Review: Sherlock Holmes: The Addleton Tragedy

It is time for me to review the second of S. F. Bennett's recent Holmes books.


This one is a novella and is set in 1894 with a Watson who is still suffering from the residual shock of Holmes's return from the dead. As a result, the Watson of this story is both distrustful and rebellious which, whilst not characteristics of Watson generally, seems apt for Watson at this point in his life.

Holmes and Watson are summoned to Addleton by Peregrine Holmes, Holmes's cousin. This fact causes Watson annoyance as it is yet another relation of Holmes of which he was blissfully unaware. This sets the tone for Watson being simultaneously curious, annoyed, distrustful, rebellious, and wondering if his partnership with Holmes would be best concluded.

The plot concerns the investigation of the suspicious death of the leader of an archaeological dig on which Perry Holmes was working. It is feared that dark forces are at work with the site guarded by supernatural forces.

The village is stuck in the past with a superstitious population and limited resources. It has the effect of creating an almost closed circle of suspects a la Agatha Christie.

We have ghosts, a mysterious Lady of the Manor, locals whose motives are clouded in mystery, and our duo at the centre of it seeming as though they could fall apart at any moment.

I always worry when authors create new Holmes family members but Bennett pulls it off by making Peregrine intelligent but very much unlike his detective cousin. She is also good at building tension. There are some moments where you are left very concerned for both Holmes and Watson's lives. That is not an easy feat to pull off.

The book has some mild presentation issues. There are fonts that clash and I feel more could have been done to make it more like a contemporary Doyle effort. I know the story is the most important thing but, like a meal, how it is presented matters and you are under no illusion that this is a 21st century effort - albeit a good one.

These are undeniably quibbles. The story flows well and the solution does not shout at you despite the clues being there.

I would read more from Bennett.

Written by Alistair Duncan Buy my books here
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