It’s 1893, and itinerant cowboy brothers Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer are down to their last pennies. So when jobs come open at a ranch run by a secretive, surly foreman, they can’t say no. Fortunately, they have a distraction from the hard work and their bad-tempered boss: the Sherlock Holmes stories Old Red has come to love so much.But when the cowboys come across a dead body on the ranch, … the ranch, Old Red isn’t content to keep daydreaming about Holmes. He’s determined to catch the killer using his hero’s methods. Whether he likes it or not (and mostly he doesn’t), Big Red is dragged along for the wild ride as his brother tries to “deducify” his way to the truth. The only thing standing between them and a solution to the mystery: stampedes, rustlers, Holmes-hating aristocrats and a cannibal named “Hungry Bob.”
Critical Praise for Holmes on the Range
“Delightfully offbeat.” -Entertainment Weekly
“Just when it seemed as if there were no more literary riches to be wrung from Sherlock Holmes, along comes Steve Hockensmith’s inspired debut novel…The star of this tale is a fresh narrator’s voice that whoops and hollers, dazzling the reader with colorful language, vivid images and hilarious asides. Sherlock Holmes in a Stetson turns out to be a dandy idea.” -Hallie Ephron, The Boston Globe
“Sherlockians, Western fans and mystery lovers who enjoy their whodunits leavened with humor should all be delighted by Hockensmith’s captivating debut.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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Death has taken all the Amlingmeyer family except Otto–Big Red–and Gustav–Old Red. About all they’ve got left in the world is each other, that and the skills necessary to be a cowboy in Montana in the late 19th century.
But Old Red discovers an interest in detectin’, one nurtured by his brother Otto, the only one of the pair who can read. Otto scrounges up every Sherlock Holmes detective mystery he can find, but it’s his illiterate brother who internalizes the skills necessary to follow in the great detective’s footsteps when the ranch they’re on is plagued by a murderer.
There’s a lot of dialect, so it that’s a problem, then this book isn’t for you. But it’s well handled, and I found it to be an enjoyable read, true to the spirit of Holmes.
Clever, creative western. Easy to read. A funny page turner!
This was a fun read. I liked the western twist on Sherlock Holmes style detecting. The characters proved that book smarts are everything. The characters were well developed and very relatable.
I am not a Sherlock fan but I am a fan of books that play off of the Sherlock ethos…a fine and funny read…and a tad more difficult to guess who-dun-it then one would think! A nice read : )
This was a fun quick read. A book that doesn’t take itself too seriously like most westerns. I enjoyed the characters.
A totally unexpected good read. Funny in places and serious in others. I highly recommend it to anyone that likes a twisty mystery.
Too many diversions in the writing for my preference. End is somewhat clever but it takes too long to get there.
Thought author was taking advantage of readers’ liking for Holmes. Was not impressed.
Holmes has a very dry cowboy humor
I have been a fan of Sherlock Holmes since I was in high school more than 50 years ago. But, I believe that I have never read a more original story based on the Holmesian world than “Holmes on the Range.” The two main characters are brothers, Big Red and Old Red, who happen to be cowboys. Old Red (Gustaf) is a committed Holmes admirer ever since Big Red (Otto) began reading Dr. Watson’s case reports from magazines to his brother, who never learned to read or write. Despite not having his letters, Old Red commits to absorbing the Holmesian method of deductive reasoning and uses that method to “deducify” and solve mysteries which arise while the brothers are comboying in the American West. The Holmesian method gives way from time to time to good old cowboy common sense as the brothers are products of a different culture than Holmes, but that doesn’t detract from an entertaining story which will delight and entertain Holmes fans looking for a different twist on their favorite consulting detective.
Meh
too “cutesy” couldn’t maintain interest
I couldn’t finish reading this book.
Interesting premise. Language was a lot saltier than I like. That’s why I gave it only three stars.
Fun
“You see, but you do not observe,” (Sherlock Holmes). Well Old Red observes! Funny, engaging and entertaining.
This was such a fun read! I love the relationship the two brothers have with each other. I will definitely read more of this series and more from this author.
Original and whimsical in a rough-rider kind of way…fun to read!
After many years, I’ve found a new hysterical, heart touching couple of characters. I cannot wait to read the next in this series!
Holmes On the Range was a creative attempt at mystery writing. The language was colorful and the story had plenty of twists and turns. The author is clearly talented- can’t wait to read their next novel.