Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara (Otto Penzler Books) [Hardcover]

Alan Vanneman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Otto Penzler Books | Publication Date: December 10, 2003

In a crafty new novel featuring the world’s greatest literary detective, Alan Vanneman extends the boundaries of the Sherlock Holmes canon with a knotty investigation that takes the celebrated sleuth and his cohort, Dr. Watson, far from the cozy Victorian comforts of 221B Baker Street. The mystery begins familiarly enough, in London, in the middle of the night. Holmes and Watson are summoned to a crime scene that, not so familiarly, seems to vanish before their eyes, as they find themselves with neither evidence nor a client. They do not want for opposition, however; not for long, not with the governments of three great empires arrayed against them. As Holmes strives to unmask his most cunning, ruthless, and elusive foe, he is transported into a world of high finance rife with intrigue and crime. With a cast of characters that includes the enchanting lady of fortune Countess D’Espinau and historical greats like Winston Churchill and Cecil Rhodes as well as a poorest-of-the-poor beggar girl whom Watson adopts, Holmes follows a trail that leads ultimately and unpredictably to the fabled and fabulous lost Hapsburg tiara.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After his weak debut, Sherlock Holmes and the Giant Rat of Sumatra (2002), which pitted the master sleuth against a race of intelligent rat-men, Vanneman provides a more convincing adventure for Holmes and Watsona swashbuckling tale of international intrigue centered on a valuable diamond and mysterious Austrian nobles who may be involved in multiple murders. As before, however, the book goes on too long. When Winston Churchill enlists the aid of the Baker Street duo in tracing a man posing as an archduke, Cecil Rhodes summarily dismisses them from the case. Rhodes proceeds to fix a coroner's inquest, thus thwarting them from independently pursuing justice. Years later, the pair resumes the now-cold trail across Europe, accompanied by a reformed street urchin who's been adopted by the good doctor. Offstage much of the time, Holmes employs his spying and burglary skills more than his deductive abilities. Though the author ingeniously adds to the canon by having Watson serve, like Conan Doyle, as a field surgeon during the Boer War, he undermines this plausible twist by once again spending many pages detailing Watson's amorous pursuits ("she grasped me by the most shameless of handles"), a far cry from Doyle's Victorian reticence and a pattern that won't endear his pastiches to proper Sherlockians.
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Review

"A rollicking adventure story...[that] puts a superb spin on the intellectual byplay between Holmes and Watson.... Splendidly written homage." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (December 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078671297X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786712977
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,134,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Doyle Estate must be broke to let this be published..., June 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara (Otto Penzler Books) (Hardcover)

Alan Vanneman's first Sherlock Holmes novel was a weak try at suspence and mystery. I was disappointed by his unrealistic view of what a Holmes mystery should be. But, that book could win awards compare to the trash that this one turned out to be. A seven year chase from here to there in Paris, Austria, Turkey and England with Watson and his adopted daughter in tow, never solving anything and bad mouthing Winston Churchill throughout the story. Watson spends more time in an intimate affair with a countess (a suspected murderess) than being the wise old companion that Holmes needs. Holmes puts Watson's daughter into danger every chance he get and those are too many. Keep your money or buy an Nero Wolf Novel instead.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sir Arthur must be spinning in his grave!, March 13, 2004

By 

Darkendale "Raven" (VA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara (Otto Penzler Books) (Hardcover)

Yo, Vanneman!

I don't know how you got permission from the Conan Doyle Estate to use his characters in this one! And the said part is, the mystery is not bad at all, nor is the interaction between Holmes and the upper class, who frankly never have got along. With Holmes it has always been justice not law that is important. But Watson as a sexual deviant and comfirmed agnostic, if not actual atheist? Certainly he has always had an "eye for the ladies", and admits to "youthful indescresions." But he was MARRIED TWICE for crying out loud! (Three times if you count Philip Jose Farmer's Adventure of the Peerless Peer). And Holmes having trouble with the Foreign Office? What happened to Mycroft Holmes who WAS the Foreign Office? I thought your last book was off-the-wall, but this one is pathetic. The Blade says clean up your act! This is Holmes, not steamy romance novels! You deserve a zero, but one star is as low as they go. To everyone else, skip this one. I know I wish I had. Quoth the Raven...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy Doyle's Holmes, don't read this book., May 7, 2005

By 

Classic Mystery Lover "CML" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara (Paperback)

If you are a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries, do not waste your time with this book. The timeless characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are completely unrecognizeable and have been twisted to fit the modern idea of a mystery novel. The book also makes a vain attempt to fit these fictional characters into the real-world events of pre-WWI in a manner that leaves much to be desired. Do not waste your time with this book. I only gave this book one star because it won't allow you to assign zero.