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Doctor Watson's War
 
 

Doctor Watson's War [Kindle Edition]

Patrick Mercer
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

Kindle Price: £1.99 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
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Product Description

Product Description

Afghanistan. 1880.

A bloodied but unbowed young medic must fight in a war that will test both his courage and conscience to its very limits.

Despite his own wound, despite the howling tribesman hounding his every step back to the walls of Kandahar, he will not forsake the injured soldiers and victims of battle who he has sworn to treat and protect.

The most difficult to save of all though is Alisha Kahn, the beautiful and enigmatic fighting queen - shot down as she led the Afghans against the British and brought to the dressing station by Private 'Posh' Williams, the gentleman ranker.

Her warrior brothers want to save her, whilst the retreating troops can see no reason why she should live.

The terror and nobility of the events fought across blood-soaked desert sands – culminating in the Battle of Maiwand - will scar and inspire Doctor John H. Watson forever.

In this brilliant novella, Patrick Mercer tells the story of Sherlock Holmes's great friend Watson's formative years in the Army. It is a must-read for fans of Holmes, and for anyone who enjoys historical military fiction.

Praise for Doctor Watson's War:

'The style is rougher and more forceful than we're used to, being untouched by Conan Doyle's editorial hand, but it suits the subject matter admirably. You just know that this is what it was like.' - Roger Johnson, The District Messenger

Patrick Mercer is author of the Anthony Morgan Trilogy, 'To Do and Die', 'Dust and Steel' and 'Red Runs the Helmand,' as well as a number of straight histories of Victoria's wars. A military historian by training, he was decorated four times as an infantry officer and then was the defence correspondent for BBC Radio 4's Today Programme before being elected as Member of Parliament for Newark in 2001.

Patrick Mercer's books have received widespread acclaim.

'A finely-drawn depiction of battle and the camaraderie of war' wrote the Daily Mail of 'To Do and Die.

‘A tremendous achievement by a storyteller who knows the humour, the fear and the frenzy of men in battle,’ said Bernard Cornwell of 'To Do and Die'.

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 208 KB
  • Print Length: 51 pages
  • Publisher: Endeavour Press Ltd.; 1 edition (11 Jan 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B006WPD2MA
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #30,281 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Short Story 13 July 2012
By Parm TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition
My only gripe about this story is that its too short, This so easily could have been a fantastic full length novel.
For so long i have thought that the Holmes story centres too much on Holmes. While Watson clearly has a colourful and full history.

I thought that maybe Patrick Mercer may have compounded the short length of the story by also showing Watson as having a short experience in the forces. There could have been a rich and action packed series, at the least a series of short stories. I hope that Patrick Mercer has something up his sleeve for more of these that I'm missing.

This story shows the early days of Holmes and Watson and how Watson came to be the man he is and why he is living with Holmes.
As is usual for Mercers books the history is impeccable, but its the experience as a soldier that he brings to the writing that always astounds me, so honest and so real that as a reader you get to experience all the action and drama on a personal level. With this story its also not just Watson who shines, its his fantastic sidekick Private Bowler, funny, real and for me the perfect sidekick, if Patrick Mercer cannot do more stories on Watson then do them on Bowler. If you have not read any of Patrick Mercers other books then i highly recommended them all.

Something else i found out is that Patrick Mercer is the same Patrick Mercer MP from my home town (quite glad i voted for him now).

So please more of these short stories or a full book.

recommended

(Parm)

Product Description

Afghanistan. 1880. A bloodied but unbowed young medic must fight in a war that will test both his courage and conscience to its very limits. Despite his own wound, despite the howling tribesman hounding his every step back to the walls of Kandahar, he will not forsake the injured soldiers and victims of battle who he has sworn to treat and protect. The most difficult to save of all though is Alisha Kahn, the beautiful and enigmatic fighting queen -shot down as she led the Afghans against the British and brought to the dressing station by Private 'Posh' Williams, the gentleman ranker. Her warrior brothers want to save her, whilst the retreating troops can see no reason why she should live.

The terror and nobility of the events fought across blood-soaked desert sands - culminating in the Battle of Maiwand - will scar and inspire Doctor John H. Watson forever.

In this brilliant novella, Patrick Mercer tells the story of Sherlock Holmes's great friend Watson's formative years in the Army. It is a must-read for fans of Holmes, and for anyone who enjoys historical military fiction.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fuses Action and Comment... 13 Jan 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
Dr Watson's War given Watson a chance to come out from behind Sherlock Holmes' shadow. This well researcheda and well written short book tlls of Watson's campaign in Afghanistan in 1880. Mercer brings a new perspective of the character originally penned by Arthur Conan Doyle by highlighting the struggle and trauma faced by him as a medic before joining Holmes.
The story fuses action and comment on how the war in Afghanistan today is not such a foreign country to war in Afghanistanto in the 19th century.
Dr Watson's War is a refreshing and engaging read, not only for Sherlock Holmes fans but lovers of historical fiction also.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent short story 14 Mar 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was a little aprehensive of Mercer using Dr Watson as a character in his latest short story.
I found it to be an excellent short story that kept Holmes to a minimum. I'm glad I gave it ago.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Too short
Having read all Patrick Mercer's output to date I was pleased to see we were to learn more about the good doctor's war career. Read more
Published 13 hours ago by JOHN
2.0 out of 5 stars Oh dear
Considering the author has written some smashing books this is a total disappointment.

Badly set up are reading irritating but why try to hang a story on a fictional... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark I. Grant
5.0 out of 5 stars Above par
Doctor Watson's War. Well written as expected from Patrick Mercer, with good historic background. Overall most enjoyable and believable. Will buy more Mercers
Published 5 months ago by Mr. M. E. Herwin
5.0 out of 5 stars A different take at last!
It seems like new versions of Holmes have proliferated over the last few years. But watching the BBC's 'Sherlock', I was struck that Martin Freeman's Watson was quite possibly the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dom N Pusey
2.0 out of 5 stars Unconvincing
This Sherlock Holmes spin off story depicts Watson's war time experiences as an army doctor wounded while serving in Afghanistan, before meeting the great detective. Read more
Published 6 months ago by John Hopper
4.0 out of 5 stars good but short
I bought this book for a new slant on Dr Watson , though i enjoyed it & the character of Brewer is a delight, it is really a short story , that said i did enjoy it & it's insight... Read more
Published 9 months ago by V. G. Evans Galtry
5.0 out of 5 stars a great yarn...more please.
This is a great page-turning read, which makes it sound bog-standard and nothing special. Quite the contrary, Patrick Mercer does what only good authors can do which is make a good... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gudgie
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read
This is a short, easy, enjoyable read. My only criticism was that I wasn't always convinced by the language that Watson used, but that may just be me & is only a very minor point. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Gary Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening and intriguing
Doctor Watson's life-before-Sherlock is sadly under-documented. In perfect harmony with Conan-Doyle's characters, this story expands the readers' understanding and enriches their... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Natalie
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific read
Unputdownable! Patrick Mercer has written a thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced account of Dr Watsons war in Afghanistan. Read more
Published 15 months ago by L. Holloway
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