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Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery #9

Murder at the Royal Observatory

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A mysterious death. A string of bizarre clues. And a killer who will stop at nothing to protect an unearthly secret. London, 1900 --As dawn breaks on a cold day in February, Holmes summons Lucy to the Royal Observatory to help investigate a mysterious and macabre incident. Emmett Frazier, an observatory employee, has been found dead under very strange circumstances, indeed. The young man appears to have been dropped straight from the sky. Peculiar prints have been found on the lawn, and a high-ranking witness has reported seeing a green glow. Is London the site of a real War of the Worlds -style invasion? The otherworldly incident has occurred on the very day of the annual Funder's dinner, held each year on the anniversary of the day a suicide bomber killed himself on the Observatory lawn. Is it coincidence, or something more? Meanwhile, Jack has received disturbing a fellow police officer has been killed, and there are no leads and no suspects. Convinced that something deeply nefarious is going on, he sets out to investigate. Every new revelation in the unusual Observatory case takes the Baker Street team deeper into a strange and secretive new world. When one of their own ends up in peril, they must work at light speed to find a killer and stage a rescue. Will their stellar sleuthing skills be enough to save the day? Can Jack crack his own case, without making himself a target? A fun and fast-paced take on a classic Sherlock who-done-it, complete with thrilling twists and turns, expert sleuthing, and a captivating original mystery. Murder at the Royal Observatory stays faithful to the spirit of the beloved original series, and incorporates fascinating real-life historical events, pop culture references, and influential figures from late Victorian era-London.

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2021

179 people are currently reading
81 people want to read

About the author

Anna Elliott

82 books430 followers
Anna Elliott is an author of historical fiction and fantasy. She enjoys stories about strong women, and loves exploring the multitude of ways women can find their unique strengths. She was delighted to lend a hand with the Sherlock & Lucy series, and thrilled to continue a new spin-off series featuring Becky and Flynn. Her first series, the Twilight of Avalon trilogy, is a retelling of the Trystan & Isolde legend. She wrote her second series, The Pride & Prejudice Chronicles , chiefly to satisfy her own curiosity about what might have happened to Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and all the other wonderful cast of characters after the official end of Jane Austen’s classic work.

WEBSITE: http://sherlockandlucy.com
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sherlockand...
FACEBOOK READER GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/77782...
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anna-El...

Anna lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and five children.

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5 stars
269 (54%)
4 stars
149 (30%)
3 stars
63 (12%)
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8 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
514 reviews7 followers
December 13, 2023
Great short story

I really liked this book. The topic of men from Mars always makes for a fun story. Back in the early 20th century people were fascinated with those type of stories
19 reviews
June 5, 2021
Enjoyable

I love this series. I've enjoyed each installment and eagerly looked forward to the next. Do read them in order. Although each has a self-contained mystery there is also a story arc that continues from one book to the next.
2 reviews
May 30, 2024
Sorry, not even close to the real deal

Of course the words "Sherlock Holmes" in the title attracted me to this book . Plus the fact that it was Kindle Unlimited and I didn't have to pay (besides the K.U. subscription ). I knew this wasn't Conan Doyle so I was somewhat skeptical to begin with. But even with somewhat low expectations I was still disappointed.
First of all Holmes has no role except for being a person in the same room as the other characters. The storyline is weak and the ultimate mechanism given for the initial murder was simply not believable. The cliffhanger ending is silly- guessing this is part of a series but little about this made me want to read another.
Profile Image for Madelon.
944 reviews9 followers
December 9, 2021
When I read the first book in this series, I was hooked. In my younger days, I read all the Sherlock Holmes stories and enjoyed them all. Anna Elliott and Charles Veley have brought me that same reading pleasure through the 27 books I've read. Returning to the series is more than just curling up with a good book, it is once again feeling the joy of meeting up with Holmes and his familiars.

The Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James books are written in such a way to make the reader the omniscient recipient of multiple first person accounts of the action. The main characters - Watson, Lucy, Becky, Flynn - can individually find evidence, interview persons of interest, and make observations to bring the case to a logical conclusion. Like Doyle before them, Sherlock Holmes never speaks in the first person. His voice is always in the first person recounting by Watson. It is a good idea to observe the title of each chapter as it coincides with a particular characters point of view.

MURDER AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY introduces us to the Astronomer Royal after he discovers the dead body of Emmett Frazier, within the observatory campus, as he makes his way from his home on the grounds to his office. The police are called and Holmes is summoned. There is a mysterious secondary case in which Sergeant Jack Kelly is embroiled, keeping him away from the case Holmes, Watson, and Lucy are investigating.

The unfortunate victim is found to have been reading H. G. Wells novel, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, and has something of an obsession with the planet Mars. Like today, the speculation of life on distant planets can produce a frenzy in those who want to believe. The clever weaving of the invasion from Mars with murder provides a tantalizing trail to follow.

The Royal Observatory murder is well and truly solved with Sherlockian logic, but the mystery surrounding the death of Inspector Glenn two years previous is not. Perhaps the next book, THE BLOOMSBURY GURU, will provide the solution.

I have found all of these books to be worthy of the canon and do recommend that you start at the beginning with THE LAST MORIARTY and binge your way through the entire series.
Profile Image for Susan.
7,282 reviews69 followers
May 27, 2021
1900 Two years ago Inspector Glenn, a member of The Syndicate, was shot dead during a planned riot. Recently Sergeant O'Hara was stabbed dead, who was investigating the group with Sergeant Jack Kelly. While Jack continues his investigation, Holmes and Watson have informed Lucy of a murder early that morning at the Royal Observatory, under strange circumstances. Did the victim really drop from the sky and what could the motive be.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery with its very likeable cast of characters. Another good addition to this interesting series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
6,726 reviews5 followers
September 26, 2022
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written British 🏰 family relationship murder mystery adventure thriller short story by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley The Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery Series book Twenty-seven. A man 🚹 is murdered at the London Observatory and Sherlock, Lucy, and Watson are called in to investigate the dead. With the help of Becky and Flynn they are successful in their investigation leading to 👍 the arrest of the guilty parties. I would recommend this series and authors to readers of mysteries and Sherlock Holmes fans. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening. 2022 👑👒😀
967 reviews27 followers
June 15, 2021
This is one of my favorite series. You do get different points of view in the books (Sherlock, Watson, Lucy, etc.) The mystery keeps me guessing and you are getting the different pieces with the different views, which always end up making sense in the end.

I highly recommend the series. I have gone back and bought prior books to make sure I have all of them.

Thank you to the author for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for SLS.
21 reviews
August 27, 2021
Sherlock Holmes and daughter Lucy James

This is a great series of Sherlock Holmes' pastiche. I have read all the short stories in this series and am so glad it will continue very soon. If you enjoy Victorian mysteries that have true historical additions plus Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson, and Holmes' daughter all solving crimes together, then you will love this series. Read the series in order, because each short story builds on the next with some ending in cliff hangers.
1,733 reviews8 followers
July 12, 2021
Another fun read in the series

The normal cast of characters are back for this story. They investigate a murder at the royal observatory with a twist of creatures from outer space thrown in. The book also brings along hints of the new criminal organization that jack is fighting. I look forward to reading the next book
118 reviews2 followers
January 19, 2025
Very well written with lots of plot twists and turns. I had a suspicion on one plot, and I was right, but the others fooled me - as is often the case. I particularly like the inter play between Holmes, Watson, Lucy, Jack, Becky and Flynn. I do enjoy these stories and highly recommend them to those who appreciate cozy mysteries with a historical setting.
2 reviews
July 2, 2021
Love this series

II have read the entire Sherlock and Lucy series. I just finished #27. The writing harkens back to another time. You can imagine actually being there. I hope there will be more to come.
Profile Image for Chris.
144 reviews3 followers
July 13, 2021
More excellent reading!

I like the fact that it is not all centered around Holmes.Even Becky and Flynn are playing more significant roles. They are becoming quite the young detectives in their own right.
126 reviews3 followers
July 24, 2021
Another great read

As always, a thoroughly engrossing story. Never predictable, with enjoyable tension between interwoven voices & perspectives, resolved at the end. Highly recommended. And then a cliffhanger? Let's get on to the nect!
Profile Image for Michael Mcfarren.
402 reviews4 followers
February 10, 2025
Tangled web

Again as only Holmes can do he deftly solves another mystery that had me guessing to the very end. I love these stories and glad I found them after completing all of Doyle’s original series.
Profile Image for Christa Saccullo.
406 reviews4 followers
June 13, 2021
I like it

This series is like watching a show. There's A main plot, but other stories woven in as connectors. right now this season is very good...

Christa
Profile Image for Kathy.
3,224 reviews29 followers
October 26, 2022
3.5 stars. Entertaining as usual with an ongoing story arc.
4 reviews
February 9, 2023
great mystery

Well written. Full of drama and intrigue. Surprise ending. Glad there are more like this. Best if read series from the first book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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