Karanlik Mirasin Laneti - Sherlock Holmes Macera Devam Ediyor

by Sam Siciliano

When Rose Grimswell breaks off her engagement to Lord Digby, the concerned fiancé calls on Sherlock Holmes to visit the ancestral home to find out why. Holmes, his cousin Henry, and wife Michelle explore the legend of the Grimswell Curse when a mysterious figure is spotted on the moor accompanied by a large creature...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Collections, Historical Mystery, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am always fascinated when different authors choose to take on the infamous Sherlock Holmes. Will they provide more to the character, and/or is it a good rendition of the original created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

So, when this book was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I thought it was worth exploring. Most importantly to me, would I like this version of Sherlock?

Apparently, this is the 3rd in Siciliano’s Sherlock Holmes series. In this version, Doctor Henry Vernier, a cousin of Sherlock’s takes on Watson’s roles of recording his adventures.

Siciliano also shows Watson in a second marriage, and uses his Dr. Vernier character to downgrade Watson’s importance. He paints him as a mediocre author and sometimes unreliable ally. What? How dare they disparage Dr. Watson! Of course, he also is willing to acknowledge Watson’s bravery and shooting expertise. Still, for avid fans of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, this could be considered a personal affront. (At least it was to me.)

In this case, Sherlock Holmes is being asked to find out why Lord Fredrick Digby’s fiancé, Rose Grimswall has broken their engagement. Since Lord Digby is the youngest son, he won’t inherit much of his father’s estate, so he was counting on this marriage.

Sherlock and Dr. Vernier head off to the estate to discover the truth. What is the Grimswall Curse, and how has it impacted Rose and her family? And, at this point, do I really care?

The setting was very similar to ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles.’ Making the scenic moorlands feel like its own eerie character. But was it enough to capture this reader’s interest? No. Still, I may be an outlier.

I think I will stick with the original Sherlock Holmes series. Others may be fascinated with a different re-telling of Sherlock, but without the smart deductive reasoning that he is known for, or Dr. Watson as his perpetual right-hand person, this book feels like a major disappointment.

2.5 stars (for scenic setting)

[Fred Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series "The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" continues to delivery new and original stories while sticking with the genre and legend that is Sherlock Holmes.

In this story the Grimswell Curse appears ready to strike the last of the Grimswells but a dandy hires Sherlock to find out why Miss Rose Grimswell has called off their engagement.

Soon we are at Dartmoor and the Grimswells castle and the body count starts to pile up. It all seems to be focused on Rose Grimswell.

We have a giant with a giant dog, a crazy aunt, a dark and brooding landscape and Sherlock seems powerless to stop the carnage. Maybe because this is the first adventure I have read where Dr Watson is not in it. Instead we have Sherlocks cousin Dr. Henry Vernier and his wife Dr Michelle Vernier filling that role.

A brisk tale with a large body count and several twists at the end make this a recommended book

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broken engagement causes Holmes and his cousin, Dr Henry Vernier, to return to Dartmoor to prevent a murder.

Very well written, 'The Grimswell Curse' has a nice sense of atmosphere and captures a good representation of the great detective.

[Elle Hartford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been reading these "further adventures" in order, but I have really been enjoying them. I think this is one of my favorites in the series so far. I personally found Rose very relatable and sympathetic, and while I had my suspicions all along about the solution to the mystery, the way it unfolded was very satisfying. Great atmosphere, too!

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I will be sticking with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

[Malcolm Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and gripping tale very much in the style of Conan Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles. Set in Dartmoor it also features a dark figure stalking the moor in the company of a huge hound. One of the best Holmes tales I have read in some time. Rose Grimswell has broken off her engagement and is contemplating suicide having suffered nightmares and supposed ghostly visits from her dead father. Holmes and his cousin Doctor Vernier travel to Dartmoor to unravel the mystery and save a young woman from insanity or indeed death. Loved it...

[LGandT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been 5 stars if it had not gotten so blasted repetitive: We know Henry wants and loves his Michele, we know Rose is a large woman, we know Dartmoor is cold and windy. Aside from those and a few other annoyances of a similar nature, this was a good story and I would recommend it.

See full review here, its at the bottom
https://gszengarden.wixsite.com/baker...

[Melet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done pastiche. I was not looking forward to a “substitute” for Watson in cousin Henry, but Henry is so different than Watson in every way, and so endearingly goofy, that it works. And his wife is fantastic! Will look for more of these from Siciliano. Favorite quote: “I think not, Henry. The moor and that sky are beyond any mere predatory ghosts. Any ghosts here I think we bring with us.”

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw the villain early on, but following Holmes as he uncovered things still made a very good story. I will add Dr. Henry Vernier is not a very likeable companion compared to Watson but his presence didn't detract to much from this story thankfully.

[Ece · Rating 1 out of 5]

one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I mean what was all about with that repetitions about how he loves michelle and how he cannot live without her? it was so boring and so plain. sorry but I found the sentences so amateur and boring as heck, what a waste of time

[D. Wickles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series of continuing Sherlock Holmes stories, however, this one seemed to drag some. Still I enjoyed it.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, I have never read Sherlock Holmes, so really don't have anything to compare it to, but kind of fun.

[Ryan Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic novel in the series. Had me shaking as I was reading and nearly jumping out of my seat to figure out who it was

[Philip J. Makowski, MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Holmes Afficionado

This was a supreme joy to read. Truly, Mr. Doyle would be very pleased with your work. Thank you, Dr. Phil

[Tim Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

To write a Holmes novel without Watson is perhaps forgivable. But to speak ill of him is not.

After five chapters, nothing has happened. Dreary.

Not good enough.

[Zoe Radley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute gem of a book. A real good sherlockian romp filled with the classic gothic thrills such as hound of Baskervillesque atmosphere and is also set in Dartmoor this is a great pastiche that honours conan Doyle's storytelling

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is yet another Sherlock Holmes parody and although it doesn't break any new ground, I quite enjoyed what was a good little tale. It reads as a tribute to probably the most famous Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles. The mystery is not too difficult to follow, I worked it all out quite early on, as will any avid Sherlock Holmes reader, but sometimes it is pleasant to read a book that doesn't required too much thinking. The fact that the author's love of the source material shines through, makes it a worthwhile read.
One twist is the absence of Holmes' perennial companion Dr Watson, instead the book is told from the perspective of another medical man and cousin to the master detective, Henry Vernier. However, it is not an idea that is fully explored, Vernier feels like a cypher for Watson and the tale could just as easily have been narrated by him. This is not to the detriment of the novel, but it creates little difference in tone.
Despite these criticisms this was definitely not the worst Sherlock Holmes parody I've read and I will be looking out for the other Holmes novels Siciliano has written. This is mainly due to the fact that although you can easily read this book as a single experience there are some hints and references that relate to continuity in the series, the other cases are mentioned and it would be interesting to explore the relationship between Holmes and his cousin further.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is part of an ongoing series about Sherlock Holmes. According to one source there are 19 titles written by various authors. This is my first encounter with these mysteries and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I have followed Laurie Kings books about Sherlock and Mary Russell, but I don't think I have read any other books about Holmes except for those by Arthur Conan Doyle. I don't believe that it is a bad thing to write more books about the famous detective, it is just that mysteries have not always appealed to me. I don't like suspense filled stories, so it wasn't until I started listening to audio books that I tried mysteries.

I am not sure what the other books in this series are like, but if you wish there were more Sherlock Holmes mysteries, you might want to try this one.

[Christopher Borum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent Holmes pastiche. The Dartmoor setting was evocative, and the mystery itself was interestingly constructed, although somewhat predictable. At points it was repetitive, and the constant hammering home of Rose's enormous physical size was bothersome. I kept hoping it would pay off somehow, to justify continually bringing it up, but other than allowing for Michelle to offer to stand in for Rose as a decoy-which never ultimately happened-and for Henry to keep insisting Rose was attractive, it didn't.

It was entertaining enough to help pass the time on the train to and from work, but not compelling enough to seek out more in the series. I might give them a try, though.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2015 reading challenge- a book set somewhere you have always wanted to visit. So I stretched this category a bit; I am an old soul and I have always wanted to visit Victorian England! Overall this SH story was acceptable. The actual mystery had some plot twists and the story was very readable. However, the protagonist was a helpless, hysterical woman. Even given the time period, this was a bit ridiculous. I appreciate the authors attempt to break some stereo-types (a female doctor and the ongoing commentary of beautiful women coming in all sizes) but the constant crying was a bit tiresome.

[Max Gwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fantastic Holmes story by siciliano. normally i am reluctant to read anything 'holmes' that wasnt written by conan-doyle but this was so good! a similar plot to 'hound of the baskervilles'. this story is full of twists and turns and is gripping to the very end. cant wait to read more in this series!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was definitely one of the better Holmes pastiche works. This is the third Holmes book that I have read by Siciliano and each one is better than the last. He does a great job of creating an eerie feel on the British moor and the mystery kept my interest throughout.

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun entry in continuing adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes & Vernier travel to moors to discover truth behind "curse" of Grimswell family. As Holmes says, man is capable of much more evil than fictional werewolves & vampires. (Own)

[Ezgi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Açıkçası bu yazarın Örümcek Ağında Dans kitabını çok daha fazla beğenmiştim. Ondan sonra (belki de buna çok büyük beklentilerle başladığım için, bilemiyorum) bu biraz sıkıcı geldi. Gene güzeldi, ona diyecek sözüm yok. Ama benim bitirmem çok zor oldu açıkçası. O yüzden de 3.5 tan 4.

[Ahsen Serpil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitap ikinci yarı itibariyle açılıyor. İlk kısımdan pek keyif almadım ama daha sonra okuması zevkli bir hale geldi!

[Mhd · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a series, but I don't think reading-in-sequence is as mandatory as in many other series. Very good feel for Sherlock. Could have used a good deal of editing to tighten up the pace. The mystery itself is both unfair and predictable. I think I'll try some more of these.