A pernicious assassination plot. A devious decoy. And a transcontinental race against time to catch a killer . . .
London, 1898. Held captive by a diabolical criminal mastermind and his gang of thugs, Watson overhears an assassination plot that not only endangers the life of Sherlock Holmes, but threatens to ignite a war. If he has any hope of foiling his kidnappers’ nefarious plans, he must … he must escape, and quickly.
Eluding the familiar foe proves challenging, however. Watson is soon caught and awakens in jail, the prime suspect for two murders, dressed in the clothes of a missing man, one Lord Harwell. To save himself and prevent the assassination, Watson embarks on a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that leads him on a harrowing journey to Constantinople aboard the famed Orient Express.
Meanwhile, Sherlock and Lucy have been called upon to discern the whereabouts of the missing Lord Harwell. The stakes become much higher when Holmes discovers the missing man has ties to an important diplomatic negotiation in Constantinople. Just as he is pulled deeper into the investigation, Holmes receives a distressing telegram from Watson himself. He and Lucy quickly board the next outgoing Orient Express in hopes of rescuing Watson and preventing a gruesome act that could very well lead the nation to war.
Success seems uncertain as the enemy looks to thwart their heroic efforts at every turn, and Watson, Holmes and Lucy become targets in an ever-more-sinister plan. Will three intrepid detectives stop the assassination and put its mastermind away for good? Or will it all be too little, too late?
A thrilling and fast-paced take on a classic Sherlock who-done-it, complete with unexpected twists and turns, international intrigue, and historical events and settings. Watson on the Orient Express stays faithful to the spirit of the beloved original series and features a new dynamic and new characters that will please die-hard fans and new readers alike.
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It’s been a couple of months since I read “The Vanishing Medium,” which is the second part of a story started in “The Sons of Helios.” “The Vanishing Medium” ended on an abrupt, and quite unsatisfactory note… Watson is missing. When I started reading WATSON ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, I was right back into the story. At last, an answer to what had become of Dr. John Watson.
I like to binge read a good series. This is a good series that is still being written. The mark of a memorable series is how well a reader can get back into the swing of things after an hiatus. For me, I was back into the story after a word or two.
I hope that you’ve been following the exploits of Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James as I have so you know that with Moriarty out of the picture, a new arch fiend was needed. Enter Lord Sonnebourne. This villain has been the architect of several dastardly schemes and, will no doubt, continue to wreak havoc in London and on the international stage.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, don’t read WATSON ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS without reading all the books that come before. Anna Elliott and Charles Veley have done Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proud with their continuation of the saga.
Great fun. Sherlock Holmes teams up with his illegitimate daughter, Lucy James, to rescue Watson from an assassination in Constantinople. Or is Watson rescuing them? The authors’ evocation of Holmes’ and Watson’s voices is spot-on, and Lucy is a fully formed character, blessed with her father’s capacity to deduce and disguise, but with her own unique warmth and humor. The scenes of Watson on the Orient Express are particularly effective – tense and skillfully described. I am looking forward to the next book.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
9th July 1888
Dr Watson was kidnapped on the 7th July, by members of the criminal organisation, The Sons of Helios – headed by Lord Sonnebourne. He is lead to believe that there will be an assassination in Constantinople of an official in the French government, his guard, and Sherlock Holmes. But what can Watson do.
Meanwhile Lucy, Mycroft and Holmes are at the Harwell Estate in Kent, as Gerald, Lord Harwell has been declared missing, having not been seen since 24th June.
Is there a possibility that these two events are connected.
Another enjoyable and well-written mystery in this series with its cast of likeable and well-drawn characters. (It might be useful to read the Sons of Helios short story just for context).
This book starts off with a kidnapping and doesn’t let up. Its non-stop action keeps you bouncing around first London, then France, and finally Constantinople in an attempt to stop assassinations, and the planned murder of Sherlock Holmes. The focus of this book is on Dr. John Watson more than Mr. Holmes, and it made for a surprisingly enjoyable read. There’s plenty of deducing by Mr. Holmes, as well as Mr. Watson, who in fact uses Mr. Holmes’ deductive reasoning to stop crimes himself.
I particularly enjoyed the addition of Lucy, Dr. Watson’s niece, who assists both Holmes and Watson in their endeavors. She’s a supremely written character who blends in well to the Holmes and Watson canon.
The writing, story arc, and characters all brought together a wonderful tale that was a joy to read. I breezed through and was left wanting more of this series. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
*I was given an ARC of this story from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.