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John Pickett Mystery #10.5
Nowhere Man: Another John Pickett Novella
Having resigned his position at Bow Street, John Pickett waits in vain for someone—anyone!—to engage his services as a private inquiry agent. As weeks go by with no responses to his newspaper advertisement, he has taken to spending his days wandering idly about London rather than admit his failure to his beloved wife Julia, the former Lady Fieldhurst.
One day, while loitering amidst the crowds thronging the Covent Garden market, he wonders morosely if it might have been better had he not been born at all. Then he sees one of his former colleagues and, in an attempt to make a discreet exit, contrives instead to knock himself unconscious.
He awakens to discover that his Bow Street colleague doesn’t seem to remember him, and after staggering back home to Curzon Street, he finds someone else living in the house where he lived with Julia. But still greater surprises are in store for Pickett as he attempts to navigate his way through a world in which he never existed…
With a wink and a nod to Frank Capra’s classic film IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, NOWHERE MAN offers an alternate version of many of the earlier entries in the John Pickett mystery series.
One day, while loitering amidst the crowds thronging the Covent Garden market, he wonders morosely if it might have been better had he not been born at all. Then he sees one of his former colleagues and, in an attempt to make a discreet exit, contrives instead to knock himself unconscious.
He awakens to discover that his Bow Street colleague doesn’t seem to remember him, and after staggering back home to Curzon Street, he finds someone else living in the house where he lived with Julia. But still greater surprises are in store for Pickett as he attempts to navigate his way through a world in which he never existed…
With a wink and a nod to Frank Capra’s classic film IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, NOWHERE MAN offers an alternate version of many of the earlier entries in the John Pickett mystery series.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 8, 2020
Series: John Pickett Novella (Book 10.5 maybe)
Publication Date: 10/1/20
Number of Pages: 126
This take-off on It’s A Wonderful Life (or maybe Alice in Wonderland) was a delightful read. John Pickett is having a bit of a crisis – not a mid-life crisis because he isn’t old enough for that, but he’s feeling pretty useless. He has a rich, aristocratic wife, but he feels he is contributing absolutely nothing to the marriage – especially since he resigned as a Bow Street Runner to start his own inquiry agency. After a month with no clients – not one – he’s taken to roaming the streets in order to make Julia think he’s investigating something. He wonders, not for the first time, if it might have been better if he had never been born.
Well, hang on to your hats because he soon gets the answer to what might have been had he never been born – and it isn’t pretty in most cases. After being struck by a wagon and knocked unconscious, he ‘awakens’ to discover that nobody knows him – not his former coworkers, not his former mentor, nobody. He can’t find Julia because she doesn’t reside at what has been their home. People who had died are still alive, people who had been convicted of crimes are walking the streets, people who had happy endings – haven’t. John has well and truly traveled down the rabbit hole. There are lots of surprises in store for him as he attempts to navigate this hostile new world.
During a conversation with someone from his past, John learns some very important lessons about life.
You can’t go wrong with this delightful novella. I’ve always admired John and Julia’s absolute love and trust for each other – and now we learn that same love and trust could hold true in more than one reality.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 10/1/20
Number of Pages: 126
This take-off on It’s A Wonderful Life (or maybe Alice in Wonderland) was a delightful read. John Pickett is having a bit of a crisis – not a mid-life crisis because he isn’t old enough for that, but he’s feeling pretty useless. He has a rich, aristocratic wife, but he feels he is contributing absolutely nothing to the marriage – especially since he resigned as a Bow Street Runner to start his own inquiry agency. After a month with no clients – not one – he’s taken to roaming the streets in order to make Julia think he’s investigating something. He wonders, not for the first time, if it might have been better if he had never been born.
Well, hang on to your hats because he soon gets the answer to what might have been had he never been born – and it isn’t pretty in most cases. After being struck by a wagon and knocked unconscious, he ‘awakens’ to discover that nobody knows him – not his former coworkers, not his former mentor, nobody. He can’t find Julia because she doesn’t reside at what has been their home. People who had died are still alive, people who had been convicted of crimes are walking the streets, people who had happy endings – haven’t. John has well and truly traveled down the rabbit hole. There are lots of surprises in store for him as he attempts to navigate this hostile new world.
During a conversation with someone from his past, John learns some very important lessons about life.
No one lives on this earth, no matter how brief their stay, without leaving some trace of themselves behind.
Every life touches other lives, and if that touch is removed, then those lives are changed, sometimes in rather unexpected ways.
You can’t go wrong with this delightful novella. I’ve always admired John and Julia’s absolute love and trust for each other – and now we learn that same love and trust could hold true in more than one reality.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 26, 2024
I've given this an A for narration and a B for content at AudioGals.
Bedford Falls meets Regency London in Nowhere Man, a new novella in Sheri Cobb-South’s long-running series of historical mysteries featuring Bow Street Runner John Pickett.
Or more accurately, EX-Bow Street runner, because by the time Nowhere Man begins, John has resigned his position at Bow Street and has branched out on his own as a Private Inquiry Agent. But it’s been a month now, and he’s had not a single response to his newspaper advertisement – and rather than admit his failure to his (very pregnant) wife, John has taken to wandering the streets of London during the day to make it look as though he actually has something to do.
The inequality of his marriage to Lady Julia Fieldhurst is something John has always felt keenly. Julia is a wealthy young widow, and her jointure pays most of their expenses, but John has always felt uncomfortable about living off his wife. As a Bow Street Runner he had at least had a salary – albeit a modest one – but now he doesn’t even have that and feels he is contributing absolutely nothing to their marriage. He’s walking around Covent Garden one afternoon, feeling down and pretty useless and thinks – not for the first time – that maybe everyone would be better off had he never been born. Just as he thinks it, the rosy-cheeked woman selling apples from a stall opposite him tells him he’s wrong and he shouldn’t be thinking such a thing – but before he can ask her what she means, his attention is diverted elsewhere by an altercation, and in attempting to avoid it, he slips, falls, hits his head and is knocked out.
When he comes to, he finds himself staring up into the face of Harry Carson, one of his former Bow Street colleagues – but something is off; when John mentions their having known each other for months, Harry seems surprised that John even knows who he is. John decides to head home to Curzon Street – but on arrival at the house he shares with Julia, the door is opened by a servant he doesn’t recognise, who insists the house is the town residence of the Dowager Countess of Wakeworth. Needless to say, John is utterly confused by this – and even moreso when he manages to get a glimpse of the décor inside, which is not at all as he remembers it. He asks to speak with the countess, and on being granted an audience with that lady, John tells her that he’s looking for his wife, the former Lady Fieldhurst. At the mention of Julia’s name, the countess’ demeanour changes completely and she sends John packing.
Julia’s absence from their home is not the only strange thing John encounters as he tries to find out where she is and what’s happening to him. As this very strange day and night progress, John encounters colleagues, friends, and even enemies, but none of them know who he is. And he learns a number of disturbing facts, for example Magistrate Colquhoun, who took John under his wing when John was just fourteen and has been like a father to him, is a drunkard; a man whose murder John investigated is still alive; the theatre at Drury Lane which burned down in Too Hot to Handle has been miraculously restored; a plot John was instrumental in preventing succeeded, and a young woman he’d thought happily married is instead making her living on her back.
And Julia, well… I won’t spoil it, but if you’re familiar with the John Pickett Mysteries (and you really need to be to fully appreciate this story) you’ll probably be able to guess why she’s no longer residing in Curzon Street.
And of course, as John navigates his way through the strangest day of his life, he comes to understand how many lives he’s touched and affected for the better in his short time on this earth.
This tale of John Pickett’s “Wonderful Life” is superbly narrated by Joel Froomkin, who grabs the opportunity to showcase his range and versatility and runs with it. It’s a real virtuoso performance in which every single character – and there are a LOT of them – is clearly differentiated and assigned an individual, recognisable ‘voice’; from Colquhoun’s Scottish brogue to the languid, affected drawl given to Sir Reginald and Lord Fieldhurst; from the imposing Dowager (I adore Mr. Froomkin’s line in crusty dowagers!) to poor Catherine, each vocal characterisation is spot on and the female voices are, as always, extremely good. John and Julia are performed consistently, and I continue to enjoy Mr. Froomkin’s portrayal of John, his by-now familiar tone and less-than-posh accent painting a portrait of an earnest and intelligent young man who never quite sees his true worth, but who nonetheless has a backbone of steel. Mr. Froomkin expertly conveys John’s bewilderment and growing sense of dread as he tries to understand what’s happening, and the scene near the end (in which he uncovers some previously unknown information about his background) with someone whose identity I won’t reveal, is perfectly judged and incredibly touching.
Set in a vibrant and believable Regency London, Nowhere Man is a heart-warming and clever retelling of a classic tale. Ms. Cobb South does a terrific job in covering all the beats of the original, and Joel Froomkin’s terrific performance adds another dimension This isn’t the place to start with the John Pickett Mysteries, but it’s a lovely early Christmas present devotees of the series are sure to enjoy.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Bedford Falls meets Regency London in Nowhere Man, a new novella in Sheri Cobb-South’s long-running series of historical mysteries featuring Bow Street Runner John Pickett.
Or more accurately, EX-Bow Street runner, because by the time Nowhere Man begins, John has resigned his position at Bow Street and has branched out on his own as a Private Inquiry Agent. But it’s been a month now, and he’s had not a single response to his newspaper advertisement – and rather than admit his failure to his (very pregnant) wife, John has taken to wandering the streets of London during the day to make it look as though he actually has something to do.
The inequality of his marriage to Lady Julia Fieldhurst is something John has always felt keenly. Julia is a wealthy young widow, and her jointure pays most of their expenses, but John has always felt uncomfortable about living off his wife. As a Bow Street Runner he had at least had a salary – albeit a modest one – but now he doesn’t even have that and feels he is contributing absolutely nothing to their marriage. He’s walking around Covent Garden one afternoon, feeling down and pretty useless and thinks – not for the first time – that maybe everyone would be better off had he never been born. Just as he thinks it, the rosy-cheeked woman selling apples from a stall opposite him tells him he’s wrong and he shouldn’t be thinking such a thing – but before he can ask her what she means, his attention is diverted elsewhere by an altercation, and in attempting to avoid it, he slips, falls, hits his head and is knocked out.
When he comes to, he finds himself staring up into the face of Harry Carson, one of his former Bow Street colleagues – but something is off; when John mentions their having known each other for months, Harry seems surprised that John even knows who he is. John decides to head home to Curzon Street – but on arrival at the house he shares with Julia, the door is opened by a servant he doesn’t recognise, who insists the house is the town residence of the Dowager Countess of Wakeworth. Needless to say, John is utterly confused by this – and even moreso when he manages to get a glimpse of the décor inside, which is not at all as he remembers it. He asks to speak with the countess, and on being granted an audience with that lady, John tells her that he’s looking for his wife, the former Lady Fieldhurst. At the mention of Julia’s name, the countess’ demeanour changes completely and she sends John packing.
Julia’s absence from their home is not the only strange thing John encounters as he tries to find out where she is and what’s happening to him. As this very strange day and night progress, John encounters colleagues, friends, and even enemies, but none of them know who he is. And he learns a number of disturbing facts, for example Magistrate Colquhoun, who took John under his wing when John was just fourteen and has been like a father to him, is a drunkard; a man whose murder John investigated is still alive; the theatre at Drury Lane which burned down in Too Hot to Handle has been miraculously restored; a plot John was instrumental in preventing succeeded, and a young woman he’d thought happily married is instead making her living on her back.
And Julia, well… I won’t spoil it, but if you’re familiar with the John Pickett Mysteries (and you really need to be to fully appreciate this story) you’ll probably be able to guess why she’s no longer residing in Curzon Street.
And of course, as John navigates his way through the strangest day of his life, he comes to understand how many lives he’s touched and affected for the better in his short time on this earth.
This tale of John Pickett’s “Wonderful Life” is superbly narrated by Joel Froomkin, who grabs the opportunity to showcase his range and versatility and runs with it. It’s a real virtuoso performance in which every single character – and there are a LOT of them – is clearly differentiated and assigned an individual, recognisable ‘voice’; from Colquhoun’s Scottish brogue to the languid, affected drawl given to Sir Reginald and Lord Fieldhurst; from the imposing Dowager (I adore Mr. Froomkin’s line in crusty dowagers!) to poor Catherine, each vocal characterisation is spot on and the female voices are, as always, extremely good. John and Julia are performed consistently, and I continue to enjoy Mr. Froomkin’s portrayal of John, his by-now familiar tone and less-than-posh accent painting a portrait of an earnest and intelligent young man who never quite sees his true worth, but who nonetheless has a backbone of steel. Mr. Froomkin expertly conveys John’s bewilderment and growing sense of dread as he tries to understand what’s happening, and the scene near the end (in which he uncovers some previously unknown information about his background) with someone whose identity I won’t reveal, is perfectly judged and incredibly touching.
Set in a vibrant and believable Regency London, Nowhere Man is a heart-warming and clever retelling of a classic tale. Ms. Cobb South does a terrific job in covering all the beats of the original, and Joel Froomkin’s terrific performance adds another dimension This isn’t the place to start with the John Pickett Mysteries, but it’s a lovely early Christmas present devotees of the series are sure to enjoy.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
December 5, 2020
“It’s a Wonderful Life” John Pickett! This delightful novel left me smiling at the end, after reading the trials a despondent John Pickett endures after being knocked on cold.
Poor John was feeling down after leaving his position
as a bow street runner to start his own investigation business. After a month and no answer to his advertisement, John is forlornly walking the streets of London, thinking that so much would have been better off had he not been born. Well, he certainly found, to his dismay, many lives were terribly impacted in world where John Pickett never existed.
I love this Regency era series, John and Julia are fabulous characters who are such fun to visit. Well done.
Poor John was feeling down after leaving his position
as a bow street runner to start his own investigation business. After a month and no answer to his advertisement, John is forlornly walking the streets of London, thinking that so much would have been better off had he not been born. Well, he certainly found, to his dismay, many lives were terribly impacted in world where John Pickett never existed.
I love this Regency era series, John and Julia are fabulous characters who are such fun to visit. Well done.
December 13, 2020
Another enjoyable John Pickett novella, in this case. This one follows a similar plot from a classic Christmas movie but I won't say more as it would be a spoiler, but I recognized it almost immediately. This and my last read have been just what I needed at the end of a long and difficult year. I have enjoyed this entire series thus far and I may move on to another series by this author. What fun her stories are!
December 31, 2021
Sheri Cobb South’s novella is a twisty dark version of “Its a Wonderful Life”! Julia Fieldhurst ain’t no Donna Reed, and I loved it. An alternate universe of John & Julia that will keep you hooked until the last paragraph. This novella can jumpstart your entree into the Pickett mysteries if you read it as book .75 (right after Pickpockets Apprentice, but spoilers included) or you can read it after book 9 or 10 of the series. It’s listed as book 9.5 but makes reference to book 10, so so would really call it 10.5.
Sheri Cobb South is one of those authors who can use the last sentence of a chapter to make you bark out the final word in surprise or laugh out loud at the insanity of the Beau Monde. She’s got great sarcastic wit and comic timing that keeps the Pickett mysteries engaging. I can’t wait for more!
Sheri Cobb South is one of those authors who can use the last sentence of a chapter to make you bark out the final word in surprise or laugh out loud at the insanity of the Beau Monde. She’s got great sarcastic wit and comic timing that keeps the Pickett mysteries engaging. I can’t wait for more!
December 19, 2020
No angels, bells, or haloes, but only a vanishing prescient apple seller and a depressed John Pickett badly concussed in 1820s London in this tale worthy of Dickens. Feeling himself to be a failure, John is in the way of a horse and cracks his head. He then spends time in a world he does not understand because things are unfamiliar to him and he is unknown to those he knows because he has never been born. But he is who he is and is saddened by things as might have been while learning a few new things about himself and what he believed to be true. Very well done! I loved it!
Joel Froomkin continues to be the voice actor extraordinaire.
Joel Froomkin continues to be the voice actor extraordinaire.
January 2, 2021
John Pickett and "It's A Wonderful Life" combined into a great novella. I always enjoy Julia and John but maybe because I read this so close to Christmas and loving the classic Christmas movie I really enjoyed this one. Don't we all wonder what life would be like if we were never born? Well, John gets a glimpse at just that in this novella. Once again the narration is done by Joel L Froomkin and as in all the others, he is wonderful. I have come to recognize his voice and think of John Pickett.
January 27, 2021
Wonderful! Can't wait for the next book!
Although this was just a novella, I really enjoyed this quick story. Pickett being ever hard on himself makes a careless statement about his wife being better off without him ever being born, gets hit in the head and wakes up in an alternate reality... It's a question I think many people wonder at times when they're feeling down and I loved watching this story play out. The narrator did a fantastic job, as always-- never change him! I absolutely recommend this book, especially if you have found yourself pulled into this very addictive series.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Although this was just a novella, I really enjoyed this quick story. Pickett being ever hard on himself makes a careless statement about his wife being better off without him ever being born, gets hit in the head and wakes up in an alternate reality... It's a question I think many people wonder at times when they're feeling down and I loved watching this story play out. The narrator did a fantastic job, as always-- never change him! I absolutely recommend this book, especially if you have found yourself pulled into this very addictive series.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 23, 2020
Love Julia and John
This is a interesting little tale about JP. He is down on his luck because he hasn't gotten any business in his private inspector business. He.is sad and is wondering if the ppl would be better off he he never had been born. Well he finds himself No existing and he has a journey. It's a cool journey. JP is a great guy so we are so happy he exist even as a book boyfriend. I love this series. I could just keep reading adventures with John and Julia.
This is a interesting little tale about JP. He is down on his luck because he hasn't gotten any business in his private inspector business. He.is sad and is wondering if the ppl would be better off he he never had been born. Well he finds himself No existing and he has a journey. It's a cool journey. JP is a great guy so we are so happy he exist even as a book boyfriend. I love this series. I could just keep reading adventures with John and Julia.
November 24, 2020
5 STARS, HISTORICAL REGENCY ERA MYSTERY, BUT MORE
This is not my first John Pickett and found this one written based on the same idea of, "It's a Wonderful Life', was brilliant in a way. The things poor John found out went straight to my heart & was pleasantly surprised even in that time he found so many reasons he made a difference. Or really in that time it didn't take much to make differences in some lives, mainly people that care. Great characters. Recommend
This is not my first John Pickett and found this one written based on the same idea of, "It's a Wonderful Life', was brilliant in a way. The things poor John found out went straight to my heart & was pleasantly surprised even in that time he found so many reasons he made a difference. Or really in that time it didn't take much to make differences in some lives, mainly people that care. Great characters. Recommend
January 7, 2021
Nowhere Man is a bit like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The story follows John Pickett, a former Bow Street Runner, as he tries to make sense of a world where he was never born. It’s an interesting short story, but I prefer the mysteries in the other books I have read in the series to this surreal tale.
The narrator is very talented and is able to convincingly create both male and female characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The narrator is very talented and is able to convincingly create both male and female characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 8, 2021
It's a Wonderful Life, Regency-style! This was a great idea, executed with great panache, reminding faithful readers of the impact modest John Pickett has on his world. I enjoyed meeting characters old and new, particularly the teaser about John's early life and how different that might have been. Another delightful read.
October 14, 2020
A fast thoroughly enjoyable read. John discouraged due to lack of work, gets a good knock on the head, and a view of a world, and a Julia, without him. Well written and may even bring a tear to your eye. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2020
Nowhere Man
So......I love these John Pickett novels. This one was a lot of"It's a wonderful Life". and I found that, since I knew where it was going, I did not enjoy it as much. I cannot wait for the next John Pickett novel when his investigation agency really takes off.
So......I love these John Pickett novels. This one was a lot of"It's a wonderful Life". and I found that, since I knew where it was going, I did not enjoy it as much. I cannot wait for the next John Pickett novel when his investigation agency really takes off.
December 30, 2020
A solid,good read.Mr Pickett is suffering the' I wish I'd never been born blues'.After being struck by a carraige,he gets his wish and sees just what life would be like if he were never in it. Joel L Froomkin did sa splendid job narrating.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
October 13, 2020
Love that John Pickett!
November 5, 2020
Looking Back to Move Forward
Very interesting read. Not a new theme but handled with style, a plum, and gives new prospective to John on who he is....
Very interesting read. Not a new theme but handled with style, a plum, and gives new prospective to John on who he is....
November 13, 2020
A fine story
You'll recognize this send up of a classic. But Ms Cobb South carries it off with style. As enjoyable as the series that precedes it.
You'll recognize this send up of a classic. But Ms Cobb South carries it off with style. As enjoyable as the series that precedes it.
January 9, 2021
Excellent
Enjoyed it very much. A fairly short novella similar to the movie It’s a Wonderful Life” took us on a journey through several of Picket’s cases. Interesting!
Enjoyed it very much. A fairly short novella similar to the movie It’s a Wonderful Life” took us on a journey through several of Picket’s cases. Interesting!
Read
March 3, 2021Audiobook
Read
March 9, 2021Great read, kept me wondering how this was to be resolved.
August 6, 2021
clever story...love John Pickett
August 24, 2021
Totally nowhere
Can't really say anything without giving the whole plot away. Good read. Once again they want more words. Total madness
Can't really say anything without giving the whole plot away. Good read. Once again they want more words. Total madness
December 21, 2021
Meh
The author seems to have forgotten what happened in Pickett's life before making him "the nowhere man," living in a world in which he'd never been born. I don't recommend it.
The author seems to have forgotten what happened in Pickett's life before making him "the nowhere man," living in a world in which he'd never been born. I don't recommend it.
April 23, 2022
Highly recommend!
Anyone who loves a good plot amidst historical settings will enjoy this series. I have read all the John Pickett books and hope there will be more.
Anyone who loves a good plot amidst historical settings will enjoy this series. I have read all the John Pickett books and hope there will be more.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews