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peregrine13's review
- Noticeable Americanisms in prose and dialogue from British characters (i.e 'dove' instead of 'dived') as well as other related mistakes (naming aristocracy 'Lord X of [place] instead of Lord [place]) (minor issue)
- Author phonetically writes out regional (non-RP) accents both in dialogue AND PROSE FROM POV OF THOSE CHARACTERS (and it's not even accurate) (major issue)
- A non-Cthulu murder happens and there's no mystery for the readers: we are shown the murder first from the perspective of the victim and then the murderer (IN A HOLMES BOOK!!!) (THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW!!)
gkjpublishing's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rylanshannon's review
The book felt as if it was trying too hard to imitate Doyle. I know that it was a fiction-based narrative about the adventures of Watson and Holmes vs a dark Cthulhu entity, but it never felt authentic or it’s own. The dialects/character jumps also weren’t my cup of tea. There’s a group of people that probably would love this, but I just felt like I was reading a fan-fiction.
bweissx5's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tzurriz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
alexandrabree's review against another edition
2.0
Overall not a bad story. I felt like the Pinkerton agency was more than a little forced and I can't think of why the names Hortenz and Co sound like a reference to something else but they do.
This had Herbert West vibes, mainly because the audiobook had an excellent narrator. This was very Lovecraft fan fiction-y but not on the level of meddling kids. And other than the Sherlockian character names there was zero who dun it or traditional mystery novel style.
I also had a hard time following the character perspective switches and still don't know why we switched perspectives because it added nothing... overall I would spend my time elsewhere, but there is also probably a niche audience for this... not for me
This had Herbert West vibes, mainly because the audiobook had an excellent narrator. This was very Lovecraft fan fiction-y but not on the level of meddling kids. And other than the Sherlockian character names there was zero who dun it or traditional mystery novel style.
I also had a hard time following the character perspective switches and still don't know why we switched perspectives because it added nothing... overall I would spend my time elsewhere, but there is also probably a niche audience for this... not for me
louloureadsbooks's review
1.0
Ugh yet another dnf for this mashup genre.
I get sucked in by the Holmes /Lovecraft/Cthulhu thing and then it just disappoints me.
I was hoping for an action packed adventure, instead, for me, it never really took off. Watson drones on endlessly about Mary. Mary, Mary, Mary and Samuel. The author spends a great deal of time ensuring we understand how conflicted Watson is between his wife (her name is Mary in case you didn't know) and Holmes. I jusy don't care. I'm not reading this for insight into Watson's marriage.
Added to this I then get subjected to tedious detail on Holmes doing blood things with a bunsen burner or something. Yes, yes I know he's terribly clever, he's SHERLOCK HOLMES for crying out loud, I don't need it shoved down my throat. Get on with the story and stop faffing about microscope slides and frogs and Mrs Hudson's teapots.
I'm sending it back.
If I had more patience it's probably a good tale but I haven't any patience left for this and I don't care if I am missing out.
I get sucked in by the Holmes /Lovecraft/Cthulhu thing and then it just disappoints me.
I was hoping for an action packed adventure, instead, for me, it never really took off. Watson drones on endlessly about Mary. Mary, Mary, Mary and Samuel. The author spends a great deal of time ensuring we understand how conflicted Watson is between his wife (her name is Mary in case you didn't know) and Holmes. I jusy don't care. I'm not reading this for insight into Watson's marriage.
Added to this I then get subjected to tedious detail on Holmes doing blood things with a bunsen burner or something. Yes, yes I know he's terribly clever, he's SHERLOCK HOLMES for crying out loud, I don't need it shoved down my throat. Get on with the story and stop faffing about microscope slides and frogs and Mrs Hudson's teapots.
I'm sending it back.
If I had more patience it's probably a good tale but I haven't any patience left for this and I don't care if I am missing out.
wannabekingpin's review
3.0
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skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: A strange machine, burning an even stranger mix of chemicals, is turning lead into gold. Whispers of budding or possibly even very active Cult of Dagon. Deaths attributed to the machine, and very frightened workers who are too afraid to even get close for an attempt to turn it off. All of that peaks the curiosity of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes who doesn’t believe in supernatural, but seems to be just bored enough to see what’s with the ruckus.
My Opinion: It’s a bit more than just dull, the way we’re led through the tale, jumping between the good guys, and the bad guys between the chapters, all while Watson peppers everything with hefty dose of whining about his family life, and addiction he has to Sherlock. Lots of talks, and even actions, that go no where and add nothing to the story. But it’s just good enough for me to give second book a shot, in case this was the first floppy pancake.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: A strange machine, burning an even stranger mix of chemicals, is turning lead into gold. Whispers of budding or possibly even very active Cult of Dagon. Deaths attributed to the machine, and very frightened workers who are too afraid to even get close for an attempt to turn it off. All of that peaks the curiosity of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes who doesn’t believe in supernatural, but seems to be just bored enough to see what’s with the ruckus.
My Opinion: It’s a bit more than just dull, the way we’re led through the tale, jumping between the good guys, and the bad guys between the chapters, all while Watson peppers everything with hefty dose of whining about his family life, and addiction he has to Sherlock. Lots of talks, and even actions, that go no where and add nothing to the story. But it’s just good enough for me to give second book a shot, in case this was the first floppy pancake.
nidhogg's review against another edition
3.0
An unstoppable force meets an immovable object and neither come out the other side uncompromised.
At first blush Sherlock Holmes and the old ones seems like a fun mashup. The more I read the more I feel these are two universes are best kept separate.
At first blush Sherlock Holmes and the old ones seems like a fun mashup. The more I read the more I feel these are two universes are best kept separate.