I was singularly unenthusiastic about my only previous encounter with the Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels written by Val Andrews ."Sherlock Holmes at the Western Front "struck me as slipshod and written as a chore with little energy or style.This entry in the series is better and the music hall background is probably the reason ,given Andrew's skills as a professional magician and experienced stage performer.There is a sense of affection for the setting and characters that helps compensate for a slight and wispy storyline.
Homes is called in to investigate a series of near fatal mishaps in a London theatre ;at first attributed to a ghost purported to haunt the theatre it becomes clear they are the result of human agency and specifically aimed at George Robey (an actual character )who narrowly avoids death twice at the hands of his unknown would-be assasssin.
This is not the only puzzle however for Robey is a talented violin maker and a has made a replica of a priceless violin and finds that his copy has been switched with the genuine article in a museum.
The solution is a bit un Holmesian being achieved by eavesdropping rather than ratiocination but the book has pace and vigour and will (mildly )satisfy devotees of the character without ever approching the standards set by other pasticheurs like Estleman or Boyer.
Flip but fun .
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Sherlock Holmes at the Varieties (The Sherlock Mysteries Book 14) Kindle Edition
by
Val Andrews
(Author)
Format: Kindle Edition
| Val Andrews (Author) Find all the books, read about the author and more. See search results for this author |
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A year has passed since the pair’s unexpected reunion, and an evening full of entertainment awaits them. Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr Watson.
Sherlock Holmes and his assistant, Dr Watson are guests at 'Murphy's Theatre of Varieties'; however, both are unaware that their own detective double act will soon take centre stage.
On arrival, Watson discovers much has changed inside the former London music-hall; although the owner, Mr Murphy himself, remains the same.
During a fleeting encounter with Mr. Murphy he reveals all is not well. A recent series of mysterious incidents have damaged the theatre’s reputation, threatening a precarious future.
On the case, both Holmes and Watson greet allegations of supernatural activity with their accustomed scepticism, yet various ghostly sightings as well as a further sequence of near fatal mishaps begin to suggest something mysterious is happening.
George Robey, an up-and-coming English comedian, together with the theatre itself emerges as the intended targets of the suspected paranormal calamities. But with no clear culprit to speak of and an increasing number of ghoulish assertions to decipher; Holmes is driven to desperate measures in his attempts to solve it all...
Sherlock Holmes at the Varieties transports the reader into a forgotten era of show business where the most accomplished performance comes from Holmes himself
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateDec 15 2015
- File size3765 KB
Product details
- ASIN : B019FK0J7E
- Publisher : Lume Books (Dec 15 2015)
- Language : English
- File size : 3765 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 87 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #624,616 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #4,753 in British Detectives
- #8,384 in British Detective Stories
- #26,469 in Cozy Mysteries (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Reviewed in Canada on May 21, 2003
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Reviewed in Canada on January 20, 2001
Here's another slender Sherlock Holmes pastiche from the prolific British journalist, theatrical historian, Sherlockian and magician Val Andrews. And this one brings Andrews' interest in theatrical history back to center stage.
A somewhat mellower Holmes is freshly back from the Great Hiatus (post Reichenbach Falls), and takes Watson out for an evening at Watson's favorite Music Hall... but the Hall has undergone an evolution into a Variety Theater (somewhat like America's vaudeville). The Hall's owner brings a seemingly minor problem to the attention of Holmes and Watson, but the problem soon becomes serious as several murder attempts are aimed at comedian and singer George Robey (an actual historical character, as are some of the other performers we meet in the course of the adventure), and Robey simultaneously finds a priceless violin in his collection, in place of a copy he had built himself as a hobby!
The murder attempts, the violin, a mysterious ghost or ghosts haunting the Hall, and a number of other plot turns are all connected by Holmes at adventure's end, of course. But the real interest here is Andrews' recreation of a vanished Golden Age of British "vaudeville". I enjoyed it all.
A somewhat mellower Holmes is freshly back from the Great Hiatus (post Reichenbach Falls), and takes Watson out for an evening at Watson's favorite Music Hall... but the Hall has undergone an evolution into a Variety Theater (somewhat like America's vaudeville). The Hall's owner brings a seemingly minor problem to the attention of Holmes and Watson, but the problem soon becomes serious as several murder attempts are aimed at comedian and singer George Robey (an actual historical character, as are some of the other performers we meet in the course of the adventure), and Robey simultaneously finds a priceless violin in his collection, in place of a copy he had built himself as a hobby!
The murder attempts, the violin, a mysterious ghost or ghosts haunting the Hall, and a number of other plot turns are all connected by Holmes at adventure's end, of course. But the real interest here is Andrews' recreation of a vanished Golden Age of British "vaudeville". I enjoyed it all.
Top reviews from other countries
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
ENJOYABLE READ
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2017Verified Purchase
REBEL WITH OUT A COAT
Sherlock and Dr Watson investigate mysterious happenings at the house on this green which Dr Watson had gone to as a young man when it was a music hall. During their investigations they encounter and help George Robey, who was a music hall turn with the catch phrase " I mean ter say". George Robey was a much loved music hall "turn" who went on to play Falstaff in Shakespeare and was eventually knighted and appeared in both films and on the stage. Val Andrews writes of the stage with an obvious love and understanding of the music hall's and with a love and understanding of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Both Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are believable and the plot is well thought out. I really enjoyed this book and whole heartedly recommend it to both lovers of Sherlock Holmes and of the old music hall's.
Sherlock and Dr Watson investigate mysterious happenings at the house on this green which Dr Watson had gone to as a young man when it was a music hall. During their investigations they encounter and help George Robey, who was a music hall turn with the catch phrase " I mean ter say". George Robey was a much loved music hall "turn" who went on to play Falstaff in Shakespeare and was eventually knighted and appeared in both films and on the stage. Val Andrews writes of the stage with an obvious love and understanding of the music hall's and with a love and understanding of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Both Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are believable and the plot is well thought out. I really enjoyed this book and whole heartedly recommend it to both lovers of Sherlock Holmes and of the old music hall's.
P Reynolds
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Entertaining Short Story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2016Verified Purchase
In 'The Varieties' an impromptu visit to an old Music Hall, now turned Variety Theatre, draws Holmes and Watson into a plot of intrigue featuring a Theatre 'Ghost' and several japes and mishaps perpetrated against the management and acts.
As always, the motives behind the plot are not as obvious as first analysis may suggest, and Holmes follows the trail of clues in his usual manner.
The novelette features an interesting portrayal of turn-of-the century (20th C.) Music Hall, with reference to the earlier theatrical lives of some future Variety Stars.
Val Andrews has written an entertaining series of novelettes featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, as originally brought to the (printed) page by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
These relatively short stories are just enough to keep readers enthralled, and are easily readable within a single session, or may be split into one chapter each over four or five sessions.
The reader's mind is kept occupied, if not overly taxed, and these novelettes are never boring, and are good reading for holidays, journeys or dark winter nights, when a full length novel may tax the concentration too much.
As always, the motives behind the plot are not as obvious as first analysis may suggest, and Holmes follows the trail of clues in his usual manner.
The novelette features an interesting portrayal of turn-of-the century (20th C.) Music Hall, with reference to the earlier theatrical lives of some future Variety Stars.
Val Andrews has written an entertaining series of novelettes featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, as originally brought to the (printed) page by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
These relatively short stories are just enough to keep readers enthralled, and are easily readable within a single session, or may be split into one chapter each over four or five sessions.
The reader's mind is kept occupied, if not overly taxed, and these novelettes are never boring, and are good reading for holidays, journeys or dark winter nights, when a full length novel may tax the concentration too much.
jack
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite Doyle
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2016Verified Purchase
A tad too sentimental. However a pleasant way to while a rainy day. Fun and not taxing. Will read more by this author.
DerMeister027
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2016Verified Purchase
Nice book
Carlos Novela
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sherlock Holmes?
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2016Verified Purchase
Worst Sherlock Holmes book ever seen. Oh yes, I have read many. I love Sherlock Holmes, but this author does not know Dr. Watson any. Frankly, if the writing was any worse... I would think it was a comedy and done on purpose. England in the 1800's was quite different than what I see. Do some research by going to a library and reading history books on that era. Characters are stiff and wooden lacking any vitality or energy. Please do more research before you write about a subject that is so dear and near. I gave the book two stars, but it deserves zero.
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