What do you think?
Rate this book
Warlock Holmes #1
A Study in Brimstone
Sherlock Holmes is an unparalleled genius who uses the gift of deduction and reason to solve the most vexing of crimes.
Warlock Holmes, however, is an idiot. A good man, perhaps; a font of arcane power, certainly. But he’s brilliantly dim. Frankly, he couldn’t deduce his way out of a paper bag. The only thing he has really got going for him are the might of a thousand demons and his stalwart flatmate. Thankfully, Dr. Watson is always there to aid him through the treacherous shoals of Victorian propriety… and save him from a gruesome death every now and again.
An imaginative, irreverent and addictive reimagining of the world’s favourite detective, Warlock Holmes retains the charm, tone and feel of the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while finally giving the flat at 221b Baker Street what it’s been missing for all these years: an alchemy table.
Reimagining six stories, this riotous mash-up is a glorious new take on the ever-popular Sherlock Holmes myth, featuring the vampire Inspector Vladislav Lestrade, the ogre Inspector Torg Grogsson, and Dr. Watson, the true detective at 221b. And Sherlock. A warlock.
Warlock Holmes, however, is an idiot. A good man, perhaps; a font of arcane power, certainly. But he’s brilliantly dim. Frankly, he couldn’t deduce his way out of a paper bag. The only thing he has really got going for him are the might of a thousand demons and his stalwart flatmate. Thankfully, Dr. Watson is always there to aid him through the treacherous shoals of Victorian propriety… and save him from a gruesome death every now and again.
An imaginative, irreverent and addictive reimagining of the world’s favourite detective, Warlock Holmes retains the charm, tone and feel of the original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while finally giving the flat at 221b Baker Street what it’s been missing for all these years: an alchemy table.
Reimagining six stories, this riotous mash-up is a glorious new take on the ever-popular Sherlock Holmes myth, featuring the vampire Inspector Vladislav Lestrade, the ogre Inspector Torg Grogsson, and Dr. Watson, the true detective at 221b. And Sherlock. A warlock.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 17, 2016
409 people are currently reading
5831 people want to read
About the author
G.S. Denning
8 books297 followersGabriel Denning was born and raised in Seattle. He has published articles for the popular games company Wizards of the Coast, worked as a editor, written a video-game script for Nintendo, and scripted and performed shows at the Epcot Center, Walt Disney World. He now lives in Las Vegas with his family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 821 reviews
May 11, 2020
I really enjoy dinosaurs, historic downtown areas, Slurpees, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons from the 1960s and 70s.
It stands to reason, then, that I would very much enjoy drinking a Coke Slurpee while watching Help!…It’s The Hair Bear Bunch with a velociraptor in scenic Colonial Williamsburg, right?
Wrong. Drinking a Slurpee in a historical setting just feels wrong (funny how we don’t have transcripts of fist fights erupting at Valley Forge due to arguments over whether wild cherry or blue raspberry makes for a better Slurpee), I’d never watch cartoons when I could be out exploring history, and a velociraptor would probably just try to eat me, which would significantly impair my ability to explore Williamsburg, drink a Slurpee, and laugh at the unintentional (or was it?) comedy of Square Bear shouting “I can’t see with Bubi in my eye!” when Bubi Bear jumps on his head.
That might be how some people feel about Warlock Holmes. This book was written expressly for an audience (namely me) who loves Sherlock Holmes, mixing in the fantastic and the supernatural with the mundane Victorian, and over-the-top humor that’s a mix of dry wit, bad puns, and slapstick. So much are these things known as being favorites of mine, in fact, that one commenter, upon seeing the title of the book and reading the summary, speculated that I myself might have written it under a nom de plume.
I fully and wholeheartedly endorse the high concept: Holmes is a somewhat dull (intellectually speaking) warlock inside whom the essence of Professor James Moriarty resides, Watson is the genius detective, and Scotland Yard frenemies Lestrade and Gregson (aka the genius “Grogssson”) are a vampire and Hyde-like brute (with a love of ballet), respectively. Denning has done his Sherlockian homework and nicely mines the canon for bits of lore and plots to parallel, twist, and reference at every turn.
At times, the humor undercuts the dramatic tension a bit and Holmes comes across as a bit simplistic on occasion. Still, it’s undeniably entertaining, and my affinity for the subject and appreciation for Denning's skill in incorporating humor into a genre where action and suspense are necessary components make this a 4-star read for sure.
It stands to reason, then, that I would very much enjoy drinking a Coke Slurpee while watching Help!…It’s The Hair Bear Bunch with a velociraptor in scenic Colonial Williamsburg, right?
Wrong. Drinking a Slurpee in a historical setting just feels wrong (funny how we don’t have transcripts of fist fights erupting at Valley Forge due to arguments over whether wild cherry or blue raspberry makes for a better Slurpee), I’d never watch cartoons when I could be out exploring history, and a velociraptor would probably just try to eat me, which would significantly impair my ability to explore Williamsburg, drink a Slurpee, and laugh at the unintentional (or was it?) comedy of Square Bear shouting “I can’t see with Bubi in my eye!” when Bubi Bear jumps on his head.
That might be how some people feel about Warlock Holmes. This book was written expressly for an audience (namely me) who loves Sherlock Holmes, mixing in the fantastic and the supernatural with the mundane Victorian, and over-the-top humor that’s a mix of dry wit, bad puns, and slapstick. So much are these things known as being favorites of mine, in fact, that one commenter, upon seeing the title of the book and reading the summary, speculated that I myself might have written it under a nom de plume.
I fully and wholeheartedly endorse the high concept: Holmes is a somewhat dull (intellectually speaking) warlock inside whom the essence of Professor James Moriarty resides, Watson is the genius detective, and Scotland Yard frenemies Lestrade and Gregson (aka the genius “Grogssson”) are a vampire and Hyde-like brute (with a love of ballet), respectively. Denning has done his Sherlockian homework and nicely mines the canon for bits of lore and plots to parallel, twist, and reference at every turn.
At times, the humor undercuts the dramatic tension a bit and Holmes comes across as a bit simplistic on occasion. Still, it’s undeniably entertaining, and my affinity for the subject and appreciation for Denning's skill in incorporating humor into a genre where action and suspense are necessary components make this a 4-star read for sure.
November 9, 2016
This was such a fun read, smart and hilarious. I was sorry when it was over.
I recommend it highly, but primarily for those who've read the original stories, as much of the amusement comes from how closely Denning keeps to the details, while really having something entirely different happen.
This is described as mash-up, but it's more like a re-write. The concept is that all the Holmes mysteries are really supernatural in nature, with the famous deductions being made up by Watson to hide the truth.
Do persist beyond the first retelling even if you don't love it -- the rest are better. What the heck, with that donut as plot point? I suspect the author started this as a complete joke, then began taking it more seriously but didn't go back and revise that first one.
It ends in a cliffhanger, so here's hoping book two comes out soon!
I recommend it highly, but primarily for those who've read the original stories, as much of the amusement comes from how closely Denning keeps to the details, while really having something entirely different happen.
This is described as mash-up, but it's more like a re-write. The concept is that all the Holmes mysteries are really supernatural in nature, with the famous deductions being made up by Watson to hide the truth.
Do persist beyond the first retelling even if you don't love it -- the rest are better. What the heck, with that donut as plot point? I suspect the author started this as a complete joke, then began taking it more seriously but didn't go back and revise that first one.
It ends in a cliffhanger, so here's hoping book two comes out soon!
June 26, 2017
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/06/26/...
Any book that could make me laugh like a maniac deserves high marks from me. It’s been a while since I’ve read something so funny—and I do mean funny, as in exploding-in-uncontrollable-giggles-so-that-nearby-bystanders-are-staring-at-you-sidesways-and-backing-up-slowly funny. This was something I did not expect. When the Warlock Holmes series was pitched to me, I figured it would be your run-of-the-mill classic literature mashup with paranormal elements. Oh, little did I know.
The key to this book’s success, I think, was balance. Denning stuck close to the source material while still keeping the tone light and readable, and he dressed the story up with just enough of the fantastical to make it feel unique and different. After all, everyone knows of the great fictional detective Sherlock Holmes whose logical reasoning and powers of observation are unparalleled. But what if, instead of a brilliant genius, he was a bit of a dippy eccentric, albeit endowed with arcane powers and the scary ability to tap into the world of demons? This, in essence, is Warlock Holmes. He’s well-intentioned, but rather dim. To make up for it though, at least he’s something of an expert in the supernatural and occult.
Fortunately, Warlock also has the help of his more sensible roommate Dr. John Watson to keep him in line. In time, we also discover that Watson’s actually the true detective with the astute deductions, desperately coming up with perfectly reasonable explanations to try and cover up all the weird stuff his partner gets into. In this first book, we join him and Warlock in a retelling of many of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, so that “A Study in Scarlet” becomes “A Study in Brimstone” and “The Adventure of the Resident Patient” becomes “The Adventure of the Resident Sacrifice”, and so on and so forth in this same hilarious vein. Along the way, we even get to meet Inspector Lestrade, who is now Vladislav Lestrade, a vampire, and Inspector Tobias Gregson is now Torg Grogsson, a ballet-loving ogre.
Honestly, I was surprised at how much I loved this. For one thing, I wouldn’t say I’m too familiar with the classic Sherlock Holmes tales. For another, I’m often wary of books described as humor. What can I say though, but Warlock Holmes ended up being right up my alley. It was funny in a way that worked for me, silly in places but not over-the-top, thanks to the moderating effects of the writing style which stayed relatively close to Doyle’s. And yet, it was also a bold and relentless riff on the source material. It’s important not to get the wrong idea though, for all of this is clearly done out of love and in good fun. Denning takes the original stories and just runs with the idea of “supernaturalizing” them, while having a blast in the process.
In turn, I had a hell of a good time with this book too. I enjoyed the premise of Holmes as a warlock, as well as the idea that Watson is the real brains behind the duo. They make a comedic pair, though much of my delight was in the fact that most of the humor in the book is plot-driven, going beyond simple one-liners or relying on slapstick. In other words, the author did not go out of his way to create funny situations, but rather, the characters reacted in entertaining ways (that also fit their personalities in this context) to the events unfolding in each story. Nothing irks me more than forced humor, so I was glad to see this was not the case.
In terms of criticisms, I don’t actually have anything too negative to say. After all, we’re talking about a book called Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone here, so it’s really not too hard to guess its shtick, and as long as you know what you’re in for, it’s hard to be disappointed. As creative retellings so, I thought it was a good one, with plenty of charisma. The storytelling is also straightforward, with a clear eye as to what it wants to achieve, and the characters are compelling in their re-imagined forms, with fascinating new personalities and backgrounds to match.
All in all, I had a wonderful time with this book, and boy am I glad to have the sequel Warlock Holmes: The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles already on hand because I’m really looking forward to continuing this series. I’m sure I’ll be diving into it soon.
Any book that could make me laugh like a maniac deserves high marks from me. It’s been a while since I’ve read something so funny—and I do mean funny, as in exploding-in-uncontrollable-giggles-so-that-nearby-bystanders-are-staring-at-you-sidesways-and-backing-up-slowly funny. This was something I did not expect. When the Warlock Holmes series was pitched to me, I figured it would be your run-of-the-mill classic literature mashup with paranormal elements. Oh, little did I know.
The key to this book’s success, I think, was balance. Denning stuck close to the source material while still keeping the tone light and readable, and he dressed the story up with just enough of the fantastical to make it feel unique and different. After all, everyone knows of the great fictional detective Sherlock Holmes whose logical reasoning and powers of observation are unparalleled. But what if, instead of a brilliant genius, he was a bit of a dippy eccentric, albeit endowed with arcane powers and the scary ability to tap into the world of demons? This, in essence, is Warlock Holmes. He’s well-intentioned, but rather dim. To make up for it though, at least he’s something of an expert in the supernatural and occult.
Fortunately, Warlock also has the help of his more sensible roommate Dr. John Watson to keep him in line. In time, we also discover that Watson’s actually the true detective with the astute deductions, desperately coming up with perfectly reasonable explanations to try and cover up all the weird stuff his partner gets into. In this first book, we join him and Warlock in a retelling of many of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, so that “A Study in Scarlet” becomes “A Study in Brimstone” and “The Adventure of the Resident Patient” becomes “The Adventure of the Resident Sacrifice”, and so on and so forth in this same hilarious vein. Along the way, we even get to meet Inspector Lestrade, who is now Vladislav Lestrade, a vampire, and Inspector Tobias Gregson is now Torg Grogsson, a ballet-loving ogre.
Honestly, I was surprised at how much I loved this. For one thing, I wouldn’t say I’m too familiar with the classic Sherlock Holmes tales. For another, I’m often wary of books described as humor. What can I say though, but Warlock Holmes ended up being right up my alley. It was funny in a way that worked for me, silly in places but not over-the-top, thanks to the moderating effects of the writing style which stayed relatively close to Doyle’s. And yet, it was also a bold and relentless riff on the source material. It’s important not to get the wrong idea though, for all of this is clearly done out of love and in good fun. Denning takes the original stories and just runs with the idea of “supernaturalizing” them, while having a blast in the process.
In turn, I had a hell of a good time with this book too. I enjoyed the premise of Holmes as a warlock, as well as the idea that Watson is the real brains behind the duo. They make a comedic pair, though much of my delight was in the fact that most of the humor in the book is plot-driven, going beyond simple one-liners or relying on slapstick. In other words, the author did not go out of his way to create funny situations, but rather, the characters reacted in entertaining ways (that also fit their personalities in this context) to the events unfolding in each story. Nothing irks me more than forced humor, so I was glad to see this was not the case.
In terms of criticisms, I don’t actually have anything too negative to say. After all, we’re talking about a book called Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone here, so it’s really not too hard to guess its shtick, and as long as you know what you’re in for, it’s hard to be disappointed. As creative retellings so, I thought it was a good one, with plenty of charisma. The storytelling is also straightforward, with a clear eye as to what it wants to achieve, and the characters are compelling in their re-imagined forms, with fascinating new personalities and backgrounds to match.
All in all, I had a wonderful time with this book, and boy am I glad to have the sequel Warlock Holmes: The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles already on hand because I’m really looking forward to continuing this series. I’m sure I’ll be diving into it soon.
Read
December 10, 2018This was absolutely hilarious. I was on the sofa doing actual pterodactyl shrieking and bought #2 the second I'd finished #1. It's a rewriting of the Sherlock Holmes stories on the premise that Holmes is actually a demon-user intermittently possessed by spirits and doesn't have a clue about deduction. The real joy is in the closeness to the originals: the author uses the stories plus many specific exchanges and incidents from the books to his purpose. Thus when Watson meets Holmes he has indeed been beating a corpse in the dissection-room with a stick, but it is in fact an effort to make the damn thing lie down and be dead, and the post-mortem bruising thing is a feeble excuse he comes up with.
Gleeful humour throughought. One of the stories is called The Case of the Cardboard...Case. I don't think I've laughed so hard at an ellipsis before. Or, try this:
I mean, either this stuff rejoices your soul or it doesn't. One reader's howl-out-loud is another's wry smile or blank face, plus you really do need to be immersed in the original stories, so YMMV but I laughed till I choked. Also the relationships between Holmes, Watson, the vampire Lestrade and the ogre Groggson are genuinely touching at points as well as extremely funny.
Gleeful humour throughought. One of the stories is called The Case of the Cardboard...Case. I don't think I've laughed so hard at an ellipsis before. Or, try this:
"That's what I think Julia Stoner was trying to say as she died, 'the speckled band'!"
"All right, I see your point, Watson," Holmes said, "but then again, might she not just say, 'Help, a snake!'? It's got fewer syllables and the benefit of clarity too, don't you think?"
I mean, either this stuff rejoices your soul or it doesn't. One reader's howl-out-loud is another's wry smile or blank face, plus you really do need to be immersed in the original stories, so YMMV but I laughed till I choked. Also the relationships between Holmes, Watson, the vampire Lestrade and the ogre Groggson are genuinely touching at points as well as extremely funny.
December 30, 2018
A supposedly funny take on Sherlock Holmes as a somewhat crazed warlock told by Dr. Watson. Lestrade is a vampire working for Scotland Yard. I got about 1/3 of the way through it, but it kept missing my funny bone. Well narrated & I kept trying since I though it might grow on me. Didn't though.
I just found it ridiculous or boring. Finally quit. May well be me. I never found Monty Python, Douglas Adams, or most Brit humor funny. I don't find a lot of modern US humor funny, either. Seinfeld leaves me cold. Take that for what it's worth. You may love this.
I just found it ridiculous or boring. Finally quit. May well be me. I never found Monty Python, Douglas Adams, or most Brit humor funny. I don't find a lot of modern US humor funny, either. Seinfeld leaves me cold. Take that for what it's worth. You may love this.
May 13, 2021
***The Summer of Sherlock 2019***
And now for something completely different. Here is a quick quiz to determine if you might enjoy Warlock Holmes:
Do you have some familiarity with Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective?
Are you partial to accordion music?
Do you believe that Mrs. Hudson could benefit from an interest in pornography?:
Do you feel that Dr. John Watson got the short end of the stick in Doyle’s version?
In your opinion, are there too few ogres and vampires in the original?
Are you a fan of Douglas Adams and/or Terry Pratchett?
If you answered “yes” to at least 2 of these questions, I would suggest that you might be amused by this book. Give it a try.
And now for something completely different. Here is a quick quiz to determine if you might enjoy Warlock Holmes:
Do you have some familiarity with Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective?
Are you partial to accordion music?
Do you believe that Mrs. Hudson could benefit from an interest in pornography?:
Do you feel that Dr. John Watson got the short end of the stick in Doyle’s version?
In your opinion, are there too few ogres and vampires in the original?
Are you a fan of Douglas Adams and/or Terry Pratchett?
If you answered “yes” to at least 2 of these questions, I would suggest that you might be amused by this book. Give it a try.
Read
August 23, 2017Where’re my fellow Sherlockians at? If you love yourself some Sherlock Holmes adaptations, you need to read this book, stat. Denning’s take cleverly twists the original Conan Doyle stories so that Watson is the main detective and Holmes is… well, a warlock, who finds everyday social niceties even more befuddling than his non-magical counterpart. Fortunately, with the help of Watson he’s able to maintain his human facade (barely). The results are like Sherlock Holmes on amphetamines: crazy fast-paced, delightfully weird, and absolutely hilarious. If you’re familiar with the canon, you’ll appreciate this book and all the stories’ inside jokes even more. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out!
–Tasha Brandstatter
from The Best Books We Read In April 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/05/01/riot-...
–Tasha Brandstatter
from The Best Books We Read In April 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/05/01/riot-...
December 30, 2022
A Study in Brimstone
By G.S. Denning
I bought the first 3 books in the series from Chirp in the Graphic Audio addition which has lots of sound effects and numerous narrators. They were on sale for just a few dollars a piece. I was hoping they were good since I didn't know this author. I was so glad I bought them now and I am watching for any more to come on sale!
This is a hilarious take on Sherlock and Watson! Dr Watson is poor and down on his luck and by chance someone tells him of a place to stay. It's with Warlock Holmes. Yes, Warlock seems a bit nutty but he only wants one coin and that's all! No other rent money, ever! So Dr Watson gladly moves in.
This starts a very crazy bro relationship and so fun too! Warlock is not too sharp on social or common sense things but is a very powerful wizard. He can call upon demons to do his bidding at times. This is just a minor thing he does.
Warlock's friends include two Inspectors, a vampire and a Troll! These two are also very good friends but just as crazy as Warlock!
This is such a fun world! The book is a bunch of stories about them but they all build upon each other. Loved it. Terrific narration!
By G.S. Denning
I bought the first 3 books in the series from Chirp in the Graphic Audio addition which has lots of sound effects and numerous narrators. They were on sale for just a few dollars a piece. I was hoping they were good since I didn't know this author. I was so glad I bought them now and I am watching for any more to come on sale!
This is a hilarious take on Sherlock and Watson! Dr Watson is poor and down on his luck and by chance someone tells him of a place to stay. It's with Warlock Holmes. Yes, Warlock seems a bit nutty but he only wants one coin and that's all! No other rent money, ever! So Dr Watson gladly moves in.
This starts a very crazy bro relationship and so fun too! Warlock is not too sharp on social or common sense things but is a very powerful wizard. He can call upon demons to do his bidding at times. This is just a minor thing he does.
Warlock's friends include two Inspectors, a vampire and a Troll! These two are also very good friends but just as crazy as Warlock!
This is such a fun world! The book is a bunch of stories about them but they all build upon each other. Loved it. Terrific narration!
June 5, 2019
I had dearly, one may say desperately wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
This book contains some of the adventures of Doctor John Watson and... Warlock Holmes. Accompanied by the vampire Lestrade (You do see where this is going, don't you?) and the ogre Groggson, they undertake some... cases. They are:
1. A Study in Brimstone
2. The Adventure of the Resident Sacrifice
3. The Case of the Cardboard... Case
4. The Adventure of the Yellow Bastard
5. The Adventure of the _ eckled _ band
6. Charles Augustus Milverton: Soulbinder
The stories were suppisedly spoofs of the Canon. Instead they became pun-laden tiresome reads. Also, they were rather excessively derivative of Doyle's works. So much so, the experience was like sitting through an American slapstick bereft of Chandler Bing.
Tiresome and juvenile, really.
This book contains some of the adventures of Doctor John Watson and... Warlock Holmes. Accompanied by the vampire Lestrade (You do see where this is going, don't you?) and the ogre Groggson, they undertake some... cases. They are:
1. A Study in Brimstone
2. The Adventure of the Resident Sacrifice
3. The Case of the Cardboard... Case
4. The Adventure of the Yellow Bastard
5. The Adventure of the _ eckled _ band
6. Charles Augustus Milverton: Soulbinder
The stories were suppisedly spoofs of the Canon. Instead they became pun-laden tiresome reads. Also, they were rather excessively derivative of Doyle's works. So much so, the experience was like sitting through an American slapstick bereft of Chandler Bing.
Tiresome and juvenile, really.
October 29, 2017
So I read the second book in the series earlier this year on vacation because I saw it in a bookstore and thought it sounded hilarious. I had no idea this was a series, so unfortunately I already knew how this would end. Thankfully, it did not ruin my enjoyment of the first installment.
This is a hilarious new take on the Sherlock Holmes canon. I love the idea of Warlock as a slightly dim but hilariously eager accidental detective, Watson as the brilliant deductive genius who desperately tries to pass on his wisdom, Lestrade the angry vampire, or Hudders, ehm, Mrs. Hudson, the French smut collector. The characters are fun to spend time with, and the silliness that sometimes arises is just adorable. Picture Watson overhearing Holmes saying this where he can't see him in a mortuary:
"Absolutely not! Brains are the natural property of the individual in whose skull they reside. They are the seat of our very identity. A man's brain is his kingdom! ... I have already told you: I am unwilling to part with it. Good day, sir! I said GOOD DAY, sir!"
But what I really love about this series is how closely it stick to the original stories. In this collection, you will for example find A Study in Scarlet, The Speckled Band, The Resident Patient, or Charles Augustus Milverton with hilarious new twists, but they still stay remarkably true to the canon.
So, brilliant writing, great sense of humor, and all the shenanigans you could want. If you can live with the idea of Warlock Holmes, accidental detective, and are looking for a fun read, I really cannot recommend this series enough :)
This is a hilarious new take on the Sherlock Holmes canon. I love the idea of Warlock as a slightly dim but hilariously eager accidental detective, Watson as the brilliant deductive genius who desperately tries to pass on his wisdom, Lestrade the angry vampire, or Hudders, ehm, Mrs. Hudson, the French smut collector. The characters are fun to spend time with, and the silliness that sometimes arises is just adorable. Picture Watson overhearing Holmes saying this where he can't see him in a mortuary:
"Absolutely not! Brains are the natural property of the individual in whose skull they reside. They are the seat of our very identity. A man's brain is his kingdom! ... I have already told you: I am unwilling to part with it. Good day, sir! I said GOOD DAY, sir!"
But what I really love about this series is how closely it stick to the original stories. In this collection, you will for example find A Study in Scarlet, The Speckled Band, The Resident Patient, or Charles Augustus Milverton with hilarious new twists, but they still stay remarkably true to the canon.
So, brilliant writing, great sense of humor, and all the shenanigans you could want. If you can live with the idea of Warlock Holmes, accidental detective, and are looking for a fun read, I really cannot recommend this series enough :)
July 22, 2021
This was quite funny and I liked the concept.
May 19, 2016
Truth be told...I have not read Sherlock Holmes, or watched any movies, or new adaptions. I did watch that movie where he was old. So I really can't say if the stories in this one are anything like the real ones. I mean the bones of them, since the rest is crazy.
I have no idea what Warlock Holmes really was, I have ideas, but I am all whaat? He is not really human. He knows magic, he sees a lot, he is strange. But then so is that person in that other reality too.
In comes Watson who needs a place to stay, and then he comes to like Warlock and solving weird cases. Cos they are weird, and supernatural.
The book is light, and with a touch of dry humour. It rather amusing and it is divided into 6 bigger cases that they solve together. I enjoyed it and this was a Holmes and Watson that was fun to read about. Especially when Holmes was feeding his rats that were handicapped...told you it was weird.
I have no idea what Warlock Holmes really was, I have ideas, but I am all whaat? He is not really human. He knows magic, he sees a lot, he is strange. But then so is that person in that other reality too.
In comes Watson who needs a place to stay, and then he comes to like Warlock and solving weird cases. Cos they are weird, and supernatural.
The book is light, and with a touch of dry humour. It rather amusing and it is divided into 6 bigger cases that they solve together. I enjoyed it and this was a Holmes and Watson that was fun to read about. Especially when Holmes was feeding his rats that were handicapped...told you it was weird.
November 24, 2020
First off, this was an AMAZING IDEA! I love the concept. The execution, however, was cursory, simplistic and just plain silly. There is absolutely zero character development, you never really know where you are at (no real descriptions of setting), and the world is simply never developed fully. There is a vampire and an ogre in the police force? But apparently no one notices? Or do they? When the ogre runs through the town destroying stuff in his underwear are the police and citizens alarmed? Are there any repercussion for such an act? Are you trying to say no one notices or that they are okay with it (not possible). The ogre mistakenly "arrests" the wrong person in one of the cases and beats him nearly to death yet this is brushed over as "ogres will be ogres" kind of mentality. What happens to the guy? No one seems to care about the bleeding wrongly accused man? So vacuous. page 91 "He (the ogre) tossed the body into the center of the room. Only when it (it? this is a person-this is a revolting section) gave a groan of protest did I realize the man was still alive…One side of his face was half stove-in." What happens to him? Did he go to hospital? Did he survive? The uncomplicated story never tells. Page 95 "He (the ogre) elected to take young Arthur into custody…long drag across town to our place." What? did no one baulk at a half dead man being dragged across town by a mostly naked ogre? Would not the police be slightly, ever so, concerned? Ridunkulus.
This is the epitome of show don't tell. I normally hate that phrase, but in this case he repeatedly states how slow and unobservant Holmes is-show us this don't tell us for goodness sake! The story is told from Watson's point of view (some parts are from his journal but no one would write in a journal so many quotes" it does not make any sense), but the details are sketchy and again he tells us what is happening more than the story progresses quite a bit.
Some of the description are beyond imbecilic, a group of rats which are actually homeless boys or something is "inside out?" page 88 of paperback. What? How does that work?
Again Denning repeatedly bashes us over the head with how unobservant Warlock Holmes is by telling us this, but he makes Watson no less simple. All the way on page 105 "Though I knew him to be unusual, I still perceived Holmes as basically human, like myself." Hmm. Were the green eyes not a tip off? What about the "demon" voices that come through him?
PAge 123 starts off as "Part III" this is from "Some nebulous, undefined source that is suddenly third persona nd almost makes you think you've picked up the wrong book" What? This is not funny but doltish. Other examples are page 138 when he simulates Donkey Kong video game?
PAge 169 "Just as I crave a heart attack, on the part of Mrs. Hudson…" Hmm. Wishing someone else to die is so funny (I guess for him). It's also funny on page 205 to give an amazingly magic box to the bad guy; on 236 to assume the ogre dude is guilty but lie to get him off-how cute! On page 247 Holmes is worried people have figured out his "true nature" but what about the vampire and the ogre that are walking around? No one notices them? I would strongly discourage reading this and definitely won't continue the series.
This is the epitome of show don't tell. I normally hate that phrase, but in this case he repeatedly states how slow and unobservant Holmes is-show us this don't tell us for goodness sake! The story is told from Watson's point of view (some parts are from his journal but no one would write in a journal so many quotes" it does not make any sense), but the details are sketchy and again he tells us what is happening more than the story progresses quite a bit.
Some of the description are beyond imbecilic, a group of rats which are actually homeless boys or something is "inside out?" page 88 of paperback. What? How does that work?
Again Denning repeatedly bashes us over the head with how unobservant Warlock Holmes is by telling us this, but he makes Watson no less simple. All the way on page 105 "Though I knew him to be unusual, I still perceived Holmes as basically human, like myself." Hmm. Were the green eyes not a tip off? What about the "demon" voices that come through him?
PAge 123 starts off as "Part III" this is from "Some nebulous, undefined source that is suddenly third persona nd almost makes you think you've picked up the wrong book" What? This is not funny but doltish. Other examples are page 138 when he simulates Donkey Kong video game?
PAge 169 "Just as I crave a heart attack, on the part of Mrs. Hudson…" Hmm. Wishing someone else to die is so funny (I guess for him). It's also funny on page 205 to give an amazingly magic box to the bad guy; on 236 to assume the ogre dude is guilty but lie to get him off-how cute! On page 247 Holmes is worried people have figured out his "true nature" but what about the vampire and the ogre that are walking around? No one notices them? I would strongly discourage reading this and definitely won't continue the series.
December 17, 2018
I so much wanted to like this but I didn't. I found Warlock Holmes to be so damn annoying all through what I read. Yes it says in the blurb that he is an idiot and he certainly was but I wasn't expecting this level of idiot. He has magical powers that would easily allow him to investigate and solve the crimes but decides to keep it hidden and tries to deduce in other ways, turning him into the worst kind of bumbling idiot ever, who is clueless at crime scenes. To me it doesn't come across as amusing moronicness, just bloody annoying all the time. He never explains anything he is doing or thinking to the reader or Watson so we never seem to learn anything new. Watson also never asks questions either so there is no basis for Warlock to have a conversation to explain, and I found this very frustrating. I just want to be able to follow what was happening! Why didn't Watson ASK something?
As for Watson himself, he may be the brains of the operation but he is so dense about the bleeding obvious that I could hit my head off a wall. He chooses to ignore all of Warlock's 'eccentricities' and the weird stuff going on in the house, and the very strange visitors, because he is living there rent free. Oh well, that's ok then! It is so obvious that there are supernatural things going on but Watson sees nothing that he doesn't want to see. It seems to take him long enough to work out that the two detectives on the case are an ogre-Torg, and a vampire-Vlad. Torg is a complete moron with no brains who bumbles about breaking things, messing up evidence and beating up everyone that might be a suspect. How he became a cop never mind a detective is a complete mystery. It takes Watson ages to admit to himself that Torg might be an ogre. Vlad meanwhile is happily helping himself to the blood left at the crime scene which is hardly acceptable for an investigation or normal behaviour! I did find Vlad to be the one character that I did like.
I found the humour really forced in that 'laugh here now' kind of way and I'm afraid I didn't find it funny or amusing at all. Other readers might like it and find it funny-it comes down to personal taste. I like the slapstick kind of humour, not this over the top stupid kind of humour as it just doesn't work for me. I found the story itself a bit too rambling for my taste and had a hefty dislike of pretty much all the characters. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it at all.
As for Watson himself, he may be the brains of the operation but he is so dense about the bleeding obvious that I could hit my head off a wall. He chooses to ignore all of Warlock's 'eccentricities' and the weird stuff going on in the house, and the very strange visitors, because he is living there rent free. Oh well, that's ok then! It is so obvious that there are supernatural things going on but Watson sees nothing that he doesn't want to see. It seems to take him long enough to work out that the two detectives on the case are an ogre-Torg, and a vampire-Vlad. Torg is a complete moron with no brains who bumbles about breaking things, messing up evidence and beating up everyone that might be a suspect. How he became a cop never mind a detective is a complete mystery. It takes Watson ages to admit to himself that Torg might be an ogre. Vlad meanwhile is happily helping himself to the blood left at the crime scene which is hardly acceptable for an investigation or normal behaviour! I did find Vlad to be the one character that I did like.
I found the humour really forced in that 'laugh here now' kind of way and I'm afraid I didn't find it funny or amusing at all. Other readers might like it and find it funny-it comes down to personal taste. I like the slapstick kind of humour, not this over the top stupid kind of humour as it just doesn't work for me. I found the story itself a bit too rambling for my taste and had a hefty dislike of pretty much all the characters. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it at all.
May 9, 2019
I enjoyed Denning's writing style and the premise of this is fun but I got bored pretty quickly. After taking in the goofy renditions of Holmes' characters (Lestrade as a vampire, etc), you're not left with much. The plot and mystery is virtually non-existent and is only there to forward the various re-imaginings of the traditional characters. It's like the movies Coneheads or most SNL movies - the characters are great for seven minute sketches but they can't sustain a movie. This is great for two chapters, but once the concept of Holmes as a Warlock becomes canon, the book became boring to me.
May 17, 2016
Totally, totally awesome. The prose was whip-smart and this was a fun, fresh take on Holmes and Watson. Even if you haven't read the old Holmes stories, these are every bit as fun and clever and quirky and nerdy. I loved the turnabout of having Watson as the brains behind the operation and Holmes only insightful because of magic. It was a great dynamic. Can't wait to read more from this author.
October 12, 2023
A weird and wacky book full of paranormal mysteries and adventure. A fun and funny series that I know I’m going to have a blast reading.
October 31, 2018
1.5 out of 5... I'm DNFing this one. I really wanted to enjoy this, truly I did. I love everything Sherlock Holmes, and leapt on this book as soon as I saw it. However I just couldn't keep myself interested in the slightest. The humour is where it fell really short for me. I didn't enjoy it at all. That being said, if a more ridiculous kind of humour, slapstick-esque, Monty Python kind of humour is for you, then you are probably more likely to enjoy it. Me, unfortunately, not so much...
December 19, 2025
Absurd, ambitious and hilarious. A Study in Brimstone reimagines Sherlock and John with a supernatural twist. Instead of a cunning detective, Warlock's powers of deduction are merely a way to explain away his supernatural abilities. He's hilariously inept at concealing his magic, but with John being the real deductive genius they muddle along. I've only read one Sherlock Holmes novel and have seen a few screen adaptations, but I think if you were a real aficionado the easter eggs in here would be a delight. Denning takes the Sherlock cannon and adds a lot of flair, humor and magic.
It's structed as several cases each having their own beginning and end but there is a larger storyline foreshadowed in the beginning. It ends on a cliffhanger, which wasn't expected but will have me picking up the next book, so mission accomplished.
It's structed as several cases each having their own beginning and end but there is a larger storyline foreshadowed in the beginning. It ends on a cliffhanger, which wasn't expected but will have me picking up the next book, so mission accomplished.
June 20, 2017
What if the esteemed detective, Sherlock Holmes, was something completely different? What if he was a rather bumbling practitioner of the dark arts? What if he only ate toast and soup? What if the best thing that ever happened to him was getting a new roommate, that man being Dr. John Watson? What if Watson solved most of the crimes? What if Holmes had some "interesting" friends, such as a vampire and an ogre?
Well, my friends, you'd have this book. It was a very different, alternative version of the famous detective, and I found myself laughing quit a bit. And then getting to the end of the book and thinking "Crap! Where's the next book?!" Because there's a cliffhanger of an ending...
Fun stuff. Highly recommend.
Well, my friends, you'd have this book. It was a very different, alternative version of the famous detective, and I found myself laughing quit a bit. And then getting to the end of the book and thinking "Crap! Where's the next book?!" Because there's a cliffhanger of an ending...
Fun stuff. Highly recommend.
Read
August 10, 2023Read the first story and thought it was OK. But not to my taste. I guess I just like my Sherlock to be straight up, no fantasy elements with him.
It wasn't bad, just not for me.
It wasn't bad, just not for me.
August 30, 2018
2.5
I thought the premise of this story was interesting - after it was brought to my attention by a friend - so I decided to give it a Buddy Read.
I am glad I read it, because it's light and amusing enough. I am familiar enough with the original stories to recognize some of the references and shout outs, and I enjoyed the twists that the supernatural element was able to give to the stories.
However, while I appreciated that Warlock Holmes isn't one for deduction or logic, I didn't enjoy turning the character into a buffoon. In the first story, Warlock is able to glean information that Sherlock would get from deduction - but Warlock as more occult means, and then does some hamfisted deduction to cover up his abilities.
However, as the story progressed he just seemed to be a bumbling idiot who stumbles into the right answers occasionally, and who has absolutely no real sense of self-esteem.
Conversely, Watson becomes the deductive genius and, in the first person telling, he becomes unbearably smug because of it. (I appreciate the one story where the twist was that )
He was also a downright coward more often than not - which makes little sense for a character who has demonic powers at his command.... but I suppose it's meant to be funny. Ha ha...
I think my favorite parts of this story were actually Groggson, the ogre, and Lestrade, the vampire. I generally liked the stories with them in it the best, and I wished we saw more of them - especially Lestrade.
I probably will pick up the next book in the series - thus the rounded up to 3 instead of down to 2 - because I'm curious as to how they'll resolve the way that this set of stories ends.
I thought the premise of this story was interesting - after it was brought to my attention by a friend - so I decided to give it a Buddy Read.
I am glad I read it, because it's light and amusing enough. I am familiar enough with the original stories to recognize some of the references and shout outs, and I enjoyed the twists that the supernatural element was able to give to the stories.
However, while I appreciated that Warlock Holmes isn't one for deduction or logic, I didn't enjoy turning the character into a buffoon. In the first story, Warlock is able to glean information that Sherlock would get from deduction - but Warlock as more occult means, and then does some hamfisted deduction to cover up his abilities.
However, as the story progressed he just seemed to be a bumbling idiot who stumbles into the right answers occasionally, and who has absolutely no real sense of self-esteem.
Conversely, Watson becomes the deductive genius and, in the first person telling, he becomes unbearably smug because of it. (I appreciate the one story where the twist was that )
He was also a downright coward more often than not - which makes little sense for a character who has demonic powers at his command.... but I suppose it's meant to be funny. Ha ha...
I think my favorite parts of this story were actually Groggson, the ogre, and Lestrade, the vampire. I generally liked the stories with them in it the best, and I wished we saw more of them - especially Lestrade.
I probably will pick up the next book in the series - thus the rounded up to 3 instead of down to 2 - because I'm curious as to how they'll resolve the way that this set of stories ends.
July 28, 2019
I kept thinking that the intended audience was a strange one, young male teenagers who actually understand all of the Sherlock Holmes references (and probably also like fart jokes. It had that vibe). I couldn't really tell if I was reading something that is supposed to be a young adult book or not.
I have read many, many British mysteries over the years, including having read all of the Sherlock Holmes books a few times. So, I really wanted to like this book because I was a prime target for it - I dig British mysteries and I like puns.
Alas, I didn't think it was particularly funny. Thus, I didn't particularly like the story since it completely relies on one's ability to appreciate magic, the super-natural and the Sherlock humor/pun references. I was bummed because I thought this book would be hilarious, and it wasn't. It was just dull for me.
I have read many, many British mysteries over the years, including having read all of the Sherlock Holmes books a few times. So, I really wanted to like this book because I was a prime target for it - I dig British mysteries and I like puns.
Alas, I didn't think it was particularly funny. Thus, I didn't particularly like the story since it completely relies on one's ability to appreciate magic, the super-natural and the Sherlock humor/pun references. I was bummed because I thought this book would be hilarious, and it wasn't. It was just dull for me.
July 21, 2017
I've watched the Sherlock tv series. I've read (most) of the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Doyle. I've watched the movies. And here I sit completely blown away by this book. What if the world that contained the genius of Sherlock and the sense of Watson was also a world where there were vampires, trolls, and shape shifters?
I was hooked from the first page. Who doesn't like the first person, slightly self-deprecating journal entries of Watson and the adventures he never imagined himself getting into in the original stories? This book is written in the same style.
I can't tell you how thrilled I was to see the promise of a sequel at the end of the book. I will be reading it and hopefully the rest to follow.
I was hooked from the first page. Who doesn't like the first person, slightly self-deprecating journal entries of Watson and the adventures he never imagined himself getting into in the original stories? This book is written in the same style.
I can't tell you how thrilled I was to see the promise of a sequel at the end of the book. I will be reading it and hopefully the rest to follow.
May 24, 2016
This review can also be found on my blog where you can follow by Wordpress, Bloglovin or email. :)
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A study in Brimstone brings together six reimagined stories from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series into one novel. A study in Brimstone is the re-imagining of Conan Doyle's first Holmes book, A study in Scarlet which brings together Holmes and Watson for the first time alongside five different short stories from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series:
-The Adventure of the Resident Patient.
-The Adventure of the Cardboard Box.
-The Adventure of the Yellow Face.
-The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
-The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.
Reimagined into:
-The Adventure of the Resident Sacrifice.
-The Case of the Cardboard.......Case.
-The Adventure of the Yellow Bastard.
-The Adventure of the _echoed _and.
-Charles Augustus Milverton: Soulbinder.
I'm a Holmes fan, I've read all Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes stories and short story collections and thoroughly enjoyed them. I was also impressed with Anthony Horowitz's fairly recent The House of Silk as I thought he did a great job of bringing Sherlock to life in a way very reminiscent of Conan Doyle. So, whilst this book really intrigued me, I have to admit I was also sceptical about it, however I didn't need to have worried as Denning has done a great job with this book crafting a humorous addition to the Holmes canon.
Denning keeps the stories and their format close to the classic originals but also finds the perfect balance of adding humour and fantastical elements that whilst respecting the originals and keeping both their wit and charm also stands to make his retelling his own unique version.
The short stories Denning has included in the book are a great selection, obviously we needed to start with A study in Brimstone/Scarlet as it is the origin story for the Watson and Holmes partnership but the five other shorts are all good choices as they are all different tales.
The reimagined characters are: Warlock Holmes (Incompetent Detective), Vladislav Lestrade (Nihilist Vampire), Torg Grogsson (House-proud Ogre) and John Watson (a simple Human). They are all likeable, well written, often times funny characters that Denning manages to bring to life in a surreal version of Victorian London. The cast of supporting characters don't escape Denning's fantastical reimagining either with both the Baker Street Irregulars and Mrs Hudson given the treatment, the former who in the original series are merely a gang of child street urchins are transformed into a gang of Were-Rats. Whereas the later in Mrs Hudson, is a septuagenarian whom according to Watson has a penchant for smutty romance novels!
At times Warlock does show hints of his serious counterpart but he really is a terrible, bumbling detective, relying on occult and supernatural powers, help from Demons and cryptic monologues from Moriarty who just so happens to be a soul trapped inside Warlock! In a twist it is Watson that is the brains and has the skills of observation and deduction that help to aid in the solving of the various cases. Some of the most humourous parts of the book come when Watson has to cover up Warlock's nonchalant use of his supernatural powers and in what I'm sure some fans will deem a travesty, Holmes trusty Violin has been replaced by an Accordion.
Throughout the book there are a few illustrations, one per tale with each depicting a scene from that particular story, they are of a high standard and are a nice touch but I'd have personally liked to have seen a few more. The cover also deserves a mention, it's got quite a classic look and design to it with a plain white background and black and green detailing but it's an aesthetic and colour scheme that works well and looks really smart.
This book is a great setup and beginning for Warlock's adventures in future releases, where I hope to see Denning continue to further develop the characters and their relationships and also hopefully include more magic and of course more demons to. The Hound of the Baskervilles is my favourite Sherlock Holmes tale and I can't wait for Warlock Holmes to return next year in Denning's take on that classic, The Battle for Baskerville Hall.
A cracking good, well written, humorous, fast paced, re-imagining of the classic pairing of Holmes and Watson. Readers who have never read a Holmes book before will find to like here as will fans of the Conan Doyle originals and in my humble opinion Sherlock fans will soon become Warlock fans.
Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A study in Brimstone brings together six reimagined stories from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series into one novel. A study in Brimstone is the re-imagining of Conan Doyle's first Holmes book, A study in Scarlet which brings together Holmes and Watson for the first time alongside five different short stories from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series:
-The Adventure of the Resident Patient.
-The Adventure of the Cardboard Box.
-The Adventure of the Yellow Face.
-The Adventure of the Speckled Band.
-The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.
Reimagined into:
-The Adventure of the Resident Sacrifice.
-The Case of the Cardboard.......Case.
-The Adventure of the Yellow Bastard.
-The Adventure of the _echoed _and.
-Charles Augustus Milverton: Soulbinder.
I'm a Holmes fan, I've read all Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes stories and short story collections and thoroughly enjoyed them. I was also impressed with Anthony Horowitz's fairly recent The House of Silk as I thought he did a great job of bringing Sherlock to life in a way very reminiscent of Conan Doyle. So, whilst this book really intrigued me, I have to admit I was also sceptical about it, however I didn't need to have worried as Denning has done a great job with this book crafting a humorous addition to the Holmes canon.
Denning keeps the stories and their format close to the classic originals but also finds the perfect balance of adding humour and fantastical elements that whilst respecting the originals and keeping both their wit and charm also stands to make his retelling his own unique version.
The short stories Denning has included in the book are a great selection, obviously we needed to start with A study in Brimstone/Scarlet as it is the origin story for the Watson and Holmes partnership but the five other shorts are all good choices as they are all different tales.
The reimagined characters are: Warlock Holmes (Incompetent Detective), Vladislav Lestrade (Nihilist Vampire), Torg Grogsson (House-proud Ogre) and John Watson (a simple Human). They are all likeable, well written, often times funny characters that Denning manages to bring to life in a surreal version of Victorian London. The cast of supporting characters don't escape Denning's fantastical reimagining either with both the Baker Street Irregulars and Mrs Hudson given the treatment, the former who in the original series are merely a gang of child street urchins are transformed into a gang of Were-Rats. Whereas the later in Mrs Hudson, is a septuagenarian whom according to Watson has a penchant for smutty romance novels!
At times Warlock does show hints of his serious counterpart but he really is a terrible, bumbling detective, relying on occult and supernatural powers, help from Demons and cryptic monologues from Moriarty who just so happens to be a soul trapped inside Warlock! In a twist it is Watson that is the brains and has the skills of observation and deduction that help to aid in the solving of the various cases. Some of the most humourous parts of the book come when Watson has to cover up Warlock's nonchalant use of his supernatural powers and in what I'm sure some fans will deem a travesty, Holmes trusty Violin has been replaced by an Accordion.
Throughout the book there are a few illustrations, one per tale with each depicting a scene from that particular story, they are of a high standard and are a nice touch but I'd have personally liked to have seen a few more. The cover also deserves a mention, it's got quite a classic look and design to it with a plain white background and black and green detailing but it's an aesthetic and colour scheme that works well and looks really smart.
This book is a great setup and beginning for Warlock's adventures in future releases, where I hope to see Denning continue to further develop the characters and their relationships and also hopefully include more magic and of course more demons to. The Hound of the Baskervilles is my favourite Sherlock Holmes tale and I can't wait for Warlock Holmes to return next year in Denning's take on that classic, The Battle for Baskerville Hall.
A cracking good, well written, humorous, fast paced, re-imagining of the classic pairing of Holmes and Watson. Readers who have never read a Holmes book before will find to like here as will fans of the Conan Doyle originals and in my humble opinion Sherlock fans will soon become Warlock fans.
Highly recommended!
November 10, 2024
3.75 out of 5 stars
Listened to the dramatized audio for this one and the performances there made this really entertaining. It's fun and campy, but sometimes bordering to ridiculous. It is an interesting and creative twist to the beloved detective stories and it reminded me of the 1st Blackadder series where it was Baldrick who was the smart one.
Listened to the dramatized audio for this one and the performances there made this really entertaining. It's fun and campy, but sometimes bordering to ridiculous. It is an interesting and creative twist to the beloved detective stories and it reminded me of the 1st Blackadder series where it was Baldrick who was the smart one.
December 3, 2024
I really wish Goodreads supported half-stars, because this is the clearest 3.5-star read I've had in a while. I went into this one blind on a recommendation from a friend and generally enjoyed myself but kept snagging on details.
As you might guess from the title, the book draws heavily on the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories for its mysteries and is more like a set of loosely connected cases than a streamlined narrative. In this London, Warlock Holmes is a consulting sorcerer of sorts (getting his information from demons) and John is the brilliant detective for once, using his clear head for diagnosis to track symptoms and details in a crime scene. I appreciated the unusual dynamic, especially given how many Holmes-inspired stories dump on Watson (or delete him entirely) in order to validate new characters. Together with the vampire Inspector Vladislav Lestrade and the ogre Inspector Torg Grogsson, they solve supernatural crimes.
The story is hilarious at times, with the unusual Warlock Holmes getting information from demons and trying (unsuccessfully) to pass it off as deduction. John Watson is the brilliant detective this time, applying the logic of medicine to crime scenes and teaching Warlock how to use that logic as a mask. Between logic, magic, and their uncanny friends at Scotland Yard, they get cases solved. Unfortunately, the story is muddled at times, wavering between a full-book suspenseful storyline (Moriarty is trapped in Holmes's head and trying to either help or sabotage him) and deeply absurd details on the cases. When it works, it's great, but some of the stories just drag and seem caught on trying to execute contorted jokes that point back to the original stories. I'd also like to see any improvement at all on the classic female characters, but they're rarely more than flat background pieces.
By far the strongest stories in the collection are the first and the last, in large part because they have the lion’s share of the overarching tension around Moriarty being trapped as a demon in Holmes’s head and trying to escape. The middle stories are fun, but sometimes get too bogged down in building up the absurdity of a situation or forcing supernatural circumstances to mirror the events of the original stories. The story would have benefited from playing a bit more fast and loose with those structures and forging its own path to an original plot, I think. Ultimately, I think this is great popcorn reading but not anything I’m in a rush to continue, especially since this sticks with the original stories in being a near-complete boy’s club. If you like absurd humor paired with your detective stories, though, I’d recommend this one-- I laughed out loud more than once.
Content warnings: mild;
Other recommendations:
- If you like the blend of seriousness and comedy and want a more well-rounded cast, try the madcap mystery Murder at Spindle Manor. It's a more compressed narrative, taking place over a single night, but the gaslamp setting and weird characters make this a fun pairing.
As you might guess from the title, the book draws heavily on the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories for its mysteries and is more like a set of loosely connected cases than a streamlined narrative. In this London, Warlock Holmes is a consulting sorcerer of sorts (getting his information from demons) and John is the brilliant detective for once, using his clear head for diagnosis to track symptoms and details in a crime scene. I appreciated the unusual dynamic, especially given how many Holmes-inspired stories dump on Watson (or delete him entirely) in order to validate new characters. Together with the vampire Inspector Vladislav Lestrade and the ogre Inspector Torg Grogsson, they solve supernatural crimes.
The story is hilarious at times, with the unusual Warlock Holmes getting information from demons and trying (unsuccessfully) to pass it off as deduction. John Watson is the brilliant detective this time, applying the logic of medicine to crime scenes and teaching Warlock how to use that logic as a mask. Between logic, magic, and their uncanny friends at Scotland Yard, they get cases solved. Unfortunately, the story is muddled at times, wavering between a full-book suspenseful storyline (Moriarty is trapped in Holmes's head and trying to either help or sabotage him) and deeply absurd details on the cases. When it works, it's great, but some of the stories just drag and seem caught on trying to execute contorted jokes that point back to the original stories. I'd also like to see any improvement at all on the classic female characters, but they're rarely more than flat background pieces.
By far the strongest stories in the collection are the first and the last, in large part because they have the lion’s share of the overarching tension around Moriarty being trapped as a demon in Holmes’s head and trying to escape. The middle stories are fun, but sometimes get too bogged down in building up the absurdity of a situation or forcing supernatural circumstances to mirror the events of the original stories. The story would have benefited from playing a bit more fast and loose with those structures and forging its own path to an original plot, I think. Ultimately, I think this is great popcorn reading but not anything I’m in a rush to continue, especially since this sticks with the original stories in being a near-complete boy’s club. If you like absurd humor paired with your detective stories, though, I’d recommend this one-- I laughed out loud more than once.
Content warnings: mild;
Other recommendations:
- If you like the blend of seriousness and comedy and want a more well-rounded cast, try the madcap mystery Murder at Spindle Manor. It's a more compressed narrative, taking place over a single night, but the gaslamp setting and weird characters make this a fun pairing.
September 16, 2018
Warlock Holmes is part parody/part fantasy rendering of Sherlock Holmes. Each chapter is based on a Holmes' adventure, and usually includes Watson doing some type of riff about a logical point or Victorian behavoir. (The whole discussion of the speckled ban is worth the cost of the book).
The difference is that Warlock Holmes is a man of unique talents and isn't quite normal. He might not be the brightest bulb in the bunch, but he is likable. His friends in Scotland Yard are also slightly different.
Robert Garson's narrative voice is spot on. He also doesn't do silly and annoying female voices.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. But there is are second and third volumes.
This is great.
The difference is that Warlock Holmes is a man of unique talents and isn't quite normal. He might not be the brightest bulb in the bunch, but he is likable. His friends in Scotland Yard are also slightly different.
Robert Garson's narrative voice is spot on. He also doesn't do silly and annoying female voices.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. But there is are second and third volumes.
This is great.
July 14, 2017
This was a fun read. It was enjoyable throughout, no moment to overly dramatic and no joke poorly executed. The back and forth between Warlock and Dr. Watson was not what I expected, and it was wonderful. Warlock Holmes, like the traditional Sherlock Holmes, is great at solving the cases handed to him. The difference is how it gets done. Deduction is overrated when your name is Warlock Holmes. My hope is this book is just the beginning of a long series of adventures for Warlock and his trainer in investigative techniques, Dr. John Watson.
October 5, 2017
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 821 reviews