A Case of Witchcraft - A Novel of Sherlock Holmes [Paperback]

Joe Revill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2011

A tale of witchcraft in the Northern Isles, in which some long-concealed secrets are revealed - concerning not only the Dark Arts but also the Great Detective himself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: MX Publishing (September 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1780920091
• ISBN-13: 978-1780920092
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An erudite, risk-taking, challenging yet satisfying Holmes pastiche October 12, 2011

By Matt Laffey

Format:Paperback

On the 'Holmes Purist' spectrum (in regards to pastiches), many would place me extremely far on the 'As Close to the Canon as Possible' side; that is, I like my pastiches and AV adaptations as period perfect and canonically exact as possible. Rigid as this stance may seem, I do allow myself a modicum of flexibility which enables the occasional discovery and enjoyment of the rare gem of a book such as Joe Revill's 'A Case of Witchcraft'.

This is not to say Revill's novel is period not-perfect or canonically not-exact; to the contrary, it's obvious a tremendous amount of time/place research went into the background writing. What I was initially alarmed about was the potential for, in my opinion, the number one Sherlock pastiche mistake: the use of the supernatural as a causal agent in the narrative; not a characters' belief in the supernatural per se, but the actual existence of the Supernatural as a force which interacts with the physical world. Thankfully, Revill's book completely avoids this mistake.

So that leaves me worrying about a few important 'odds and ends': the treatment of Holmes' sexuality (manifesting either as a newly sexually liberated Holmes or a tabloid treatment of Holmes the deviant), extended use of philosophical/religious dialogues/diatribes (usually a reflection of the writer's personal opinions opposed to a canonically justified set of remarks Holmes 'might' offer) and/or the radical deviation from standard canonical practices (e.g. Watson replaced by a different companion). Without revealing any of the plot, it's exactly these 'odds and ends' which make 'A Case of Witchcraft' not only a successful novel, but somewhat unique in the vast library of Holmes pastiches....

I'll let the other reviewers of 'A Case of Witchcraft' assure you that this is a well-written, fun to read, exciting, etc. novel. What I want to make clear to the potential reader - who like me may have some qualms about the 'odds and ends' contained within - is that Revill is not only aware of Holmes pastiche pitfalls but he assiduously avoids them. Revill maturely and respectfully explores the above odds and ends to the benefit of the narrative, all the while maintaining a canonical clarity which never forces the reader to question the authors' motivations for breaching canonically quasi-taboo subject matter.

One of the most risk taking but erudite, challenging yet satisfying Holmes pastiches I have yet to read. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sherlock Holmes Encounters Wicca August 1, 2012

By Sara Schneider

Format:Paperback

There are all sorts of Sherlock Holmes "theme" books being written... the "time traveling Sherlock Holmes", the "Lovecraft-ian Sherlock Holmes", the "gay romance Sherlock Holmes", etc. This is the "Wicca Sherlock Holmes". It is a very well written book and although the Holmes character is a believable Holmes, the story does not follow the normal format or plot structure for classic Sherlock Holmes. The book is good enough that it doesn't matter though, unless adherence to Doyle's form is a deal breaker for you. It was well researched and the reader need not know anything about Wicca to appreciate this book. The history is rich but never boring (the plot hinges on the pre-historic origins of the story of Cinderella). There is nothing supernatural in this book and the plot is believable. In this book Holmes smokes a lot of pot, reveals something of his college career and love life, and hangs out with a young Aliester Crowley. My only complaint is that in the kindle version at least 3 or 4 words per page started with the wrong letters, I'm assuming due to some transcription program problem. Even with the "typos" it was still a great read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Holmes investigates a tenth Century case in the Scottish Islands November 6, 2011

By Philip K. Jones

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This novel is a first person narration by Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Watson is laid up as the result of an Operation to remove the Jezail bullet he had carried since his Service in Afghanistan. The daughter of a clergyman has asked Holmes to investigate the disappearance of her father on one of the Scottish North Sea islands. As the object of the Reverend's investigation was one of three main source tales for the traditional Cinderella story, one that involved witchcraft and had been denounced by the Established Church, his daughter believed that he might have been taken by devotees of the Mother Goddess for use as a sacrifice at the upcoming Halloween celebrations. Holmes agrees to investigate and sets out for the North coast of Scotland.

On the northbound train he falls in with the young Aleister Crowley and their discussions of Witchcraft, Eastern religions and Holmes' case lead Crowley to offer his services as companion/bodyguard to Holmes for the duration of his investigation. Their discussions make the Author's Historical points by citing examples but they avoid giving a general summary of the details available about the World's oldest surviving Religion. The events that triggered this particular `Ur-Cinderella' variant seem to have occurred in Viking times and to have taken place on an island later noted as a source of `Witches.'

My own acquaintance with what is now called Wicca and its history assure me that its origins go back to and, possibly, before the Neolithic Age. I still recall first reading Robert Graves' "Hercules, My Shipmate" and my astonishment at the Priestesses of The Mother Goddess parching next year's seed grain in a dispute with the Priests of the local Thunder God.... The God's reply was traditional, as, in visions to his priests, he encouraged the men to go a-raiding to find loot to buy food. Mr. Revill's characters cite elements of various worship systems across Eurasia that seem to echo worship of the Mother Goddess. In fact, the same tenets remain with us to this day cloaked in the guise of "green" practices with all of the `religious' elements removed, except, perhaps, the ardor.

Holmes, in this book, uses a prose style that is spare and simple. It is not the same voice that we hear in The Canon when Holmes is dictating. It is possible that difference from the Canon might well be due to the efforts of the Literary Agent on the Canon. In any case, this Holmes is inclined to discuss philosophy and his personal views much more than in previous publications. He is also less prone to descriptions and to pontificating and belittling the efforts of the police. Maybe it is the presence of Crowley, a public non-Christian, who would not be offended by Holmes' Atheism following his studies in Tibet that encourages Holmes to open his thoughts more to his audience. Watson, of course, would have been shocked to the core of his Established Church soul.

Perhaps the most singular feature of this book is its interesting characters. All of the people depicted present strong and impressive personalities to the world. From the local Detective Sergeant to the Schoolmistress and from the Island Provost to the waitress at a Fish and Chips store, all are distinct, interesting and individual people. Secrets abound within secrets and there are several secretive movements at odds with one another. The Nineteenth Century is dying before it really had a chance to enter into the lives of the Island and the twentieth Century is banging on the door loudly demanding entry. Meanwhile, all involved are still trying to untangle the problems of the Tenth Century.

This book is deceptive. A reader may expect some descent into barbarism and mumbo-jumbo or a tale of horror and madness. Instead, one finds people coping with inherited Cultural positions and striving for control (`Power' is such a Nasty word) over their lives. The same conflicts that arose at the very dawn of History are alive and kicking. People are still only people and lives are taken, altered and enriched by the oddest trifles and strangest events. Over all there remains the story of Cinderella, told from the viewpoint of the `wicked stepmother.' It is a sharp and cogent tale, not just a case from Late Victorian times, but also a microcosm of large parts of Human History.

Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, November 2011 Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and Well-Researched September 14, 2011

By Jaime N. Mahoney

Format:Paperback

Joe Revill's Sherlock Holmes is a unique conglomeration pf the Great Detective that readers already know, and the man that they so desperately *want* to know, for that might mean. Despite what the novel's title may lead a reader to believe, there is nothing supernatural in this story, nothing paranormal or otherworldly. Just very human people, acting in very human ways, with very human consequences. And that applies to Sherlock Holmes, as well. Throughout the novel, Holmes appears to walk the fine line between man and machine, standing desperately on the outskirts of true human experiences. This novel deals largely with Holmes's views on religion and sexuality (his own and also in a more general sense), and such discussions might not be to everyone's taste. But in this novel, Sherlock Holmes is still, first and foremost, the detective that readers know and love, even if Revill keeps his more human characteristics partially shrouded in mist.