Sherlock Holmes: Tragedy at Hutton Hall and Other Stories

Cases of Singular Interest #4

by Mike Hogan

Lady Margaret of Hutton Hall in Surrey is being slow poisoned, or so the evidence suggests.Or is an even more convoluted and murderous plot being hatched in which Sherlock Holmes is an unwitting confederate? Christmas at Hutton Hall is marred by tragedy as Holmes pits his wits not only against a criminal conspiracy, but against wily Inspector Baynes of the Surrey Constabulary.In the second of three stories told by Watson in the traditional style, with a touch of humour, ‘The Tranquillity of the Morning’, an officer recently returned from the war in Upper Burma seeks Holmes’ help to remove an evil force from his home before it destroys his father’s priceless blue-and-white china collection. Is the Jade Dragon King of the Eastern Sea disturbing the tranquillity of the morning or is a human agency at work?In the final story, with conflict between the Great Powers threatening, the theft of Holmes' chamberpot from under his bed may have consequences of serious, even European moment.Two novellas and a short story written in the traditional style and narrated by Dr Watson.Sleuth with Sherlock Holmes as he unravels a complex conspiracy at Hutton Hall, exorcises a Dragon in London’s fashionable Mayfair, and battles a sharp-clawed cat burglar in a suite in the luxurious Savoy Hotel.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Mystery

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2019

About the author

I've lived most of my life in Africa, Asia and the Far East manufacturing handicrafts and teaching. I decided to quit regular work and write. There wasn't really a plan, just an instinct that I could write in different historical and contemporary settings.

I completed a Sherlock Holmes novel trilogy in which Winston Churchill, aged twelve, joins Sherlock and Watson at 221B Baker Street. All are available on Amazon.
My semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel, Hamlet and Me is on on Kindle and soon in paperback. A boy learns about life as he moonlights at the Old Vic theatre in London during the rehearsals for the O'Toole Hamlet in 1963.
Two collections of Sherlock Holmes short stories are also on Kindle and paperback, and another novel, Sherlock Holmes - The Scottish Question, are published, and I will make Hamlet and Me and a book set in Ancient Rome in 475 AD available on paperback in 2016.
My comedy on the aftermath of the crazy 2016 US presidential elections on Kindle and in paperback.
Have a look at my blog for other stories.

Reviews

[JoAn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were good and some were rather boring and did not show Sherlock as using deductive reasoning. Enjoyable read for a rainy afternoon.

[Derek S. Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining stories with intriguing plots and humorous twists

These stories kept me entertained and intrigued to the end. Especially delightful was the third one about the chamber pots, which certainly reflected Mike Hogan's jovial tastes (like Frasier and Monty Python). I must admit, though, that the cover image's striking resemblance to Jeremy Brett was what first caught my attention to this book. He was the superb actor who gave one of the very best portrayals of Sherlock Holmes in the Grenada TV series of the 1980's and 1990's. Of course, once I opened the book, Mr Hogan's writing stood well on its own. Nice job!

[P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah well. DNF. Not unexpectedly [seems it's irresistible to pastichers] this book was hijacked by Watson. Here Holmes is petulant, Watson the go-to-guy. The book has one long and two short stories: the plot of the first makes no sense, the second plot is meaningless, and the third - well, I'll never know.

[Christa Saccullo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok

Honestly, not my favorite author, but the story ideas are entertaining. This one has a short novel and two short stories. The one about the chamber pots was actually funny.

Christa

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story about the Imperial Chamber Pots. It was humorous with a historical touch. Probably one of the best stories of the whole series. The drawing of Jeremy Brett as Holmes is also one of the best.

[ShanDizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The game is afoot

The game is certainly afoot with these wonderful stories that, in my humble opinion, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would not be ashamed to add to the Holmes Canon.

[robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hogan follows Doyle's example in using small incidents to draw Holmes into what turn out to be crimes of moment, particularly in the story of the purloined chamber pots. Truly delightful.

Tranquility of the Morning is my least favorite of the three, but is still a higher quality than many of the pastiches out there, and is written with a thorough historical detail.