The second in this cozy mystery series is just as enjoyable as the first, if not better.

Harry is still answering letters sent to Sherlock Holmes at the bank. When an urgent missive is received asking for Holmes to help in finding out the cause of a man’s sudden decline into madness and erratic behaviour. Harry can’t help getting involved “on behalf” of the fictional detective. Luckily she also has her brother’s friend, Oliver to assist.

The style of writing makes this story easy to read. Harry and Oliver are very likeable characters with a bit of chemistry - it will be interesting to see if this is explored in future stories.

This reads ok as a standalone but I’d recommend reading the first book prior to this as the second follows on from this.

Thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC to read and review.

4.5 stars

Another easy read by Holly. I do like the characters of Holly and Oliver, and given how the book I ended I can only presume that they’ll make an appearance in a third book!

It was a lovely historical cozy mystery. Harry was a delight, she was brash, courageous, stylish, and a great sleuth. It was sad she didn’t feel more for Oliver than him just being her partner in crime. It was intriguing, captivating, and engaging.

Harriet had the temerity to thwart the unwanted attentions of her boss and was demoted. Really demoted. She now mans the desk for the letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes that arrive daily at the bank that shares his famous address. She has a polite formal response that she sends to those people who cannot separate fiction from real life. That is until something arrives to tweak her interest. An urgent telegram, followed by a second one has the entire office buzzing and Harriet intrigued. She manages to finagle the assistance of Oliver to meet with the enquiring gentleman at his club and before long both he and Harriet are ensnared in a mystery fit for the great detective.

When Harriet arrives at the mansion in the country, she discovers the master of the estate is in horrible shape. Questions about his wellbeing, even his sanity, are on her mind and she is determined to discover the cause. Some try to convince her there are supernatural forces at work but level headed Harriet discovers an altogether more earthbound cause and in the process solves not one but two crimes.

She also uncovers more nefarious deeds by said former boss and takes action to right some wrongs as well as collect ammunition if he should dare to try to take her down. He does not recognize the formidable enemy he has engaged.

Our plucky heroine is smart, capable and efficient. Sherlock would be proud. Five purrs and two paws up.

I’m not a big fan of modern thrillers but I do love Sherlock Holmes & so the connections here were perfect for me. I love HH’s writing style, her characterisations & plots the cross of genres here ticked all the boxes. It is exactly as billed- the perfect cosy crime novel!

I'm not going to lie, I'm a huge Holly fan and i adore the Baker Street Mystery novel's.

This is a brilliant sequel to a fantastic series. We have both complex characters and mysteries, which makes this book brilliant and worthy of reading. We found Harry again in the mail room at the bank, while reading and replying to mail for Mr Holmes. The story is full of mystery and intrigues while unfolding many secrets.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere created by Holly, and i felt like I was in 1930's London. This is shaping up to be such a promising series and i cannot wait to see what the next book might bring.

In the second Baker Street Mystery novel, Holly Hepburn brings readers back to Baker Street’s basement where Harriet White continues to respond to mail addressed to the famous and fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. However, telegrams are much less likely to cross her desk, so an urgent telegram about author Philip St. John is extraordinary and definitely worthy of a trip to Cambridgeshire as Holmes’ assistant to solve the case. As she ensconces herself at Thurmwell Manor and takes on the case of Philip St. John, Harriet guides readers through the new case and must solve the mystery before the victim dies and she loses her faith in science and reason. A brilliant sequel to a fantastic first book in the series, readers looking for more Holmes stories need not go any further because Hepburn’s characters and the mysteries are complex, brilliant, and definitely worthy of the famous sleuth. Harry is a competent and capable protagonist whose use of Holmes’ methods on her own cases, as well as her strengths in her civilian life, really draw readers into the story to solve the mystery with her. Brilliantly written and incredibly engaging, readers have to continue with the Baker Street Mystery series to see what Hepburn and Harriet White have in store.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the second in the Baker Street Mysteries and can easily be read as a standalone but definitely go back and check the first one out. I enjoyed this just as much as the first of Harry's adventures as "secretary to Sherlock Holmes".

Recommended

This was a fun weekend read. Harriet, secretary to the fictitious detective Sherlock Holmes, receives a letter from the nephew of a well-known author, asking for his help solving a mystery. Intrigued, Harriet sets out as a trusted representative of Mr Holmes to investigate the goings on the author's home in Cambridgeshire. Full of eerie mood setting fog, mysterious noises, and dark moorlands, this novel fits the Holmesian genre well and providing an entertaining read.

Another mysterious tale of Sherlock Holmes...but not of Sherlock Holmes! Harry White is an amazing character and the premise behind this series being based on a true circumstance is delicious!

This is the second in the series and I must say that it is even better than the first. We again find Harry in the mail room at the bank, reading and replying to mail for Mr Sherlock Holmes. This book sees her unable to resist another mystery as she again enlists the help of Oliver Fortesque and sets out to unravel the puzzle. When it came to the method in which the victim was being... victimised I knew very early on how it was happening. Also I knew the dark secret that he was hiding. As to all the rest, a delightful surprise when I came upon it.

There were other characters that made an appearance from the first book. Some delightful and others not as much. There were quite the few red herrings that had trails of thought galloping madly in the wrong direction as well.

It is shaping up to be quite the series and I always look forward to more from Holly Hepburn. The amount of research that goes into her tales is amazing and she writes beautifully for the era that they are set. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read the ARC. All opinions written are my own.

This book is a perfect example of how to take a classic story/character/idea and make something new out of it. In this book, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character written by Arthur Conan Doyle. However, people send letters to this fictitious Holmes and ask him to solve mysteries. Our main character Harry is incharge of going through these letters and replying to everyone that Mr. Holmes has now retired from detective work. However when a case involving a famous writer comes to her desk, she cannot help but get involved. What follows is a perfectly paced story with mystery and intrigue, the unfolding of many secrets, glimpes of a potential romance and a great ending. I also liked the descriptions that the author used to create the atmosphere and transport us to 1930s London. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it to fans of Sherlock Holmes, books set in 1930s london and historical mysteries.
Also i wanted to mention that this is the second book in the series and even though I read it without reading the first one and did understand everything, I do believe that having read the first book would have enhanced my experience.

This is book 2 but can work as a standalone but you should read the 1st book because that is also good.
The book is set in the 1930s.
Really enjoyed it

I thoroughly enjoyed The Cursed Writer. It was quite entertaining, with characters that were engaging and a storyline filled with suspense.
Very good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

With vivid descriptions, an intriguing cast of characters, and a plot full of suspense, Hepburn delivers a page-turner that will keep readers hooked until the very end. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes-inspired tales, The Cursed Writer is an engaging, mysterious read that balances thrills with moments of heart and wit.

The 2nd book in the Baker street mysteries - Sherlock Holmes impersonator Harry gets involved in the case of a writer suffering severe hallucinations. This is largerly inspired by the 'Hound of Baskerville'.
Though this can be read as a stand alone, there are several references and charactrs from the first book.

Very much caught the spirit of The Hound of the Baskervilles.

The clues are not very obscure. I caught most of them withou much effort. Harry is a pleasant and resourcefull heroine.

Harriet 'Harry' White continues her work replying to Sherlock Holmes' correspondence. Mostly she sends a polite letter to decline further involvement but the arrival of a telegram sparks the whole bank's interest. A writer is suffering from bizarre symptoms, possibly driven mad by a curse...
The Cursed Writer is the second book in The Baker Street Mysteries. I have previously read and reviewed the first book The Missing Maid. There is enough information to catch up on Harry's situation and no spoilers about the criminal plot although some personal plot strands do lead on from those in the initial story.
This book has the feel of The Hound of the Baskervilles, as confirmed in the author's note at the end. The desolate fens and the fears of the supernatural are effectively evoked. Plus the book features a large dog!
The style of writing is easy to read and I liked the twists of Harry's investigation. There is a classical feel to the plot and I was kept guessing. I like the personality of Harry; she is a fab lead character full of compassion and gumption. Her caring side comes through clearly in this book as she sees the adversity faced by others. There are also lighthearted moments and the overall tone of the book is warm.
The Cursed Writer is an enjoyable historical cosy mystery.

This is an absolutely exciting book! This fast-paced work kept me on the tip of my toes! Recommended read!

The new headquarters of the Abbey Road Building Society have been built on 221B Baker St well known as the residence of the world’s most famous but definitely fictional detective. Harriet ‘Harry’ White works as a secretary there but after an unfortunate encounter between an overly amorous boss’ groin and her knee, she has been relegated to the basement to answer letters that arrive daily seeking the detective’s help. She replies with a stock answer explaining that Holmes has retired and is no longer available for consultations. However, when a telegram arrives seeking urgent aid for celebrated author, Philip St John, her interest is piqued and soon, she finds herself, with the reluctant help of her friend, Oliver, in Cambridge at the isolated Thurmwell Manor where St John suffers a mysterious illness, one caused, according to his servants, by the ferryman, a local legend who is said to curse anyone who has the misfortune of seeing him.

The Cursed Writer is the second historical cozy mystery in the Baker Street Mysteries by Holly Hepburn and it is an entertaining and atmospheric tale with a strong. Intelligent female protagonist, an interesting mystery, a touch of the gothic, a hint of the supernatural and, of course, a nod to the great detective himself. The story brings together several different plot lines, all of which are concluded satisfactorily and ends with a hint to future adventures for Harry and Oliver acting as Sherlock Holmes’ assistants. Definitely a fun read for Sherlock Holmes’ fans or anyone who enjoys a compelling historical cozy with interesting characters and plots.

I received an e-arc of the book from Netgalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review

Just finished The Cursed Writer by Holly Hepburn, and wow 👀📖! A spooky old typewriter, writer’s block, and some serious twists—this book had me hooked. If you love gothic vibes with a modern edge, check it out! 🖤✨