The Darkened Village

A Sherlock Holmes Adventure

By: Barry Clay

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Deciphered from a recently acquired manuscript, this previously unpublished novel of Sherlock Holmes by his chronicler, John H. Watson, M.D., is sure to delight fans of the first "consulting detective."

The curate of Wenlock Edge and his wife are embarrassed to ask for help from Sherlock Holmes. They are aware that their problem appears trival, but ask they do. Fortunately for them, there is an unusual item in their story that piques Holmes's interest, and he accepts their case.

Anticipating that the solution shouldn't be too difficult, dangerous, or unusually time consuming, Holmes suggests to Watson that both of them could enjoy a country visit before Watson's upcoming nuptials with the lovely Mary Morstan, and Watson readily agrees.

In short order, Holmes and Watson discover that something very odd is indeed happening in the village, many members of which have already decided what is responsible: the ghost of the Mad Monk. Strange happenings have oppressed the villagers. While they go about their daily tasks, they do so with apprehension and an expectation of something fearful just around the corner.

And they are not far wrong.

unsatisfactory ending

the story was conducted well enough but for some glaring issues. 1 Sherlock should certainly have been aware of the hellfire club of the previous century ( 1740 -1770s). he certainly knew of ritualistic killers. 2. he also knew of the tendency to timing in murders. jack the ripper wasn't the only such. 3. most rural people of the period would be familiar with guns, particularly shotguns . 4. the assertion that reading Darwin caused the evil in this village is patently absurd. a brain tumor or disease makes much more sense, even a fall and brain injury. the moralistic ending is also unsatisfactory. otoh, the virtual voice was surprisingly decent as a narration tool.