Mrs Hudson and the Belladonna Inheritance: The bestselling series inspired by the great detective's housekeeper

by Martin Davies

London is sweltering and housemaid Flotsam longs for a break from the oppressive heat, although housekeeper Mrs Hudson remains unruffled. However, Baker Street is about to be consumed by an extremely weighty the last Will and Testament of armaments tycoon Charles Belladonna.

Belladonna left his considerable fortune to an only son who went missing, stolen from his cot, years before. Now not one but seven young men appear, each claiming to be the long-lost heir. The tangled case draws the War Office's attention, and a demand for Mr Sherlock Holmes's assistance. Only the razor-sharp minds above and below stairs at Baker Street stand a chance of uncovering the truth and foiling the sinister forces at work.



For readers who treasure Conan Doyle, the Holmes & Hudson series offers a loving homage, enriched by fresh voices in the Holmes and Watson household.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Martin Davies is a British author. He has written four novels about Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper and four other novels, including one about Joseph Banks and the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta, entitled The Conjuror's Bird, all of which have been published.

Martin Davies grew up in North West England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on tube trains, and an aversion to laptops means that he always works in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and substantial parts of THE UNICORN ROAD were written while travelling through Sicily. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.

Reviews

[Thera Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always pleased when a new book in this series comes out. This was no exception. Engaging characters, a puzzling plot, plenty of mystery.

[Lynn Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give few five-star reviews, but Davies’ series, particularly this book, deserves one. His depiction of Hudson is so good that I can hear her voice in my head as I read her dialogue. I always believed that she was underrated in the Conan Doyle books—seriously, it took quite a woman to put up with Holmes and Watson—and Davies imbues Mrs. Hudson with the intelligence and savvy I always imagined she had to have.

Mrs. Hudson and the Belladonna Inheritance is well crafted and the pacing is smooth. It’s also a well-edited book. The character of Flotsam deserves a special note: she’s a delight. Davies’ depiction of Holmes’-era London also rings true.

Highly recommended.

[GBL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs Hudson has a new case to solve, with the help of housemaid, Flotsam and a little help from Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.

The search is on for a missing heir, with national security under threat from master criminals and foreign powers.

This series is a clever play on the Holmes story, and I always feel that the novels add to the Holmes mythology, rather than take anything from it. The characters are well drawn and the story is always interesting, with a complex plot. The relationships in the story are cleverly crafted, with just the right level of connection between characters from different social situations. Can’t wait for the next novel of the series.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is perfection! Smart, funny, clever...the best!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of the books in this series so far. Hoping for a few dozen more ... at least.