The Cthulhu Casebooks: Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows

The Cthulhu Casebooks, Book 1

By: James Lovegrove

Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

It is the autumn of 1880, and Dr. John Watson has just returned from Afghanistan. Badly injured and desperate to forget a nightmarish expedition that left him doubting his sanity, Watson is close to destitution when he meets the extraordinary Sherlock Holmes, who is investigating a series of deaths in the Shadwell district of London. Several bodies have been found, the victims appearing to have starved to death over the course of several weeks, and yet they were reported alive and well mere days before. Moreover, there are disturbing reports of creeping shadows that inspire dread in any who stray too close.

Holmes deduces a connection between the deaths and a sinister drug lord who is seeking to expand his criminal empire. Yet both he and Watson are soon forced to accept that there are forces at work far more powerful than they could ever have imagined. Forces that can be summoned, if one is brave - or mad - enough to dare …

©2016 James Lovegrove (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Definitely not for Sherlock fans

Rather than invent a story that could be deemed as a Sherlock mystery, the author tried to reinvent the meeting and relationship between him and Dr. Watson. The author has tried (and in my view, failed) to write in Doyle/s style but other than using similar words and phrases, the narrative is in a totally different style. I was very dissapointed and although I tried to finish the book, it annoyed me so much, I just couldn't. This is definitely not for an ardent Holmes enthusiast!

Great

I have read many sherlock holmes type books. I really liked ghis one. Its well written and narrated and the story is fantastic, worth a try.

didn't expect that.

at first I wasn't sure if I would like this book. within an hr I was hooked, this was not what I expected. I feel the author did a great job with the characters. well worth a listen.

a fun mashup of Lovecraft and Doyle

a good spooky tale. well worth a listen. a good narrator as well. all around enjoyable.

Loved it

I don’t know why other readers are rating this so low, as I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely continue with the rest of the trilogy. Other reviewers are comparing it to crossover fanfiction but be that as it may it is well written and entertaining.

A charming return to the Great Detective's world

An utterly charming, and engaging additional to the cannon.
A good story with very sensitive and warm portrayals of Holmes and Watson. The language of the actual text is spot on! This added enormous atmosphere and a feeling of the piece being written by a Victorian or turn of the century author. This was so well done and researched.
The story was a little predictable, but a minor point. Young Holmes was appropriately vulnerable and youthful, not as snarls and acerbic as he is later on under Doyle.
In all good fun!!

awesome

loved it really cool story of Sherlock and Watson and cthulhu and microft Sherlock brother

novel take on holmes

enjoyable think of this more as a superhero holmes story or a not so suspenseful cthulu story. great exploeation of cthulu god hierarchy

Entertaining reinterpretation of both genres

I can’t think of a better fictional character to take on the Cthulhu mysteries. Overall, I found the reimagining fitting and the integration of the two genres was excellent. While the story itself seemed to big down in places, it was worth the investment to listen. If your a fan of either, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you love both, definitely check it out.

Great narration, great story

Loved it!
I'm new to Lovegrove, but not new to Holmes. I found this title did not include the misogynistic tendencies of other Holmes tales which often turned me off of the stories. Do be prepared for Oriental this and Oriental that, though. Perhaps a reflection of the times this book was written.

I loved the tale spun into Lovecraft's world of the Old Gods of Cthulhu (specifically Nyarlathotep). Told this way, Lovegrove rewrites some of the aspects of Holmes tales.

The narration was almost spot on. Easy to listen to and carries a great tone for story telling. During the encounter with some asian Opium Bath security folks I think the narrator lost his voices and mixed up some of the dialog. I do like that the author gives each character a unique voice.