The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Devil and the Four

by Sam Siciliano

SECRETS AND LIES

Sherlock Holmes's latest case takes him to Paris in pursuit of Marguerite a Frenchwoman who fled her London home in mysterious circumstances. Holmes discovers she left after receiving a mysterious letter, containing an obituary and the words "four for the devil". Holmes's investigations will take him and his cousin, Henry Vernier, into a world of seduction and betrayal - and lead them to uncover a secret buried for over twenty years.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2018

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Hardy, a wealthy businessman desperate for his wife's return, begs Sherlock Holmes to find out why his wife has fled their English home back to France after receiving a strange letter that mentions the Devil.
Holmes and his cousin Henry Vernier (there is no Watson in this story) must travel to Paris in pursuit of Mrs Marguerite Hardy, and as the mystery starts to unravel, Holmes discovers a dark secret that Mrs Hardy is running from.
This is a good story but I felt there was a part in Michelle's story that dragged for a bit before picking up again.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes… and Doctor Vernier…

Holmes is consulted by wealthy John Hardy. His wife, Marguerite, has received a letter that has frightened her out of her mind. Written in her native French, it promises doom. It states, “Four for the Devil.” It then mentions four people and promises that she will be number three!

Frightened, she has fled London for Paris, stating she wants to hire a certain Mrs. Rose Grace, a consulting detective! The husband states that his wife’s past is a mystery to him, but they have a happy thirteen-year marriage.

Meanwhile, the first name on the list is found dead under suspicious circumstances…

Thus begins a fast-paced story of secrets, murder, theft and… Satanism!

In Siciliano’s world of 221B, Holmes is still the logical detective, but he has a relationship of a sort with a woman named Violet Wheelwright from one of his cases. No problem with that, even ACD had shown he had feelings for Irene Adler. In these adventures, Holmes is seconded by his cousin, Doctor Henry Vernier instead of Watson. No problem, a lot of tales out there are told by someone other than Watson.

I have but one problem with all of Siciliano’s Holmes stories. Watson is largely written out of the adventures and is treated like a bumbling buffoon. Dr. Vernier and Holmes go out of their way to let clients know that Watson will not be on the case. To have Watson out of the case is one thing; to have him and his adventures dismissed as the lies of an incompetent is blasphemous.

Setting aside the treatment of Watson, the story itself is beautifully written. It’s a great mystery and the logic followed in bringing it to a successful conclusion are superb! The interaction of the characters and the pacing make this story hard to put down! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I give this book four stars. The one-star ding is for the shameful treatment of Watson.

Quoth the Raven…

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been a Sherlock Homes fan for many years, I enjoy trying new authors and their attempts at portraying the world's greatest detective. In “The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Devil and the Four,” Sam Siciliano has offered an interesting story with a somewhat unique setting for Holmes – Paris. Holmes is consulted by wealthy John Hardy. His wife, Marguerite, has received a letter that has frightened her out of her mind. Written in her native French, it promises doom, as it states, “Four for the Devil.” This is part of a series of stories with Sherlock's cousin Henry Vernier (rather than good old Watson) and his wife Michelle. Although I did find it a little predictable, it was still an enjoyable read. As with many of Holmes' cases, all is not what it seems to be.

If you are a Holmes fan, then do give “The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Devil and the Four” a try. The pastiche is generally well written, although it does feel padded in spots and sadly is a little too predictable. I would have enjoyed it more with additional plot development – however less unnecessary padding. Still, I will certainly try another of his stories; I have certainly read a lot worse in the Wide World of Holmes Pastiches.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well plotted book, with well developed characters, and some Satanism to spice it up. Fans of the traditional Sherlock Holmes will find his portrayal by Sam Siciliano very different from the character developed by Conan Doyle. While he is still an intellectual consulting detective, there are no amazing deductions ("...I can see that you walked here by way of Such & Such St., based on the kind of mud on your shoes...") and Dr. Watson plays no part in this series. This Holmes is a much more emotional man, and one who is attracted to women - one in particular. This being said, the characters are interesting, and each of the main protagonists tells part of the story from their own point of view. The setting is Paris around the turn of the 20th century, and is well drawn, with Holmes visiting a number of interesting people and places as the plot develops. Overall, enjoyable reading.

[Malcolm Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, though not the usual Holmes and Watson I'm used to. Set in Paris and delving into Satanism, it's a journey through the dark side with Holmes, who comes out at the end a very troubled man. The only thing that really grated with me; whilst I realise it's written by an author based on the other side of the Atlantic, was the constant use of American spelling in a Sherlock Holmes story. London doesn't have 'gray' days we don't labor here either. If you are going to write Sherlock Holmes stories in the style of the originals by Conan Doyle, at least get the spelling right. Otherwise a good read.

[Justin Beaumont · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting plot which sadly seemed to have little made of it. Watson has been replaced by Cousin Henry, this lacked bite and failed to produce the same frisson, showing instead a doctor who put up with Holmes rather than relished the cases. I have, probably incorrectly, compared this to the stories by James Lovegrove, George Mann, Nick Lyme, Cavan Scott and similar writers at Titan Press. As a result I was disappointed by the pace, lack of tension and slow development as well as the additional and largely irritating characters. Sorry about that, I could not not do better, but I like my Holmes and Watson untarnished and straightforward.

[Lari · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my pet peeves in a Sherlock Holmes novel is Holmes falling in love, so between that, no Watson, and a plot revolving around Satanism, I will not be reading this again. It's not necessarily a bad book, just very much not what I enjoy in a Holmes book. If you're not fond of Watson and like the idea of Holmes falling in love with a capable female detective, who I will confess is well written, then this is probably the book for you.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read lot of this author on Holmes he always paints very different Sherlock to Watson. Here we have no Watson. This set around the poet Charles Baudelaire and his Satanic poetry this set in Paris we even see Holmes with a girlfriend that he's known for years.
Mrs Hardy has disappeared and Holmes has to go to Paris to find her. This black magic and the murder.

[Fred Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rousing tale of adventure in France and England. With twists along the way it make for a great read.

The Further Adventures series has always tried to embrace the ennuie of Sherlock tales while bridging new frontiers. This book succeeds in all aspects

[Eric Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in third person and first person from various participant, Holmes is in Paris to aid a woman with a dark past who is being tortured into believing the devil is persecuting her by a satanic priest and an old adversary. Decently written and a good story, towards the end the book begins to drag.

[Michael D Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent story

It was a decent mystery. Not as complicated as some of the past stories, but still entertaining. I liked the further development of the main characters.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel the Sherlock Holmes character was continued on in a respectful manner by Siciliano.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

exlnt

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buried under at time far more description than was needed,and wrapped in a bit too much religious fiction, there was a good story, Not great SH but worth a read for fans.