Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse

Martin Davies

Jul 2015 · A Holmes & Hudson Mystery Book 1 · Canelo

About this ebook

What if Baker Street’s most gifted resident wasn’t called Sherlock Holmes?

An evil stalks London, blown in from the tropics. Stories of cursed giant rats and malign spirits haunt the garrets of Limehouse. A group of merchants are, one by one, dying. The elementary choice to investigate these mysterious deaths is, of course, Holmes and Dr Watson.

Yet the unique gifts of their housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, and her orphaned assistant Flotsam, will be needed to solve the case. Can she do it all under the nose of Sherlock himself?

From the coal fire at Baker Street to the smog of Whitechapel and the jungles of Sumatra, from snake bites in grand hotels to midnight carriage chases at the docks, it’s time for Mrs Hudson to step out of the shadows.

Playfully breaking with convention, Martin Davies brings a fresh twist to classic Victorian mystery.

Ratings and reviews

I just finished reading Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse by Martin Davies. Mrs. Hudson is looking for a new employer (her last one committed suicide). Mrs. Hudson has an excellent reputation (as well as helping several wealthy people out of pickles) and can have her choice of housekeeping positions. However, she is looking to spice things up and wants to work for Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. They have taken rooms on Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson thinks this position will be just the one for her and Flotsam (Flottie for short). Flottie was brought to Mrs. Hudson two years earlier in need of assistance. Mrs. Hudson took her in and gave her a position. She is making sure Flottie gets an education. Mrs. Hudson is given the position and they move to their new accommodations immediately. Despite the boxes with unusual contents, the two settle in quite nicely with their new employers. Then one night just after 8 p.m. and unusual (and supposedly mysterious) man arrives with a letter and a dagger for Mr. Holmes. The letter is from Nathaniel Moran who wishes to meet with Holmes and Watson. Mr. Moran has just returned from Sumatra Islands where he and some friends established a business (Sumatra and Nassau Trading Company). They were not welcomed by the natives and were threatened. They were told they had offended the spirits and had to leave. After several deaths (including one of their own) the men fled the island. Mr. Moran had to wait to travel (in other words, the others left him behind) because he was ill (and just arrived in England). Mr. Moran claims the threat has followed him home, and he is afraid for his life (as well as his colleagues). While Sherlock and Dr. Watson start their inquiries, Mrs. Hudson (along with Flotsam) make some of their own. Who is threatening Mr. Moran and his business associates? Why did the curse follow them home? Will more people die before the mystery can be solved? Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse did not meet my expectations. The book makes Mrs. Hudson out to the mastermind behind Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock makes wrong assumptions (scientific based) but wrong. Mrs. Hudson uses her common sense as well as intellect and network of friends to solve crimes. Dr. Watson’s role was reduced to errand boy (for the most part). There are many scientific terms (as well as what my father calls $10 words) used and long-winded speeches (deductions that were incorrect). The book is a cute idea, but the writer was not able to pull it off. The novel is told from Flotsam’s perspective (I would rather have had it from Mrs. Hudson’s point-of-view). This is a British novel so some of the word spellings and terms are different from those that we use in America. The mystery was very simple and a cinch to figure out. Therefore, I give Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse 3 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Martin Davies grew up in north-west England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on trains, and all his first drafts are written in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East, India and Sicily. In addition to the Holmes & Hudson Mysteries, he is the author of four other novels, including The Conjurer’s Bird, which sold over 150,000 copies and was selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club and Havana Sleeping, which has been shortlisted for the 2015 CWA Historical Dagger award. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.