Mrs Hudson and the Lazarus Testament

Mrs. Hudson #3

by Martin Davies

A man is knocked down outside 221B Baker Street. His dying words speak of a man risen from the grave. A Viscount has gone missing and there are rumours of a dead man haunting the moors and a country hall beset by ghostly lights and spectres. Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper, the formidable Mrs Hudson, is faced with a mystery. Joined by her assistant Flotsam, they're once again thrown into dark adventure full of gripping twists and murderous intrigue. Together with Holmes and Dr. Watson they must race against the forces of darkness to uncover the truth behind the mysterious document known as the Lazarus Testament. Lives are on the line and the puzzle must be solved... But not before a slice of Dundee cake.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Crime, Historical Mystery, Victorian

342 pages, Paperback

Published December 18, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Martin Davies is a British author. He has written four novels about Sherlock Holmes' housekeeper and four other novels, including one about Joseph Banks and the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta, entitled The Conjuror's Bird, all of which have been published.

Martin Davies grew up in North West England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on tube trains, and an aversion to laptops means that he always works in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and substantial parts of THE UNICORN ROAD were written while travelling through Sicily. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.

Reviews

[Lynn Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded up to 4)

I seem to be on a Holmes streak these days, probably because I'm waiting for spring to appear on this mountaintop. I have a couple of months until my landscape turns from white, to green and brown, so I'm reaching for the familiar.

Davies' Mrs. Hudson is a bit of an enigma, although one that perfectly suits the household of Holmes and Watson. Flotsam, her assistant both in housework and in detecting, is a jewel of a character. Holmes and Watson appear often enough to bind everything and provide context, but never detract from the protagonist. (I'm unsure that either Hudson or Flotsam could carry a story without the two male detectives.)

I found the storyline of this installment to be a little weaker than the previous book. This one seems to spread in tendrils, if that makes sense, instead of being delivered in a more linear fashion. To be honest, sometimes the rabbit trails bored me and didn't move the story along or enhance the characters, but the descriptions of locations and interesting detail kept me reading.

Recommended.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

WELL WRITTEN and with the authentic voice of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. (Not the original which I have read but with the flavor of all the PBS TV movie versions). The idea of Mrs. Hudson being as clever as Holmes but with a different milieu of contacts is clever. And very believable. She's a great housekeeper and astute observer. The story of the existence of a testament written by Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead is intriguing in itself. Most of us are curious about the next life which may be more "real" than this one. And one can't overlook Flotsam or "Flotty," Mrs. Hudson's young assistant, who has the uncanny knack of catching hints and clues. Both females compliment Holmes and Watson. This was a great read! I highly recommend it to Holmes devotees and anyone who enjoys a 19th century British mystery. YES!

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visit Mrs Hudson's London..Cumbria and even Syria

Gutted this seems to be the last in the series.But what a great third book in the series!

A man is knocked down by a hansom cab but his last words are about a dead he's just seen.....A Viscount has gone missing...up the river Thames there is a gruesome discovery and that's not all...throughout the novel, there is a search on for a very important religious document. And people will kill to get their hands on it...

From London to Cumbria and even a jaunt to Syria, this is a great caper of a novel with intrigue, gothic charm and Sherlockian intrigue all seen through the eyes of Mrs Hudson and her funny and resourceful maid Flotsam.

This was a twisty turny novel with lots of twists and turns. A great mystery with red herrings and good dastardly fun.

I only wish there was a fourth book as I need Mrs Hudson in my life!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I really liked about this series is that author Martin Davies made both Sherlock Holmes and Mrs. Hudson brilliant thinkers, and they both appreciate that in the other. There wasn't a need to make Mrs. Hudson the "real" genius and Holmes her puppet. This was another Holmesian-themed story, where reality is left a bit behind. The mystery isn't hard to parse, but it is great good fun, and I am a bit dismayed that Davies didn't write anymore entries to this series.

[Dhawal Dhingra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a nice read though at times it felt that the story was being over stretched.
The main character- Mrs Hudson seems to be an omnipotent person, always acting calm in tricky situations because she's always all knowing.
Dr Watson on the other hand is shown as wanting to be a hero but acts impulsively and has no brains.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reinvention of Sherlock Holmes never seems to decrease. There's a series where he's retired to take up bee keeping and TV has got into the act with the British series Sherlock and the American Elementary. All indications of the continuing fascination with the characters. This book is one of a series I haven't come across before and is based on the premise the Mrs Hudson is not just a housekeeper, but as acute in her perceptions as her employer. There is a non canonical character the maid Flotsam, who has been created to provide Mrs Hudson with her own Watson. This story concerns an ancient manuscript which if it falls into the wrong hands could apparently bring down the whole of Christendom. It is very far fetched, but then most Holmes stories are, but is an excuse for a romp in the North Pennines and in England's highest market town, Alston. I've been there many times and visited the narrow gauge railway built on the route of the former branch line from Haltwhistle. I well remember on one occasion my late wife nearly coming a cropper of the cobbles which she was trying to negotiate in 3" heels! I liked the characters and the flashes of humour that pepper the narrative. Only two queries. Surely a lord's son would not be a viscount. And my understanding is that it was very de trop to give Albany a definite article!

[GBL · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in the series of Mrs Hudson novels by Martin Davies sees the intrepid housekeeper lead the search for the Lazarus Testament, an ancient document supposedly written by Lazarus after being raised from the dead by Christ. Mrs Hudson is in charge with her assistant Flotsam while Holmes, Watson and various accomplices play their parts in the story.
Again Davies cleverly turns the Holmes genre on its head with Mrs Hudson quietly solving the case while Holmes tags along in the background. As I said in an earlier review, these novels are not great literature but they have a certain charm with good plot and characters keeping the interest of the reader. There is also amusement for the reader as we see Mrs Hudson take charge of the investigation while remaining in the background of the great detective, who is beginning to recognise the abilities of his housekeeper who seems to see the threads that bind several different events together although appearing random at the time.

[Natelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The detectives of Baker Street follow three mysteries into the countryside. Flotsam wants to know more about a tragic death she witnessed. Why was the man looking for Holmes? Who was he and what did his last words mean? Watson seeks answers about mysterious lights and a disappearance at a country estate. Are ghosts at work? Holmes has been commissioned to find a missing count and a religious document allegedly penned by the Lazarus of New Testament fame. Is the count dead or alive? Was the acquisition of this document involved in his fate? Will their questions bring them all together?

Another amusing read. Sometimes the ridiculous behavior of some characters gives me the giggles. At other moments, I worry for characters who are stumbling about in the dark.

[Jpedgehill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful installment in a series that is impossible not to love. Mr. Davies, you deserve some of Mrs. Hudson's port!!!
Honestly folks, this is a charming series that is (in my opinion) the perfect companion for long winter nights. There is something so cozy about it, but to call it a cozy mystery is to do it an injustice. Impressive plotting, prose, descriptions, and characterization makes this series stand high and dry above the sea of detective mysteries. The tie-ins to Holmes and Watson are icing on the cake!

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the third instalment of the Hudson & Homes series. Took my time reading it because I don't know when the 4th book will come out.

One of the things I like most about the series is that by half way you have 75% of the mystery figured out, but it takes the rest of the book for things to wrap up and fall into place.

It was nice to be away from Baker Street and see the characters in a different environment.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I read one of these Mrs Hudson and Sherlock Holmes stories but I remembered what I enjoyed about them a soon as I’d finished chapter one. Mrs Hudson is an excellent character full of resourcefulness. Flotsam, as her assistant, is learning all of the time both the art of service and the art of detecting. Sherlock and Dr Watson are well portrayed. I enjoy the traditional viewpoint being turned on its head.

[Ginny Crouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Hudson gets her due

I love all the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and it is wonderful to have so many pastiches to read. Great to see Mrs. Hudson getting a chance to be more than a scone maker. And Flotsam is a welcome addition. I certainly want to find the rest of the series.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. definitely the best book by far.

this book was fast moving, didnt focus too much on holmes and watson which is why i think i enjoyed it so much - as it was literally a mrs hudson mystery, would definitely recommend reading this one!

[Beverley Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I love these books. I have read the three of them, they are well worth the 5 stars I have given. Like other readers on here I am wondering why there are no more books in the series.

[Sarah]

Enjoyed it but I think it is a bit constrained by being set in the late nineteenth century. I enjoyed Mrs Hudson in the third person but the first person voice didn't ring true for me at all. That was where Laurie King's Mary Russell benefited by being set several decades later.

[Jennifer D'Alton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit dubious about another book about Sherlock Holmes, but Mrs Hudson, the housekeeper and her servant, Flotsam, was very clever, and had all the hallmarks of a Conan Doyle classic, but simpler, and faster.
I didnt think I would enjoy it as much as I did. I can recommend it.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I did have misgivings to begin with as I wasn’t sure if this would be a tale of Holmes being a dunderhead and really Mrs Hudson being the genius bit this wasn’t so. Engaging characters, some nice humour and a great tale.

[Julie Anne WOOD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting read!

Duck of twists and turns Mrs Hudson and Flotsam ably assist Holmes and Watson in the solving of another mystery. I just hope Mr Martin Davies continues to write more Holmes and Hudson mysteries as I now sadly only have one left to read.

[SARAH ADAMS · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very good story

This book is full of twists and turns, and fascinating characters. Mrs Hudson is becoming more intriguing and Flotsam is finding her own place in life!
A great read with a super twist at the end.

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the writer makes you think in the books

[Ann Hein · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Sherlock Holmes series with his cook part of the team that solves a mystery. It's told from the viewpoint of the scullery maid who is also part of the team.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very credible. I look forward to reading another Mrs. Hudson book.

[Stephen Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

This book is a very good read. It takes you back to the time of Holmes and Watson. Mrs Hudson and Flottie are a great pair of characters.

[The Man from DelMonte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another slight tale. Not much in the way of character development but the plot is better tangled. Thank goodness this is so cheap on Kindle

[Kim Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well thought out

However, the villains of the piece seemed fairly obvious but still a good collection of characters especially Mrs Hudson and co.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific!

[Alyson Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are such a comfort read, perfect to settle down with a cup of tea for a wee while. Loved the character development in this novel.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly couldn't get on with this book.

[Gail Krisman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as exciting as the first two

Mrs Hudson does it again! She is always two steps ahead of Sherlock. Surprise ending too! Characters are not all that they seem.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just great fun and kept me hooked the whole way through!