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Baker Street Inquiries #2
The Women of Baker Street
As Sherlock and Watson return from the famous Hound of the Baskervilles case, Mrs Hudson and Mary must face their own Hound, in the swirling fog of Victorian London . . .
When Mrs Hudson falls ill, she is taken into a private ward at St Barts hospital. Perhaps it is her over-active imagination, or her penchant for sniffing out secrets, but as she lies in her bed, slowly recovering, she finds herself surrounded by patients who all have some skeletons in their closets. A higher number of deaths than usual seem to occur on this ward. On her very first night, Mrs Hudson believes she witnesses a murder. But was it real, or just smoke and mirrors?
Mary Watson meanwhile has heard about young boys disappearing across London, and is determined to find them and reunite them with their families. As the women's investigations collide in unexpected ways, a gruesome discovery in Regent's Park leads them on to a new, terrifying case.
When Mrs Hudson falls ill, she is taken into a private ward at St Barts hospital. Perhaps it is her over-active imagination, or her penchant for sniffing out secrets, but as she lies in her bed, slowly recovering, she finds herself surrounded by patients who all have some skeletons in their closets. A higher number of deaths than usual seem to occur on this ward. On her very first night, Mrs Hudson believes she witnesses a murder. But was it real, or just smoke and mirrors?
Mary Watson meanwhile has heard about young boys disappearing across London, and is determined to find them and reunite them with their families. As the women's investigations collide in unexpected ways, a gruesome discovery in Regent's Park leads them on to a new, terrifying case.
368 pages, Paperback
Published February 9, 2017
15 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Birkby
5 books78 followersMichelle Birkby has always loved crime stories, and read her first Sherlock Holmes book when she was thirteen. She was given a beautiful collection of all the short stories and has been hooked with the wonderful, gas-lit, atmospheric world of crime and adventure ever since. A few years ago Michelle was re-reading The Empty House and a blurred figure in the background suddenly came into focus. It became clear to her that Mrs Hudson was much more than a housekeeper to 221b and she'd always been fascinated by Mary Watson's character. So she set about giving the women of Baker Street a voice and adventures of their own . . . The House at Baker Street is the first book in the exciting Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson Investigations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 27, 2017
I read the first book in this series, The House at Baker Street, and I loved it. Got book #2 The Women of Baker Street, and it is just as fabulous. I am not a Sherlock Holmes fan and for this series it is not necessary. These are the cases Sherlock and Dr. Watson turn down. The ladies, Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson, are there and just as capable to solve the case.
Wonderful, highly recommend and can't wait for #3.
Wonderful, highly recommend and can't wait for #3.
December 1, 2021
***3.5***
In the next mystery, Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Watson stumble upon a curious set of incidents which are too hard to ignore. Mrs. Hudson is ill die to a stomach ailment and during her time in a hospital ward she notices deaths which are slightly suspicious especially when she believes it to be murders.
Mrs. Watson is also busy. She notices that there are boys going missing all over London, but not in an alarming rate, still the disappeared boys are no where to be found.
Little did they know that these two mysteries so different are actually tied together which will again bring the duo to work as a team and solve it.
A good mystery, though I found Mrs. Hudson a bit rude and less friendly this time.
Happy Reading!!
In the next mystery, Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Watson stumble upon a curious set of incidents which are too hard to ignore. Mrs. Hudson is ill die to a stomach ailment and during her time in a hospital ward she notices deaths which are slightly suspicious especially when she believes it to be murders.
Mrs. Watson is also busy. She notices that there are boys going missing all over London, but not in an alarming rate, still the disappeared boys are no where to be found.
Little did they know that these two mysteries so different are actually tied together which will again bring the duo to work as a team and solve it.
A good mystery, though I found Mrs. Hudson a bit rude and less friendly this time.
Happy Reading!!
June 18, 2017
I have not read ‘The House at Baker Street’ which is the first book in this series. Though this book can be read as a standalone, there were places where certain references made me feel like I was missing something – something that I ought to know about Mary and Mrs. Hudson’s first adventure. I would straightaway suggest people to pick up the books in the series in order.
Mrs.Hudson has been taken in ill and has been admitted to the hospital where she shares a ward with various other quirky characters. But Mrs.Hudson soon notices some very uncommon things which seem to be coincidental; yet they feel like anything but coincidental. With the number of deaths involved mounting up, Mrs.Hudson knows she is the only one who has noticed and hence needs to do something about it. With the help of Mary Watson, she delves deep into the case… Only, is what she seeing real or her medicines are causing her to hallucinate?
The highlight of the book is its characters and their dynamics. The characters of Mary Watson and Martha Hudson have been well fleshed out in the most believable ways. While in the Sherlock Holmes stories they are more or less in the background, here when you read about them, you have no trouble believing that they are one and the same. Sherlock and John Watson have been added to the story in ways that they add something to the story without ever taking the limelight off Mary and Mrs.Hudson. their dynamics is something that I really enjoyed, whether it is between Mary and John Watson or it is between Sherlock and Mrs.Hudson. The plot can stand on its own. Several seemingly unrelated incidences are strung together to build up the plot. This could be almost categorized as a cozy mystery; the kind you read to brighten up a dull day.
All in all, this book is a complete entertainer as Michelle Birkby weaves a wonderful story with her pleasurable narrative with strong characters and a classic whodunnit mystery.
Mrs.Hudson has been taken in ill and has been admitted to the hospital where she shares a ward with various other quirky characters. But Mrs.Hudson soon notices some very uncommon things which seem to be coincidental; yet they feel like anything but coincidental. With the number of deaths involved mounting up, Mrs.Hudson knows she is the only one who has noticed and hence needs to do something about it. With the help of Mary Watson, she delves deep into the case… Only, is what she seeing real or her medicines are causing her to hallucinate?
The highlight of the book is its characters and their dynamics. The characters of Mary Watson and Martha Hudson have been well fleshed out in the most believable ways. While in the Sherlock Holmes stories they are more or less in the background, here when you read about them, you have no trouble believing that they are one and the same. Sherlock and John Watson have been added to the story in ways that they add something to the story without ever taking the limelight off Mary and Mrs.Hudson. their dynamics is something that I really enjoyed, whether it is between Mary and John Watson or it is between Sherlock and Mrs.Hudson. The plot can stand on its own. Several seemingly unrelated incidences are strung together to build up the plot. This could be almost categorized as a cozy mystery; the kind you read to brighten up a dull day.
All in all, this book is a complete entertainer as Michelle Birkby weaves a wonderful story with her pleasurable narrative with strong characters and a classic whodunnit mystery.
October 9, 2018
This is the second book by Michelle Birkby and as delightful as the first.
Mrs Hudson is ill in hospital and discovers that patients on her ward are being murdered. Meanwhile Mary is investigating boys going missing across London. Once Mrs Hudson is out of hospital the two join forces again and discover that their cases are linked.
A marvellous read from a marvellous writer. Michelle writes strong female characters and she humanises Sherlock Holmes in a way that few other authors manage.
This one has joined the first as a permanent part of my Holmesian library.
Highly recommended.
Mrs Hudson is ill in hospital and discovers that patients on her ward are being murdered. Meanwhile Mary is investigating boys going missing across London. Once Mrs Hudson is out of hospital the two join forces again and discover that their cases are linked.
A marvellous read from a marvellous writer. Michelle writes strong female characters and she humanises Sherlock Holmes in a way that few other authors manage.
This one has joined the first as a permanent part of my Holmesian library.
Highly recommended.
October 5, 2017
'Do what you do best, Mrs Hudson,' he said quietly to me, so no one would overhear. 'Listen, watch and learn.'
Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson are back - this time for some reason trying to solve two mysteries at once: one concerning suspicious deaths in a hospital ward, and one where boys have mysteriously disappeared from the streets for years.
It can probably be read without without reading The House at Baker Street first, as long as you’re okay with not quite understanding the occasional parts where Mrs. Hudson is still dealing with the aftermath of these events. The mystery itself is completely unrelated to everything that happened before.
After Mrs. Hudson is brought into the hospital, Dr. Watson asks her to keep an eye on her fellow patients, because one of the nurses has some suspicions about the deaths in that particular ward. And during the night Mrs. Hudson does indeed witness something strange, before finding out the next morning that a woman a few beds away has died.
A the same time Holmes has given Mary another, seemingly completely unrelated case, that deals with missing boys that were never found, and with a ghost story known as the Pale Boys. Obviously both cases are going to lead to the same end, eventually, but I never would’ve guessed how.
I actually enjoyed this more than the first book – there’s less stumbling around here, and Mrs. Hudson and Mary seem to have a vague idea what they’re doing, most of the time. They still get help from various people, but it feels a lot more like they’re actually solving the case themselves. And I’m glad the author found a way to let Holmes and Watson show up in the story occasionally, without giving them an important role in the investigation.
It might not be quite as good as a Sherlock Holmes story, but I’m still really looking forward to more of these books ().
September 14, 2019
Mrs Hudson may only be Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper, but when coupled with Mary Watson, she presents a crime-solving threat of her very own. After solving a case with Mary that has played heavily on her mind, Mrs Hudson thought her crime-solving career may have been over. After being rushed to hospital to have a major operation, she witnesses a death that she knows not to be natural, and is once again on the case. When another patient dies, Mrs Hudson is sure something sinister is going on, and enlists Mary’s help, who is working on a case of her own. Clues are appearing more readily for Mary’s case than Mrs Hudson’s, even if it does mean they’re haring around all over London to find them. Then, the two cases seem to become inexplicably linked, with a few key names popping up over and over again. Mary and Mrs Hudson are determined to investigate any and all leads they get, and while some of them lead them in the right direction, some never come to fruition. Not allowing the prejudice towards women to stop them, the two are desperate to solve the case before Sherlock has to step in. Things get dangerous, but are the two women strong enough to fight to the end and solve both cases? Or will something happen to prevent them? The closeness of the case to their own hearts could prove to be either a blessing OR a curse, but it is down to them to use their initiative to solve it. Before anyone else gets hurt.
Immediately upon picking this book up, I wasn’t sure whether I liked the writing style. Perhaps due to the era it is set in, perhaps not, but even for such a ‘modern woman’ at the time, some of the ideas were very old-fashioned. Like... who, when healing from a major surgery, wants to wear a corset?! There was also some confusion on my behalf about Mrs Hudson’s character. She seems to flirt between ‘I am a strong independent woman, don’t call me weak!’ to ‘I am so full of sorrow, give me advice on how to deal with it!’ The storyline did always progress in some way, but I felt it was more jumbled than it should have been, especially towards the beginning of the case, and there seemed to be a lot of switching without notice between the cases that the two women were involved in. You would find something new out, then almost be back at the beginning in the very next page. Granted, as they find out more, this begins to gradually filter out, but in the beginning it is almost constant (at least in my opinion). I also didn’t like the way the author made Sherlock Holmes seem like a nasty, selfish, mean character. He is an ICONIC figure, and while I know he wasn’t the nicest of people: he did some illegal things, I feel like he wasn’t as much of a scoundrel or a misogamist as this book made him out to be. Due to the eta the book is set in, it’s fair enough that some of the men at the time thought women incapable of doing certain things, but it still annoyed me to read about. I know that’s not the author’s fault, but it still annoyed me. I’m afraid I probably wouldn’t recommend this book, but my mum read it and really enjoyed it, so each to their own 🤷🏻♀️
Immediately upon picking this book up, I wasn’t sure whether I liked the writing style. Perhaps due to the era it is set in, perhaps not, but even for such a ‘modern woman’ at the time, some of the ideas were very old-fashioned. Like... who, when healing from a major surgery, wants to wear a corset?! There was also some confusion on my behalf about Mrs Hudson’s character. She seems to flirt between ‘I am a strong independent woman, don’t call me weak!’ to ‘I am so full of sorrow, give me advice on how to deal with it!’ The storyline did always progress in some way, but I felt it was more jumbled than it should have been, especially towards the beginning of the case, and there seemed to be a lot of switching without notice between the cases that the two women were involved in. You would find something new out, then almost be back at the beginning in the very next page. Granted, as they find out more, this begins to gradually filter out, but in the beginning it is almost constant (at least in my opinion). I also didn’t like the way the author made Sherlock Holmes seem like a nasty, selfish, mean character. He is an ICONIC figure, and while I know he wasn’t the nicest of people: he did some illegal things, I feel like he wasn’t as much of a scoundrel or a misogamist as this book made him out to be. Due to the eta the book is set in, it’s fair enough that some of the men at the time thought women incapable of doing certain things, but it still annoyed me to read about. I know that’s not the author’s fault, but it still annoyed me. I’m afraid I probably wouldn’t recommend this book, but my mum read it and really enjoyed it, so each to their own 🤷🏻♀️
May 27, 2023
3.5 stars
The second book in the Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson Investigation series, and I enjoyed this more than the first book. The mystery was stronger this time around, and once again the two main characters are well written and engaging. I do want more in this series, and I'm hoping that happens. The books seem to have found a US audience in recent times, and had a name change for that region, so I wonder if that's a sign that a third book is on the way.
Anywho, to this book. It starts off with Mrs Hudson (Martha) being rushed off to hospital, where she thinks she witnesses a murder. At the time, Mary is focusing on another mystery, that of boys who are going missing in London. On the surface, nothing appears to connect the two mysteries, but this depiction of London is often full of tangled webs and the cases may be more closely linked than they imagined.
This book does have links back to book one, so it is recommended to read them in order.
Again Michelle Birkby gives the story a suitable historical feel, and enough detail to pain a scene without slowing the pace. I particularly enjoy the author's strength in crafting characters, even side characters. In a book like this, an historical cosy mystery, the characters are important, especially because they way they're created adds more substance to the historical setting.
I'm so glad I stumbled across the first two books in this series, and really want more. Fingers crossed more are slated for future release.
The second book in the Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson Investigation series, and I enjoyed this more than the first book. The mystery was stronger this time around, and once again the two main characters are well written and engaging. I do want more in this series, and I'm hoping that happens. The books seem to have found a US audience in recent times, and had a name change for that region, so I wonder if that's a sign that a third book is on the way.
Anywho, to this book. It starts off with Mrs Hudson (Martha) being rushed off to hospital, where she thinks she witnesses a murder. At the time, Mary is focusing on another mystery, that of boys who are going missing in London. On the surface, nothing appears to connect the two mysteries, but this depiction of London is often full of tangled webs and the cases may be more closely linked than they imagined.
This book does have links back to book one, so it is recommended to read them in order.
Again Michelle Birkby gives the story a suitable historical feel, and enough detail to pain a scene without slowing the pace. I particularly enjoy the author's strength in crafting characters, even side characters. In a book like this, an historical cosy mystery, the characters are important, especially because they way they're created adds more substance to the historical setting.
I'm so glad I stumbled across the first two books in this series, and really want more. Fingers crossed more are slated for future release.
July 18, 2017
The Women of Baker Street by Michelle Birkby
This is an excellent sequel of Birkby’s first book, The House at Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Watson continue their detection endeavors on two fronts. Mrs. Hudson investigates a series of murders in a hospital. Mrs. Watson investigates the disappearance of street boys.
Their separate paths join together in a bizarre and macabre mystery. Once again their lives are endanger as they seek to understand and reveal the dark secrets they uncover.
Among Birkby’s strengths is the ability to make these two women come alive on the page. They step out of the shadows of Sherlock and Dr. Watson.
The plot is strong throughout. The twist that brings the two investigations into one is masterfully done. The final revelation is both surprising and satisfying.
Birkby delivers again. I look forward to her next Baker Street adventure.
This is an excellent sequel of Birkby’s first book, The House at Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Watson continue their detection endeavors on two fronts. Mrs. Hudson investigates a series of murders in a hospital. Mrs. Watson investigates the disappearance of street boys.
Their separate paths join together in a bizarre and macabre mystery. Once again their lives are endanger as they seek to understand and reveal the dark secrets they uncover.
Among Birkby’s strengths is the ability to make these two women come alive on the page. They step out of the shadows of Sherlock and Dr. Watson.
The plot is strong throughout. The twist that brings the two investigations into one is masterfully done. The final revelation is both surprising and satisfying.
Birkby delivers again. I look forward to her next Baker Street adventure.
April 7, 2020
4.5/5
I am a die-hard fan of Sherlock Holmes. Sadly the only thing I have left is watching RDJ as Sherlock. I loved the journey that Michelle Birkby takes us on to keep us all on our feet. She has imitated the mystery that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle excels at, exceptionally.
Having said all that, it is safe to say when I came across this beautiful book I HAD to borrow it. I love me some female detectives especially when they come in the form of Mary Watson and Mrs Hudson. For once Sherlock revolves around the females and in all honesty I loved it. The problems they face. The emotional and physical trauma Mrs Hudson suffers.
The story has a simple context and then progresses to wrap the complexities of female intuition and past trauma to really make this book a worthwhile read. It has all the ingredients of the kind of mystery I love- typical Sherlockian PD human beings with traumatic pasts, suspense and exploration of the plot through various theories and suspects. I am so glad that Michelle Birkby carried on the magic of Arthur Conan Doyle and expanded it to encompassing Mary and Martha. That was one thing I really wanted to read and see and Birkby gave it to me in a perfectly wrapped book with a great cover.
The book is written in the style of a personal diary from Mrs Hudson’s point of view. It is around the time that Sherlock and Dr Watson were exploring the mystery of The Hound of Baskerville. I loved getting an insight into Mrs Hudson’s life which is starkly different from what we see on the Sherlock BBC. It was a refreshing take on the “housekeeper” of 221b Baker Street- Mrs Hudson in the book relished in baking and the more “feminine” tasks as well as the thrill of murder which contrasts with the sass that Mrs Hudson showed in TV Show when she adamantly declared that she is not their housekeeper. Birkby really explored feminism with great delicacy throughout the book but this point really emphasises that not every female has to hate the household chores to be pushing against the masculine-driven society. We can do everything and anything we want to, and more.
I personally would have liked to see more of Mary’s point of view and didn’t like how she was seen to be so fragile because that’s not how I see Mary. I see her as Moffat’s clever, caring and walking on the edge of reason Mary Watson. That’s the only thing that made me sad. As much as I loved the dynamics between the female duo. I didn’t like how she was portrayed especially when Dr Watson said she was fragile and there was no retaliation from Mrs Hudson.
All-in-all a fantastic read! I highly recommend the book to anyone who is wanting to fill their empty/free hours with some suspense and mystery with a side of female action!
Happy reading xx
I am a die-hard fan of Sherlock Holmes. Sadly the only thing I have left is watching RDJ as Sherlock. I loved the journey that Michelle Birkby takes us on to keep us all on our feet. She has imitated the mystery that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle excels at, exceptionally.
Having said all that, it is safe to say when I came across this beautiful book I HAD to borrow it. I love me some female detectives especially when they come in the form of Mary Watson and Mrs Hudson. For once Sherlock revolves around the females and in all honesty I loved it. The problems they face. The emotional and physical trauma Mrs Hudson suffers.
The story has a simple context and then progresses to wrap the complexities of female intuition and past trauma to really make this book a worthwhile read. It has all the ingredients of the kind of mystery I love- typical Sherlockian PD human beings with traumatic pasts, suspense and exploration of the plot through various theories and suspects. I am so glad that Michelle Birkby carried on the magic of Arthur Conan Doyle and expanded it to encompassing Mary and Martha. That was one thing I really wanted to read and see and Birkby gave it to me in a perfectly wrapped book with a great cover.
The book is written in the style of a personal diary from Mrs Hudson’s point of view. It is around the time that Sherlock and Dr Watson were exploring the mystery of The Hound of Baskerville. I loved getting an insight into Mrs Hudson’s life which is starkly different from what we see on the Sherlock BBC. It was a refreshing take on the “housekeeper” of 221b Baker Street- Mrs Hudson in the book relished in baking and the more “feminine” tasks as well as the thrill of murder which contrasts with the sass that Mrs Hudson showed in TV Show when she adamantly declared that she is not their housekeeper. Birkby really explored feminism with great delicacy throughout the book but this point really emphasises that not every female has to hate the household chores to be pushing against the masculine-driven society. We can do everything and anything we want to, and more.
I personally would have liked to see more of Mary’s point of view and didn’t like how she was seen to be so fragile because that’s not how I see Mary. I see her as Moffat’s clever, caring and walking on the edge of reason Mary Watson. That’s the only thing that made me sad. As much as I loved the dynamics between the female duo. I didn’t like how she was portrayed especially when Dr Watson said she was fragile and there was no retaliation from Mrs Hudson.
All-in-all a fantastic read! I highly recommend the book to anyone who is wanting to fill their empty/free hours with some suspense and mystery with a side of female action!
Happy reading xx
February 17, 2023
well it started really slow paced so i didn’t read it as much because it wasn’t particularly interesting. but if you give it time it’s such a good book with such a sad ending and a massive plot twist. the only reason it doesn’t get five stars is because of the cover and the slow start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2017
Originally published at Reading Reality
I read The House at Baker Street last weekend, and I loved it so much that when I discovered that the second book in the series was already available in ebook, I immediately grabbed it. Then I discovered that I simply couldn’t wait to read it, so here we are again, returning to Victorian London and 221b Baker Street.
The Women of Baker Street is a direct follow up to The House at Baker Street. Events that occurred in that first book are definitely still resonating by the time this second book opens a few months later. And dogged Inspector Lestrade is still investigating the rather incendiary ending of that first story.
Much to the dismay of both Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock Holmes.
But the story in The Women of Baker Street opens in a decidedly different place, as Martha Hudson is whisked off to St. Bart’s Hospital after collapsing at home. She’s been ill for weeks, and also been successfully concealing her illness from Holmes after his return from Dartmoor, where he was off investigating the legendary Hound of the Baskervilles.
Mrs. Hudson was afraid she had cancer, and just didn’t want to know. In the 19th century, there was no hope of a cure, just suffering and death. But her problems, while serious, were much less desire. An intestinal blockage, fixed with quite survivable surgery followed by bedrest.
That’s not all there is to the case. Dr. Watson takes advantage of both his position at the hospital and Mrs. Hudson’s bent for investigation and installs her in a semi-private women’s ward where odd things have been happening. He’s not convinced that there is really anything going on, but one of the nurses whom he respects is convinced. Of course, he doesn’t believe he’s putting Mrs. Hudson at risk – his concern is to set the nurse’s mind at ease.
However, the pattern in this series is that the women’s instincts are much more accurate than the men’s logic. There IS something strange going on in that particular ward. On her very first night, Mrs. Hudson thinks she witnesses a murder. Then she chalks off her experience to pain and medication.
Until it happens again.
The first part of this case is rather quiet. Mrs. Hudson doing what she does best, sitting (or in this case mostly lying) and listening while other people expose their foibles and their secrets. The small ward is a hotbed of gossip, pain and seething resentment, all exposed to her expert’s eye over the long days that the women are all cooped up together in this single room.
When the tide of strange deaths nearly overtakes Mrs. Hudson herself, Watson and Mary whisk her back home, to continue the case, and her recovery, in a less dangerous location. At least it seems less dangerous, until Martha’s case, and the even more tragic situation that Mary has been investigating on her own, collide within the precincts of 221b. With nearly disastrous results.
The game is afoot. Until it very nearly isn’t.
Escape Rating A-: The story in The Women of Baker Street gets off to a much slower start than the previous entry in the series. Mrs. Hudson has turned out to be the prime mover and shaker in these stories, and as this entry begins, she is temporarily down for the count.
And also quite shaken. She is used to being the mistress of herself and her own domain, but as the story begins she is an invalid, stuck in a place not of her choosing and unable to take care of herself. And, of course, she hates it.
Until Dr. Watson presents her with his little bit of investigation. While she’s still not happy with her surroundings, now she has purpose – even if a part of her believes that this case has been invented to keep her at least mentally occupied.
Not that the various denizens of the ward aren’t fascinating. Especially Emma Fordyce, who was once one of the grandes horizontales of her day. She was a celebrated courtesan, lover of the rich, famous and influential, and she has never told any of the secrets that were whispered in her ears. Rumor has it she’s planning to talk.
When she dies unexpectedly, even for someone staying the hospital, it throws suspicion on anyone whose secrets she might have exposed – and on the woman who seems to have been installed in the ward solely to watch her – or to watch over her.
There were plenty of reasons still around who might want Emma Fordyce dead. But once Mrs. Hudson is home and able to take a slightly more dispassionate view of the case – all she runs into are dead ends. Including the buried bodies of a group of young boys who seem to be tied into, not the case of Emma Fordyce, but to a ghost story.
As Holmes discovered on Grimpen Mire – at the heart of all too many ghost stories lies a kernel of very nasty truth. And it is Mrs. Hudson’s dangerous investigation into the nasty truth of the so-called “Pale Boys” that brings them face-to-face with death.
Again.
The two intertwining cases turn out to be intensely chilling – to the point where The Women of Baker Street would make a good Halloween story. The creepy factor is very high, especially when added with the layers of misdirection and manipulation. And the crimes that Martha and Mary find themselves investigating just add to the chills, as does Lestrade’s continued investigation into the remnants of the case from the previous book.
No ice cube got left undribbled down my back by the end.
This is a series where I seriously want more stories, but don’t see any listed on the horizon. Which does not keep me from hoping that the author will return to Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Watson. Soon, I hope.
I read The House at Baker Street last weekend, and I loved it so much that when I discovered that the second book in the series was already available in ebook, I immediately grabbed it. Then I discovered that I simply couldn’t wait to read it, so here we are again, returning to Victorian London and 221b Baker Street.
The Women of Baker Street is a direct follow up to The House at Baker Street. Events that occurred in that first book are definitely still resonating by the time this second book opens a few months later. And dogged Inspector Lestrade is still investigating the rather incendiary ending of that first story.
Much to the dismay of both Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock Holmes.
But the story in The Women of Baker Street opens in a decidedly different place, as Martha Hudson is whisked off to St. Bart’s Hospital after collapsing at home. She’s been ill for weeks, and also been successfully concealing her illness from Holmes after his return from Dartmoor, where he was off investigating the legendary Hound of the Baskervilles.
Mrs. Hudson was afraid she had cancer, and just didn’t want to know. In the 19th century, there was no hope of a cure, just suffering and death. But her problems, while serious, were much less desire. An intestinal blockage, fixed with quite survivable surgery followed by bedrest.
That’s not all there is to the case. Dr. Watson takes advantage of both his position at the hospital and Mrs. Hudson’s bent for investigation and installs her in a semi-private women’s ward where odd things have been happening. He’s not convinced that there is really anything going on, but one of the nurses whom he respects is convinced. Of course, he doesn’t believe he’s putting Mrs. Hudson at risk – his concern is to set the nurse’s mind at ease.
However, the pattern in this series is that the women’s instincts are much more accurate than the men’s logic. There IS something strange going on in that particular ward. On her very first night, Mrs. Hudson thinks she witnesses a murder. Then she chalks off her experience to pain and medication.
Until it happens again.
The first part of this case is rather quiet. Mrs. Hudson doing what she does best, sitting (or in this case mostly lying) and listening while other people expose their foibles and their secrets. The small ward is a hotbed of gossip, pain and seething resentment, all exposed to her expert’s eye over the long days that the women are all cooped up together in this single room.
When the tide of strange deaths nearly overtakes Mrs. Hudson herself, Watson and Mary whisk her back home, to continue the case, and her recovery, in a less dangerous location. At least it seems less dangerous, until Martha’s case, and the even more tragic situation that Mary has been investigating on her own, collide within the precincts of 221b. With nearly disastrous results.
The game is afoot. Until it very nearly isn’t.
Escape Rating A-: The story in The Women of Baker Street gets off to a much slower start than the previous entry in the series. Mrs. Hudson has turned out to be the prime mover and shaker in these stories, and as this entry begins, she is temporarily down for the count.
And also quite shaken. She is used to being the mistress of herself and her own domain, but as the story begins she is an invalid, stuck in a place not of her choosing and unable to take care of herself. And, of course, she hates it.
Until Dr. Watson presents her with his little bit of investigation. While she’s still not happy with her surroundings, now she has purpose – even if a part of her believes that this case has been invented to keep her at least mentally occupied.
Not that the various denizens of the ward aren’t fascinating. Especially Emma Fordyce, who was once one of the grandes horizontales of her day. She was a celebrated courtesan, lover of the rich, famous and influential, and she has never told any of the secrets that were whispered in her ears. Rumor has it she’s planning to talk.
When she dies unexpectedly, even for someone staying the hospital, it throws suspicion on anyone whose secrets she might have exposed – and on the woman who seems to have been installed in the ward solely to watch her – or to watch over her.
There were plenty of reasons still around who might want Emma Fordyce dead. But once Mrs. Hudson is home and able to take a slightly more dispassionate view of the case – all she runs into are dead ends. Including the buried bodies of a group of young boys who seem to be tied into, not the case of Emma Fordyce, but to a ghost story.
As Holmes discovered on Grimpen Mire – at the heart of all too many ghost stories lies a kernel of very nasty truth. And it is Mrs. Hudson’s dangerous investigation into the nasty truth of the so-called “Pale Boys” that brings them face-to-face with death.
Again.
The two intertwining cases turn out to be intensely chilling – to the point where The Women of Baker Street would make a good Halloween story. The creepy factor is very high, especially when added with the layers of misdirection and manipulation. And the crimes that Martha and Mary find themselves investigating just add to the chills, as does Lestrade’s continued investigation into the remnants of the case from the previous book.
No ice cube got left undribbled down my back by the end.
This is a series where I seriously want more stories, but don’t see any listed on the horizon. Which does not keep me from hoping that the author will return to Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Watson. Soon, I hope.
September 3, 2025
Mrs Hudson is in hospital and thinks she sees a patient being murdered. Mary Watson is worried about lots of boys who are going missing in London. The two ladies become detectives together to solve both mysteries with occasional help from the Irregulars and cameos from Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. A charming read.
April 5, 2017
can't wait for the next installment!
March 12, 2017
This was everything I was hoping it would be!
If you haven't read the first book yet, please do. The House at Baker Street is a fun, deliciously-paced read, and it's a delight for any Sherlock Holmes fan who wishes to read a bit more about Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson. They are very close friends in these books, and as you'd expect, just as driven to mystery as Holmes and Watson themselves. As a Mary enthusiast, I must say I absolutely love Birkby's portrayal of her.
This book in particular connected really beautifully with the first installment. Not only do we get to see characters from the first book again, but we also see the consequences of what happened in the first book. Mrs Hudson and Mary are both much more prepared now, and it's a joy to read the way they work things out.
Two things that stood out to me in this book: the Mrs Hudson/Sherlock dialogues and the John/Mary relationship. Even though Mrs Hudson and Mary's friendship is, and has always been the core of these books (and I thank the heavens for that!), we do get to see a bit more of their dynamics with the men of Baker Street in this one. And it's just gorgeous. Mrs Hudson and Sherlock's dialogues are brilliant, beautiful, and just right. Easily my favorite dialogues in the entire book. And getting to see a healthy, supportive portrayal of Mary and John's marriage is so rewarding. Birkby gave us just enough to understand how beautiful their relationship is, without suffocating us with unnecessary romance. Also, I mentioned how there were bits that threw me off in the first book, but they are gone now. Women own it, take action, and there's no hesitation on Mrs Hudson's part to acknowledge that anymore.
I must confess I wasn't expecting that to be the ending. But it delivered, and it did catch me off guard. All the best mysteries do, as far as I'm concerned.
I'm really hoping for a third book. Mrs Hudson is a lovely, insightful narrator, and I love Birkby's writing. She can create distinct, powerful characters, especially women, and I could always read more of that. All in all, a 5-star read for me.
---
Some of my favorite passages:
"I like the night-time. I like how the world changes, becomes private and quiet. I like how logical impossibilities in the day become just possible by moonlight. I feel I can hide, and watch, in peace at night."
"Lucky Mary. Blessed with a good education, then an employer who allowed her to use her imagination and creativity, and now a husband who firmly encouraged her to use her mind, how could she know what it was like for the rest of us? Stuck in the same cycle of work, or home life, day after day, always doing the same jobs, that whether hard or easy rarely taxed our intellect, reading the same books, seeing the same people, having the same conversations over and over again, year after year after stultifying year. Never allowed to break out of the cycle, because that would be unladylike, not a woman’s place, not the correct or modest thing to do. Always living in the shadow of men."
"‘And yet I’m not happy with this,’ he admitted, waving a hand at Mary [...]. 'Women being involved, I mean. This sort of thing isn’t fit for women.’
I turned to him in a flash of anger. ‘Not fit for women?’ I snapped, though keeping my voice low. ‘Women gave birth to those boys, nurtured them, fed them, comforted them when they cried. Women lost them and grieved for them. Don’t you dare say that now they’re dead women aren’t fit to look after them.’"
If you haven't read the first book yet, please do. The House at Baker Street is a fun, deliciously-paced read, and it's a delight for any Sherlock Holmes fan who wishes to read a bit more about Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson. They are very close friends in these books, and as you'd expect, just as driven to mystery as Holmes and Watson themselves. As a Mary enthusiast, I must say I absolutely love Birkby's portrayal of her.
This book in particular connected really beautifully with the first installment. Not only do we get to see characters from the first book again, but we also see the consequences of what happened in the first book. Mrs Hudson and Mary are both much more prepared now, and it's a joy to read the way they work things out.
Two things that stood out to me in this book: the Mrs Hudson/Sherlock dialogues and the John/Mary relationship. Even though Mrs Hudson and Mary's friendship is, and has always been the core of these books (and I thank the heavens for that!), we do get to see a bit more of their dynamics with the men of Baker Street in this one. And it's just gorgeous. Mrs Hudson and Sherlock's dialogues are brilliant, beautiful, and just right. Easily my favorite dialogues in the entire book. And getting to see a healthy, supportive portrayal of Mary and John's marriage is so rewarding. Birkby gave us just enough to understand how beautiful their relationship is, without suffocating us with unnecessary romance. Also, I mentioned how there were bits that threw me off in the first book, but they are gone now. Women own it, take action, and there's no hesitation on Mrs Hudson's part to acknowledge that anymore.
I must confess I wasn't expecting that to be the ending. But it delivered, and it did catch me off guard. All the best mysteries do, as far as I'm concerned.
I'm really hoping for a third book. Mrs Hudson is a lovely, insightful narrator, and I love Birkby's writing. She can create distinct, powerful characters, especially women, and I could always read more of that. All in all, a 5-star read for me.
---
Some of my favorite passages:
"I like the night-time. I like how the world changes, becomes private and quiet. I like how logical impossibilities in the day become just possible by moonlight. I feel I can hide, and watch, in peace at night."
"Lucky Mary. Blessed with a good education, then an employer who allowed her to use her imagination and creativity, and now a husband who firmly encouraged her to use her mind, how could she know what it was like for the rest of us? Stuck in the same cycle of work, or home life, day after day, always doing the same jobs, that whether hard or easy rarely taxed our intellect, reading the same books, seeing the same people, having the same conversations over and over again, year after year after stultifying year. Never allowed to break out of the cycle, because that would be unladylike, not a woman’s place, not the correct or modest thing to do. Always living in the shadow of men."
"‘And yet I’m not happy with this,’ he admitted, waving a hand at Mary [...]. 'Women being involved, I mean. This sort of thing isn’t fit for women.’
I turned to him in a flash of anger. ‘Not fit for women?’ I snapped, though keeping my voice low. ‘Women gave birth to those boys, nurtured them, fed them, comforted them when they cried. Women lost them and grieved for them. Don’t you dare say that now they’re dead women aren’t fit to look after them.’"
February 16, 2017
(Review originally posted on the John H Watson Society website.)
General Review
I was eagerly anticipating the release of this book, having thoroughly enjoyed its predecessor, The House at Baker Street. Knowing that sequels can occasionally be a cause of disappointment, I tempered my expectations before I cracked open the spine (or, rather, digital copy- the hardcopy is not readily available in the US yet, and so while awaiting the arrival of my hardcopy, I went ahead and bought a second copy on my Nook) and settled in to find out what Mary Watson and Mrs. Hudson were up to now.
I needn’t have worried. The Women of Baker Street is an excellent follow-up and, in some ways, is better than the first in the series.
The book wastes no time in getting us into the mystery. With an incredibly creepy and ominous opening that sets the stage for what is to come, we are soon hurried through the circumstances of Mrs. Hudson’s illness. Perhaps too hurried- I myself would have enjoyed some fussing over Mrs. Hudson by Watson and Holmes- but having read the whole book now, I can see why the author didn’t linger much over her actual moment of collapse.
Soon we are introduced to a truly eclectic and strange group of women who share the ward with Mrs. Hudson while she recuperates. In the first book there were some truly fine original characters, but it largely focused on fleshing out the Canon characters. Here, though, we meet eight new women in quick succession. I worried I would have trouble keeping them all straight, and for perhaps a page or two I did. But every woman has her own personality and her own mystery, so they soon became their own people and any confusion dried up quickly. In fact, I found myself wanting to learn the full story about every single woman, and was captivated by their mysteries.
If secrets was the theme of the first book, haunting is the theme of this one. Every single person in the book, including Mrs. Hudson and Holmes, is haunted by the spectral presence of their past. It is these hauntings that drive the mysteries encountered. At times the hauntings are simply heartbreaking; in other cases, dark and ominous. Mrs. Hudson’s haunting was, I thought, the most effective, in part because she is our POV character, but also because the actions she took in the previous book took a toll on her. Watching her struggle with the conclusion of the previous book is heart-wrenching, but also satisfying. It is an easy thing to make a character accept their actions and move on; it is quite another to have a character grapple with them and force themselves to reexamine what they’ve done. I loved watching Mrs. Hudson struggle, and particularly loved the help she received along the way, sometimes from the most unlikely of sources.
The theme of haunting is present in the overall atmosphere of the book as well. It really was quite creepy at times, with certain scenes driving me to set down the book for a moment so I could take a breath. There are moments of terror for the characters, and the writing was done so well that I found myself caught up in it all.
While the first book meandered occasionally, with flashbacks to Mrs. Hudson’s life before Baker Street, or providing little glimpses into shared histories and moments, this book is more firmly a mystery novel. And it is an excellent mystery, incredibly twisty, with multiple suspects and a horrifying conclusion. I was very much impressed in how the two separate mysteries were handled by the author; both were given roughly the same amount of focus, but at no point did I feel lost or like something was missing. When the mysteries wove together, it was incredibly organic, with everything clicking into place naturally. As a warning, it is also a very dark story, so if you prefer lighter mysteries, this may not be something you enjoy. I, however, loved it.
With this book being more of an actual mystery novel, it is tempting to read it before the first one, which has elements of a character study. However, I would advise that this isn’t a standalone book. You will likely find yourself lost if you don’t read the first in the series, because while Women of Baker Street has a much more straightforward narrative, it also very much references and relies on threads that were set up in The House at Baker Street.
Once you finish this book, I fully anticipate you will be eager for the next. Not to worry- I have already pestered the author on twitter, and she believes it should be out in early 2018.
What About Our Watson?
Much as in the first book of the series, this book provides us with two Watsons to examine, John Watson and Mary Watson.
It is Watson who, in some ways, helps set the stage for the case, for it is Watson who uses his connections to get Mrs. Hudson into the private ward. He appears primarily as a doctor, stopping in to check on Mrs. Hudson, but we also discover that he’s assisting a young woman nurse in her studies to become a doctor, and is also helping Mary learn about anatomy and physiology. He is an incredibly supportive husband to Mary, and I truly adore the ongoing depictions of their life together. The hints we get in Canon about their relationship are brought more into the open, and they’re wonderful to behold.
Mary herself is much the spitfire we met in the first book, though she is clearly growing. She has enlisted her husband to teach her more about the body so she can approach cases with more information, and though she still has a reckless streak, she’s more willing to listen when Mrs. Hudson tells her to slow down. Mary is so passionate and brave, it’s impossible not to love her, and it’s easy to see why she and John Watson are such a perfect math. Interestingly, she becomes quite obsessed with about her own case, the mystery of the missing street boys, in such a way that makes me raise an eyebrow and wonder if there isn’t something else going on with Mary…
The Watsons in this book will not disappoint, though if you are strictly a John Watson fan, you may wish he had more time on the page. But as this book is about Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson, it is hardly surprising that he takes a backstage role.
You Might Like This Book If You Like:
Hospital dramas; tragedies; psychological horror; relationships between women
General Review
I was eagerly anticipating the release of this book, having thoroughly enjoyed its predecessor, The House at Baker Street. Knowing that sequels can occasionally be a cause of disappointment, I tempered my expectations before I cracked open the spine (or, rather, digital copy- the hardcopy is not readily available in the US yet, and so while awaiting the arrival of my hardcopy, I went ahead and bought a second copy on my Nook) and settled in to find out what Mary Watson and Mrs. Hudson were up to now.
I needn’t have worried. The Women of Baker Street is an excellent follow-up and, in some ways, is better than the first in the series.
The book wastes no time in getting us into the mystery. With an incredibly creepy and ominous opening that sets the stage for what is to come, we are soon hurried through the circumstances of Mrs. Hudson’s illness. Perhaps too hurried- I myself would have enjoyed some fussing over Mrs. Hudson by Watson and Holmes- but having read the whole book now, I can see why the author didn’t linger much over her actual moment of collapse.
Soon we are introduced to a truly eclectic and strange group of women who share the ward with Mrs. Hudson while she recuperates. In the first book there were some truly fine original characters, but it largely focused on fleshing out the Canon characters. Here, though, we meet eight new women in quick succession. I worried I would have trouble keeping them all straight, and for perhaps a page or two I did. But every woman has her own personality and her own mystery, so they soon became their own people and any confusion dried up quickly. In fact, I found myself wanting to learn the full story about every single woman, and was captivated by their mysteries.
If secrets was the theme of the first book, haunting is the theme of this one. Every single person in the book, including Mrs. Hudson and Holmes, is haunted by the spectral presence of their past. It is these hauntings that drive the mysteries encountered. At times the hauntings are simply heartbreaking; in other cases, dark and ominous. Mrs. Hudson’s haunting was, I thought, the most effective, in part because she is our POV character, but also because the actions she took in the previous book took a toll on her. Watching her struggle with the conclusion of the previous book is heart-wrenching, but also satisfying. It is an easy thing to make a character accept their actions and move on; it is quite another to have a character grapple with them and force themselves to reexamine what they’ve done. I loved watching Mrs. Hudson struggle, and particularly loved the help she received along the way, sometimes from the most unlikely of sources.
The theme of haunting is present in the overall atmosphere of the book as well. It really was quite creepy at times, with certain scenes driving me to set down the book for a moment so I could take a breath. There are moments of terror for the characters, and the writing was done so well that I found myself caught up in it all.
While the first book meandered occasionally, with flashbacks to Mrs. Hudson’s life before Baker Street, or providing little glimpses into shared histories and moments, this book is more firmly a mystery novel. And it is an excellent mystery, incredibly twisty, with multiple suspects and a horrifying conclusion. I was very much impressed in how the two separate mysteries were handled by the author; both were given roughly the same amount of focus, but at no point did I feel lost or like something was missing. When the mysteries wove together, it was incredibly organic, with everything clicking into place naturally. As a warning, it is also a very dark story, so if you prefer lighter mysteries, this may not be something you enjoy. I, however, loved it.
With this book being more of an actual mystery novel, it is tempting to read it before the first one, which has elements of a character study. However, I would advise that this isn’t a standalone book. You will likely find yourself lost if you don’t read the first in the series, because while Women of Baker Street has a much more straightforward narrative, it also very much references and relies on threads that were set up in The House at Baker Street.
Once you finish this book, I fully anticipate you will be eager for the next. Not to worry- I have already pestered the author on twitter, and she believes it should be out in early 2018.
What About Our Watson?
Much as in the first book of the series, this book provides us with two Watsons to examine, John Watson and Mary Watson.
It is Watson who, in some ways, helps set the stage for the case, for it is Watson who uses his connections to get Mrs. Hudson into the private ward. He appears primarily as a doctor, stopping in to check on Mrs. Hudson, but we also discover that he’s assisting a young woman nurse in her studies to become a doctor, and is also helping Mary learn about anatomy and physiology. He is an incredibly supportive husband to Mary, and I truly adore the ongoing depictions of their life together. The hints we get in Canon about their relationship are brought more into the open, and they’re wonderful to behold.
Mary herself is much the spitfire we met in the first book, though she is clearly growing. She has enlisted her husband to teach her more about the body so she can approach cases with more information, and though she still has a reckless streak, she’s more willing to listen when Mrs. Hudson tells her to slow down. Mary is so passionate and brave, it’s impossible not to love her, and it’s easy to see why she and John Watson are such a perfect math. Interestingly, she becomes quite obsessed with about her own case, the mystery of the missing street boys, in such a way that makes me raise an eyebrow and wonder if there isn’t something else going on with Mary…
The Watsons in this book will not disappoint, though if you are strictly a John Watson fan, you may wish he had more time on the page. But as this book is about Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson, it is hardly surprising that he takes a backstage role.
You Might Like This Book If You Like:
Hospital dramas; tragedies; psychological horror; relationships between women
February 22, 2018
I enjoyed this story in which Birkby turns Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson into detectives! The writing style is easy and the narrative flows along at a healthy pace. I’ve always had a soft-spot for Mrs. Hudson and all she goes through with a tenant like Sherlock Holmes. It’s wonderful to see her blossom out of her role as housekeeper into a detective. Almost inevitable given the company she keeps!
This is the second book in the series but it works alright as a stand-alone. There are references to the mystery in the first book, mostly to its villain,
a blackmailer whose suspicious death haunts Mrs. Hudson and is being investigated by Inspector Lestrade. In this book, the mystery is set in the hospital where Mrs. Hudson is recovering from an emergency surgery, surrounded by a cast of intriguing, quirky characters. While she investigates suspicious events there, Mary Watson is busy investigating the disappearance of boys from the streets of London. How the two get to the bottom of these mysteries, through their own skills with occasional pointers from Holmes & Watson and much help from Wiggins and his Baker Street Irregulars is the crux of this tale. It’s fairly straightforward with a couple of interesting twists and one particular scene with ‘The Pale Boys’ and Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson that was excellently written and truly scary!
What I enjoyed most though is how wonderfully Birkby weaves in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson into the story without them stealing the women’s thunder. She gets the relationships between all these characters just right - the right balance of novelty and authenticity to satisfy new readers and die-hard Sherlock Holmes fans, like me! Subtly and cleverly imagined!
I liked this one enough to order the first book in the series - The House at Baker Street, and am off to read it now 😊 Much much prefer this series to the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes one by Laurie R. King.
This is the second book in the series but it works alright as a stand-alone. There are references to the mystery in the first book, mostly to its villain,
a blackmailer whose suspicious death haunts Mrs. Hudson and is being investigated by Inspector Lestrade. In this book, the mystery is set in the hospital where Mrs. Hudson is recovering from an emergency surgery, surrounded by a cast of intriguing, quirky characters. While she investigates suspicious events there, Mary Watson is busy investigating the disappearance of boys from the streets of London. How the two get to the bottom of these mysteries, through their own skills with occasional pointers from Holmes & Watson and much help from Wiggins and his Baker Street Irregulars is the crux of this tale. It’s fairly straightforward with a couple of interesting twists and one particular scene with ‘The Pale Boys’ and Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson that was excellently written and truly scary!
What I enjoyed most though is how wonderfully Birkby weaves in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson into the story without them stealing the women’s thunder. She gets the relationships between all these characters just right - the right balance of novelty and authenticity to satisfy new readers and die-hard Sherlock Holmes fans, like me! Subtly and cleverly imagined!
I liked this one enough to order the first book in the series - The House at Baker Street, and am off to read it now 😊 Much much prefer this series to the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes one by Laurie R. King.
July 19, 2017
I hadn't read the first book of this series (I hadn't realised this book was a sequel) so it was a little bit annoying because I felt like I was missing context on some parts of the story at times but it didn't hold me back from enjoying this book.
I loved how this book developed Mary and Mrs Hudson into completely separate characters apart from 'Watson's wife' and 'Holmes' housekeeper'. They had their own strengths and flaws and their own lives that were completely separate from the men of the Sherlock Holmes' stories. I loved how Holmes, Watson and Lestrade played a part in the story, and they were clearly liked and respected by Mary and Mrs Hudson, but they never overshadowed the conflicts Mrs Hudson and Mary were dealing with. This was very much a historical story focused on the women in the story and including women from all walks of life, from the ward Mrs Hudson was in at the start, to the nurses who work in the hospital, to the women whose children are stolen and it was really great to see. I also loved seeing the Irregulars having a good role in this book as well.
The plot kept me interested all the way to the end, although it did drag in places sometimes, but I think that was because there were a lot of plot threads to be covered. I stayed up late to finish this book because I really wanted to find out who was the person behind everything because there was just enough false leads to keep you guessing and unable to be completely sure of who it was until the very end.
I really enjoyed this book and it has made me very interested in reading the first book of the series. Four stars!
I loved how this book developed Mary and Mrs Hudson into completely separate characters apart from 'Watson's wife' and 'Holmes' housekeeper'. They had their own strengths and flaws and their own lives that were completely separate from the men of the Sherlock Holmes' stories. I loved how Holmes, Watson and Lestrade played a part in the story, and they were clearly liked and respected by Mary and Mrs Hudson, but they never overshadowed the conflicts Mrs Hudson and Mary were dealing with. This was very much a historical story focused on the women in the story and including women from all walks of life, from the ward Mrs Hudson was in at the start, to the nurses who work in the hospital, to the women whose children are stolen and it was really great to see. I also loved seeing the Irregulars having a good role in this book as well.
The plot kept me interested all the way to the end, although it did drag in places sometimes, but I think that was because there were a lot of plot threads to be covered. I stayed up late to finish this book because I really wanted to find out who was the person behind everything because there was just enough false leads to keep you guessing and unable to be completely sure of who it was until the very end.
I really enjoyed this book and it has made me very interested in reading the first book of the series. Four stars!
September 24, 2020
I’m so happy I started reading this series. I’ve never really given much thought to Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson when reading the original works on Sherlock Holmes. They were just there, quiet and reliable characters, while the men were up to their shenanigans. Michelle Birkby has given such a rich inner voice to these two ladies that I feel guilty for overlooking them all those years ago.
The Women of Baker Street follows closely after the first book The House at Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson grapples with the aftermath of her actions in the first book while tackling her new case and I was so happy that her emotions were not swept under the carpet. Everyone, male or female, has a conscience and doing morally ambiguous things will have a consequence on oneself. Often, this isn’t explored adequately when the protagonist is male because masculinity yada yada. Thus, I’m really glad that this is something that was well fleshed out here for both Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock.
I also loved how Mrs. Hudson put Inspector Gregson in his place by reminding him that if women birthed, nursed, and nurtured children, they very well have their place in children’s deaths as well. Women are strong. They always have been. We just need to start acknowledging their strength.
Diversity meter
Strong female characters
Street children’s voice
The Women of Baker Street follows closely after the first book The House at Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson grapples with the aftermath of her actions in the first book while tackling her new case and I was so happy that her emotions were not swept under the carpet. Everyone, male or female, has a conscience and doing morally ambiguous things will have a consequence on oneself. Often, this isn’t explored adequately when the protagonist is male because masculinity yada yada. Thus, I’m really glad that this is something that was well fleshed out here for both Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock.
I also loved how Mrs. Hudson put Inspector Gregson in his place by reminding him that if women birthed, nursed, and nurtured children, they very well have their place in children’s deaths as well. Women are strong. They always have been. We just need to start acknowledging their strength.
Diversity meter
Strong female characters
Street children’s voice
May 29, 2017
'The fog had settled all around us. It was a true pea-souper, thick and choking, winding tendrils settling around the gas lamps, other people nothing but shapes that loomed out at us and then disappeared.'
Michelle Birkby takes us back to 221b Baker Street, shrouded in autumn fog, and the inestimable Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson, in the second novel of the series.
Hudson and Watson are expertly drawn, investigating the disappearance of young boys and the deaths of female hospital patients in their own, unique way. The two protagonists are far more than Holmes and Watson substitutes. They afford the reader a fresh view of Holmesian London, one that engages with the position of women in patriarchal Victorian society. Martha and Mary do not have the freedoms so readily available to Sherlock and John, and consequently part of the pleasure of these novels is observing the two women navigating obstacles that simply would not exist for their male counterparts.
The atmosphere is taut and chilling, as the plot engages with child abduction, corrupted maternal affection and the strength found in female friendships, all within the context of a driving crime narrative.
I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Michelle Birkby takes us back to 221b Baker Street, shrouded in autumn fog, and the inestimable Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson, in the second novel of the series.
Hudson and Watson are expertly drawn, investigating the disappearance of young boys and the deaths of female hospital patients in their own, unique way. The two protagonists are far more than Holmes and Watson substitutes. They afford the reader a fresh view of Holmesian London, one that engages with the position of women in patriarchal Victorian society. Martha and Mary do not have the freedoms so readily available to Sherlock and John, and consequently part of the pleasure of these novels is observing the two women navigating obstacles that simply would not exist for their male counterparts.
The atmosphere is taut and chilling, as the plot engages with child abduction, corrupted maternal affection and the strength found in female friendships, all within the context of a driving crime narrative.
I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.
May 16, 2018
My love affair with this series continues, and now I'm impatiently waiting for book number three. The House at Baker Street and now The Women of Baker Street are for all of us who just knew that there was more to Mrs. Hudson than met Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle's eye. Michelle Birkby's imagination is a delight. Holmes and Watson are supportive but stay out of the women's way. Mrs. Hudson is extremely observant and filled with common sense while Mary Watson is intuitive and impulsive. We get to know more about the Baker Street Irregulars, and who knew that it would be so hard to find good help, what with all the crooks trying to plant spies in Sherlock Holmes' residence?
Birkby is very adept at pacing, as well as ratcheting up the tension and suspense (and the occasional creep factor, too). Her misdirection is excellent; she had me fooled even though I'd deduced the importance of a specific location within a certain room. Yes, the mystery-- and how it is told-- is excellent, but it's what Birkby does with Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson that really wins me over. Holmes trusts his landlady so much that she's the only one in whom he confides his secrets about Jack the Ripper, and Dr. Watson tells her, "Make sure you solve it... It's good for him to have rivals." There are even flashes of humor that make me laugh out loud-- especially the bit about Mrs. Hudson contemplating the demise of a pair of knitting needles.
Even though I can't begin to conceive of crime fiction without Sherlock Holmes, I've never particularly liked him. However, there are so many wonderful series now that add to the Holmes canon by taking a closer look at characters Conan-Doyle kept in the shadows, and Michelle Birkby's is one of the best. I look forward to many more investigations conducted by these two indomitable women. Hats off to Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson!
Birkby is very adept at pacing, as well as ratcheting up the tension and suspense (and the occasional creep factor, too). Her misdirection is excellent; she had me fooled even though I'd deduced the importance of a specific location within a certain room. Yes, the mystery-- and how it is told-- is excellent, but it's what Birkby does with Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson that really wins me over. Holmes trusts his landlady so much that she's the only one in whom he confides his secrets about Jack the Ripper, and Dr. Watson tells her, "Make sure you solve it... It's good for him to have rivals." There are even flashes of humor that make me laugh out loud-- especially the bit about Mrs. Hudson contemplating the demise of a pair of knitting needles.
Even though I can't begin to conceive of crime fiction without Sherlock Holmes, I've never particularly liked him. However, there are so many wonderful series now that add to the Holmes canon by taking a closer look at characters Conan-Doyle kept in the shadows, and Michelle Birkby's is one of the best. I look forward to many more investigations conducted by these two indomitable women. Hats off to Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson!
August 4, 2022
Just as good as the previous one, and the case itself wasn't annoyingly messy this time - just dark and pretty horrifying. (Kind of weird how so many of the Holmes pastiches I've read have had much more violent cases than the original Holmes canon...)
Mrs Hudson and Mary were still great, as were the Irregulars. Watson made a few lovely and soft appearances, and Holmes was pretty spot-on as well: not quite as spot-on for me as he was in the previous book, but still good. Irene and Gregson and Lestrade all had wonderful appearances as well (Irene saying she will send Mrs Hudson tickets to come see her perform but "won't send one to Mr Holmes. If he wants to hear me sing, he can pay for it". Chef's kiss).
The ending with vague references to Moriarty was honestly a bit too much for me, but oh well. Still a very nice Holmes pastiche.
Mrs Hudson and Mary were still great, as were the Irregulars. Watson made a few lovely and soft appearances, and Holmes was pretty spot-on as well: not quite as spot-on for me as he was in the previous book, but still good. Irene and Gregson and Lestrade all had wonderful appearances as well (Irene saying she will send Mrs Hudson tickets to come see her perform but "won't send one to Mr Holmes. If he wants to hear me sing, he can pay for it". Chef's kiss).
The ending with vague references to Moriarty was honestly a bit too much for me, but oh well. Still a very nice Holmes pastiche.
February 26, 2018
I actually didn’t know this was a sequel, and I bought it because my friend took a picture of it because she knew I loved anything related to Sherlock. Anyhow.
I ended up reading this on my flight from Jakarta to Toronto (it took almost 24 hours with the transit) and I did not finish it since I slept and watch some movies. I enjoyed this book as a companion since the mystery is intriguing. I did feel kinda lost at some parts because they mentioned something that happened in the first book, but it didn’t really got in the way of me understanding the whole story. The flow was kinda slow, as well as the build up, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
If you’re looking for a mystery in the Sherlock world, I’d recommend this but it would be much better to read the first book beforehand.
I ended up reading this on my flight from Jakarta to Toronto (it took almost 24 hours with the transit) and I did not finish it since I slept and watch some movies. I enjoyed this book as a companion since the mystery is intriguing. I did feel kinda lost at some parts because they mentioned something that happened in the first book, but it didn’t really got in the way of me understanding the whole story. The flow was kinda slow, as well as the build up, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
If you’re looking for a mystery in the Sherlock world, I’d recommend this but it would be much better to read the first book beforehand.
July 2, 2017
I picked up this book for the sole reason that it has Sherlock Holmes setting. I always loved Martha Hudson in the novels and wanted to read more about her. This book gave me the opportunity to do just that.
Though I haven't read the previous book "The House on Baker Street" I was able to enjoy this one. But I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had. I'm planning on reading said first book in the future and maybe reread this one then.
As far as recomendation goes, I think this book would suit a lot of people, from young women to middle aged men. If you like victorian settings, mysteries, strong characters and twisted aristocrats, you'll like this book.
Though I haven't read the previous book "The House on Baker Street" I was able to enjoy this one. But I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had. I'm planning on reading said first book in the future and maybe reread this one then.
As far as recomendation goes, I think this book would suit a lot of people, from young women to middle aged men. If you like victorian settings, mysteries, strong characters and twisted aristocrats, you'll like this book.
August 4, 2018
Like the previous volume, an enjoyable Victorian romp which does what it does well and doesn't try and take itself too seriously. If anything, this is better; the characters are more developed, so that Martha, Mary, Billy, and others seem more rounded; Holmes doesn't have to be kept so strictly out of the way and can be a part of the background - similarly, John can interact with his wife, which produces some sweet moments; and the world-building of Victorian London is particularly vivid. Without wanting to spoil the plot, I'll also note that the motives of the killer seem very realistic somehow and although this is a light read, I found the final third of the book genuinely creepy.
April 22, 2020
Got this together with book 1, The House in Baker Street. I love anything Sherlock so when I saw these books they went home with me right away. This book has a better story line than the first one and kept me guessing who the culprit is. It was also twisted and crazy! I did not see it coming! Giving this a 4 star just because of the grammar errors that I found. But overall I love this book, could not put it down till it was finished!
PS: Both can be read as a stand alone but would be so much better if you read it in order.
PS: Both can be read as a stand alone but would be so much better if you read it in order.
July 5, 2017
Satisfying whodunit, not too complex but quite dark. Women feature in more ways than one. This novel made me realise something strange about myself. When I see Lucy Liu as Joan Watson, I take her as the tough thing that she is. But these women, Mary Watson & Mrs Hudson, of a time gone by, when they go on their unpredictable adventures, I worry about them, & almost expect the celebrated males in their lives to come to 'rescue'!! No worries, that does not happen at all.
November 13, 2021
3,5 stars
Idk if it is intentional but nearly every sentence in direct speech ends with
"..." I/she/he said *gently*
or
"...I/she/he said *softly*
and once I started noticing it I could not stop.
So, unfortunately half a star off because there are definitely more adjectives in the English language to describe how they speak.
Other than that I did quite like the book because I did not see coming who the 'villain' was until the end. But neither plot nor characters were exceptional to me.
Idk if it is intentional but nearly every sentence in direct speech ends with
"..." I/she/he said *gently*
or
"...I/she/he said *softly*
and once I started noticing it I could not stop.
So, unfortunately half a star off because there are definitely more adjectives in the English language to describe how they speak.
Other than that I did quite like the book because I did not see coming who the 'villain' was until the end. But neither plot nor characters were exceptional to me.
April 3, 2022
A case of murder and missing boys.
I knew in advance that I would love this book from the reviews. The only reason for four not five stars is that this book has spoilers if like me you have not read the first book in the series. The characterisations are really well drawn, especially Martha, Mary, Wiggins and Billy who are already like family. The plot was excellent too, with a satisfactory and tense ending.
I knew in advance that I would love this book from the reviews. The only reason for four not five stars is that this book has spoilers if like me you have not read the first book in the series. The characterisations are really well drawn, especially Martha, Mary, Wiggins and Billy who are already like family. The plot was excellent too, with a satisfactory and tense ending.
December 11, 2018
A very interesting idea and well executed by Birkby. I enjoyed how the characters still had their old-fashioned feminity along with their skills which showed that modernism only freed women, buy did not give them the talents which they already possessed. I have not read the first in the series but am looking forward to doing so soon!
February 28, 2020
I very much enjoyed this, and I think more-so than I did the first.
There were fewer flashbacks, and so the plot itself felt tighter and better paced overall.
I liked the references to Sherlock and his cases, but without feeling like I was missing out hugely as a result of having not read the original stories.
There were fewer flashbacks, and so the plot itself felt tighter and better paced overall.
I liked the references to Sherlock and his cases, but without feeling like I was missing out hugely as a result of having not read the original stories.
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