I've read quite a few modern day Sherlock Holmes novels and wasn't too impressed but this one's a winner! ( )

Enjoyable entry in the enormous flood of Holmes "tributes" now hitting the market (16 and counting in this series alone!). Sticks very much to the conventional Holmes model with obvious inspiration from the Hound of the Baskervilles, which is referenced often in the story. This story of a tormented Torquay family and their haunted mansion is, at times, genuinely spooky, even to the point of Holmes himself apparently conceding the possible existence of ha'nts, although we all know there will be a flesh & blood perpetrator behind it all (although we never actually meet him face to face!). A nice little romp in the truest Sherlockian tradition, lightweight but fun. Worth reading. ( )

Holmes and Watson take on the case of a haunted Abbey, the private home of the Cary family, in Torquay. Strange occurrences have the inhabitants of the house absolutely petrified for their safety. Holmes & Watson rush to Devon, and even they are mystified by some bizarre happenings -- none the least of which is murder.

This falls into the category of worst Holmes pastiches ever written. I figured out the story in no time flat, although the author kept it going on and on with needless scenes, including Watson's dreams, a seance that didn't seem to have any relevance whatsoever, and the most obvious mystery ever. If you took this book, updated the story, added a dog & set it in America, you could watch it as full-length Scooby-Doo episode.

How this book got a starred review is beyond me. Obviously I didn't like it, and I don't recommend it. ( )

Imitating a famous author is risky: some fans always resent it.

I have read all of Sherlock Holmes, although I wouldn't consider myself to be a true devotee. I truly enjoyed this novel. I wouldn't take it for Arthur Conan Doyle, but it was good to be back in that ambiance.

The story was obviously inspired by the Hound of the Baskervilles, although the plot and characters are different enough to be pleasing. A young nobleman inherits only to find that his estate seems to be haunted by figures out of local legends. I was a little taken aback by Holmes' frequent comments, regarding the possible occult aspects of the story, along the lines of "there are more things in heaven and earth ... ". At first, it seems tactical, but he says it right up to the end, which would certainly be a switch. Holmes actually doesn't think that the ghosts are real and seeks a human perpetrator.

The reader who is tolerant of imitations and wants another story something like Holmes, may enjoy this. Others should probably reread the originals. ( )