Sherlock Holmes and the American Angels (Severn House Large Print) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

John H Watson M.D. (Author), Barrie Roberts (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Severn House Large Print | Publication Date: October 1, 2008

From the author of Sherlock Holmes and the Kings Governess - Spring 1902. Holmes finds a body in Regents Park, and when a Scottish lawyer is found murdered on the same day, he senses a conspiracy connected with the Jacobites. Holmes and Watson head for Scotland, convinced a collection of golden angels hidden at the time of the American War of Independence is now sought by the conspirators who assassinated the president...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After disappointing efforts like Sherlock Holmes and the Crosby Murder (2002), veteran pasticher Roberts approaches the high level of such earlier novels as Sherlock Holmes and the Man from Hell (1997) in this atmospheric tale. When Holmes masterfully deciphers a series of coded messages concerning a plot in the newspaper, the master detective and his Boswell stake out a clandestine rendezvous in Regent's Park, only to find that one of the plotters has been stabbed to death. The clues eventually lead the pair to Scotland, where the quest for a legendary cache of gold coins garners the attention of U.S. intelligence agents who suspect a link between the London murder and the recent assassination of President William McKinley. While an unsurprising conclusion and some anachronisms mar the story, Roberts remains one of today's finer emulators of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his ability to combine a tight plot with an authentic Watsonian voice. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

A mysterious coded message in the newspaper draws Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson into their latest adventure. Holmes believes the message indicates a dangerous plot involving the Scottish pretender to the throne is afoot in London. A dead body in Regents Park and another in a London hotel--both stabbed to death by the same Scottish knife--underscore Holmes' suspicion. Then he and Watson are visited by a representative of President Roosevelt who asks Holmes to find the killer of the two murdered men. The killer, the representative explains, is likely after a hoard of gold reputed to have been hidden in Scotland during the American War of Independence. The gold, if found, could be used by a subversive group plotting to overthrow the American government. Holmes and Watson immediately head to Scotland to unmask the killer and save America. Watson is initially as puzzled as readers are likely to be by the convoluted plot, but the story is cleverly resolved and will delight fans of the fictitious British sleuth, who is at his supercilious, brilliant best. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; Large type / large print edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727877062
• ISBN-13: 978-0727877062
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,259,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lively Holmes pastiche, October 6, 2008

By 

F. J. Harvey "Cricket ,country music and a go... (Birmingham England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the American Angels (Hardcover)

The book opens in London in 1902 ,when Holmes becomes aware of a series of coded messages appearing in a local newspaper .They are from "Benjamin
Franklin" to "Charles Stuart" and the great detective is not peruaded they are as innocent seeming as they appear,suspecting they may be linked to the cause of the Jacobites -those dissidents working for the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the throne of Britain.He also suspects an American connection .He goes ,with the faithful Watson in tow ,to Regent's park where the correspondents are due to meet ,and discovers the murdered body of one of them-the Benjamin Franklin of the pair .Soon another body turns up in a London hotel room -that of a lawyer McNair,the Charles Stuart of the messages.

Holmes is advised by the US secret service representative in London of the "American angels"-gold coins ,minted in France and destined to fund the American cause in the War of Independence but which never reached America .It is believed that they may have been located in Scotland and been targetted by American anarchists behind the recent assassination of President McKinley ,in order to fund further atrocities.Holmes sets out for Scotland to ferret out the truth ,and the whereabouts of the gold and to forestall the conspirators in the process.

What follows is a busy and lively plot ,with some fine descriptive writing of the Scottish countryside by way of a bonus.There is murder ,grave robbing and attempted poisoning before the resoltion of the case.It is fast moving ,nicely melodramatic and has some nice creepy scenes in a haunted island graveyard.The whole thing is well written ,nicely researched addition to the Holmesian pastiche genre and is recommended with confidence to those who read such titles

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superlative Sherlock Holmes mystery, September 6, 2007

By 

Dr. Fred R. Eichelman "arous" (Salem,, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the American Angels (Hardcover)

Barrie Roberts has a winner with "Sherlock Holmes and The American Angels" and this is his best Sherlockian tale to date. While there are a couple things that some Sherlockians might be picky about, this is a very well done mystery. His description of London and the Scottish countryside during this period is very well handled. Also there are bits of lore from ancient times and the middle ages that will be an added bonus to anyone who is a history buff. I will have to add that there is a bit of early Ian Fleming in some of the writing. A book well worth adding to any collection on The Great Detective.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious and Authentic Holmes pastiche, July 5, 2008

By 

Bonnie MacBird (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the American Angels: A Manuscript Believed to Be from the Pen of John H. Watson (Paperback)

Roberts in my view is the best writer doing Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels in recent years. His mysteries are clever, his tone and language spot on. The Holmes and Watson of Barrie Roberts truly sound and act like the originals. The title is deceptive; the mystery unfolds in the Highlands of Scotland. "American Angels" refers to a treasure of gold pieces sent by the French and aimed to the Colonies (American, pre-revolution) but waylaid somewhere in Scotland, where various murders and intrigues attend attempts at recovery. With crisp description, Roberts brings the reader right into the locale, with clues worthy of the great detective, and enough action to keep the modern reader engageed - providing an armchair adventure that will delight Holmes purists, and newcomers to this classic genre equally. Buy this to enjoy on a train trip through Scotland, or on your favorite sofa at home during a rainy weekend.