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Extraordinary Correspondence: A Thrilling, Feel-Good Murder Mystery for Lovers of Sherlock Holmes
Not yet published
Expected 3 Jun 27Two unlikely flatmates.
One decade-old murder.
Can thinking like a fictional detective . . . solve a real crime?
Sherlock Holmes’s No. 1 fan attempts to solve a murder – and drags his reluctant flatmate with him, in the feel-good mystery of the summer.
Sycamore Bell is obsessed with the world’s greatest (fictional) detective, and loves his answering the letters that arrive addressed to his hero at his employer’s Baker Street address.
When a young girl writes from Texas begging Sherlock Holmes to save her father from death row, and Sycamore is convinced he can help. He knows all of his hero’s techniques, and now he has a chance to put them to the test.
But the case (inevitably) goes disastrously wrong, and his new flatmate, James Watson, faces a is it really his job to rescue Sycamore, solve the murder and generally save the day?
On the streets of London, a new game is afoot . . .
Extraordinary Correspondence is the debut novel from Robert Hutton. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz and Robert Thorogood, and lovers of TV shows Ludwig and Detectorists.
'Totally joyous' – Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of The Killing Stones
'Mysterious, uplifting and endlessly clever' - Janice Hallett, No. 1 bestselling author of The Appeal
'Propulsive, funny and genuinely twisty' - Robin Stevens, bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike
One decade-old murder.
Can thinking like a fictional detective . . . solve a real crime?
Sherlock Holmes’s No. 1 fan attempts to solve a murder – and drags his reluctant flatmate with him, in the feel-good mystery of the summer.
Sycamore Bell is obsessed with the world’s greatest (fictional) detective, and loves his answering the letters that arrive addressed to his hero at his employer’s Baker Street address.
When a young girl writes from Texas begging Sherlock Holmes to save her father from death row, and Sycamore is convinced he can help. He knows all of his hero’s techniques, and now he has a chance to put them to the test.
But the case (inevitably) goes disastrously wrong, and his new flatmate, James Watson, faces a is it really his job to rescue Sycamore, solve the murder and generally save the day?
On the streets of London, a new game is afoot . . .
Extraordinary Correspondence is the debut novel from Robert Hutton. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Anthony Horowitz and Robert Thorogood, and lovers of TV shows Ludwig and Detectorists.
'Totally joyous' – Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of The Killing Stones
'Mysterious, uplifting and endlessly clever' - Janice Hallett, No. 1 bestselling author of The Appeal
'Propulsive, funny and genuinely twisty' - Robin Stevens, bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike
- GenresMystery
Audible Audio
Expected publication June 3, 2027
About the author
Robert Hutton
5 books20 followersAll of Robert Hutton’s career moves have been accidental. He started as a computer scientist but fell into journalism, and then stumbled across a true WW2 spy story that so excited him he wrote a book about it, Agent Jack.
His new book, The Illusionist, is about Dudley Clarke, the eccentric genius who realised how the Allies could use stage magic to deceive the Nazis.
Robert’s day job is as political satirist for The Critic magazine, and he hosts the podcast War Movie Theatre.
He lives in south east London with his wife and sons.
His new book, The Illusionist, is about Dudley Clarke, the eccentric genius who realised how the Allies could use stage magic to deceive the Nazis.
Robert’s day job is as political satirist for The Critic magazine, and he hosts the podcast War Movie Theatre.
He lives in south east London with his wife and sons.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
An impressive debut novel from Robert Hutton, Extraordinary Correspondence is a wonderfully entertaining read, full of humour, eccentricity and charm. There is a real quirkiness to both the writing and the way the story unfolds, giving the novel a distinctive personality that makes it stand out.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its narrative voice. Telling the story from Dr Watson's point of view is a brilliant touch, adding an extra layer of wit and providing a fresh perspective on the world of Sherlock Holmes. It is an approach that works particularly well, allowing Hutton to play with the familiar conventions of detective fiction while creating something that feels fresh and original.
There is a lovely balance between the mystery, the humour and the more eccentric elements of the story, and the result is a novel that is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.
An imaginative, witty and thoroughly entertaining debut. Robert Hutton is certainly an author I'll be keeping an eye on, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
An impressive debut novel from Robert Hutton, Extraordinary Correspondence is a wonderfully entertaining read, full of humour, eccentricity and charm. There is a real quirkiness to both the writing and the way the story unfolds, giving the novel a distinctive personality that makes it stand out.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its narrative voice. Telling the story from Dr Watson's point of view is a brilliant touch, adding an extra layer of wit and providing a fresh perspective on the world of Sherlock Holmes. It is an approach that works particularly well, allowing Hutton to play with the familiar conventions of detective fiction while creating something that feels fresh and original.
There is a lovely balance between the mystery, the humour and the more eccentric elements of the story, and the result is a novel that is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end.
An imaginative, witty and thoroughly entertaining debut. Robert Hutton is certainly an author I'll be keeping an eye on, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a joy this book is. I thoroughly enjoyed every word and every twist, it is a lot of fun.
James Watson is a 27 year old who has qualified as a doctor (yes…Dr Watson) but has decided doctoring is not for him and is currently working as a temp as a data entry clerk in a private exclusive bank. Needing a place to live he is introduced to Sycamore Bell a weird little chap who lives in a luxury flat through some possibly dodgy deal his sister has going, and who also works at the bank…as Sherlock Holmes’ “correspondence secretary”. He aspires to solve crimes and mysteries with the same methodology as Sherlock Holmes. Therein lies the danger! He is paid by the bank to reply to letters written as if to Holmes. (Read the book if you want to find out how/why!) He receives a letter from a person in the US who wants his help to prove her father’s innocence of murder. Her father is on death row awaiting execution.
Just like the original Conan Doyle books this story is narrated by Watson, (now Bell’s flatmate), the initially sceptical, unwilling accessory to the slightly mad but well-meaning Sycamore Bell. I loved following the ins and outs, the twists and turns in the plot. The author writes fluently with a witty turn and is very easy to read. Not to say that the plot is over simplified, it is suitably complex, and just when I thought I’d worked something out, I was proved wrong! Several times.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to lovers of Sherlock Holmes but definitely to readers who enjoy twisty crime stories with excellent characters. There are a couple of details not quite resolved at the end and left open so hopefully there will be another book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle in exchange for my honest review.
James Watson is a 27 year old who has qualified as a doctor (yes…Dr Watson) but has decided doctoring is not for him and is currently working as a temp as a data entry clerk in a private exclusive bank. Needing a place to live he is introduced to Sycamore Bell a weird little chap who lives in a luxury flat through some possibly dodgy deal his sister has going, and who also works at the bank…as Sherlock Holmes’ “correspondence secretary”. He aspires to solve crimes and mysteries with the same methodology as Sherlock Holmes. Therein lies the danger! He is paid by the bank to reply to letters written as if to Holmes. (Read the book if you want to find out how/why!) He receives a letter from a person in the US who wants his help to prove her father’s innocence of murder. Her father is on death row awaiting execution.
Just like the original Conan Doyle books this story is narrated by Watson, (now Bell’s flatmate), the initially sceptical, unwilling accessory to the slightly mad but well-meaning Sycamore Bell. I loved following the ins and outs, the twists and turns in the plot. The author writes fluently with a witty turn and is very easy to read. Not to say that the plot is over simplified, it is suitably complex, and just when I thought I’d worked something out, I was proved wrong! Several times.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to lovers of Sherlock Holmes but definitely to readers who enjoy twisty crime stories with excellent characters. There are a couple of details not quite resolved at the end and left open so hopefully there will be another book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Surely not another Sherlock Holmes mystery? He retired many years ago, didn’t he? But if people keep writing to his Baker Street address asking for his help what is his number one fan and “correspondence secretary”, Sycamore Bell, to do? He even has Dr Watson to help him. Humorous, well written and this Bell/Watson duo will certainly grow on you, and like me, you’ll be willing them to succeed and overcome their own Moriarty. A recommended read. My thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this ARC!
This was fun, fast-paced, and chaotic in the absolute best way. I loved Sycamore and his passion for Sherlock Holmes. The story felt like a brilliant ode to Sherlock. It perfectly captured that classic detective spirit while carving out an entertaining identity of its own.
This was fun, fast-paced, and chaotic in the absolute best way. I loved Sycamore and his passion for Sherlock Holmes. The story felt like a brilliant ode to Sherlock. It perfectly captured that classic detective spirit while carving out an entertaining identity of its own.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews