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Holmes On the Range #4
The Crack in the Lens
In 1893, Otto “Big Red” Amlingmeyer and his brother Gustav, “Old Red” find themselves in a situation that they never expected. They have a bit of money and time to do something other than scramble. It’s enough to confound even that most unconfoundable of men, their mutual inspiration, Sherlock Holmes.
So Old Red decides that it’s time for the for the two of them to head off to the Texas hill country, to San Marcos, and deal with the greatest tragedy of Old Red’s life. Five years ago, when Old Red was a cowpoke in San Marcos, he had a sweetheart—a fallen woman at the local house of ill repute. They had made plans but before they made their big move, his fiancée was murdered and the case swept under the rug by the local authorities. Now, Old Red is determined to find out what really happened and to finally find a measure of justice for his beloved. But Big Red and Old Red find themselves facing a wall of silence and in some of the worst situations of their lives: ensnared in a riot at the local cathouse, on the wrong end of a lynching party and perhaps worst of all—having to do the one thing you never want to do in the state of Texas: steal horses.
So Old Red decides that it’s time for the for the two of them to head off to the Texas hill country, to San Marcos, and deal with the greatest tragedy of Old Red’s life. Five years ago, when Old Red was a cowpoke in San Marcos, he had a sweetheart—a fallen woman at the local house of ill repute. They had made plans but before they made their big move, his fiancée was murdered and the case swept under the rug by the local authorities. Now, Old Red is determined to find out what really happened and to finally find a measure of justice for his beloved. But Big Red and Old Red find themselves facing a wall of silence and in some of the worst situations of their lives: ensnared in a riot at the local cathouse, on the wrong end of a lynching party and perhaps worst of all—having to do the one thing you never want to do in the state of Texas: steal horses.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2009
63 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Steve Hockensmith
96 books528 followersSteve Hockensmith is the author of the New York Times bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls and several other novels, including the Edgar Award finalist Holmes on the Range. He lives in Alameda, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
October 22, 2017
Another great entry in this series. Old Red finally gets the gumption to investigate what happened to his fiancee back in the day. He and Big Red ride into town, and find a very different place than they left. The town is now infested with progressives, determined to bring the town to respectability. Of course, human nature doesn't change, it just gets covered up in graft.
The two brothers start poking around and find graft, corruption, and all the other joys of city living, along with murder.
This series should be much better known.
The two brothers start poking around and find graft, corruption, and all the other joys of city living, along with murder.
This series should be much better known.
July 30, 2016
I am still hopeful that this series can recover the charm of the first two books, but it didn't in this book. Old Red spends all his time and energy caring about the case and his lost love, with none left over for Big Red - each book before this had a deep and heartfelt conversation between the brothers that strengthened their relationship and cleared up old misunderstandings. In this one, Big Red just learns that
Though the book involves brothels, at no point does Big Red add his perspective - that Old Red raised him with sympathy for sex workers, because their sisters could have been trapped in such a life, and that Old Red might have been married to a sex worker and settled down by now instead of dragging his little brother around the country. It's just never mentioned at all.
Big Red seems flippant and, well, flanderized in this book - he's grown into an exaggeration and simplification of his own character traits. His narrative style has changed too, and not for the better. It's self conscious and awkwardly genre-aware and prone to lecturing about how to write. And the censorship of fuck to "fudge" got old fast, and was really weird in retrospect considering the first book used racial slurs so freely. Old Red has also changed so much that Big Red refers to "the old Old Red" and "the new Old Red". And their relationship is the weakest it's ever been.
And then there's the plot twist, ugh. I can't even tell you how tired I am of seeing that in Holmes books.
So, yeah, I still have hopes of the next book and the short stories being good, but if things continue as they are I am gonna regard this as a two book series.
Though the book involves brothels, at no point does Big Red add his perspective - that Old Red raised him with sympathy for sex workers, because their sisters could have been trapped in such a life, and that Old Red might have been married to a sex worker and settled down by now instead of dragging his little brother around the country. It's just never mentioned at all.
Big Red seems flippant and, well, flanderized in this book - he's grown into an exaggeration and simplification of his own character traits. His narrative style has changed too, and not for the better. It's self conscious and awkwardly genre-aware and prone to lecturing about how to write. And the censorship of fuck to "fudge" got old fast, and was really weird in retrospect considering the first book used racial slurs so freely. Old Red has also changed so much that Big Red refers to "the old Old Red" and "the new Old Red". And their relationship is the weakest it's ever been.
And then there's the plot twist, ugh. I can't even tell you how tired I am of seeing that in Holmes books.
So, yeah, I still have hopes of the next book and the short stories being good, but if things continue as they are I am gonna regard this as a two book series.
December 29, 2021
Enjoying these so much! On to #5!
October 30, 2016
I registered this book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14171316
Clearly a case of people having different tastes. This one left me wondering. Wondering what was the point, really? Usually there is something about a good book that draws people. It can be the characters, the plot, the excitement. I'm damned if I can figure out anything here. But it could be just that my sense of humor does not match that of some others.
This is a cutesy mystery. I suppose it could come under the category of "cosy", even though there aren't any cute little old ladies or cats solving things. Instead we have "Old Red" Amlingmeyer and "Big Red" Amlingmeyer, brothers, on the trail of the killer of Old Red's lover. From five years before. The story takes place in the 1800s, Sherlock Holmes' time.
Big Red has been selling stories about the brothers' adventures solving crime, so the two finally have enough money to pursue Old Red's passion: find the killer of Adeline. Old Red's claim to fame is that he uses Sherlock Holmes' methods of "deductifying". Only I find no trace of his doing any deducting here. This is about as far from Holmes' methods as I could imagine. Instead, the two go around asking questions and getting embroiled in fights.
The humor relies on language as much as anything else, cowpoke language. I found it tiresome. I found the whole thing tiresome and am ready to say goodby to it.
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14171316
Clearly a case of people having different tastes. This one left me wondering. Wondering what was the point, really? Usually there is something about a good book that draws people. It can be the characters, the plot, the excitement. I'm damned if I can figure out anything here. But it could be just that my sense of humor does not match that of some others.
This is a cutesy mystery. I suppose it could come under the category of "cosy", even though there aren't any cute little old ladies or cats solving things. Instead we have "Old Red" Amlingmeyer and "Big Red" Amlingmeyer, brothers, on the trail of the killer of Old Red's lover. From five years before. The story takes place in the 1800s, Sherlock Holmes' time.
Big Red has been selling stories about the brothers' adventures solving crime, so the two finally have enough money to pursue Old Red's passion: find the killer of Adeline. Old Red's claim to fame is that he uses Sherlock Holmes' methods of "deductifying". Only I find no trace of his doing any deducting here. This is about as far from Holmes' methods as I could imagine. Instead, the two go around asking questions and getting embroiled in fights.
The humor relies on language as much as anything else, cowpoke language. I found it tiresome. I found the whole thing tiresome and am ready to say goodby to it.
May 1, 2011
Brothers, Otto “Big Red” and Gustav “Old Red” Amlingmeyer are back. This time things are personal. A long time ago, Old Red’s fiancée, Adeline was murdered. Old Red has carried regret with him that he was not in town, when Adeline was killed. Big and Old Red does some investigating to finally get justice for Adeline. What they uncover just may be more than the brothers can handle.
The Crack in the Lens is the fourth book Holmes on the Range mystery. I have not read any of the prior three novels. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, which I believe is probably a common theme with mystery readers. This book kind of reminded me of the old Sherlock Holmes stories. The characters talked in simple terms but there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing.
Big and Old Red makes a great team. Old Red is more of the beat them up type, whereas; Big Red is the thinker and can calm Old. I was cheering for Big and Old to get their man. Though as much as I did enjoy this book, it did move a bit slowly at first for my taste. From what I read from author readers of this series, the prior novels are better. I do plan to check them out.
The Crack in the Lens is the fourth book Holmes on the Range mystery. I have not read any of the prior three novels. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, which I believe is probably a common theme with mystery readers. This book kind of reminded me of the old Sherlock Holmes stories. The characters talked in simple terms but there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing.
Big and Old Red makes a great team. Old Red is more of the beat them up type, whereas; Big Red is the thinker and can calm Old. I was cheering for Big and Old to get their man. Though as much as I did enjoy this book, it did move a bit slowly at first for my taste. From what I read from author readers of this series, the prior novels are better. I do plan to check them out.
August 28, 2012
If you love historical fiction in the USA, you'll love this one set in San Marco, Texas. In the 1890s, we're introduced to two German red-haired brothers, Gustav "Old Red" Amlingmeyer and Otto "Big Red" Amlingmeyer. We watch them travel across the USA, solving mystery along the way with the Holmes method, based on Sherlock Holmes. Otto's a novelist, and Gustav tag along for the ride. There's tons of humorous moments in this historical mystery that separates them from the rest. When they enter the wild west, it's up to them to solve an old murder, when the town's against them, for stirring up the hornet's nest. We watch them fight against evil and get them out of trouble. They're caring brothers, through thick and thin. I clearly cheered them on. You get hooked on them and their adventures through the west and midwest.
October 31, 2016
In this installment Big and Old Reds have to deal with psychology, low-talkers and an inability to hold on to their firearms, not to mention a variety of odors, most of them not of a pleasant kind. Big Red becomes a mentor of sorts on the uses of hat tricks. Since in this case the two brothers return to a crime that occurred five years ago, their recent cohorts are not in evidence and the story line takes a break from what was developing in numbers 2 and 3. The humor is great and since the reader doesn't have to hear about a lot of stuff that he or she won't know about, this makes it a good introduction to the series: the characters are solidly developed and the book shows all the series strengths.
August 20, 2009
The brothers clash with a Jack the Ripper type while seeking answers back "home." Wondering if they'll end up as goat farmers next? We'll find out soon in the next volume. This one didn't flow as fast as some of the previous works but it was still fun and a hoot to read. Trouble seems to find these boys and they come very close to being deducified out of existence but for the grace of _____- you'll have to find out.
March 21, 2014
Brothers Old Red and Big Red travel back to Texas to figure out who killed the love of Old Red's life several years before. This is the darkest book in the series so far without quite as much humor. But it was still compelling reading for fans of the series.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 30, 2016
The Anglingmyer brothers go to San Marcos Texas to find the killer of Old Red's love. The stir up a mess of angry folks and more killings. Will they make it out alive?
February 22, 2014
I've thoroughly enjoyed each book in the series so far. Mystery with a comic aspect along with a view of 19th century sensibilities and current topics.
December 30, 2023
The cowboy detectives get involved in the most dangerous kind of case…one involving the murder of one of their long lost loves…
The Crack in the Lens: A Holmes on the Range Mystery by Steve Hockensmith returns the brothers to a more comfortable environment…San Marcos, Texas…filled with colorful characters as they try to “deducify” a five year old murder…
Old Red drags his literate brother Big Red to a place of his greatest tragedy…the loss of a woman he loved. Sure she was a member of the oldest profession, but that didn’t cause any problems. Of course he death has always torn at his insides, so now that he’s proven he can solve murders he wants to take another look…
As Old Red finds the town far different from what he knew, the brothers class with all manner of rogues and locals that populate the boomtown.
There’s the marshal, the sheriff, the revivalist preacher, the cameraman, the newspaperman, the bordello owners/blackmailers, and more soiled doves than you can shake a stick at…
Unfortunately most of them don’t care for the brothers…either their visit or their questions…so a hanging might be on order when more folks start popping up dead…
The Crack in the Lens: A Holmes on the Range Mystery by Steve Hockensmith returns the brothers to a more comfortable environment…San Marcos, Texas…filled with colorful characters as they try to “deducify” a five year old murder…
Old Red drags his literate brother Big Red to a place of his greatest tragedy…the loss of a woman he loved. Sure she was a member of the oldest profession, but that didn’t cause any problems. Of course he death has always torn at his insides, so now that he’s proven he can solve murders he wants to take another look…
As Old Red finds the town far different from what he knew, the brothers class with all manner of rogues and locals that populate the boomtown.
There’s the marshal, the sheriff, the revivalist preacher, the cameraman, the newspaperman, the bordello owners/blackmailers, and more soiled doves than you can shake a stick at…
Unfortunately most of them don’t care for the brothers…either their visit or their questions…so a hanging might be on order when more folks start popping up dead…
April 12, 2021
Gustav “Old Red” Amlingmeyer and his younger brother Otto “Big Red” Amlingmeyer continue their adventures in the fourth installment in the Holmes on the Range series, The Crack in the Lens. Big Red has finally been offered a contract (and $200!) to write about the adventures that he and his brother have as they apply the methods of Sherlock Holmes to solve mysteries. He leaves it up to his brother where they should travel to next. Old Red decides to travel to Texas so that he can solve the murder of his girlfriend that occurred five years ago. After arriving to the city of San Marcos they find that the town has changed. A former barber has become mayor, brothels have been made illegal within city limits, and there is a roaming heavenly choir singing hymns throughout the town. People that Old Red knew five years ago are either gone or don’t want to talk to him. He is puzzled over the reactions of former friends and the reluctance of the townsfolk to help him in his investigation. There are forces at work against the Amlingmeyer brothers, forces that may result in their murder as well!
March 4, 2018
I listened to this audiobook. Gustav (Old Red) and Otto (Big Red) Amlingmeyer are brothers in the Wild West in the late 1800's. Otto fancies himself a writer and Gustav wants to be the American cowboy version of his hero, Sherlock Holmes. Otto plays Watson to Gus's Holmes and together they have humorous "deducifying" adventures. In this book the brothers go to San Marcos, Texas to try and solve the 5 year old murder of Gus's true love. These books are very funny. Otto is the narrator and he takes us through the story. What they uncover is that Gus's girlfriend was only the beginning. She worked as a prostitute when she was brutally stabbed and slashed to death. Since her death other working girls have gone missing, presumably murdered. Otto and Gus find themselves suspected of the murders. It takes a lot of sleuthing and deducifying to find the Old West Jack the Ripper.
July 6, 2017
Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer have finally hit it big. One of Big Red's mysteries has been purchased and is about to be published. He's dressing like a dandy and the brothers do not have to work as cowboys any longer.
So Old Red leads them back to San Marcos, Texas, where his one true love was murdered years earlier.
The Holmes on the Range series has never been better.
The brothers use the techniques they have learned from reading about their idol, Sherlock Holmes, to try and unravel the very cold case.
They are at their most likable, the plot moves along nicely and we get a sense of the changing 1890's West the brothers live in. And Old Red's very personal ties to the crime show us a depth of character that hasn't been there previously.
So Old Red leads them back to San Marcos, Texas, where his one true love was murdered years earlier.
The Holmes on the Range series has never been better.
The brothers use the techniques they have learned from reading about their idol, Sherlock Holmes, to try and unravel the very cold case.
They are at their most likable, the plot moves along nicely and we get a sense of the changing 1890's West the brothers live in. And Old Red's very personal ties to the crime show us a depth of character that hasn't been there previously.
November 2, 2021
Ahhh...a cold case murder in the hill country of Texas. Five years cold. One bad sheriff, one sorta bad/sorta good marshal. PROSTITUTES (chippies). A love interest. Jack-the-Ripper, Texas style (Texas Jack). Holmes’ “method” is put to the test. A hanging tree. Explosions. A preacher. Justice. The life of a prostitute is not always easy. The how’s and why’s are as individual as the women themselves. The fact that many married and led “normal” lives is a testament to the men who really loved them. Of course, the brothers prevail in solving the case. Huzzah! Time for the next installment!
More reviews at: mytossiecup.blogspot.com
More reviews at: mytossiecup.blogspot.com
September 2, 2018
I don't know if it's me, or the book, but it was very long and quite boring reading.
On and off I was reading it for 3 months, and having finished it today, I did not get any satisfaction.
Very descriptive, lots of various flashbacks and side stories, eventually making it harder to comprehend or even remember what is happening or what is the purpose of all that wandering around almost aimlessly.
I liked a lot the first two installments in the series, but now I'm not sure if it's worth my time to continue. Too bad.
On and off I was reading it for 3 months, and having finished it today, I did not get any satisfaction.
Very descriptive, lots of various flashbacks and side stories, eventually making it harder to comprehend or even remember what is happening or what is the purpose of all that wandering around almost aimlessly.
I liked a lot the first two installments in the series, but now I'm not sure if it's worth my time to continue. Too bad.
September 22, 2017
Fourth in the series of Wild-West mysteries featuring Holmes-and-Watson-like Cowboy brothers, Gustav and Otto Amlingmeyer, who in this installment seek to make things right and solve the long-ago murder of Gustav's one and only love, The Crack In The Lens, started out more slowly than did its predecessors but happily ended with a similar, satisfying flourish.
May 3, 2018
I actually quite enjoyed this installment of the series, though it had a darker feel than the lightheartedness I had become accustomed to in the other books. admittedly, i listened to this one on CD, and the narrator did a fabulous job as Otto. I found the ending to be quite sad, and presumably the end of the series.
August 7, 2024
Mix Sherlock Holmes with Jack the Ripper and throw them all into the old West -- basically sums up The Crack in the Lens. One of the darker tales of the series but I loved it. The back story of Old Red really makes you understand his character more. As always the comedy relief of Big Red helps to keep it from getting too serious. It's really a delightful read. More please!
March 27, 2020
I believe this to be the best of the Holmes on the Range series, continuing the serious and socially critical tone of book 3. It is also perhaps the most emotionally engaging volume of the series, and involves substantial character development on the parts of both protagonists.
October 12, 2021
A whodunnit set in the old west. Kind of funny murder mystery. Unusual presentation. Lots of predictable characters. The book is too long but was ok for listening to in the car. Not a Pulitzer classic for sure.
January 20, 2019
The more I read this series the more I love it. There are only 5 books in the series ?
October 4, 2019
Another delightful Amlingmeyer tale. But I was plagued with the endless question of "why doesn't Old Red learn to read?"
December 9, 2019
This is a really good continuation, and provides some depth and background for Old Red.
April 18, 2020
I started the sees with this, and while I thought it would have more Holmes, I still enjoyed the hell out of it
August 28, 2020
A rootin' tootin' good time
Or, how my favorite sleuths, Old Red and Big Red, solve a cold case.
Or, how my favorite sleuths, Old Red and Big Red, solve a cold case.
May 5, 2021
Reckoning with the past
Unwelcome wagon
Shadows of Whitechapel
Unwelcome wagon
Shadows of Whitechapel
June 30, 2021
Great fun. I love the way he writes, and the story is entertaining - and some days, that's all I need from a book.
December 26, 2024
A fabulous murder mystery with great character development right from the wild west.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews