Sherlock Holmes: The Shadow of the Rat & The Tangled Skein

Sherlock Holmes Adventures #4, 2

by David Stuart Davies

Two of Sherlock Holmes most exciting, dangerous and challenging adventures in one volume. In The Shadow of the Rat, a body is found floating in the river a body that has been deliberately infected with the plague virus. Holmes and Watson find themselves seeking answers at The Bridge of Dreams, a club where a persons darkest wish can be granted for a price. Holmes falls under the control of a will stronger than his own which threatens the life of his closest friend Watson and leaves the government - indeed Britain itself - open to a deadly terror, the monstrous Giant Rat of Sumatra. In The Tangled Skein, it is the autumn of 1888, and following the successful conclusion of the investigation into the affair of the Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes is faced with an even darker mystery. A strange package, an attempt on Holmes life, murders on Hampstead Heath and a strange phantom lady lead Holmes and Watson to return to Devon and the bleak terrain of Dartmoor where they encounter the true embodiment of evil, Count Dracula, the Lord of the Undead.

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

313 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 1999

About the author

David Stuart Davies was a British writer. He worked as a teacher of English before becoming a full-time editor, writer, and playwright. Davies wrote extensively about Sherlock Holmes, both fiction and non-fiction. He was the editor of Red Herrings, the monthly in-house publication of the Crime Writers' Association, and a member of The Baker Street Irregulars and the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Adelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Гарні холмсівські пастіші від авторитета, гм, галузі. В першому як виловили з Темзи спотворений труп, так страшна загроза і нависла над британською імперією, навіть Майкрофт трохи занепокоєний. Таємничий клуб з пацючими боями, загадкова жінка з пантерою, аж Холмс трохи втрачає голову (не через кохання), Вотсон займається крадійством коней і б'є рекордну кількість бандитів, але історія трохи недокручена, бо сюжет закінчується швидше не через дедуктивні здібності Холмса, а через непереборні природні обставини (хоча Холмс додався, то правда). Другий пастіш - таке собі продовження "Собаки Баскервілів", тільки обтяжене графом Дракулою, бо він якраз вирішив перебратися до тих місць на пмж. У Холмса з Вотсоном спочатку когнітивний диссонанс, але вони швиденько проходять курс вампірознавства у професора Ван Хельсінга та їдуть розбиратися з немертвими. Бонусом на них нападає зловісна сова, але наші перемогли. Треба почитати й інші повісті з серії.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bind up of two previously separately published novellas. I've only read the first of them, The Shadow of the Rat, and will report back on The Tangled Skein at some point in the future. There's quite a lucrative branch of publishing that extends writers' oeuvres well beyond their deaths and I would hazard a guess that Arthur Conan Doyle probably leads the field in post-mortem output. David Stuart Davies has written a number of Sherlock Holmes stories and edited collections of work by other writers. The Shadow of the Rat puts flesh on the bones of a story mentioned by Dr Watson in The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire, but otherwise not reported in his papers. Davies makes a workmanlike job of the tale, the story moves quickly enough, but it lacks the hallmarks of a Conan Doyle original.

[P.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I read both of the stories as two separate books which I have since passed on to the local library.

The Shadow of the Rat: This is a remarkable story that plays on the suggestion of The Case of the Great Rat of Sumatra. It displays a vulnerability within Holmes, not often seen, and a strength in Watson that we've always known was there.

The Tangled Skein: This story follows events post Hound of the Baskervilles. Though well written, it does take a leap of faith in plausibility as it involves a famous vampire.

Because it is two full books under one cover, the print is extremely small and if your eyesight is not perfect, you may want to purchase the two separate books to gain larger print.

[CQM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've avoided Sherlock Holmes stories written by authors other than ACD for years and then, after watching Murder by Decree again (shortly after having rewatched A Study in Terror) I wondered why I thought it was okay for screenwriters to give us new Sherlock stories but not for other authors. So I bagged the first and cheapest I could from AbeBooks and it's a little corker with Watson finally telling us all about the giant rat of Sumatra and then detailing Holmes battle with Dracula. Utter nonsense, but highly enjoyable and surprisingly well written.
I think I'll give David Stuart Davies other Sherlock stories a bash soon.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on the off chance. Every so often I like to go to a charity shop and pick the first book on the shelf under the author name alphabetically. I was on the letter D.

To be frank I wasn’t too fused about reading a Sherlock Holmes novel particularly one that was not written by Arthur Conan Doyle.

However I am so glad I pushed myself to read this.

The book is compromised of two short tales of Sherlock Holmes, "The Shadow of the Rat" & "The Tangled Skein".

"The Shadow of the Rat" I have read is very similar to another book written by Richard L. Boyer called "The Giant Rat of Sumatra". As I have not read this book, I have nothing to compare it to.

The main villain is a woman who processes a power of hypnotism and seduces Holmes into joining her clan to blackmail the government. This is a thrilling piece of literature.

"The Tangled Skein" is a mix of two famous books;"The Hound of The Baskervilles" and "Dracula"
From what I've read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would never deviant towards the supernatural which is what Davies did in such a successful and believable way.

Davies has written two outstanding novels that kept me on my toes the whole way through, you can tell he's well researched into Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. The theme and style of writing is spot on and it would take a big Sherlock fan to notice it wasn't written by Sir Doyle.

Well worth the read even if you’re not much of a Sherlock Holmes fan.

[ikhwawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

don't be deceived. it took me almost a year reading this cause I put it on hold after the 1st part of the book which is the 1st case; The Shadow of the Rat.

the 2nd case is rather captivating too, however superstitious it is to me even if I am not a very much of fan of SH. but still, it is worth reading.

scratch that "not a very much of fan", I am now a fan of SH. I'm looking forward for another SH series.

[Dsinglet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I dislike most mysteries, I have had a fascination for Sherlock Holmes stories. Although not written by Conin Doyle it remains very true to the time period and the characters of Holmes and Watson. Good satisfying mystery.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read.
Utterly believable and enjoyable book.
Two cases that help to fill the need for the new adventures of Holmes & Watson.