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A Sherlock Holmes Adventure #3
The Devil’s Due
After Art in the Blood and Unquiet Spirits, Holmes and Watson are back in the third of Bonnie MacBird’s critically acclaimed Sherlock Holmes Adventures, written in the tradition of Conan Doyle himself.
It’s 1890 and the newly famous Sherlock Holmes faces his worst adversary to date – a diabolical villain bent on destroying some of London’s most admired public figures in particularly gruesome ways. A further puzzle is that suicide closely attends each of the murders. As he tracks the killer through vast and seething London, Holmes finds himself battling both an envious Scotland Yard and a critical press as he follows a complex trail from performers to princes, anarchists to aesthetes. But when his brother Mycroft disappears, apparently the victim of murder, even those loyal to Holmes begin to wonder how close to the flames he has travelled. Has Sherlock Holmes himself made a deal with the devil?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2019
214 people are currently reading
2368 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie MacBird
19 books377 followersBonnie MacBird has been a screenwriter (TRON), studio executive (Universal) producer (three Emmys), a playwright and a classically trained actor. She taught writing at UCLA Extension's Writers' Program, and is a regular speaker on writing, creativity, and Sherlock Holmes.
She has five Sherlock Holmes novels, out now: ART IN THE BLOOD (2015), UNQUIET SPIRITS (2017) and THE DEVIL'S DUE (2019), THE THREE LOCKS (2020) and WHAT CHILD IS THIS? (2021). A sixth is in work. All are for HarperCollins
MacBird lives in Los Angeles and London
She has five Sherlock Holmes novels, out now: ART IN THE BLOOD (2015), UNQUIET SPIRITS (2017) and THE DEVIL'S DUE (2019), THE THREE LOCKS (2020) and WHAT CHILD IS THIS? (2021). A sixth is in work. All are for HarperCollins
MacBird lives in Los Angeles and London
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
September 25, 2019
This is my introduction to Bonnie MacBird's series with Sherlock Holmes, the third addition, resurrecting Conan Doyle's genius Victorian detective and his Dr John Watson. In this delightful read, it is 1890 in London, Watson is married to his Mary Morson, running a medical practice in Paddington, missing his friend, Sherlock, when Mary makes a decision to visit friends without John. This leaves him free to go and live with Holmes at 221B Baker Street, only to find himself in the middle of murder, mystery and danger, an exhausted Watson could not be happier. Holmes is curious about some strange murders, like a drowned man found in his bed, that are accompanied by some apparent suicides. Holmes is being vilified in the London Gazette by a journalist seeking vengeance, likening Holmes to the devil himself, castigating him for mistakenly identifying Charles Danforth for murdering his father. However, as we all know it is unlikely that Sherlock has made such an error, although to his horror, Charles's abused wife, Constance commits suicide.
In a grimy and stinking London with its fogs, anti-foreigner sentiments run high, with French spies, and anarchists roaming the city. There is a new Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Titus Billings, a man fanning the anti-immigrant flames, determined to have private detectives, like Holmes, shunned by the police, questioning Holmes's abilities and competence. Billings is not a man that can be ignored as Holmes is to learn to his cost, and is far too willing to close cases too quickly with little in the way of an investigation. He is certainly not going to entertain Holmes theory that a highly intelligent serial killer is operating below the radar. Two wealthy brothers, James and Andrew Goodwin, prominent members of the aristocracy and London society, are less than forthright about the secret Luminarians, a group of rich philanthropists, members of whom are being targeted by the killer. Matters come to a head when Holmes's brother, Mycroft disappears.
MacBird does a remarkable job in resurrecting Sherlock, this is a great mystery with Sherlock facing a worthy adversary in this complex story of secrets, corruption and amorality. The narrative is delivered by Watson, a man who has sorely missed being in the thick of city life and the range of London's social circles, from the elite to the poorest. More than anything, he revels in being back together with Holmes, the thrill and excitement of being involved in hunting for a killer, and he plays a pivotal part in the finale. A great book, that can easily be read as standalone, that I think those who love Sherlock and other crime enthusiasts are likely to enjoy. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
In a grimy and stinking London with its fogs, anti-foreigner sentiments run high, with French spies, and anarchists roaming the city. There is a new Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Titus Billings, a man fanning the anti-immigrant flames, determined to have private detectives, like Holmes, shunned by the police, questioning Holmes's abilities and competence. Billings is not a man that can be ignored as Holmes is to learn to his cost, and is far too willing to close cases too quickly with little in the way of an investigation. He is certainly not going to entertain Holmes theory that a highly intelligent serial killer is operating below the radar. Two wealthy brothers, James and Andrew Goodwin, prominent members of the aristocracy and London society, are less than forthright about the secret Luminarians, a group of rich philanthropists, members of whom are being targeted by the killer. Matters come to a head when Holmes's brother, Mycroft disappears.
MacBird does a remarkable job in resurrecting Sherlock, this is a great mystery with Sherlock facing a worthy adversary in this complex story of secrets, corruption and amorality. The narrative is delivered by Watson, a man who has sorely missed being in the thick of city life and the range of London's social circles, from the elite to the poorest. More than anything, he revels in being back together with Holmes, the thrill and excitement of being involved in hunting for a killer, and he plays a pivotal part in the finale. A great book, that can easily be read as standalone, that I think those who love Sherlock and other crime enthusiasts are likely to enjoy. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
October 23, 2019
I was introduced to Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes by my (now) 96 year old father many moons ago and I have loved those stories ever since. There have been many attempts to emulate Conan Doyle over the years but I think Bonnie MacBird has really captured a sense of the originals in this story for which she is to be greatly congratulated.
Sherlock Holmes reputation is under attack from journalist Zanders who labels him a demon. With this in the background and the journalist nearly always one step ahead, Holmes and Watson investigate a series of seemingly unconnected, disparate and creative deaths, labelled the Alphabet Murders. Intriguingly, some of the murders have a tarot card of the Devil left somewhere in the vicinity and strangely Watson is handed on in a melee in Hyde Park. Are the murders linked to a philanthropic group known as The Luminaries or is that a red herring? Further investigation by the pair reveals that guilt binds the murder victims, that philanthropy assuages the guilt but what they’re guilty of and who is seeking vengeance in this dastardly plot takes them on a journey around London and places them in great danger. What becomes apparent is that they are hunting a calculating and vicious killer. There is also anarchy in the mix as bombs are being planted by a group with connections to France.
There is a lot to praise in this book. First of all the characters are so well portrayed especially Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes and John Watson but I also think that Heffie O’Malley, who helps so much in the investigation, is a terrific character. There are needless to say some odious characters such as the new Head of the Metropolitan Police Titus Billings who you love to hate. There is humour aplenty from Holmes himself but one of the most amusing scenes is from a French gang brandishing baguettes as weapons (stale admittedly!) who Holmes christensthe Baggety Brigade. There are some wonderful descriptions of 1890’s London which show its dual face through the wealthy homes of the Viscounts Goodwin and the seamier side where Heffie lives. There is atmosphere too, often enhanced by the weather especially the pea soupers and the sights and smells of the capital. There are some lovely expressions such as Jove’s Breakfast and tippy top which captures the period of time. Of course, no Holmes story would be complete without Holmes putting his personal safety on the line in his brave desire to get to the truth. The killer(s) play a blinder and have all fooled except of course, for Holmes! The ending is really good with the ends literally justifying the means although I think that it feels a bit like a French farce but with dastardly consequences!
Overall, a clever, well written book with a fast paced plot which is highly entertaining and very much in the spirit of the originals.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction.
Sherlock Holmes reputation is under attack from journalist Zanders who labels him a demon. With this in the background and the journalist nearly always one step ahead, Holmes and Watson investigate a series of seemingly unconnected, disparate and creative deaths, labelled the Alphabet Murders. Intriguingly, some of the murders have a tarot card of the Devil left somewhere in the vicinity and strangely Watson is handed on in a melee in Hyde Park. Are the murders linked to a philanthropic group known as The Luminaries or is that a red herring? Further investigation by the pair reveals that guilt binds the murder victims, that philanthropy assuages the guilt but what they’re guilty of and who is seeking vengeance in this dastardly plot takes them on a journey around London and places them in great danger. What becomes apparent is that they are hunting a calculating and vicious killer. There is also anarchy in the mix as bombs are being planted by a group with connections to France.
There is a lot to praise in this book. First of all the characters are so well portrayed especially Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes and John Watson but I also think that Heffie O’Malley, who helps so much in the investigation, is a terrific character. There are needless to say some odious characters such as the new Head of the Metropolitan Police Titus Billings who you love to hate. There is humour aplenty from Holmes himself but one of the most amusing scenes is from a French gang brandishing baguettes as weapons (stale admittedly!) who Holmes christensthe Baggety Brigade. There are some wonderful descriptions of 1890’s London which show its dual face through the wealthy homes of the Viscounts Goodwin and the seamier side where Heffie lives. There is atmosphere too, often enhanced by the weather especially the pea soupers and the sights and smells of the capital. There are some lovely expressions such as Jove’s Breakfast and tippy top which captures the period of time. Of course, no Holmes story would be complete without Holmes putting his personal safety on the line in his brave desire to get to the truth. The killer(s) play a blinder and have all fooled except of course, for Holmes! The ending is really good with the ends literally justifying the means although I think that it feels a bit like a French farce but with dastardly consequences!
Overall, a clever, well written book with a fast paced plot which is highly entertaining and very much in the spirit of the originals.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction.
October 17, 2019
There are a huge amount of Sherlock Holmes stories available these days & many of them are extremely poor. However, if you are looking for a Holmes adventure that pays a fitting tribute to Arthur Conan Doyle then Bonnie MacBird is the only author you need to read.
Her third novel featuring Holmes & Watson is another gem. In just a few chapters the story takes the reader from the exclusive mansions of Mayfair to the dangerous streets of Spitalfields, & the surprisingly dangerous corridors of Scotland Yard.
MacBird's novel races along at the pace of a short story & while her writing style is her own the voices of all the characters ring true to Victorian London & the world of Conan Doyle.
The Devil's Due is one of those rare books that when you stop reading & put it down, a few minutes later you pick it up & think "I'll just read one more chapter." I cannot think of any higher praise than that.
Her third novel featuring Holmes & Watson is another gem. In just a few chapters the story takes the reader from the exclusive mansions of Mayfair to the dangerous streets of Spitalfields, & the surprisingly dangerous corridors of Scotland Yard.
MacBird's novel races along at the pace of a short story & while her writing style is her own the voices of all the characters ring true to Victorian London & the world of Conan Doyle.
The Devil's Due is one of those rare books that when you stop reading & put it down, a few minutes later you pick it up & think "I'll just read one more chapter." I cannot think of any higher praise than that.
June 1, 2024
The Devil's Due
By Bonnie MacBird
This is only the second book I have read in this series, but it really is a step above many other Sherlock Holmes books. Everything a Holmes and Watson fan looks for is in this book. The mystery, clues, the twists, the brains, and the snark.
By Bonnie MacBird
This is only the second book I have read in this series, but it really is a step above many other Sherlock Holmes books. Everything a Holmes and Watson fan looks for is in this book. The mystery, clues, the twists, the brains, and the snark.
March 8, 2021
We can always use another worthwhile addition to the "expanded cannon" of Sherlock Holmes novels and stories. The Devil's Due is a quite satisfactory addition to the genre. The Watson and Holmes characters come across believably, and MacBird does well with the whole Watson-not-quite-keeping-up-with-Holmes thing, which plays particularly well in the denouement. At the center of this book are two intertwining narratives: one of a killer who seems to be working through the alphabet, killing philanthropists with dark secrets in their past, the other of a new Chief Commissioner of police who appears to be a budding fascist.
This is good Holmes, but not great Holmes. MacBird doesn't really bring anything new to the series. Do I want to read more Holmes writing be MacBird? Yes. Will I be waiting anxiously for it to appear? No. It's a pleasure I'll partake of when it comes along.
This is good Holmes, but not great Holmes. MacBird doesn't really bring anything new to the series. Do I want to read more Holmes writing be MacBird? Yes. Will I be waiting anxiously for it to appear? No. It's a pleasure I'll partake of when it comes along.
February 3, 2020
I'm a bit uncertain how to rate this one. MacBird is spot-on with her characterization of Watson. Finally, we see an intelligent physician with a deep and abiding affection for his friend, a love of adventure, and someone who is physically and intellectually capable. Holmes is less neurotic and in this story than the previous book--or at least he starts out that way. But especially as the narrative goes on, there are many scenes which seem more spawned by the Guy Ritchie franchise than the actual Doyle narratives, and as with Art in the Blood, a passage in which Holmes needs cocaine to power through a number of horrific injuries to save the day. Blanks in guns also feature a great deal. I know that Doyle took certain, er, liberties with scientific fact, but this is just way over the top (and very non-canonical in terms of Holmes' use of drugs to get through the rigors of a case rather than the rigors of boredom between cases).
Finally, the mystery, while it starts out promisingly inexplicable with a Tarot card in Watson's pocket, is just too reminiscent of Christie's ABC Murders, and invites comparison...unfortunately. It's unfair to compare any mystery to one of the most expertly plotted works in the genre, but when you have a murderer who is picking off people apparently based on the alphabet, it's inevitable. There's also more than a whiff of And Then There Were None, since the initial apparent reason people are being killed alphabetically is that they have some unfortunate indiscretion in their past lives. But again, this really isn't fully teased out.
There's a hilarious and delightful appearance by an Irregular-style urchin who is a girl for a change, not a boy, but I admit just by the villain's demeanor, I knew whodunit immediately, although there really aren't enough clues to actually deduce why until the end (which is also a Christie-style denouncement).
Still, I enjoyed the book very much, and read it almost in a single sitting, and plan to finish off the series. As long as a series has a decent Holmes-Watson relationship, I'm willing to continue, rather than focusing on side characters, like so many recent pastiches seem to do.
Finally, the mystery, while it starts out promisingly inexplicable with a Tarot card in Watson's pocket, is just too reminiscent of Christie's ABC Murders, and invites comparison...unfortunately. It's unfair to compare any mystery to one of the most expertly plotted works in the genre, but when you have a murderer who is picking off people apparently based on the alphabet, it's inevitable. There's also more than a whiff of And Then There Were None, since the initial apparent reason people are being killed alphabetically is that they have some unfortunate indiscretion in their past lives. But again, this really isn't fully teased out.
There's a hilarious and delightful appearance by an Irregular-style urchin who is a girl for a change, not a boy, but I admit just by the villain's demeanor, I knew whodunit immediately, although there really aren't enough clues to actually deduce why until the end (which is also a Christie-style denouncement).
Still, I enjoyed the book very much, and read it almost in a single sitting, and plan to finish off the series. As long as a series has a decent Holmes-Watson relationship, I'm willing to continue, rather than focusing on side characters, like so many recent pastiches seem to do.
October 24, 2020
I was kindly gifted my copy of this book by the author and publishers for my honest opinion. And I can't say they will be disappointed with my review!! I loved it!
The Devil's Due isn't necessarily one I would pick up off the shelves if I were out browsing for a new read, mainly because it is set in 1890, it's a retelling of a classic character and I'd never heard of this author. HOWEVER, I would have been completely wrong and missed out on a superb read.
This book is the third in the series, and tells the story of Sherlock and Watson on one of their many adventures. It is told from the viewpoint of Dr Watson and I really enjoyed it. The writing style is great, it flows so well, and even the older words and sayings weren't confusing as the context was so well written.
Sherlock's mannerisms and eccentricities were all well done here, and nothing felt off about him. I would suggest this is one of the better retellings of Conan Doyle's famous detective. I did guess the bad guy in this one, but that was because I was trying really hard to play detective alongside the master! It didn't hamper my enjoyment in any way.
I'd recommend this 100% and I am going to go back and read the first two in the series soon. This is for fans of classics, softer thrillers and fun who-dunnits.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
The Devil's Due isn't necessarily one I would pick up off the shelves if I were out browsing for a new read, mainly because it is set in 1890, it's a retelling of a classic character and I'd never heard of this author. HOWEVER, I would have been completely wrong and missed out on a superb read.
This book is the third in the series, and tells the story of Sherlock and Watson on one of their many adventures. It is told from the viewpoint of Dr Watson and I really enjoyed it. The writing style is great, it flows so well, and even the older words and sayings weren't confusing as the context was so well written.
Sherlock's mannerisms and eccentricities were all well done here, and nothing felt off about him. I would suggest this is one of the better retellings of Conan Doyle's famous detective. I did guess the bad guy in this one, but that was because I was trying really hard to play detective alongside the master! It didn't hamper my enjoyment in any way.
I'd recommend this 100% and I am going to go back and read the first two in the series soon. This is for fans of classics, softer thrillers and fun who-dunnits.
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
October 19, 2019
The Devil's Due is a very entertaining Holmes/Watson novel. MacBird's second Sherlock manuscript is as entertaining as the first, and she still nails the tone of Conan Doyle.
My one complaint is about sloppy editing. Commas appear in weird places and there are errors in tense. I'm not a "grammar Nazi," but I read a lot, so it's hard to overlook careless editing. MacBird's work is good enough that she deserves a better editor, so I'm not dinging the author for the publisher's failing. I hope that her works sell well enough for the publisher to assign a better editor to her.
Recommended.
My one complaint is about sloppy editing. Commas appear in weird places and there are errors in tense. I'm not a "grammar Nazi," but I read a lot, so it's hard to overlook careless editing. MacBird's work is good enough that she deserves a better editor, so I'm not dinging the author for the publisher's failing. I hope that her works sell well enough for the publisher to assign a better editor to her.
Recommended.
September 5, 2019
1890 and Holmes and Watson are investigating a spate of murders. The victims are some of London's most admired public figures who are also members of a secret group of philanthropists and each have died in some imaginative way to make it look like suicide or an accident. While Holmes is on the hunt for the killer, he himself is the subject of a witch hunt by a news paper reporter with a grudge, who is hell bent on destroying his credibility and accusing him of being in league with the Devil.
My favourite duo are back and I look forward to the next instalment from Bonnie MacBird.
My favourite duo are back and I look forward to the next instalment from Bonnie MacBird.
November 26, 2019
Originally published on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Devil’s Due is the third Sherlock Holmes adventure by Bonnie MacBird. Released 22nd Oct 2019 by HarperCollins, it's 384 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the release version of the ebook.
There are so many (SO many) Holmes and Watson pastiches/homages/alternate worlds, timelines, alternate interpretations, that it is difficult to sort the good stuff from the dross. I am a die-hard canon fan and have read the originals so many times I've worn out copies. That being said, there is a fair bit of good fiction being written today, and this series (and author) are consistently excellent, verging on superlative.
The writing, plotting, tension arc, characterizations, and descriptions are all well done; the author is adept at her craft. The tone of the book and the dialogue manage to feel like it could have been written contemporaneously with the canon; no mean feat. I was a little disappointed with the foreshadowing; it seemed a little heavy handed. I read the book thinking that the major plot twist which I expected couldn't be so obvious. Honestly, the book was so well written and entertaining otherwise that I didn't really mind much.
Holmes & Watson's foil, Billings, is suitably dense, objectionably racist, and obstructive enough to engender heartfelt boos and hisses whenever he shows up. Holmes' encounters and abuse at the hands of the media are evident in this adventure as well, so he and Watson find themselves up against an array of more or less active foes.
I enjoyed this story and I suspect that most Holmesians will find enough here to keep them entertained. The story is also written around a framework of real historical occurrences and the author provides a link in the book to annotations and historical notes which are well worth a read.
Five stars. Delightful to see Holmes and Watson in fighting form.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Devil’s Due is the third Sherlock Holmes adventure by Bonnie MacBird. Released 22nd Oct 2019 by HarperCollins, it's 384 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Presumably that feature will carry through to the release version of the ebook.
There are so many (SO many) Holmes and Watson pastiches/homages/alternate worlds, timelines, alternate interpretations, that it is difficult to sort the good stuff from the dross. I am a die-hard canon fan and have read the originals so many times I've worn out copies. That being said, there is a fair bit of good fiction being written today, and this series (and author) are consistently excellent, verging on superlative.
The writing, plotting, tension arc, characterizations, and descriptions are all well done; the author is adept at her craft. The tone of the book and the dialogue manage to feel like it could have been written contemporaneously with the canon; no mean feat. I was a little disappointed with the foreshadowing; it seemed a little heavy handed. I read the book thinking that the major plot twist which I expected couldn't be so obvious. Honestly, the book was so well written and entertaining otherwise that I didn't really mind much.
Holmes & Watson's foil, Billings, is suitably dense, objectionably racist, and obstructive enough to engender heartfelt boos and hisses whenever he shows up. Holmes' encounters and abuse at the hands of the media are evident in this adventure as well, so he and Watson find themselves up against an array of more or less active foes.
I enjoyed this story and I suspect that most Holmesians will find enough here to keep them entertained. The story is also written around a framework of real historical occurrences and the author provides a link in the book to annotations and historical notes which are well worth a read.
Five stars. Delightful to see Holmes and Watson in fighting form.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 10, 2019
3,5 stars
The Devil’s Due by Bonnie MacBird is a fine addition to the Sherlock Holmes universe. The notorious detective and Dr. Watson are back to solve another tricky mystery in 1890, London. A witty serial killer, who is working through the alphabet, brings chaos to the city’s upper class by murdering well-known philanthropists. After the murders, people close to the victims commit suicide. While Sherlock has to figure out what’s going on and catch the killer, he has to deal with the criticism of the press and Scotland Yard.
The characters of Sherlock and Watson are believable and stay true to their original versions: Holmes is the determined and relentless investigator who wants to solve the challenging case, and Watson is his calm partner who can’t quite keep up with Sherlock’s way of thinking and processing facts. Also, we come across other beloved characters such as Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, and Mycroft who set the perfect mood for a Holmes’ novel and bring back the nostalgia of the genre.
The whole mystery, the puzzles that Sherlock has to break down in order to find out the villain’s identity, and the actual manhunt make The Devil’s Due an enjoyable and suspenseful read. In the middle of the book, we get the POVs of the killer and the Chief Commissioner of police that give the story a more appealing and interesting hue.
With that being said, I can’t claim that this particular Sherlock Holmes’ adventure is something I haven’t seen before. The author crafted a well-written and entertaining installment that, unfortunately, doesn’t add something new or refreshing to the series. I didn’t get bored while reading the book, but I wasn’t enthralled by the idea of picking it up either.
All in all, it was a good story with a solid plot and characters, but it wasn’t a great one.
I received this e-arc from NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
The Devil’s Due by Bonnie MacBird is a fine addition to the Sherlock Holmes universe. The notorious detective and Dr. Watson are back to solve another tricky mystery in 1890, London. A witty serial killer, who is working through the alphabet, brings chaos to the city’s upper class by murdering well-known philanthropists. After the murders, people close to the victims commit suicide. While Sherlock has to figure out what’s going on and catch the killer, he has to deal with the criticism of the press and Scotland Yard.
The characters of Sherlock and Watson are believable and stay true to their original versions: Holmes is the determined and relentless investigator who wants to solve the challenging case, and Watson is his calm partner who can’t quite keep up with Sherlock’s way of thinking and processing facts. Also, we come across other beloved characters such as Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, and Mycroft who set the perfect mood for a Holmes’ novel and bring back the nostalgia of the genre.
The whole mystery, the puzzles that Sherlock has to break down in order to find out the villain’s identity, and the actual manhunt make The Devil’s Due an enjoyable and suspenseful read. In the middle of the book, we get the POVs of the killer and the Chief Commissioner of police that give the story a more appealing and interesting hue.
With that being said, I can’t claim that this particular Sherlock Holmes’ adventure is something I haven’t seen before. The author crafted a well-written and entertaining installment that, unfortunately, doesn’t add something new or refreshing to the series. I didn’t get bored while reading the book, but I wasn’t enthralled by the idea of picking it up either.
All in all, it was a good story with a solid plot and characters, but it wasn’t a great one.
I received this e-arc from NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
September 13, 2021
Blurb: A love letter to pastiche lovers.
This was my third (of hopefully five) Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels this year, and it was by far the best one. Also, it was my introduction to Macbird's body of work, and that only served to enhance my appreciation for her writing. For not only did she write a great Sherlock Holmes story, but also she wrote a story that can pretty much act as a standalone for someone who hasn't read the previous two books in the series.
The style and construction of the plot, oscillates between an imitation and evocation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are moments where the city of London, or certain aspects of life in Victorian England are described that seem lifted straight out of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories such as 'The Hound of Baskervilles' or 'The Sign of Four' but these moments are tempered with Macbird's own voice and energy which make the story very much her own. The gentle (and often inexplicable) interplay of characters and circumstances which form a tangled-web in the eyes of the reader only to come untangled at the end through Sherlock's deductions are reminiscent of the great Sherlockian adventures of old.
Perhaps the winning aspect of the book is how it has cast the problems of the modern-era (influence of popular-media) into a story set well before the advent of the internet. It goes to show that just like Sherlock Holmes, the very nature of things often evolve but seldom change. I'm bound to say that just like the Devil, Bonnie Macbird's Sherlock Holmes series deserves every credit that it is due.
This was my third (of hopefully five) Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels this year, and it was by far the best one. Also, it was my introduction to Macbird's body of work, and that only served to enhance my appreciation for her writing. For not only did she write a great Sherlock Holmes story, but also she wrote a story that can pretty much act as a standalone for someone who hasn't read the previous two books in the series.
The style and construction of the plot, oscillates between an imitation and evocation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are moments where the city of London, or certain aspects of life in Victorian England are described that seem lifted straight out of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories such as 'The Hound of Baskervilles' or 'The Sign of Four' but these moments are tempered with Macbird's own voice and energy which make the story very much her own. The gentle (and often inexplicable) interplay of characters and circumstances which form a tangled-web in the eyes of the reader only to come untangled at the end through Sherlock's deductions are reminiscent of the great Sherlockian adventures of old.
Perhaps the winning aspect of the book is how it has cast the problems of the modern-era (influence of popular-media) into a story set well before the advent of the internet. It goes to show that just like Sherlock Holmes, the very nature of things often evolve but seldom change. I'm bound to say that just like the Devil, Bonnie Macbird's Sherlock Holmes series deserves every credit that it is due.
November 3, 2019
I haven't read the first two books in this series but I can't wait to buy them. I was a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes when I was a teenager and the traditional mystery series and its characters brought back so many memories. I felt like Bonnie MacBird stayed true to Arthur Conan Doyle's stories which was wonderful. Holmes and Watson are in perfect form and a character I am new to, Heffie O’Malley, was a wonderful addition. There were humorous moments and villains I loved like the police commissioner Titus Billings (great name) who questions Holmes' competence in an effort to sway police away from private detectives. Holmes is actually defending himself a lot in this one because a journalist has also set his sights on proving he is a demon.
I haven't read a story this rich in texture and detail in a long time, yet it moved with great speed. There were so many fun elements that made this stand out from the classic series of mysteries such as the French gangs who are causing trouble in the city and there were fun breadcrumbs like tarot cards that the killer left for investigators to follow. The mystery was complex and clever, which I appreciated, and the ending was great. Overall this has been one of the better books I've read lately and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have read it for a review.
I haven't read a story this rich in texture and detail in a long time, yet it moved with great speed. There were so many fun elements that made this stand out from the classic series of mysteries such as the French gangs who are causing trouble in the city and there were fun breadcrumbs like tarot cards that the killer left for investigators to follow. The mystery was complex and clever, which I appreciated, and the ending was great. Overall this has been one of the better books I've read lately and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have read it for a review.
December 2, 2019
God bless this book for getting me out of a weeks-long reading slump. The last four books I'd picked up before this one, I ended up putting back down before reaching the halfway mark -- so I'm particularly grateful to this read for getting me back in the groove.
It had been awhile since I read a Holmes novel, and I enjoyed this one for its action-packed adventure and really quite imaginative settings and mystery -- not to mention the characterization. This pastiche paints Holmes, Watson, and even Mycroft as flavored by the BBC and Downey Jr on-screen adaptations of the characters, a phenomenon that I wish more pastiche writers would incorporate. (I love Downey, Cumberbatch, and Jonny Miller's performances as Sherlock Holmes -- and those performances have undeniably shaped how Sherlock Holmes is perceived by modern audiences -- so let that be reflected in pastiches!)
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
It had been awhile since I read a Holmes novel, and I enjoyed this one for its action-packed adventure and really quite imaginative settings and mystery -- not to mention the characterization. This pastiche paints Holmes, Watson, and even Mycroft as flavored by the BBC and Downey Jr on-screen adaptations of the characters, a phenomenon that I wish more pastiche writers would incorporate. (I love Downey, Cumberbatch, and Jonny Miller's performances as Sherlock Holmes -- and those performances have undeniably shaped how Sherlock Holmes is perceived by modern audiences -- so let that be reflected in pastiches!)
Looking forward to the next book in the series!
October 16, 2023
Okay. With her first book, I thought what fun to read a new story about Sherlock and Watson. The second book stained credulity. So being a hopeful person, I tried the third and am now done with this series.
The Devil’s Due read like a YA novel. And there was no intrigue just scene after scene to a ‘surprise’ conclusion. And each scene seemed like a stage. There was no nuance, etc.
I love the character of Sherlock, but he is still human - just more attuned. Bonnie Macbird makes him to be unrealistic in what she wants him to do.
The Devil’s Due read like a YA novel. And there was no intrigue just scene after scene to a ‘surprise’ conclusion. And each scene seemed like a stage. There was no nuance, etc.
I love the character of Sherlock, but he is still human - just more attuned. Bonnie Macbird makes him to be unrealistic in what she wants him to do.
December 26, 2022
Overall this storyline was better than the other two.
I will also admit that I'm not into Dr. Watson bashing. (Often, he is wrtten as a egocentric OR even as an bumbling idiot following Holmes around. I mean lets admit it, no way would Sherlock Holmes partner and friend up with an idiot. Holmes partner WOULD have to keep up and watch Holmes back.) One of the positives with MacBird is she doesn't turn Watson into the idiot. In this portrayal he is written as Holmes partner, not AS smart as Holmes' art of deduction' but still able to add to the cases his own skills to add and balance out Holmes... I do like how she pens Watson in a positive light. Thank you, truly!
However...there were a couple mistakes in the writing.
Early in the book, before even a case is acquired. Watson at first not having an umbrella, requiring Holmes and Watson to seek shelter during a downpour... Then the next chapter Watson loses it in the midst of a crowded scuffle and a dart... Whoops...
And near the end of Watson getting a deep cut, without mentioning of it getting treated, and if it even effecting the timeframe of the case.
Such little mistakes, but so odd to catch them in a Sherlock Holmes novel.
Yet, also once more... While it doesn't capture Victorian London, it IS better this go around. I feel like she isn't capturing the lingo and grammar necessary. Not too much in the dialogue changes between the main characters, or in the sentence structure. The common folk who help continue the plot have the changes. But there needs to be more differences between continous characters. Lestrade would have a different speech pattern to Holmes.
One more book before being present with this series.
I will also admit that I'm not into Dr. Watson bashing. (Often, he is wrtten as a egocentric OR even as an bumbling idiot following Holmes around. I mean lets admit it, no way would Sherlock Holmes partner and friend up with an idiot. Holmes partner WOULD have to keep up and watch Holmes back.) One of the positives with MacBird is she doesn't turn Watson into the idiot. In this portrayal he is written as Holmes partner, not AS smart as Holmes' art of deduction' but still able to add to the cases his own skills to add and balance out Holmes... I do like how she pens Watson in a positive light. Thank you, truly!
However...there were a couple mistakes in the writing.
Early in the book, before even a case is acquired. Watson at first not having an umbrella, requiring Holmes and Watson to seek shelter during a downpour... Then the next chapter Watson loses it in the midst of a crowded scuffle and a dart... Whoops...
And near the end of Watson getting a deep cut, without mentioning of it getting treated, and if it even effecting the timeframe of the case.
Such little mistakes, but so odd to catch them in a Sherlock Holmes novel.
Yet, also once more... While it doesn't capture Victorian London, it IS better this go around. I feel like she isn't capturing the lingo and grammar necessary. Not too much in the dialogue changes between the main characters, or in the sentence structure. The common folk who help continue the plot have the changes. But there needs to be more differences between continous characters. Lestrade would have a different speech pattern to Holmes.
One more book before being present with this series.
August 15, 2025
I appreciate Bonnie MacBird’s Sherlock novels because, for me, her prose and overall portrayal of Sherlock and Watson meld seamlessly with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s. The dialogue and interaction between the two characters, as she has written them, is generally spot on. This allows me to effortlessly immerse myself into the world of 221B Baker St - and enjoy the ride. The Devil’s Due is the 3rd novel of hers I’ve read and, and in this sense, was no different. It checked all the “Holmes-ian” boxes in the most positive way.
Furthermore, the story was entertaining … made me laugh at times…and even slipped in a casual nod to Reichenbach Falls. My only complaint? I figured out “who done it” much too soon in the novel!
Furthermore, the story was entertaining … made me laugh at times…and even slipped in a casual nod to Reichenbach Falls. My only complaint? I figured out “who done it” much too soon in the novel!
October 5, 2019
Author Bonnie MacBird delightfully leavens her very serious subjects (the Great Detective, serial killing, yellow journalism, mob hysteria, anarchy, terrorist bombings, insanity) with gentle wry humour in the third of her Sherlock Holmes series.
The serial murders of wealthy noted philanthropists and the ongoing terrorist bombings by anarchists (and suspected French terrorists), in tandem with a new Police Commissioner entirely opposed to "amateur investigators" (read Sherlock Holmes) and a yellow muck-raking journalist determined to destroy Holmes' reputation, keep Holmes and devoted literal-thinking sidekick Dr. Watson in a chaotic, and dangerous, uproar.
The serial murders of wealthy noted philanthropists and the ongoing terrorist bombings by anarchists (and suspected French terrorists), in tandem with a new Police Commissioner entirely opposed to "amateur investigators" (read Sherlock Holmes) and a yellow muck-raking journalist determined to destroy Holmes' reputation, keep Holmes and devoted literal-thinking sidekick Dr. Watson in a chaotic, and dangerous, uproar.
November 1, 2020
Another murder mystery for Holmes and Watson to sink their teeth into, with the help of a surprisingly capable youngster, Miss Heffie O’Malley. I hope she appears in more adventures - she’s got such potential.
Elegantly written and at a sound pace that keeps the mind racing. A satisfying ending too, even if I did see a couple of twists coming - McBird brings out a Sherlock-esc talent in her readers for espionage; finding the devil in the detail.
Elegantly written and at a sound pace that keeps the mind racing. A satisfying ending too, even if I did see a couple of twists coming - McBird brings out a Sherlock-esc talent in her readers for espionage; finding the devil in the detail.
March 1, 2021
I have been a fan of Bonnie MacBird's Holmes novels. While this was not the strongest, it was definitely a worthy entry. Some fascinating twists and turns and a page-turner, "Devil's Due" is interesting, intriguing and certainly throws its major players into peril time and time again. Great Holmes story. 4 stars.
November 14, 2020
This book has all the elements of a Sherlock Holmes story that I’ve come to expect from this author. It’s an intense, action filled story with twists you didn’t see coming.
Definitely recommend to all Holmes’ fans
Definitely recommend to all Holmes’ fans
May 17, 2020
One of the best none Doyle Sherlock Holmes books I have read. Will read more
This author.
This author.
August 24, 2020
4 stars. RTC.
June 9, 2021
Very fun read!!
February 19, 2024
I can’t give Bonnie MacBird anymore praises than I have given her on her last four books I have read. One of the greatest pastiche writers of Sherlock Holmes today.
Enjoyed this book from start to finish.
Enjoyed this book from start to finish.
December 2, 2021
I love these books so muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch. And they're always done so fast!!! AGHH
August 12, 2022
Another enjoyable "Sherlock Holmes" story re-telling by this Author. She keeps the characters true to their original creator descriptions and habits. There are two plots "afoot" that keep on twisting and crossing over through the chapters, but both come to a satisfactory conclusion at the end of the book. An easy read for anyone who is a "Sherlock" aficionado.
October 25, 2019
Bonnie MacBird's continuations of the Holmes adventures are a true joy.
I'm not always a fan of modern Holmes stories - but MacBird has managed to hit the right note every time so far.
The characterisation, the sense of adventure, & the mysteries themselves combine to make these 5* additions to the world at 221B Baker Street.
5*, 2019 favorite, highly recommend :)
I'm not always a fan of modern Holmes stories - but MacBird has managed to hit the right note every time so far.
The characterisation, the sense of adventure, & the mysteries themselves combine to make these 5* additions to the world at 221B Baker Street.
5*, 2019 favorite, highly recommend :)
December 1, 2025
Reading ‘The Devil’s Due’ on Mahashtami does something uncanny: the story doesn’t remain on the page anymore; it starts mingling with the puja air, swirling between the incense, the dhaak echoes, and the bursts of shankha that slice the evening like a divine announcement.
Bonnie MacBird’s third Holmes novel is probably her darkest, most theatrical, and most morally ambivalent yet—and when read on a day devoted to power, purity, and the luminous wrath of the goddess, the tension between righteousness and retribution becomes almost electric.
MacBird wastes no time plunging Holmes and Watson into a London that feels eerily different from the previous two books—not simply darker, but more charged, more fevered, as if the city itself is holding its breath. It mirrors Mahashtami in a strange way: the air is thick, the stakes are heightened, and the anticipation is heavy. London in ‘The Devil’s Due’ feels like North Kolkata on Ashtami night—shadowy corners, sudden bursts of light, too many eyes watching, something ancient humming beneath the surface.
Holmes here is sharper-edged, quicker to burn, and less willing to let bureaucratic nonsense get between him and what he perceives as justice. And that’s where the book becomes deliciously tricky. Justice in MacBird’s hands isn’t a clear binary; it’s a slippery, shape-shifting thing—like trying to define the precise border between devotion and frenzy during a sandhi puja that hits at midnight and makes your heart race for no rational reason.
One of the novel’s central tensions revolves around a series of deaths that seem connected by an unseen thread—men of power, influence, and moral decay. Without giving anything away, MacBird nudges the reader into uncomfortable moral terrain.
The reader slowly begins to wonder, in a postmodern way, who actually deserves what—and whether “deserving” is even the right framework for discussing crime and consequence. Mahashtami, with its mythic backdrop of Durga preparing for the final confrontation with Mahishasura, casts a long symbolic shadow here.
The goddess destroys evil, yes, but the process is messy, violent, and dramatic. MacBird taps into that moral ambiguity: what is evil? Who gets to name it? And what happens when institutions fail, and someone else steps in?
Holmes, navigating all this, becomes both dazzling and unsettling. There are parts of the book where he feels almost divine in his perception—mercilessly intelligent, slicing through pretence like Durga’s trishul through a demon’s chest.
And then there are moments where he feels desperately, achingly human, overwhelmed by the ugliness he uncovers, reacting with flashes of fury that threaten to unbalance him.
On Ashtami, reading Holmes’s controlled rage feels eerily in sync with the inner storm that the festival itself symbolises: the rising of Shakti, the surge of righteous anger, and the refusal to bow.
Watson, as always, remains the emotional ballast. But in ‘The Devil’s Due’, he becomes more than a warm voice of reason; he becomes a witness to Holmes’s moral tightrope walk. He becomes the reader’s eyes, not into Holmes’s brilliance, but into his vulnerabilities—his impatience, his wounded sense of justice, and his internal war between logic and indignation.
Their friendship feels deeper now, forged through shared disillusionment. The tenderness between them, unspoken yet palpable, becomes a quiet reassurance amid the novel’s dark spirals.
Reading Watson’s steadying presence on Mahashtami night feels like stepping briefly away from the pandal chaos to drink a glass of mishti doi—sweet, grounding, and the pause your soul needed.
MacBird’s writing is at its most cinematic here. The London fog seems thicker, the shadows longer, and the dangers more immediate. Every alleyway seems to hide a threat; every privileged gentleman has a secret rotten core. It mirrors the emotional paradox of Ashtami beautifully: beauty and dread dancing together, devotion and danger in the same breath. Puja nights glow with joy, yet carry a faint melancholy—the knowledge that Dashami approaches, that the goddess leaves, that celebration is a temporary victory over the darkness.
‘The Devil’s Due’ gives you that same emotional whiplash: triumph laced with sorrow, revelation tinged with dread.
There’s a running thematic line in the story about justice outside the law—about what happens when society’s structures are too compromised to protect the vulnerable. Without spoiling anything,
MacBird asks bold questions:
1) If someone corrects a moral imbalance through morally questionable means, are they villain or a vigilante?
2) Is vengeance always wrong?
3) Is the law always right?
And in Puja terms: when Durga slays Mahishasura, is she administering justice or performing cosmic vengeance? Where is the line? Is there one? The postmodern reading of MacBird’s narrative thrives in these questions, refusing to tie them neatly, letting them bruise the reader’s consciousness.
Holmes’s deductive sequences are some of the best MacBird has written—tight, kinetic, and filled with psychological punch. There’s a moment where Holmes connects a set of details that would seem trivial to anyone else, and the revelation hits with the force of a dhaak crescendo.
No spoilers, but the satisfaction is real. This is Holmes at his most mythic—otherworldly insight blazing through his human flaws.
But the emotional core of the book lies in its exploration of moral injury. Holmes feels the world’s corruption too intensely, too personally. The novel allows him moments where his anger cracks his composure, where indignation overwhelms his detachment.
Reading that on Ashtami, a day dedicated to the goddess’s most fiery, uncompromising aspect, makes the reading experience feel symbolic. Holmes becomes, for a fleeting second, a human embodiment of shakti—brilliant, burning, and deeply burdened.
MacBird’s villains—again, no specifics—are a triumph of nuance. They’re not monsters; they are products of a world that rewards certain sins while punishing others. And that’s what makes the narrative so alive: every antagonist feels like a symptom of a larger sickness. The book’s darkness is never gratuitous; it’s diagnostic.
The culminating arc of the story is exquisite—rising tension, ethical dilemmas, and a confrontation that feels both cinematic and intimate.
And the ending—no spoilers—lands with a quiet, devastating resonance. It doesn’t give you triumph; it gives you the complicated truth. And what is Mahashtami except the worship of power wrapped in the knowledge of its cost?
By the time you finish ‘The Devil’s Due’, especially on Mahashtami night, you feel suspended between two emotional worlds—exhilarated by the brilliance of the storytelling, yet deeply aware of its moral undercurrents.
It’s a book that feels like the glow of a thousand pandal lights illuminating the dark corners of the human psyche.
MacBird writes this one not just as a mystery, but as a meditation on power, shame, justice, and the dangerous seduction of righteousness.
Recommended.
Bonnie MacBird’s third Holmes novel is probably her darkest, most theatrical, and most morally ambivalent yet—and when read on a day devoted to power, purity, and the luminous wrath of the goddess, the tension between righteousness and retribution becomes almost electric.
MacBird wastes no time plunging Holmes and Watson into a London that feels eerily different from the previous two books—not simply darker, but more charged, more fevered, as if the city itself is holding its breath. It mirrors Mahashtami in a strange way: the air is thick, the stakes are heightened, and the anticipation is heavy. London in ‘The Devil’s Due’ feels like North Kolkata on Ashtami night—shadowy corners, sudden bursts of light, too many eyes watching, something ancient humming beneath the surface.
Holmes here is sharper-edged, quicker to burn, and less willing to let bureaucratic nonsense get between him and what he perceives as justice. And that’s where the book becomes deliciously tricky. Justice in MacBird’s hands isn’t a clear binary; it’s a slippery, shape-shifting thing—like trying to define the precise border between devotion and frenzy during a sandhi puja that hits at midnight and makes your heart race for no rational reason.
One of the novel’s central tensions revolves around a series of deaths that seem connected by an unseen thread—men of power, influence, and moral decay. Without giving anything away, MacBird nudges the reader into uncomfortable moral terrain.
The reader slowly begins to wonder, in a postmodern way, who actually deserves what—and whether “deserving” is even the right framework for discussing crime and consequence. Mahashtami, with its mythic backdrop of Durga preparing for the final confrontation with Mahishasura, casts a long symbolic shadow here.
The goddess destroys evil, yes, but the process is messy, violent, and dramatic. MacBird taps into that moral ambiguity: what is evil? Who gets to name it? And what happens when institutions fail, and someone else steps in?
Holmes, navigating all this, becomes both dazzling and unsettling. There are parts of the book where he feels almost divine in his perception—mercilessly intelligent, slicing through pretence like Durga’s trishul through a demon’s chest.
And then there are moments where he feels desperately, achingly human, overwhelmed by the ugliness he uncovers, reacting with flashes of fury that threaten to unbalance him.
On Ashtami, reading Holmes’s controlled rage feels eerily in sync with the inner storm that the festival itself symbolises: the rising of Shakti, the surge of righteous anger, and the refusal to bow.
Watson, as always, remains the emotional ballast. But in ‘The Devil’s Due’, he becomes more than a warm voice of reason; he becomes a witness to Holmes’s moral tightrope walk. He becomes the reader’s eyes, not into Holmes’s brilliance, but into his vulnerabilities—his impatience, his wounded sense of justice, and his internal war between logic and indignation.
Their friendship feels deeper now, forged through shared disillusionment. The tenderness between them, unspoken yet palpable, becomes a quiet reassurance amid the novel’s dark spirals.
Reading Watson’s steadying presence on Mahashtami night feels like stepping briefly away from the pandal chaos to drink a glass of mishti doi—sweet, grounding, and the pause your soul needed.
MacBird’s writing is at its most cinematic here. The London fog seems thicker, the shadows longer, and the dangers more immediate. Every alleyway seems to hide a threat; every privileged gentleman has a secret rotten core. It mirrors the emotional paradox of Ashtami beautifully: beauty and dread dancing together, devotion and danger in the same breath. Puja nights glow with joy, yet carry a faint melancholy—the knowledge that Dashami approaches, that the goddess leaves, that celebration is a temporary victory over the darkness.
‘The Devil’s Due’ gives you that same emotional whiplash: triumph laced with sorrow, revelation tinged with dread.
There’s a running thematic line in the story about justice outside the law—about what happens when society’s structures are too compromised to protect the vulnerable. Without spoiling anything,
MacBird asks bold questions:
1) If someone corrects a moral imbalance through morally questionable means, are they villain or a vigilante?
2) Is vengeance always wrong?
3) Is the law always right?
And in Puja terms: when Durga slays Mahishasura, is she administering justice or performing cosmic vengeance? Where is the line? Is there one? The postmodern reading of MacBird’s narrative thrives in these questions, refusing to tie them neatly, letting them bruise the reader’s consciousness.
Holmes’s deductive sequences are some of the best MacBird has written—tight, kinetic, and filled with psychological punch. There’s a moment where Holmes connects a set of details that would seem trivial to anyone else, and the revelation hits with the force of a dhaak crescendo.
No spoilers, but the satisfaction is real. This is Holmes at his most mythic—otherworldly insight blazing through his human flaws.
But the emotional core of the book lies in its exploration of moral injury. Holmes feels the world’s corruption too intensely, too personally. The novel allows him moments where his anger cracks his composure, where indignation overwhelms his detachment.
Reading that on Ashtami, a day dedicated to the goddess’s most fiery, uncompromising aspect, makes the reading experience feel symbolic. Holmes becomes, for a fleeting second, a human embodiment of shakti—brilliant, burning, and deeply burdened.
MacBird’s villains—again, no specifics—are a triumph of nuance. They’re not monsters; they are products of a world that rewards certain sins while punishing others. And that’s what makes the narrative so alive: every antagonist feels like a symptom of a larger sickness. The book’s darkness is never gratuitous; it’s diagnostic.
The culminating arc of the story is exquisite—rising tension, ethical dilemmas, and a confrontation that feels both cinematic and intimate.
And the ending—no spoilers—lands with a quiet, devastating resonance. It doesn’t give you triumph; it gives you the complicated truth. And what is Mahashtami except the worship of power wrapped in the knowledge of its cost?
By the time you finish ‘The Devil’s Due’, especially on Mahashtami night, you feel suspended between two emotional worlds—exhilarated by the brilliance of the storytelling, yet deeply aware of its moral undercurrents.
It’s a book that feels like the glow of a thousand pandal lights illuminating the dark corners of the human psyche.
MacBird writes this one not just as a mystery, but as a meditation on power, shame, justice, and the dangerous seduction of righteousness.
Recommended.
January 24, 2025
Two competing quotations ran through my brain as I read this third entry in the Sherlock Holmes Adventure series, quotes that could not be further apart if they tried. One is the famous and often misquoted, mistranslated and/or misappropriated quote from the French writer, journalist and critic Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, who wrote in 1849, “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”. In English, that’s the more familiar, “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” and it’s a phrase that Holmes and Watson would have been well familiar with.
The other quote is considerably later, and is also frequently misquoted and misappropriated. “The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain!” As Montgomery Scott commented, or will, in 2286.
Together, those quotes encapsulate The Devil’s Due in some rather surprising ways.
On the surface, this is very much a classic mystery conundrum, as a serial killer is stalking London. One that it seems that only Sherlock Holmes recognizes as such. The police, in the person of the odious new Commissioner Titus Billings, are MORE than willing to take the various rulings of accidents and suicides at face value. Then again, Billings is obviously more interested in convictions than justice – in more ways than one.
Billings clearly hates Holmes to the point of mania, and is well on his way to infecting all of Scotland Yard with that hate along with the gutter press who are always in search of sensational news. Painting Sherlock Holmes as being in league with devils and demons is VERY sensational indeed.
That Billings sees everyone not of his race, class and national origins as an actual devil of one sort or another just adds to the furor. Or at least Billings’ fury. Billings wants to lay every crime in London at the feet of immigrant anarchists who are naturally inferior in every way to good Englishmen. He’s even lobbying for permission to arm and militarize Scotland Yard to see all those he hates harshly regulated and eventually expelled.
Even from very early in the story, it’s clear that Titus Billings is “A” villain in this story. Whether or not he’s “THE” villain is another matter entirely.
The case, or rather cases, that Holmes is investigating in spite of Billings’ interference are puzzling in the extreme. A group of philanthropists are being cleverly murdered in ways that appear as accidents or suicides. All by different means, all by different methods, often in different parts of the country, but always including collateral family damage in the form of yet more accidents and suicides.
Holmes is doubly captured by this case because it is both so diabolically clever and because his brother Mycroft is on the list of possible victims.
And again, there’s a character who stands out as “A” villain but not necessarily “THE” villain.
So Holmes is distracted and at cross-purposes with himself in this investigation even as he does his damndest to evade both the police and the reporters who are determined to catch him in a compromised position. Even if they have to arrange it for themselves. Which they have. And do. And most definitely ARE at every turn – or perhaps that should be wrench – of the screw.
Escape Rating B-: And this is the point where those quotes come in, along with the good old British expression about “over-egging the pudding”. Because, as much as I did enjoy this entry in the series, I didn’t like it nearly as much as the others. I ended the story, and actually middled the story, feeling like the pudding had been over-egged in every direction.
Previous entries in this series have read as if they owed some of their portrait of these beloved characters to late 20th and early 21st century portrayals. That’s both to be expected and at least a bit necessary, as Doyle’s Holmes was a man of his time, and we like to at least think we’ve moved beyond some of the extreme bigotry of that era – whether we actually have or not.
But this entry in particular, due to the over-the-top, over-egged and utterly odious Titus Billings, reads as though the story crossed the line into speaking more TO our time than FROM its historical setting. Billings as a character reads like a caricature of all that is odious in our now. Not that his attitudes weren’t common and not that those prejudices didn’t exist and have terrible influence, not that the movements against homeless people (often military veterans), immigrants (popularly ALL believed to be terrorists), women (who are presumed to be hysterical), etc., weren’t prevalent, but the details of the way Billings operated felt just a bit too pointed at now instead of then.
The character very much invoked that saying about the more things change, the more they remain the same, but in his methods and what little reasoning we saw from him, he was a bit too on our time’s nose instead of his own.
On the other hand, the crime spree itself very much lived up to Scotty’s comment about overthinking a system to the point of making it easier to break instead of more difficult. Which turns out, in the end, to be exactly how the true villain gets caught in Sherlock Holmes’ trap instead of the other way around.
But again, the villainy was extremely over-egged. It got so theatrical and so complicated that not only did the right hand not know what the left hand was doing but as a reader I got more than a bit lost in all the theatricality to the point that I stopped caring about the victims and just wanted to get ALL the players off the stage so that they – and I – could recover from their collective shenanigans.
In the end I’m glad I read this one because events in this adventure do get referred to in later books, but it felt a great deal longer than Unquiet Spirits in spite of that story being nearly 150 pages longer than this one.
Speaking of other books in this Sherlock Holmes Adventure series, I’ve been winding my way through this series over the past several months and for the most part enjoying them immensely. I was planning to review the latest, The Serpent Under, THIS month for a blog tour, but the tour organizer has taken ill and postponed the tour. While that is on hiatus, I felt the compulsion to fill the hole in my schedule with a different book in the series, hence this review. This didn’t quite live up to the other books in the series for this reader, but I have to say that The Serpent Under very much did and I can’t wait until I can post that review!
Originally published at Reading Reality
The other quote is considerably later, and is also frequently misquoted and misappropriated. “The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain!” As Montgomery Scott commented, or will, in 2286.
Together, those quotes encapsulate The Devil’s Due in some rather surprising ways.
On the surface, this is very much a classic mystery conundrum, as a serial killer is stalking London. One that it seems that only Sherlock Holmes recognizes as such. The police, in the person of the odious new Commissioner Titus Billings, are MORE than willing to take the various rulings of accidents and suicides at face value. Then again, Billings is obviously more interested in convictions than justice – in more ways than one.
Billings clearly hates Holmes to the point of mania, and is well on his way to infecting all of Scotland Yard with that hate along with the gutter press who are always in search of sensational news. Painting Sherlock Holmes as being in league with devils and demons is VERY sensational indeed.
That Billings sees everyone not of his race, class and national origins as an actual devil of one sort or another just adds to the furor. Or at least Billings’ fury. Billings wants to lay every crime in London at the feet of immigrant anarchists who are naturally inferior in every way to good Englishmen. He’s even lobbying for permission to arm and militarize Scotland Yard to see all those he hates harshly regulated and eventually expelled.
Even from very early in the story, it’s clear that Titus Billings is “A” villain in this story. Whether or not he’s “THE” villain is another matter entirely.
The case, or rather cases, that Holmes is investigating in spite of Billings’ interference are puzzling in the extreme. A group of philanthropists are being cleverly murdered in ways that appear as accidents or suicides. All by different means, all by different methods, often in different parts of the country, but always including collateral family damage in the form of yet more accidents and suicides.
Holmes is doubly captured by this case because it is both so diabolically clever and because his brother Mycroft is on the list of possible victims.
And again, there’s a character who stands out as “A” villain but not necessarily “THE” villain.
So Holmes is distracted and at cross-purposes with himself in this investigation even as he does his damndest to evade both the police and the reporters who are determined to catch him in a compromised position. Even if they have to arrange it for themselves. Which they have. And do. And most definitely ARE at every turn – or perhaps that should be wrench – of the screw.
Escape Rating B-: And this is the point where those quotes come in, along with the good old British expression about “over-egging the pudding”. Because, as much as I did enjoy this entry in the series, I didn’t like it nearly as much as the others. I ended the story, and actually middled the story, feeling like the pudding had been over-egged in every direction.
Previous entries in this series have read as if they owed some of their portrait of these beloved characters to late 20th and early 21st century portrayals. That’s both to be expected and at least a bit necessary, as Doyle’s Holmes was a man of his time, and we like to at least think we’ve moved beyond some of the extreme bigotry of that era – whether we actually have or not.
But this entry in particular, due to the over-the-top, over-egged and utterly odious Titus Billings, reads as though the story crossed the line into speaking more TO our time than FROM its historical setting. Billings as a character reads like a caricature of all that is odious in our now. Not that his attitudes weren’t common and not that those prejudices didn’t exist and have terrible influence, not that the movements against homeless people (often military veterans), immigrants (popularly ALL believed to be terrorists), women (who are presumed to be hysterical), etc., weren’t prevalent, but the details of the way Billings operated felt just a bit too pointed at now instead of then.
The character very much invoked that saying about the more things change, the more they remain the same, but in his methods and what little reasoning we saw from him, he was a bit too on our time’s nose instead of his own.
On the other hand, the crime spree itself very much lived up to Scotty’s comment about overthinking a system to the point of making it easier to break instead of more difficult. Which turns out, in the end, to be exactly how the true villain gets caught in Sherlock Holmes’ trap instead of the other way around.
But again, the villainy was extremely over-egged. It got so theatrical and so complicated that not only did the right hand not know what the left hand was doing but as a reader I got more than a bit lost in all the theatricality to the point that I stopped caring about the victims and just wanted to get ALL the players off the stage so that they – and I – could recover from their collective shenanigans.
In the end I’m glad I read this one because events in this adventure do get referred to in later books, but it felt a great deal longer than Unquiet Spirits in spite of that story being nearly 150 pages longer than this one.
Speaking of other books in this Sherlock Holmes Adventure series, I’ve been winding my way through this series over the past several months and for the most part enjoying them immensely. I was planning to review the latest, The Serpent Under, THIS month for a blog tour, but the tour organizer has taken ill and postponed the tour. While that is on hiatus, I felt the compulsion to fill the hole in my schedule with a different book in the series, hence this review. This didn’t quite live up to the other books in the series for this reader, but I have to say that The Serpent Under very much did and I can’t wait until I can post that review!
Originally published at Reading Reality
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