, though no publication date as yet. After this promising opening, I certainly will be on the lookout for it.
This historical mystery set in 1895 is a pastiche of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. It features former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger. He is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, and so has opened his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. They are poised to make a name for themselves . . . now if only they had clients!
Their luck changes when Holmes recommends his protégés to Thomas Brent, who is eager to find out who killed his master, Horace Quinn, during a séance at Quinn's house. As they begin to investigate it seems that everyone in Quinn's household had a reason to want him dead. They seek to step out of Sherlock's shadow, though a determined lady reporter, Ellsie Moira Littleton, is complicating matters. No further details to avoid spoilers.
Overall, I found ‘The Isolated Séance’ a lot of fun and despite its modest length certainly contains plenty of mystery as well as atmospheric period detail. There are also references to Holmes’ previous cases scattered throughout that is sure to please fans. The author opens the book with a handy glossary of late Victorian slang used in the narrative.
‘The Isolated Séance’ is also the opening novel in her new Irregular Detective Mysteries series. An upcoming second novel, ‘The Mummy of Mayfair’ is listed, though no publication date as yet. After this promising opening, I certainly will be on the lookout for it.
January 10, 2025
The Isolated Séance is a fun start to a promising new Sherlock-spinoff series. I enjoyed the character development of both Badger, a former Irregular, and Ben, a jack-of-all trades. Neither young man has the gravitas of their benefactor, but they are working hard to learn and better themselves.
Ben and Badger catch a break when Holmes sends a prospective client their way. Brent has been accused of killing his employer during a seance, but he insists he didn’t do it. Both detectives are inclined to believe Brent and set out on a twisty journey to solve the case.
Tim and Ben work well together, and I enjoyed watching them puzzle out the mystery of who killed Mr. Quinn. I liked that they made mistakes, but used the “Sherlock method” and never let wrong ways become dead ends. The mystery is clever and reminiscent of an old school Sherlock tale. I love that the great detective himself is part of the story, providing guidance and assistance to his protégés.
Miss Littleton, the self-made reporter, is going to be a problem, and I’ll admit, at first I found her incredibly annoying as she uses Badger. Like Tim, I got taken in, and now I’m not sure if I can trust that her change is genuine. She reminds me of Nellie from Little House - kind of a bully but maybe a good person under her petticoats. And based on the little bit we’ve learned, there will be a lot more to her story in the future.
Narration: the story is shared via the alternating POV’s of Tim Badger and Ben Watson. The narrator uses a mid-class accent for the narrator and changes dialogue for all characters. Butler does a fairly good job for raising the pitch for females, and has a solid grasp of accents based on socioeconomic class and place of origin. He also successfully alters based on age. At times, I found his narration a little animated, and his performance reminded me of a voice that narrates children’s cartoons, but overall, Butler turns in a solid performance.
I look forward to listening to more adventures in the Irregular Detective series.
My Ratings:
Story: B
Narration: B+
Review copy provided by the publisher
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Ben and Badger catch a break when Holmes sends a prospective client their way. Brent has been accused of killing his employer during a seance, but he insists he didn’t do it. Both detectives are inclined to believe Brent and set out on a twisty journey to solve the case.
Tim and Ben work well together, and I enjoyed watching them puzzle out the mystery of who killed Mr. Quinn. I liked that they made mistakes, but used the “Sherlock method” and never let wrong ways become dead ends. The mystery is clever and reminiscent of an old school Sherlock tale. I love that the great detective himself is part of the story, providing guidance and assistance to his protégés.
Miss Littleton, the self-made reporter, is going to be a problem, and I’ll admit, at first I found her incredibly annoying as she uses Badger. Like Tim, I got taken in, and now I’m not sure if I can trust that her change is genuine. She reminds me of Nellie from Little House - kind of a bully but maybe a good person under her petticoats. And based on the little bit we’ve learned, there will be a lot more to her story in the future.
Narration: the story is shared via the alternating POV’s of Tim Badger and Ben Watson. The narrator uses a mid-class accent for the narrator and changes dialogue for all characters. Butler does a fairly good job for raising the pitch for females, and has a solid grasp of accents based on socioeconomic class and place of origin. He also successfully alters based on age. At times, I found his narration a little animated, and his performance reminded me of a voice that narrates children’s cartoons, but overall, Butler turns in a solid performance.
I look forward to listening to more adventures in the Irregular Detective series.
My Ratings:
Story: B
Narration: B+
Review copy provided by the publisher
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
June 7, 2023
One-time Baker Street Irregular Timothy Badger has found himself a partner-in-crime, Benjamin Watson, and has set out to tackle intriguing and unusual cases Sherlock Holmes doesn’t have time for. Their first case is a tricky one when a man is brutally murdered during a séance. Their client is a man accused of committing the crime. Can they prove their client innocent and catch a cold-blooded killer?
As someone who fell in love with the original stories at a young age, I am always looking for a good pastiche. This one had an interesting premise: what if one of Holmes’ street urchins, a Baker Street Irregular, grows up and takes the things he’s learned from Holmes to solve crimes on his own? The writing style is similar to the original stories, but there were phrases and words that did not fit the time period.
The two main characters were interesting, though I found Badger to be extremely frustrating. Almost as frustrating as a side character, intrepid journalist Ellsie Littleton. Any time those two shared a scene (which was often) I did not enjoy it.
Overall, the mystery was interesting. I liked when Sherlock Holmes appeared, though he wasn’t quite the detective I love from the original stories. I would recommend this to readers looking for an unusual spin-off adventure set in the world of Sherlock Holmes.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
As someone who fell in love with the original stories at a young age, I am always looking for a good pastiche. This one had an interesting premise: what if one of Holmes’ street urchins, a Baker Street Irregular, grows up and takes the things he’s learned from Holmes to solve crimes on his own? The writing style is similar to the original stories, but there were phrases and words that did not fit the time period.
The two main characters were interesting, though I found Badger to be extremely frustrating. Almost as frustrating as a side character, intrepid journalist Ellsie Littleton. Any time those two shared a scene (which was often) I did not enjoy it.
Overall, the mystery was interesting. I liked when Sherlock Holmes appeared, though he wasn’t quite the detective I love from the original stories. I would recommend this to readers looking for an unusual spin-off adventure set in the world of Sherlock Holmes.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
October 21, 2023
It does what it set out to do, and we can't ask more than that.
In a heavily-plowed field, Westerson has found an acceptably new angle, perhaps by having a character (I won't say who) whose, ahem, shortcomings might for decades have been Something About Which One Does Not Write because no gentleman would EVER ...
The boys are a good choice too - and if you agree, you'll probably like Terry Pratchett's Dodger. They are clever but their inexperience shows.
The plot is well worked out, but overall it just feels SO familiar, with the servants and the police desk sergeant and the inspector and the lawyer. And especially the Plucky Female Journalist, who here is as cardboard a character as you'll see anywhere. When do we get one who's dumpy, lacks social skills, and is a damn fine journalist who DOESN'T chase headlines?
Can't we have a still-a-bit-like-Holmes set in 1750 or 1925? Maybe now, because the Cosy Mystery genre has been churning out village murders for many decades and its readers just want more of the same.
I picked up this book because if it's good enough for Hockensmith, it's good enough for me, and once again that strategy has paid off.
A good light read.
In a heavily-plowed field, Westerson has found an acceptably new angle, perhaps by having a character (I won't say who) whose, ahem, shortcomings might for decades have been Something About Which One Does Not Write because no gentleman would EVER ...
The boys are a good choice too - and if you agree, you'll probably like Terry Pratchett's Dodger. They are clever but their inexperience shows.
The plot is well worked out, but overall it just feels SO familiar, with the servants and the police desk sergeant and the inspector and the lawyer. And especially the Plucky Female Journalist, who here is as cardboard a character as you'll see anywhere. When do we get one who's dumpy, lacks social skills, and is a damn fine journalist who DOESN'T chase headlines?
Can't we have a still-a-bit-like-Holmes set in 1750 or 1925? Maybe now, because the Cosy Mystery genre has been churning out village murders for many decades and its readers just want more of the same.
I picked up this book because if it's good enough for Hockensmith, it's good enough for me, and once again that strategy has paid off.
A good light read.
January 6, 2024
This is an original story, taking the familiar world of Sherlock Holmes and Baker Street but focusing on some new characters – ex Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger and his associate Ben Watson – as they set up their own (mostly) independent detective agency and begin with an investigation into a stabbing at a séance. With a little help and interference behind the scenes from a familiar master of disguise and detection!
There is some humour in the way that the two amateur sleuths attempt to emulate their mentor’s methods, often unsuccessfully. And there is plenty of romance potential too, with a certain irrepressible reporter and a somewhat intractable housemaid who respectively catch the main characters’ eyes. In fact, to some extent the mystery took a back seat to the establishment of the agency and their extra-curricular shenanigans!
While a little unevenly paced at times, with some dialogue that felt a little stilted occasionally (would everyone really monologue eloquently about their individual social struggles?), this is a fun first book in a series that shows good potential for ongoing adventures and is bound to appeal to Holmesian mystery fans looking for a new twist on an old favourite.
There is some humour in the way that the two amateur sleuths attempt to emulate their mentor’s methods, often unsuccessfully. And there is plenty of romance potential too, with a certain irrepressible reporter and a somewhat intractable housemaid who respectively catch the main characters’ eyes. In fact, to some extent the mystery took a back seat to the establishment of the agency and their extra-curricular shenanigans!
While a little unevenly paced at times, with some dialogue that felt a little stilted occasionally (would everyone really monologue eloquently about their individual social struggles?), this is a fun first book in a series that shows good potential for ongoing adventures and is bound to appeal to Holmesian mystery fans looking for a new twist on an old favourite.
May 30, 2023
Jeri Westerson has done something new and fresh with the Sherlock Holmes' canon. She has taken a former Baker Street Irregular who has now aged out of the group of street urchins Holmes uses for running errands and following people and created a man who wishes to use his expertise gained from observing the great man. Tim Badger and his good friend, Benjamin Watson, are subsidized by Holmes himself as they set up their own private inquiry agency. Their first client is a young man on the run from the police, accused of a murder he swears he did not commit. During a seance, Horace Quinn is stabbed. Tim Brent was Quinn's valet and general dogsbody. Also present at the seance were the medium, a gypsy, and the two maids of the household. As Badger and Watson begin to investigate, it becomes clear that Brent was not the culprit, but finding the evidence will take all of their skills. It seems a lot of people wanted Horace Quinn dead, beginning with the housemaid he impregnated 20 years ago. A fun romp through Victorian London.
December 26, 2023
I liked this book and the corresponding story. [Full disclosure, the author gave me a copy to review. I do not know the author personally, so this is an unbiased review.] This is definitely light, easy reading. I would classify it as a cozy, Victorian mystery. The author calls it a pastiche of Doyle's work, I don't agree with that, but that doesn't take away the likability of the story and the engaging mystery.
A "Baker Street Irregular", Tim Badger, has started his own detective business with a very good friend, Ben Watson, and with the support of Sherlock Holmes, himself. Holmes has a lot of faith in Badger and his smarts and seems genuinely to like Watson as well. Holmes is willing to support both young men financially to get them started in their business. He puts them up in a good office, gives them better clothes, and even provides them with servants. This last detail was one of my favorites in the book because the idea that Badger and Watson have servants doesn't sit well with them at all, considering they came from the streets originally. They don't know how to behave around the two women who wait on them and care for their needs and they are often embarrassed by their own state of dress, their manners, and the way that they speak in front of these women. These moments gave me more insight into the two characters than anything they did in their detective work.
There are several modernizing plot lines to this story that stretch the imagination a little bit: one is that there isn't much racism directed towards Ben Watson, who is black, presumably African, and there is not much distinction in class structure throughout the story. Though the issue of class is dealt with better than the issue of Watson's blackness. For example, Ben Watson is described as a charmer of women, but this didn't really ring true for the late nineteenth century when racism was rampant in the culture. The idea seems to be that class trumps racist views - Watson is able to charm women of his own class or nearer to his station in life. And a corresponding idea is that Watson, though black, and Badger, though a street urchin, can put on clothes and be seen differently, but this just doesn't work with even a cursory knowledge of class differences in Victorian England. Anyway, I won't go on about that, but there were details along these lines that I think could be worked on in a second book.
As I said, this is very light reading, so perhaps the author doesn't rant to deal with such heavy subjects. Totally understandable. There's enough of this stuff in the world to overwhelm us, we don't necessarily need it in our mystery novels too.
The story moved along at a good clip and kept me engaged enough to keep reading, I did want to find out who did it and I did want to discover more about the characters.
I think that titling the chapters by the names of the two young detectives was a mistake - it became very, very confusing as I went along as to WHY each chapter was directed only towards the detectives themselves. I think titles are really vital to a story and if you're going to use them, at least reference other characters in titles so that the reader is excited to meet new people as they move along.
There is an implied reference to rape towards the end of the plot and there is some mild violence or the threat of violence in several parts of the narrative, but overall this is a very tame mystery.
It was clear that the author was and is very invested in her characters, but it would have been nice to see and feel more of Victorian London in the 1890's. I can see that a second novel in this series will definitely develop the characters more and invite more interesting relationships between the two men and the women servants attending to them.
I think it's a good, solid start to a series and I will be interested to read more of what the author has to offer. If readers want to dip their toes into a tame look at Victorian London in the 1890's through the eyes of two young men who are tackling some moderately bothersome mysteries, but don't want to deal with anything heavy or problematic, then this is the series for them.
A "Baker Street Irregular", Tim Badger, has started his own detective business with a very good friend, Ben Watson, and with the support of Sherlock Holmes, himself. Holmes has a lot of faith in Badger and his smarts and seems genuinely to like Watson as well. Holmes is willing to support both young men financially to get them started in their business. He puts them up in a good office, gives them better clothes, and even provides them with servants. This last detail was one of my favorites in the book because the idea that Badger and Watson have servants doesn't sit well with them at all, considering they came from the streets originally. They don't know how to behave around the two women who wait on them and care for their needs and they are often embarrassed by their own state of dress, their manners, and the way that they speak in front of these women. These moments gave me more insight into the two characters than anything they did in their detective work.
There are several modernizing plot lines to this story that stretch the imagination a little bit: one is that there isn't much racism directed towards Ben Watson, who is black, presumably African, and there is not much distinction in class structure throughout the story. Though the issue of class is dealt with better than the issue of Watson's blackness. For example, Ben Watson is described as a charmer of women, but this didn't really ring true for the late nineteenth century when racism was rampant in the culture. The idea seems to be that class trumps racist views - Watson is able to charm women of his own class or nearer to his station in life. And a corresponding idea is that Watson, though black, and Badger, though a street urchin, can put on clothes and be seen differently, but this just doesn't work with even a cursory knowledge of class differences in Victorian England. Anyway, I won't go on about that, but there were details along these lines that I think could be worked on in a second book.
As I said, this is very light reading, so perhaps the author doesn't rant to deal with such heavy subjects. Totally understandable. There's enough of this stuff in the world to overwhelm us, we don't necessarily need it in our mystery novels too.
The story moved along at a good clip and kept me engaged enough to keep reading, I did want to find out who did it and I did want to discover more about the characters.
I think that titling the chapters by the names of the two young detectives was a mistake - it became very, very confusing as I went along as to WHY each chapter was directed only towards the detectives themselves. I think titles are really vital to a story and if you're going to use them, at least reference other characters in titles so that the reader is excited to meet new people as they move along.
There is an implied reference to rape towards the end of the plot and there is some mild violence or the threat of violence in several parts of the narrative, but overall this is a very tame mystery.
It was clear that the author was and is very invested in her characters, but it would have been nice to see and feel more of Victorian London in the 1890's. I can see that a second novel in this series will definitely develop the characters more and invite more interesting relationships between the two men and the women servants attending to them.
I think it's a good, solid start to a series and I will be interested to read more of what the author has to offer. If readers want to dip their toes into a tame look at Victorian London in the 1890's through the eyes of two young men who are tackling some moderately bothersome mysteries, but don't want to deal with anything heavy or problematic, then this is the series for them.
May 21, 2023
This was an enjoyable entry in the long line of pastiches built on Sherlock Holmes. What makes this fun is that Holmes is just a side character and the main focus is on a former Baker Street Irregular, Tim Badger, and his friend, Ben Watson, a black man. They’ve opened up a detective agency and are barely scraping by. With the help of Holmes, both with finances and some key clues, the two try to solve a somewhat closed-door murder mystery. While the mystery wasn’t that great, it was fun seeing the scene through the eyes of Tim and Ben as they face class and racial prejudice in trying to figure out their first big case. Add in some incipient romantic interests and this made a fun start to what I hope will be a continuing series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
November 25, 2023
London, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, by opening his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. The intrepid duo are ready to make a name for themselves . . . if only they had clients! Their luck changes when Sherlock recommends his protégés to Thomas Brent. Brent is eager to find out who killed his master, Horace Quinn, during a séance at Quinn's house. What was Quinn desperately trying to find out from his deceased business partner, Stephen Latimer, before he was stabbed through the heart? It seems that everyone in Quinn's household had a reason to want him dead. Can Tim and Benjamin step out of Sherlock's shadow to navigate dark secrets and unexpected dangers in their pursuit of a cold-blooded killer? This book continues the Holmes mythology in a new and different way. Loved the characters and hope to see a lot more of them. Had me hooked until the end.
May 8, 2024
After reading the second book in the series, I couldn't get enough and had to read the first book. This is an excellent Sherlock Holmes pastiche, not really about Holmes himself, although he does make appearances, but about one of his irregulars who has become a private detective himself and employs the Holmes method. The book is very well researched and the author does a commendable job of making the story feel real with her many historical details about Victorian life. The three main characters are a delight, and all written with a clearly defined character and details that make them stand apart, while at the same time working well as a team. I also loved the many touches of humor that make it a fun read. The mystery itself is very good and involves a clever murder during a seance, adding a touch of the supernatural. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of Sherlock Holmes tales and Victorian mysteries.
July 2, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I am a dedicated Holmesian and while I don't read all the Sherlock fan fiction (who could keep up!), I do enjoy it when I can. The Isolated Séance is a parallel novel to Arthur Conan Doyle's works, rather than fan fiction; Sherlock barely features in it. Instead, it features an ex-Baker Street Irregular, Tim, and his partner Ben, who have set up in partnership to be detectives, mentored by the great man himself.
What follows is a fairly standard mystery, solved using Holmesian techniques. It's rather a lark, and the two protagonists are a pleasure to spend time with. Dialogue is snappy, the story keeps you engaged.
It's as simple as this: a jolly good read, a fine book for the beach or a winter's evening. It's clearly intended as the start of a series. I'm curious to see where they will take us.
I am a dedicated Holmesian and while I don't read all the Sherlock fan fiction (who could keep up!), I do enjoy it when I can. The Isolated Séance is a parallel novel to Arthur Conan Doyle's works, rather than fan fiction; Sherlock barely features in it. Instead, it features an ex-Baker Street Irregular, Tim, and his partner Ben, who have set up in partnership to be detectives, mentored by the great man himself.
What follows is a fairly standard mystery, solved using Holmesian techniques. It's rather a lark, and the two protagonists are a pleasure to spend time with. Dialogue is snappy, the story keeps you engaged.
It's as simple as this: a jolly good read, a fine book for the beach or a winter's evening. It's clearly intended as the start of a series. I'm curious to see where they will take us.
April 25, 2023
While this is a good mystery and full of interesting plot points, I had a hard time liking the characters as written.
Badger is a Street smart, wise cracking individual and I enjoy that he was a Baker Street Irregular but he just felt... lackluster and a little silly.
Ben Watson is strong, steady, and Badger's perfect counterpoint and by far the most interesting character but we didn't get enough of his brilliance.
Now onto my least favorite character, Ellsie. I understand her motives and why she does what she does, but to then do a complete turn around in 1 day? A little hard to believe. And Badger just follows along like a dumb puppy. 🙄 it annoyed me quite a bit.
Like I said though, very cleverly written mystery. I enjoyed the Holmes cameos, as well.
Badger is a Street smart, wise cracking individual and I enjoy that he was a Baker Street Irregular but he just felt... lackluster and a little silly.
Ben Watson is strong, steady, and Badger's perfect counterpoint and by far the most interesting character but we didn't get enough of his brilliance.
Now onto my least favorite character, Ellsie. I understand her motives and why she does what she does, but to then do a complete turn around in 1 day? A little hard to believe. And Badger just follows along like a dumb puppy. 🙄 it annoyed me quite a bit.
Like I said though, very cleverly written mystery. I enjoyed the Holmes cameos, as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2024
Badger was a Baker Street Irregular in his childhood and learned the method of deduction from the Great Man himself, Sherlock Holmes! With some help from Mr. Holmes, he and his friend Ben Watson (his own Watson!) has opened for business as Private Detectives. But, applying Mr. Holmes' methods aren't as easy as he made it seem. The pair are also being followed, and tripped up, by a female reporter who is determined to get the story before they do.
An involving mystery with a lot of humor with period details that never felt out of place, the author put me right back on the foggy streets of Victorian London. The author previously wrote the Crispin Guest mystery series set in medieval England and she knows how to do her period research!
An involving mystery with a lot of humor with period details that never felt out of place, the author put me right back on the foggy streets of Victorian London. The author previously wrote the Crispin Guest mystery series set in medieval England and she knows how to do her period research!
May 27, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
badger and watson two of sherlock holmes's baker street irregulars are set on a case after a man is stabbed at a seance by none other than the man himself sherlock holmes
its a tricky case but with everything they have learnt from holmes and with sherlocks help they get to grips with the case
it was a fun read and within keeping with what we know about sherlock and his many disguises
will be interesting in the next book in this series
badger and watson two of sherlock holmes's baker street irregulars are set on a case after a man is stabbed at a seance by none other than the man himself sherlock holmes
its a tricky case but with everything they have learnt from holmes and with sherlocks help they get to grips with the case
it was a fun read and within keeping with what we know about sherlock and his many disguises
will be interesting in the next book in this series
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