A Maxim Jakubowski selected title.
The prolific science fiction and fantasy British author James Lovegrove switches literary roads and begins a new, promising series, The Cthulhu Casebooks in which the worlds of Conan Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft mingle to interesting effect, and Holmes and Watson will confront the weird and horrors from the depths. This is thoroughly enjoyable pulp in the grand old tradition as Watson, back from his harrowing combat experiences in Afghanistan, becomes Holmes' sidekick to investigate a series of curious deaths in London's East End, which appear linked to a sinister Oriental drug lord but soon uncover a web of worrisome connections to the supernatural and forces beyond human ken. Atmospheric, wading through London's proverbial fog, our hardy sleuths are soon confronted by abominable powers from the other side and their adventures are both momentous and joyous. Perfect entertainment in a handsome small hardcover format. ~ Maxim Jakubowski
Simon Spanton's view...
Now this is a lot of fun. I don’t know of many authors better equipped to weave together the inventions of Arthur Conan Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft than New York Times bestseller James Lovegrove. A long-time and talented genre author he is also utterly steeped in everything Holmesian. He has a knack for recreating 19th prose and a dry wit. He really is the perfect author for this book, which will be the first of three.
In an amusing prologue Lovegrove recounts how he has been left these manuscripts by a relative of H.P. Lovecraft. The similarity between their names is not entirely coincidental, it seems. So, with questions asked and no answers given the game’s afoot and we’re in to Doctor Watson’s story.
And this story, of a nineteenth century world haunted by the Old Ones, and the vile deity Cthulhu in particular, and of Watson and Holmes’ encounters with their worshippers, is the REAL story. According to Watson, the Holmes stories we know were tales he concocted to cover the eldritch truth. And with emaciated and dried out corpses and moving shadows in Shadwell we are off on the first adventure and Lovegrove lets the doctor spin a tight and action packed tale. Lovegrove’s Holmes and Watson are perfect. If you loved the original Holmes stories, if you loved Anthony Horowitz’s recent Holmes books, if you love the cosmic horrors of Lovecraft you’ll love this. An absolute hoot. ~ Simon Spanton
Primary Genre | Crime and Mystery |
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