"Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers, nearly all of which are records of cases to illustrate the curious problems which Mr. Sherlock Holmes has at various times to examine."

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Hellbirds (1976)

Austin Mitchelson and Nicholas Utechin's follow-up to their first Holmes pastiche The Earthquake Machine. This one brings the great detective into World War I intrigue.

THE WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE 
In December of 1914, while the two greatest armies in history were deadlocked across Europe from the North Sea to the Alps, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were called in to investigate the mysterious death of a man who had fallen victim to a vicious flock of birds. There is more to it than first apparent, however–for an evil genius, the German master spy Von Bork, is planning to infiltrate all of England. A new Sherlock Holmes thriller by the authors of THE EARTHQUAKE MACHINE.

Title: Hellbirds
Author: Austin Mitchelson & Nicholas Utechin
Year: 1976
Publisher: Belmont Tower Books
Purchase: Amazon.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright (1995)

Sherlock Holmes and Harry Houdini set out to save Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from fraudulent psychics.

Here's another Sherlock Holmes pastiche from the fertile pen of Val Andrew. Again two areas of mystery are linked: the exploits of Shelock Holmes and the secrets of master escapologist, Harry Houdini. Doctor Watson's collaborator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, finds himself drawn into the world of fake psychics and Houdini is anxious for Holmes to unmask the perpertrators who prey on the innocent believers.

Once he has been torn away from his beekeeping activities, Holmes's investigations lead him to some surprising locations including a Ruritanian castle. Sherlockians, historians and magic buffs will all be intrigued and delighted with this classic detective story which links fact and a little fiction to suggest what may have happened to Houdini after death.

Again .... the game is afoot.

Title: Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright
Author: Val Andrews
Year: 1995
Publisher: Breese Books
Purchase: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

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