Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu: The Adventure of the Innsmouth Mutations

The Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu Series, Book 3

By: Lois H. Gresh

Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The third novel in six-time New York Times best-selling author Lois H. Gresh’s Sherlock Holmes vs. Cthulhu series.

The obliterating shadow...

The deadly dimensions over London have been sealed, and the monsters have departed. But word has come to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of a more terrifying creature still - the great Cthulhu has been sighted off the waters of Innsmouth, Massachusetts. Only Holmes can defeat him.

And in the muddy village of Innsmouth, surrounded by villagers who are more sea-monster than human, Holmes meets again his nemesis, Moriarty, and yet greater foes: Amelia Scarcliffe and Maria Fitzgerald, harbingers of Dagon, who have called forth Cthulhu. Their task: to bring about the end of humankind, and begin the realm of nightmares on Earth.

©2019 by Lois H. Gresh (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Did not get better from Book 2

The author replaces grossness for storytelling. There were only parts of this book that were well-written, the rest was a confusing mess. Some minor and supporting characters were interesting and adequately developed, and contributed to the world-building; others were ignored until they were needed to move a sloggy dialogue and storyline along. The former were introduced and forgotten at random, the latter would intrude at a certain point, say the one or two lines that the story needed, and then they would be discarded. I think this style of writing is sloppy and it makes a story hard to be invested into.

The biggest problem I had with these series is that I first listened to James Lovegrove's Cthulu Casebooks prior to this series. And while the Cthulu Casebooks are excellently written, and do a very good job of character and world building, this series is lacking on both accounts.

The narration is perfect though.

Almost deliberately bad. not even a good gag.

the author shows extensive knowledge of both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style and the Cthulhu mythos and completely fails to demonstrate the understanding of why each of them are powerful. Sherlock deduces nothing, and there is no logical build up. the unspeakable horrors are common place and faced with a British aplomb.
absolutely perfect narration though..

Wanted to like this series

So I tried I am a Sherlock and Watson fan but nothing about these two characters or Moriarty are anything like the original characters .. there’s no depth to these characters. Yeah they sound somewhat like how SherSon may react but it is severely lacking if you know you know. All I am taking from these books is now I am hesitant to read more Sherlock inspired books … and I was so looking forward to the Dracula one dammit!!

No Mystery. No Deduction.

Not really Holmesian. Cthulhu was underwhelming. It did manage to be really gross though. If that’s a good thing.

Hmmm

Not the Holmes adventure I was after. More foul than clever or insightful. Lots of gross imagery and didn't really invoke much of a Lovecraft vibe either. The reader is fantastic though!!

Pretty freakin' awesome

The third and final was not quite as compelling as the second book, but it was still a thrill ride and pretty freakin' awesome. The depictions of Innsmouth were a bit twisted and a novel approach, which I liked. The culmination (no spoilers) is satisfying. I could say more, but will let new readers experience it for themselves. Overall, this was a great series that I highly recommend for lovers of Holmsian and Lovecraftian Mythos.

Neither of the topics match

Following review covers all three books.

Lacked the mystery and detective work of a Sherlock Holmes story. Complete misunderstanding of Moriarty as a Holmes villain. Lovecraft mythos seems to at level of Wikipedia articles, almost all of it something else than envisioned within mythos. Doesn't work as either Holmes or Lovecraftin story.

Dennis Kleinman does excellent job amd makes it bearable. Lovegroves books on same style work much better.

This series went nowhere

I find myself very disappointed with this series because the author removed all mystery from Lovecraft and Sherlock Holmes.

The book literally opens with Cthulu thinking to himself about how wonderful he is. He's not supposed to be humanized. Lovecraft is about the unknown horror. Not about explaining the motivations of every single thing.

And Sherlock Holmes is about uncovering clues to learn the means, motive, and opportunity, not just handing them to the reader for nothing.

The only 'detectiveing' Sherlock Holmes does is about a stupid couple who are trying to get rich and has nothing to do with the impending doom. And then that plot goes nowhere.

I found myself rooting for the death of Watson's wife because she abandons her husband because danger, then goes with them to the most dangerous place on the planet against his will, then she wants to go home because danger, then says nowhere is safe, then she wants to go home again. She is awful.

[Vague Spoilers]
The way they defeat Cthulu is also so dumb. They don't. He just leaves cuz he feels a little under the weather.

You can entirely cut Sherlock Holmes and Watson out of the story and the same events would have unfolded. It should have been called Moriarty vs. Cthulu.

Jolly Good Time

Original.
And would like to recommend to any Sherlock Holmes & Watson fan.
Well done.

So good it's indescribable in human language!

This is an extremely good mythos series. -
• This audio-book series is so good that I'm going to purchase it on PAPER so I can add it to my beloved Lovecraft library.
• I’ve waited for these two iconic literary characters to face each other in battle most of my life - finally someone has done it, and done it very well. • Thank you Lois H. Gresh!

• I’m "Old Man Parker" and I highly recommend this audio book, and it's series.

Oh dear

This is the stupidest most long winded book I ever had the misfortune to hear, if you can hear it at all over the sound of Conan Doyle spinning in his grave.

Tedious

Given the exciting ingredients, this was unbelievably tedious. I only managed to last for 7 chapters

A nice imitation

This book is a good imitation but doesn't hold a candle to the real thing.

Supernatural Sherlock

These stories are not traditional Sherlock Holmes but more supernatural maybe not for everyone but I like that type of adventure.

Ok but meandering

Don’t write a lot of reviews and I appreciate that any author must pour over their work for hundreds of hours. This just goes on and on without much sense of mystery. Unfortunately although I stuck it through to the end I tuned out a bit. A shame as the previous book in the series was quite good. Cheeky use of Holmes and Watson really. Peace and love to everyone nevertheless.