Mrs Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse

Well, I found another novel riffing on the Sherlock Holmes theme, and, of course, I couldn’t resist asking for a review copy. This has been a good year for Holmes with a number of new Holmes books out: there’s a new Russell/Holmes from Laurie King; the start of a new Holmes/Watson series from Vasudev Murthy and Poisoned Pen Press; The Fifth Heart, pairing Holmes and Henry James; Holmes’ creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, was paired with Oscar Wilde in a new Paranormal Casebooks volume; and Zach Dundas has written a book exploring the history of and variations on the Holmes stories. If we stretch back into late 2014, we also had Anthony Horowitz’ Moriarty and a collection of Holmes stories edited by Leslie S. Klinger and Laurie R. King. And another major collection of Holmes related stories is due out in late October.

That’s a lot of Holmes, but as this publishing boomlet suggests, there’s always room for one more Sherlock. In Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse, Martin Davies brings us a Holmes and Watson very much in the Conan Doyle style and pairs them with their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, (who turns out to have quite a keen mind), and Flotsam—Flottie for short—a young orphan fleeing attempts to force her into prostitution.

The chief pleasure here is that while Holmes remains the intelligent man we’ve known him as, Davies plays on Holmes’ biases, using the Mrs. Hudson character to offer alternate interpretations for many clues Holmes uncovers. This Mrs. Hudson has a long history of solving crimes and an unusually broad group of acquaintances from all social strata to whom she turns for information and assistance.

At first, Holmes condescends to Mrs. Hudson, but it doesn’t take him long to realize he’s met a mind as sharp as (if also rather different from ) his own. Flottie gets her due as well. The least-respected character here is Watson. He’s companionable, but easily befuddled and uncertain at times in his actions.

The case focused on in Mrs. Hudson is a supposed curse placed on a trio of Englishmen returning to their native country after an unsuccessful attempt to build a fortune in Sumatra. It quickly becomes uncertain whether the men are more threatened by the curse or by one another.

If you’re looking to satisfy a craving for Holmesian reading, Mrs. Hudson will serve you well. The language is reminiscent of Conan Doyle’s, the story is carefully built—and it’s a true pleasure to see a pair of intelligent, self-reliant women alongside Holmes and Watson.

I was intrigued when I read the brief details of this book and really wanted to know what the author made of Mrs Hudson, Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper. Conan Doyle portrays her as a fairly strong-willed woman but one who he keeps in the background and he gives us scant information about her back-story. Here we see her as a much more complete character who, with her young side-kick Flotsam (the narrator, who is obviously going places), can certainly teach Sherlock a trick or two.
The plot has everything the classic Victorian detective story needs! There is a “locked room” mystery, a major Oriental theme, an evil mastermind pitted against the detective(s), and some slow-witted policemen, amongst other devices.
This book will appeal to the more light-hearted fans of Sherlock Holmes and to anyone who likes a fast-paced, quirky take on the detective story. I hope that it is one in a series of "Mrs Hudson" mysteries.

Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse is an enchanting, imaginative approach to the lore of Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories, the stalwart Mrs Hudson is always present, but little is known of her as an individual. Martin Davies turns tradition on its ear, placing her at the center of the story.

Martin Davies asks - What if Sherlock Holmes wasn't the only genius residing at 221B Baker Street? What if the ever-capable Mrs Hudson assisted the famous detective? With her vast knowledge of what goes on below stairs, her skills of observation honed by years of running households, and her connections within the community, she proves a formidable ally to the great detective. Always present but easily overlooked, the pragmatic Mrs Hudson avoids the limelight while guiding Sherlock and Watson to the correct conclusion.

Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse takes place soon after she and her trusty assistant Flotsam take over the care of Holmes and Watson at their new Baker's Street abode. Almost immediately a mysterious message is delivered requesting an audience with Holmes. The man claims to need assistance with a curse that has killed his colleagues and followed him from Sumatra. Only Mrs Hudson is suspicious of the tale, and with the help of Flotsam uncovers the details necessary to guide Holmes to the truth.

Mrs Hudson and The Spirits' Curse is a must read for anyone who enjoys mysteries inspired by Conan Doyle's classic tales and doesn't mind a bit of lighthearted ribbing. This charming novel is a fun tribute to the master detective.

4/5

I received a copy of Mrs Hudson and The Spirits' Curse from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Martin Davis delivers a fresh look to the Sherlock Holmes stories, empowering a very unlikely character in Victorian London, where the likes of Mrs. Hudson would be kept from all manly affaires and that the opinion of the persons below the stairs would not conform to any importance in the matter of the high class people they serve. This book dignifies the power of knowledge and deduction that women of any era could master greatly. Mrs. Hudson and the Spirit’s Curse is delighting, intriguing and full of twist and turns that makes it impossible to put down. This story is seen through the eyes of a young battered orphan that will transform in the charge of Mrs. Hudson into a very acute thinker. And reminds you that behind a great man there is a greater woman.