Sherlock Holmes: Zombies Over London

by Stephen Mertz

Sherlock Holmes faces perhaps the greatest challenge yet in his long-running war with his arch-enemy Professor Moriarty—the living dead walk, hungry for flesh and doing the bidding of the evil professor!

From a dirigible carrying a deadly cargo high in the sky over London to a sinister castle lurking in the beautiful English countryside, the Great Detective and his friend Dr. Watson battle to thwart Moriarty's latest scheme to wreak havoc and loot one of the world's great cities. Thousands of lives hang in the balance, and it will take all of Holmes' incredible deductive skills to figure out just what a young writer named H.G. Wells and the German teenager Albert Einstein have to do with Moriarty's plans!

Legendary thriller writer Stephen Mertz takes on some of the world's most iconic characters in this fast-paced tale that is part mystery novel, part horror yarn, and part steampunk inventiveness. It's a breathless adventure that's sure to entertain from first page to last!

"One of my favorite writers . . . a born storyteller . . . Enjoy!"
--Max Allan Collins

"Stephen Mertz writes a hard-edged, fast-paced thriller for those who like their tales straight and sharp."
--Joe R. Lansdale

Genres: Horror

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Pen name - Stephen Brett, Don Pendleton, Jack Buchanan, Jim Case, Cliff Banks.

Reviews

[Oliver Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Mertz's Sherlock might not be the most faithful version of Conan-Doyle's detective, he feels more like James Bond at times, but this is still a wonderfully enjoyable adventure. It's fast-paced, funny and inventive. What it lacks in logical deduction it makes up for in sheer entertainment value. It has zombies, airships, Einstein, great set piece action sequences and an enormous sense of fun. Mertz has been writing this kind of thing for decades and it shows, he never puts a foot wrong and turns in a book that will leave you grinning ear to ear.

[Ken B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this was going to be a guilty pleasure from the get-go. Sherlock Holmes, zombies and steampunk. Three of my favorite genres.

The pastiche came out of the gate full speed. The first chapter could easily have been the last chapter of a prequel. By writing the way he did, Mertz completely obliterated my single largest pet peeve in Holmes pastiches, the proof of provenance that seems to run amok among pastiche writers. There was no wasted chapter or foreword about how the manuscript ended up in the author's hands, no mysterious lockbox dusted off, none of that. Just straight into the story and not even at the beginning of the mystery but rather right at the top. Nice!

The story was engaging and made for a fun read.

4 STARS

[Gram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steam-powered helicopters, a sinister black airship, death rays and zombies! This irreverent Sherlock Holmes pastiche is set in 1895, but Dr Watson's use of words such as "punk" and "kick ass" lets us know that this short, snappy thriller would have the Holmes purists frothing at the mouth in indignation. Along the way we meet the futuristic author H.G. Wells - whose seemingly amorous wife makes a big impression on Dr Watson - and a teenage Albert Einstein who has fallen for the charms of a beautiful music hall entertainer. There are punch-ups and pitched battles and ravenous zombies causing mayhem. All in all it's great fun.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re fan of men’s action/adventure novels, you already know that Stephen Mertz has long been one of the best writers in that genre. He started out as a protégé of Don Pendleton, creator of the classic series about Mack Bolan, the Executioner, and wrote some of the most popular Executioner novels under the Pendleton house name. He went on to create some great series of his own, including the M.I.A. HUNTER series, the KILLROY mystery series, and the CODY’S ARMY series, as well as some excellent and unique standalone novels I enjoyed, such as HANK & MUDDY, which features the famed musicians Hank Williams and Muddy Waters and JIMI AFTER DARK, featuring Jimi Hendrix. His novel SHERLOCK HOLMES: ZOMBIES OVER LONDON is a fun take on the classic Sherlock and Dr. Watson genre. It includes the usual Sherlockian elements, but adds cool elements from the steampunk and horror genres. As in many Sherlock stories, Professor Moriarty is the main villain. But in this story, he has an army of undead humans and steampunk style inventions to aid him in his evil deeds. And, for Watson there’s a great deal at stake when Moriarty kidnaps his wife. It’s a skillful and highly entertaining mashup that I loved and heartily recommend. 5 stars!

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holmes vs. Moriarty—with zombies, steampunk tech, and London hanging in the balance.

Sherlock Holmes faces his most bizarre case yet—zombies under Moriarty’s control threaten to overrun London. With Dr. Watson at his side and unexpected allies like H.G. Wells and a young Albert Einstein, Holmes must unravel a sinister plot that spans dirigibles, castles, and steampunk horrors. It’s a pulse-pounding blend of mystery, horror, and adventure. Get your copy today and dive into the madness!

• ASIN: B0FL83F6Z6
• Publisher: Dark Wolf Books
• Publication Date: 8/26/2025
• File Size: 2.4 MB
• Print Length: 165 pages
• Genre: Occult Suspense - Ghost Suspense - Horror Suspense

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Totally different for me but couldn’t stop reading

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really liked this Sherlock Holmes pastiche.
Captured everything I love about Holmes/Watson - it was super fun including zombies but with a nod to the originals.

[Ben Boulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHERLOCK HOLMES: ZOMBIES OVER LONDON is a hybrid adventure and detective novel. Its mystery is genuinely interesting. It features more than one nicely turned sub-plot, which effectively adds texture and confusion to the primary mystery without cheating. Its cast is unique and includes H. G. Wells and a teenage Albert Einstein. There are several scenes that display Mr. Mertz’s keen ability to develop action in a sparse, believable manner without losing the voice and tone of a Sherlock Holmes story. It is an impressive display of storytelling. It captures the essence of Conan Doyle’s stories while being wholly original, and it is a showcase of Mr. Mertz’s range as both storyteller and writer. And, it is darn fun.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fun & Entertaining Read!

This definitely a fun reading experience for anyone who enjoys everything from Sherlock Holmes to horror stories with a bit of humor tossed in as well. I'd definitely also suggest it for pretty much any age group from teens to old duffs such as myself, as it's a very relaxing and highly entertaining read.