The Strange Case of Mrs. Hudson's Cat: And Other Science Mysteries Solved By Sherlock Holmes

by Colin Bruce

In this suspenseful volume Colin Bruce has recreated the atmosphere of the original Sherlock Holmes stories to explain the most fascinating principles of physics in a new, exciting way - through twelve completely original adventures of London's most famous fictional inhabitant. In this fast-paced collection, Sherlock Holmes, ably assisted by the faithful Watson, Professor Challenger, and other beloved Conan Doyle characters, must unravel the paradoxes and principles of classical and quantum physics in order to solve a crime, prevent an assassination, or rescue a damsel in distress. In the title story, years before Schrodinger put his uncertain cat into its deadly box, Holmes and Watson discover that a harmless lottery may have catastrophic quantum effects on their landlady's poor tabby. In the Case of the Pre-Atomic Doctor, the detectives can only save a lonely widow from the chicanery of a charlatan by anticipating Einstein's discovery of the random molecular jumps of Brownian motion. In the Case of the Missing Energy, the arrogant, quirky Professor Challenger is called upon to solve the eerie thermodynamics puzzle of divers found dead of heatstroke at the bottom of an icy sea. And in the Case of the Energetic Anarchist, Holmes and Watson must brave the inevitable laws of nuclear physics to stop a terrorist from setting off the ultimate weapon. These suspenseful new tales have a dual purpose: to entertain, and to explain the fascinating laws of physics the way the great detective would have done.

The case of the scientific aristocrat --
The case of the missing energy --
The case of the pre-atomic doctor --
The case of the sabotaged scientist --
The case of the flying bullets --
The case of relative jealousy --
The case of the faster businessman --
The case of the energetic anarchist --
The case of the disloyal servant --
The case of the deserted beach --
The strange case of Mrs. Hudson's cat --
The case of the lost worlds.

Genres: Science, Mystery, Nonfiction, Physics, Popular Science

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Tim Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books restored my pleasure in reading. Six stars.

[N.K_O]

J'aime énormément l'univers de Sherlock Holmes et pratiquement toutes les séries qui ont été faites (particulièrement Sherlock de Mark Gatiss et Steven Moffat joué par Benedict Cumberbatch et Martin Freeman). Mais là, je n'ai pas accroché du tout ! Je ne tiens pas à casser ce livre, déjà parce que ce n'est pas un mauvaise livre et aussi parce que je n'en retirerai aucune satisfaction. En le lisant, j'ai pensé à mon grand-père : ingénieur, très cultivé, curieux de tout, je suis certaine qu'il aurait apprécié cette lecture. Il avait l'âme d'un scientifique et se serait grandement diverti. J'ai d'ailleurs appris que Colin Bruce, l'écrivain de cet ouvrage, était un physicien, ce qui explique la précision de son écriture. Il se trouve que je ne suis absolument pas formatée pour les sciences ! J'ai une curiosité scientifique, certes, mais à un niveau très très très amateur. Je pense que pour apprécier ce roman à sa juste valeur, il faut être un minimum calé dans les domaines scientifiques et, plus particulièrement, dans la physique (et un peu les maths). En conclusion : si vous kiffez la physique, les oeuvres de Sir Arthur Conan Doyle et les enquêtes, vous risquez de vous régaler !

[Jonathan Waugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a fantastic book. It consists of a series of linked Sherlock Holmes and Watson short stories, each of which centres around a real scientific discovery from the late nineteenth or early-mid twentieth century. In the book, these discoveries are made by the characters in the stories, but there is an Afterword at the back explaining which historical scientist made which discovery.

Some of the explanations of scientific concepts are quite involved (though maths is mostly, but not entirely, avoided). For this reason, it will probably appeal more to someone with a degree in physics, as they will already be familiar with the concepts, or at least a very strong interest in science.

[Paolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce - Sherlock Holmes e I misteri della scienza - 7 - divertente viaggio nel mondo della fisica del 900, che per Holmes e Watson non può che sembrare una specie di stregoneria. Intelligente l’idea di legare racconti che sono pretesti di introdurre nuove teorie relativistiche o quantistiche tramite una traccia comune che li lega tutti: i due fisici in perenne lite. Giallo paradosso

[Ch J Loveall · Rating 2 out of 5]

My head is not with this tiredness.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just to clear something up incase anyone is wondering: This book is exactly the book and the later book titled The Einstein Paradox I have no idea why the title was changed but it was.

Anyway this volume of Scientific Holmes Cases wasn't as good as the Math focused Conned Again Watson! but it was still mildly entertaining. Perhapse Quantum Theory just isn't as applicable to real life as Math is. The problem was that instead of the science helping to solve the cases it seemed almost as though the investigations were dropped entirely in favor of a scientific lecture and then in the last paragraph there is a solution to the case, so simple, that you didn't really need the science to solve it.

[Jean-Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quantum Physics vs Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson. One of the first things Watson says is, "I'm terrified of algebra!" therefore there is almost no math in this book. Just ridiculous mysteries and TERRORISTS. Lots of fun, read the entire thing in one go.

[Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Popular science novel. Very nice idea, but to me as a novel is not as intriguing as I would have liked it to be. Also, being a physicist, the scientific part to me is (obviously) a bit too trivial. So, for me it's a no, yet it might be an interesting read for those who are interested in science.

[Grace Best-Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't call this suspenseful, but it was entertaining and educational. The science was interesting, even if the tie-in with Sherlock Holmes was at times a bit of a stretch.