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The Watson Letters #2
Not the 39 Steps
A novelist in fear for his life. A murderous relative. A vampiric count.
In three new adventures, Holmes and Watson team up with Richard Hannay to do battle with Moriarty in Edinburgh's subterranean passageways, investigate a series of murders at Cold Comfort Farm and tackle the bloodthirsty Count Dracula in Transylvania. Adult humour throughout.
Not the 39 Steps is book #2 in this Victorian comedy adventure series set in a not quite Post-Victorian, steampunk parallel universe.
If you love historical mysteries, buy something else instead, but if you're into fart-gags and innuendo this'll be right up your Victorian street.
In three new adventures, Holmes and Watson team up with Richard Hannay to do battle with Moriarty in Edinburgh's subterranean passageways, investigate a series of murders at Cold Comfort Farm and tackle the bloodthirsty Count Dracula in Transylvania. Adult humour throughout.
Not the 39 Steps is book #2 in this Victorian comedy adventure series set in a not quite Post-Victorian, steampunk parallel universe.
If you love historical mysteries, buy something else instead, but if you're into fart-gags and innuendo this'll be right up your Victorian street.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2016
6 people want to read
About the author
Colin Garrow
50 books142 followersColin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate.
He has published more than thirty books, and his short stories have appeared in several literary mags, most recently in Witcraft, and Flash Fiction North. Colin lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.
He plays several musical instruments and makes rather nice vegan cakes.
He has published more than thirty books, and his short stories have appeared in several literary mags, most recently in Witcraft, and Flash Fiction North. Colin lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.
He plays several musical instruments and makes rather nice vegan cakes.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 13, 2019
Another hilarious romp as we follow Holmes & Watson on the case of the ‘not’ the 39 steps. Naturally Professor Moriarty is close on their heels as the duo head for Edinburgh with author Hannay in tow. This second book in the series is every bit as funny as the first, with witty asides & double entendres aplenty. From cheeky bottom-pinching to Mrs.Hudsons teacakes this kept me giggling until the conclusion & what a glorious ride it was.
May 19, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in The Watson Letters series. I find Colin Garrow's humour hilarious and very English which appeals hugely to me. The book covers three story lines with the first taking place in Scotland after Sherlock and Watson are conned by a writer, Mr Hanney, to travel there to help him save the plot of his new book, The 39 Steps, from theft by other writers. On arrival in Scotland, the pair are soon pulled into an unfortunate situation with Professor Moriarty, Sherlock's arch enemy and a madman intent on world domination.
The second part of the novella is set at the peculiar and creepy, Comfort Farm, where the two detectives are summonsed by the daughter of an old friend of Watson, to investigate the mysterious death of her Aunt Ada Doom. The farm is not at all as Watson expected and he is quickly drawn into mysterious circumstances which he believes his wife, Mary, can assist him with. Before Mary can arrive, two further murders take place and Sherlock appears, disguised as a cow. The three detectives set out finding out who the killer is.
I enjoyed the final part of the the most as it features Count Dracula of Transylvania. It is helpful, but not essential, if the reader has read Bram Stoker's Dracula as it makes this story even more amusing. The trio undertake a long trip to Transylvania to meet the Count who takes a fancy to Mary and wishes to claim her as one of his undead. They soon discover his dastardly plan and need to make swift interventions to prevent him for succeeding.
This book is for adults and contains a number of amusing sexual innuendos. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy a good spoof of a number of famous literary characters.
The second part of the novella is set at the peculiar and creepy, Comfort Farm, where the two detectives are summonsed by the daughter of an old friend of Watson, to investigate the mysterious death of her Aunt Ada Doom. The farm is not at all as Watson expected and he is quickly drawn into mysterious circumstances which he believes his wife, Mary, can assist him with. Before Mary can arrive, two further murders take place and Sherlock appears, disguised as a cow. The three detectives set out finding out who the killer is.
I enjoyed the final part of the the most as it features Count Dracula of Transylvania. It is helpful, but not essential, if the reader has read Bram Stoker's Dracula as it makes this story even more amusing. The trio undertake a long trip to Transylvania to meet the Count who takes a fancy to Mary and wishes to claim her as one of his undead. They soon discover his dastardly plan and need to make swift interventions to prevent him for succeeding.
This book is for adults and contains a number of amusing sexual innuendos. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy a good spoof of a number of famous literary characters.
November 9, 2016
If you're expecting a lifelike description of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes - think again. This appears to be like it but is completely different. It is a witty humorous tale of 'Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson - from an introspective view.' The stories are there, related even to real life authors such as John Buchan and his crime thriller 'The 39 Steps' involving spies and conspiracy theories. What binds the plots is the unique way in which Colin Garrow paints his portrait of our Baker Street heroes: with constant reminders of the "thickness" of Dr Watson and references to various (male) body parts, in particular the ones below the waist. The suggestions made are most of the time absurd, but somehow you can't help smiling upon yet another physical discomfort described so bluntly.
Needless to say that this is not for the fainthearted, nor for those who seek the higher goal of emancipation and feminism. Whenever Dr Watson has to empathize he is reminded of 'exploring his feminine side', if you think this is too much, then clearly you will not appreciate this witty detective novel. By the way, even Mrs Watson makes a considerable contribution, she seems of somewhat disreputable character and has regular flings, for instance with an Italian ice cream seller. She even proves more useful to Holmes than her spouse, who, when asked to take stakes to Count Alucard's castle brings a variety of 'T-bones, rib-eyes and pork chops" with him to which Holmes reacts "Ah. Then we might have an ever bigger problem.." Just to name some diversions in the book.
Not the 39 Steps
The date is August 22nd 1889, the place Nobfiddler’s Lane and the note attracting Dr Watson’s attention is written by Bill Sikes. It refers to a certain Mr Hannay, mentioning ’39 steps’, who was in danger from two sinister looking types following him. Hence our Mr Sikes took the precaution to put Hannay safe and warn Dr Watson – to investigate the matter with Sherlock Holmes. When Holmes doesn’t respond, Watson decides to take the matter into his own hands. He persuades Hannay to return to his home and assures him that he, Watson, will accompany him. Upon returning to Hannay’s home everything seems to be in order though Watson is “a little disappointed to discover there were no Custard Creams” to go with their tea.
When a knifed man stumbles in, saying 'ostovich' with his dying breath, a postcard of a Scottish village on him, it is time for action. Watson and Hannay travel to Scotland by train to find out what is going on. If this case is based on a novel Hannay wrote, there could be spies involved, just as Hannay described. Is it a surprise that Watson finds his friend Holmes aboard the train to Scotland? And isn't it irritating that Holmes asks him if he has "worked it out yet..?" Of course Watson hasn't 'got' it and needs his friend to decipher the case. What follows are misunderstandings, plots going wrong, appearances of both Holmes' favourite cop Lestrade and his enemy Moriarty and bowels having difficulty digesting all of this.
Cold Comfort Murder
When Watson receives a rather urgent message from Flora, daughter of a former school-mate, he feels obliged to come to the rescue. The maid is fair, the countryside is lovely and the promise of an abundance of food is enough to get him going. However, before he endeavours to bring up the subject to his wife, she requests him to fulfil her needs before entering into the claws of a beautiful country girl. Before he leaves, Watson contacts Holmes, to find that he's abroad, currently residing in France, with no intention to leave Madame Pompadour just yet.
Does it come as a surprise when Watson finally arrives at the farm, that the knife-stabbed body is still in its place? That no police officer has been notified? And that soon more sinister and dark secrets are being revealed? And that Watson has no inkling how to handle the case without Holmes, is so desperate that he sends for Mrs Watson, Mary? That she upon entering the farm figures out one or two obvious clues, totally missed by Watson? And what is it that happened in the woodshed so many years ago? There's also cheese and the mentioning of cows in the story and a man named Adam Shitebreath ... what more do you need to solve the case.
The Vampire Lestrade
The title of this case is promosing and when Watson receives a message from Holmes, to accompany him to Transsylvania, he is only too happy. 'Bring Mary' said the message and due to the fact that said name belongs to Mrs Watson, Watson drags her along. Alas, Holmes meant his owl Mary, but it's too late now and so the three of them are on their way to count Alucard's castle in Transsylvania. And no, Count Alucard has nothing to do with the vampire Dracula, on the contrary, he is a sound man of British origin, who has been living in London. It seems the count has received death-threads and wants Holmes to investigate.
Had Watson brought the 'stakes' as Holmes asked instead of all sorts of steaks, perhaps this story would have ended quite differently. On the other hand, had Watson brought the owl Mary, as requested, this tale would perhaps never have survived Transsylvania and we, the readers, would not have had the privilige of reading Watson's accounts of Count Alucard and the hunt for vampires. This last detective story in the book is again a pleasure to read, where the plotline is mixed with typical dry British humour - which makes Colin Garrow's second volume of 'The Watson Letters' a very entertaining read!
You can find this review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/the-wat...
Needless to say that this is not for the fainthearted, nor for those who seek the higher goal of emancipation and feminism. Whenever Dr Watson has to empathize he is reminded of 'exploring his feminine side', if you think this is too much, then clearly you will not appreciate this witty detective novel. By the way, even Mrs Watson makes a considerable contribution, she seems of somewhat disreputable character and has regular flings, for instance with an Italian ice cream seller. She even proves more useful to Holmes than her spouse, who, when asked to take stakes to Count Alucard's castle brings a variety of 'T-bones, rib-eyes and pork chops" with him to which Holmes reacts "Ah. Then we might have an ever bigger problem.." Just to name some diversions in the book.
Not the 39 Steps
The date is August 22nd 1889, the place Nobfiddler’s Lane and the note attracting Dr Watson’s attention is written by Bill Sikes. It refers to a certain Mr Hannay, mentioning ’39 steps’, who was in danger from two sinister looking types following him. Hence our Mr Sikes took the precaution to put Hannay safe and warn Dr Watson – to investigate the matter with Sherlock Holmes. When Holmes doesn’t respond, Watson decides to take the matter into his own hands. He persuades Hannay to return to his home and assures him that he, Watson, will accompany him. Upon returning to Hannay’s home everything seems to be in order though Watson is “a little disappointed to discover there were no Custard Creams” to go with their tea.
When a knifed man stumbles in, saying 'ostovich' with his dying breath, a postcard of a Scottish village on him, it is time for action. Watson and Hannay travel to Scotland by train to find out what is going on. If this case is based on a novel Hannay wrote, there could be spies involved, just as Hannay described. Is it a surprise that Watson finds his friend Holmes aboard the train to Scotland? And isn't it irritating that Holmes asks him if he has "worked it out yet..?" Of course Watson hasn't 'got' it and needs his friend to decipher the case. What follows are misunderstandings, plots going wrong, appearances of both Holmes' favourite cop Lestrade and his enemy Moriarty and bowels having difficulty digesting all of this.
Cold Comfort Murder
When Watson receives a rather urgent message from Flora, daughter of a former school-mate, he feels obliged to come to the rescue. The maid is fair, the countryside is lovely and the promise of an abundance of food is enough to get him going. However, before he endeavours to bring up the subject to his wife, she requests him to fulfil her needs before entering into the claws of a beautiful country girl. Before he leaves, Watson contacts Holmes, to find that he's abroad, currently residing in France, with no intention to leave Madame Pompadour just yet.
Does it come as a surprise when Watson finally arrives at the farm, that the knife-stabbed body is still in its place? That no police officer has been notified? And that soon more sinister and dark secrets are being revealed? And that Watson has no inkling how to handle the case without Holmes, is so desperate that he sends for Mrs Watson, Mary? That she upon entering the farm figures out one or two obvious clues, totally missed by Watson? And what is it that happened in the woodshed so many years ago? There's also cheese and the mentioning of cows in the story and a man named Adam Shitebreath ... what more do you need to solve the case.
The Vampire Lestrade
The title of this case is promosing and when Watson receives a message from Holmes, to accompany him to Transsylvania, he is only too happy. 'Bring Mary' said the message and due to the fact that said name belongs to Mrs Watson, Watson drags her along. Alas, Holmes meant his owl Mary, but it's too late now and so the three of them are on their way to count Alucard's castle in Transsylvania. And no, Count Alucard has nothing to do with the vampire Dracula, on the contrary, he is a sound man of British origin, who has been living in London. It seems the count has received death-threads and wants Holmes to investigate.
Had Watson brought the 'stakes' as Holmes asked instead of all sorts of steaks, perhaps this story would have ended quite differently. On the other hand, had Watson brought the owl Mary, as requested, this tale would perhaps never have survived Transsylvania and we, the readers, would not have had the privilige of reading Watson's accounts of Count Alucard and the hunt for vampires. This last detective story in the book is again a pleasure to read, where the plotline is mixed with typical dry British humour - which makes Colin Garrow's second volume of 'The Watson Letters' a very entertaining read!
You can find this review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/the-wat...
January 28, 2018
A funny read about a famous duo. I often felt sorry for Watson as Holmes had a knack of solving the cases as if 'with a flick of the wrist' while Watson did all the dirty work. I love Garrow's humour and recommend his book to anyone in for some light reading and a laugh.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews