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The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books #20
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Defaced Men
Sherlock Holmes delves into the world of early cinema as motion picture groundbreaker Eadweard Muybridge begs him to solve a mystery that will keep you up all night…
It is 1896. A new client at Baker Street claims he's being threatened via the new art of the moving image…
Eadweard Muybridge, pioneer of motion picture projection, believes his life is in danger. Twice he has been almost run down in the street by the same mysterious carriage, and moreover, disturbing alterations have been made to his lecture slides. These are closely guarded, yet just before each lecture an unknown hand has defaced images depicting Muybridge himself, which he has discovered, to his horror, only as he projects them to his audience. As Holmes and Watson investigate, a bewildering trail of clues only deepens the mystery, and meanwhile, newspaper speculation reaches fever pitch. The great detective's reputation is on the line, and may be ruined for good unless he can pick apart a mystery centred the capturing, for the first time, of figures in motion, and the wonders of the new cinematograph.
It is 1896. A new client at Baker Street claims he's being threatened via the new art of the moving image…
Eadweard Muybridge, pioneer of motion picture projection, believes his life is in danger. Twice he has been almost run down in the street by the same mysterious carriage, and moreover, disturbing alterations have been made to his lecture slides. These are closely guarded, yet just before each lecture an unknown hand has defaced images depicting Muybridge himself, which he has discovered, to his horror, only as he projects them to his audience. As Holmes and Watson investigate, a bewildering trail of clues only deepens the mystery, and meanwhile, newspaper speculation reaches fever pitch. The great detective's reputation is on the line, and may be ruined for good unless he can pick apart a mystery centred the capturing, for the first time, of figures in motion, and the wonders of the new cinematograph.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
11 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Tim Major
73 books76 followersTim Major is a British Fantasy Award-winning writer and freelance editor from York, UK.
His books include Jekyll & Hyde: Consulting Detectives and a sequel, Jekyll & Hyde: Winter Retreat, plus Snakeskins, Hope Island, three Sherlock Holmes novels and short story collections And the House Lights Dim and Great Robots of History.
Tim’s short stories have been selected for Best of British Science Fiction, Best of British Fantasy and The Best Horror of the Year, and his story ‘The Brazen Head of Westinghouse’ won the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction in 2024.
Find out more at www.timjmajor.com
His books include Jekyll & Hyde: Consulting Detectives and a sequel, Jekyll & Hyde: Winter Retreat, plus Snakeskins, Hope Island, three Sherlock Holmes novels and short story collections And the House Lights Dim and Great Robots of History.
Tim’s short stories have been selected for Best of British Science Fiction, Best of British Fantasy and The Best Horror of the Year, and his story ‘The Brazen Head of Westinghouse’ won the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction in 2024.
Find out more at www.timjmajor.com
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 13, 2022
This set around a zoopraxiscope a special camera invented by Eadweard Muybridge in 1850s. I goodled this and when you see pictures of Muybridge you not stop laughing across between ZZ Top, Santa Claus and Charles Darwin a bread so long it goes to his waste in V shape.
Muybridge is villain he got away with murder. Yet Holmes is helping him even though he does not like him.
Set around early photos and moving pictures. You could say Muybridge started porngrahic movies.
Muybridge is villain he got away with murder. Yet Holmes is helping him even though he does not like him.
Set around early photos and moving pictures. You could say Muybridge started porngrahic movies.
January 7, 2025
This book is not as bad as Major’s previous Holmes effort, The Back-to-Front Murder. However, it is still terrible, nonsensical, and incredibly boring.
January 5, 2023
This isn't the first Sherlock Holmes book that I've read from this author. I read The Back to Front Murders, and I really enjoyed it, but this one just didn't hit the spot, unfortunately. I found it dragged at points, and when the story went off in a different direction, I felt a bit confused, much like Watson did.
November 9, 2022
CAWPILE 6.14
My first Tim Major Sherlock story, I quite enjoyed the writing style and it read quickly, the pages flew by. I didn't particularly like Eadweard Muybridge's character so I didn't feel much sympathy for his trials and tribulations but the story worked out well and I did enjoy the twists and turns.
Would read more from Tim Major in the future.
My first Tim Major Sherlock story, I quite enjoyed the writing style and it read quickly, the pages flew by. I didn't particularly like Eadweard Muybridge's character so I didn't feel much sympathy for his trials and tribulations but the story worked out well and I did enjoy the twists and turns.
Would read more from Tim Major in the future.
October 6, 2023
As I've mentioned in numerous reviews, I'm a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes - both the original Arthur Conan Doyle canon and the numerous pastiches that have been written by other authors over the years. That includes the Titan Books series, of which this is one.
The reality is that some of the pastiches I read are so good they easily could pass as one of Conan Doyle's creations. Others, however, just don't capture the voice, feel, plot, setting, etc. of the original canon works.
Unfortunately, this effort fell into the latter category.
I was disappointed with this novel for a number of reasons. First, like his earlier pastiche "The Back to Front Murder," Major fell into one of the traps I see many modern authors fall into: taking Holmes' renowned observation and deduction skills to the point of absurdity. While this wasn't as egregious as it was in that first effort, Major still asked the reader to engage in a hefty dose of suspended disbelief when it comes to some of Holmes' observations and deductions - especially when the detective explained how he solved the mystery.
And that leads me to the novel's biggest fault: its plot.
I never go into plot details in these reviews to avoid spoilers. But I will say that the novel's plot - like that of "The Back to Front Murder" - was overly complicated, hard to believe, and deeply unsatisfying in its denouement. I read the chapter where Holmes explained how he solved the mystery twice - and I'm still not sure it completely makes sense to me. Perhaps it would if I were to read through it a third time, but I don't have the energy. (Nor should I have to...making the conclusion clear is the author's job.)
Having said all this, I do think this work was better than his previous pastiche...but barely. Hence, the three stars, which is an improvement from the two stars I gave "The Back to Front Murder."
The reality is that some of the pastiches I read are so good they easily could pass as one of Conan Doyle's creations. Others, however, just don't capture the voice, feel, plot, setting, etc. of the original canon works.
Unfortunately, this effort fell into the latter category.
I was disappointed with this novel for a number of reasons. First, like his earlier pastiche "The Back to Front Murder," Major fell into one of the traps I see many modern authors fall into: taking Holmes' renowned observation and deduction skills to the point of absurdity. While this wasn't as egregious as it was in that first effort, Major still asked the reader to engage in a hefty dose of suspended disbelief when it comes to some of Holmes' observations and deductions - especially when the detective explained how he solved the mystery.
And that leads me to the novel's biggest fault: its plot.
I never go into plot details in these reviews to avoid spoilers. But I will say that the novel's plot - like that of "The Back to Front Murder" - was overly complicated, hard to believe, and deeply unsatisfying in its denouement. I read the chapter where Holmes explained how he solved the mystery twice - and I'm still not sure it completely makes sense to me. Perhaps it would if I were to read through it a third time, but I don't have the energy. (Nor should I have to...making the conclusion clear is the author's job.)
Having said all this, I do think this work was better than his previous pastiche...but barely. Hence, the three stars, which is an improvement from the two stars I gave "The Back to Front Murder."
April 15, 2023
This book was well researched, based on actual events and people of the late 19th century. The story was engaging and written close to the Canon. I enjoyed the natural dialogue of the characters, but the Holmes/Watson relationship felt strained. The way one partner felt about how he was treated, but also the other's tenacious actions—let’s just say, I’ve seen many a marriage dissolve for less. This story is set in 1896, which means since their relationship began in 1881, Watson’s patience qualifies him for sainthood.
April 16, 2023
I liked other Sherlock novels by this author but wasn't a big fan of this one.
There's an interesting character, Eadweard Muybridge, and I liked the well researched parts about the moving pictures and what was before Lumiere invented cinema.
After an intriguing starts the plot drags and becomes a bit too confusing as it adds subplots and clues.
I wanted to understand what was happening but i struggled to end it.
I can't say I disliked it but it was ok.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
There's an interesting character, Eadweard Muybridge, and I liked the well researched parts about the moving pictures and what was before Lumiere invented cinema.
After an intriguing starts the plot drags and becomes a bit too confusing as it adds subplots and clues.
I wanted to understand what was happening but i struggled to end it.
I can't say I disliked it but it was ok.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
January 2, 2024
I semi-enjoyed the plot of this one, but again the characteristics of Holmes and Watson brought me out of it. (For example, at one point Watson wonders if he'd still be interested in being Holmes' chronicler if Holmes wasn't famous, Holmes asks Watson to check his behavior with a woman and is totally oblivious to how his actions are affecting here, etc.) A far cry from the Holmes Watson describes as excellent reading and understanding women, even if he doesn't like them.
September 20, 2024
Almost as frustrating as the previous 2 Sherlock Holmes offerings I have read from Tim Major, but this one earns a grudging 2 stars instead of just 1 star. I think the author should reconsider attempting Sherlock Holmes pastiches, the ponderous convolutions are painful, the padding is tedious, and the conclusion was written in the style of a Poirot novel with all the solutions produced at the conclusion. Not Sherlock Holmes as per the canon.
November 21, 2022
Tim Major hits the bull's eye AGAIN!!
There is a lot of historical research that is spot on in this pastiche. The story is excellent and a page turner as usual. Great entertainment and value included. I purchased this book and the review are my thoughts. I was not compensated for my review by anyone. Most folks will enjoy the experience of reading The Defaced Men.
There is a lot of historical research that is spot on in this pastiche. The story is excellent and a page turner as usual. Great entertainment and value included. I purchased this book and the review are my thoughts. I was not compensated for my review by anyone. Most folks will enjoy the experience of reading The Defaced Men.
September 25, 2022
When I spoke to Tim Major following the release of his previous Sherlock Holmes book, The Back-T0-Front Murder, he hinted at both another Holmes book to come, and a part of what the story would be about, film. and thus, after a long wait that book is finally here in the form of The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Defaced Men.
This adventure begins as all decent Sherlock Holmes stories does, with a client coming to call upon the detective and his partner in their home at 221B Baker Street. Whilst most people coming to ask for help from the worlds greatest detective come with a story this client, Eadweard Muybridge, comes with something of a visual presentation. Muybridge is an expert in film cinematography, using the fairly new technology as an aid for studying anatomy, and answering academic questions.
During his recent tour he's been using his photographic plates to show off his findings to his audiences; but in his latest show something usual happened. Muybridge projects the plate for Holmes and Watson to reveal footage of himself that has been defaced, with his face scratched out, and the words R.I.P. above him. Muybridge also tells them that someone recently tried to hit him with a cab, and that he's now begun to fear for his life.
Intrigued by the case, Holmes agrees to take it on, and at the next show on Muybridge's tour some more unusual events happen, and another defaced plate is revealed to the audience. As Holmes begins to investigate the case his journey takes him to a house fire that claimed the life of a man; but how is it connected to Muybridge?
The central mystery of The Defaced Men feels like it should be a simple one. Someone is gaining access to the slides before they're projected and is making alterations to them. It feels like the kind of case that Holmes should have wrapped up pretty quickly. But as the book goes on it becomes clear that there's a lot more going on than first appears, and that threats and extortion are far from the worst crime being committed.
I loved the way that Major was able to take a simple set-up and spin it out into something much bigger and complex in a way that didn't feel like it was being forced, or where certain reveals and revelations were so strange that they derailed the plot. Whilst where the book ends up is very different from how it starts it feels like a natural conclusion, and that these incidents could very clearly lead into each other.
It's clear that Tim Major did a lot of research for this book, particularly into the realm of early cinematic techniques. Film is one of those areas where I had no idea what the early technology was like, or how it evolved; so getting to see some of that here, getting to learn how these early techniques were employed and how they were developed was hugely interesting.
One of the things that I liked about the book was how well Major managed to capture the characters voices. Holmes can sometimes be a hard character for folks to get right, and can on occasion be made too aloof, or too rude; but here he feels like a decent, natural Holmes that's very much in line with the Conan Doyle original. Watson is done similarly well, and there are a few moments with the character that elicit a chuckle or two because Major has managed to make him charming and funny without resorting into making him a buffoon.
The new characters are also very well crafted, and Muybridge is one of those characters who you end up kind of disliking very quickly. He's not a bad person, and is very much a target of a criminal mind, but there are times where he comes across, for lack of a better term, as a dick. He needs Holmes' help but is still kind of rude, kind of annoying. It's nice to have a 'victim' in one of these stories that isn't someone who's a shrinking violet, or who's so desperate that they're at the end of their rope. Holmes is there to help him but he's still kind of the worst, and I really liked that.
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Defaced Men is an interesting new mystery story that introduces something new that the detective hasn't really had to deal with in his adventures before. It has decent depictions of the characters, and a plot that will keep you guessing throughout.
This adventure begins as all decent Sherlock Holmes stories does, with a client coming to call upon the detective and his partner in their home at 221B Baker Street. Whilst most people coming to ask for help from the worlds greatest detective come with a story this client, Eadweard Muybridge, comes with something of a visual presentation. Muybridge is an expert in film cinematography, using the fairly new technology as an aid for studying anatomy, and answering academic questions.
During his recent tour he's been using his photographic plates to show off his findings to his audiences; but in his latest show something usual happened. Muybridge projects the plate for Holmes and Watson to reveal footage of himself that has been defaced, with his face scratched out, and the words R.I.P. above him. Muybridge also tells them that someone recently tried to hit him with a cab, and that he's now begun to fear for his life.
Intrigued by the case, Holmes agrees to take it on, and at the next show on Muybridge's tour some more unusual events happen, and another defaced plate is revealed to the audience. As Holmes begins to investigate the case his journey takes him to a house fire that claimed the life of a man; but how is it connected to Muybridge?
The central mystery of The Defaced Men feels like it should be a simple one. Someone is gaining access to the slides before they're projected and is making alterations to them. It feels like the kind of case that Holmes should have wrapped up pretty quickly. But as the book goes on it becomes clear that there's a lot more going on than first appears, and that threats and extortion are far from the worst crime being committed.
I loved the way that Major was able to take a simple set-up and spin it out into something much bigger and complex in a way that didn't feel like it was being forced, or where certain reveals and revelations were so strange that they derailed the plot. Whilst where the book ends up is very different from how it starts it feels like a natural conclusion, and that these incidents could very clearly lead into each other.
It's clear that Tim Major did a lot of research for this book, particularly into the realm of early cinematic techniques. Film is one of those areas where I had no idea what the early technology was like, or how it evolved; so getting to see some of that here, getting to learn how these early techniques were employed and how they were developed was hugely interesting.
One of the things that I liked about the book was how well Major managed to capture the characters voices. Holmes can sometimes be a hard character for folks to get right, and can on occasion be made too aloof, or too rude; but here he feels like a decent, natural Holmes that's very much in line with the Conan Doyle original. Watson is done similarly well, and there are a few moments with the character that elicit a chuckle or two because Major has managed to make him charming and funny without resorting into making him a buffoon.
The new characters are also very well crafted, and Muybridge is one of those characters who you end up kind of disliking very quickly. He's not a bad person, and is very much a target of a criminal mind, but there are times where he comes across, for lack of a better term, as a dick. He needs Holmes' help but is still kind of rude, kind of annoying. It's nice to have a 'victim' in one of these stories that isn't someone who's a shrinking violet, or who's so desperate that they're at the end of their rope. Holmes is there to help him but he's still kind of the worst, and I really liked that.
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Defaced Men is an interesting new mystery story that introduces something new that the detective hasn't really had to deal with in his adventures before. It has decent depictions of the characters, and a plot that will keep you guessing throughout.
December 28, 2022
A 2.5
The 'New Adventures' collection is a bit of an up and down one and this was certainly down with a lot of dry/tedious detail about early moving pictures that made it a rather boring read even at just 250 pages.
The 'New Adventures' collection is a bit of an up and down one and this was certainly down with a lot of dry/tedious detail about early moving pictures that made it a rather boring read even at just 250 pages.
June 29, 2023
The story was good but to much over describing of places , events and people. Often the story will lead down a path and had no or little relevance to any thing else. Liked the Holmes and Watson relationship and many of the historical events. But over all had to struggle at times.
September 3, 2022
Loved the suspenseful mystery element of this. Sherlock Holmes novels are a classic and it never fails!
May 22, 2023
Tim Major does a great job with Sherlock and Watson, but his plots can meander somewhat which makes the overall story a bit mediocre.
June 16, 2023
Even as a fan of the history of photography, this one is a bit stiff. Authors need to excise the "Watson is an idiot" trope going forward.
August 8, 2023
Sherlock and old photos. Yes
August 19, 2023
Love the faction of including real-life figure Muybridge
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews