- Hardcover: 192 pages
- Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd (2 Mar 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0727865110
- ISBN-13: 978-0727865113
- Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 14.6 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,379,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Synopsis
It is Spring of 1902. America is coming to terms with the murder of President McKinley the previous autumn; Britain is preparing to crown King Edward the Seventh. A series of cryptic advertisements in a personal column lead Holmes to a body in Regent's Park, and when a Scottish lawyer is found murdered in a London hotel on the same day, Holmes senses a conspiracy connected with the Jacobites. Commissioned by the presidential aide in London, Holmes and Watson head for Scotland, convinced a collection of golden angels hidden at the time of the American War of Independence is now sought by the conspirators who assassinated the president. And somewhere along the line, the Jacobite Pretender to the British throne is involved...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover
More great Sherlock Holmes pastiche from Barrie Roberts. Holmes, Watson, Scottish Highlands, Jacobite conspiracy, treasure hunt - what's not to like. The game's afoot.
Format:Paperback
Judging purely by the title you might, like me, have been expecting another Holmes story that sees him travel across the Atlantic, but the story itslef merely concerns itself with an American "problem" and the action largely takes place in the Scottish countryside. The American Angels are gold coins minted by the French, intended for America but lost somewhere in Scotland and there are a number of forces after the treasure for one reason or another.
Roberts' Holmes and Watson are faitful recreations of Doyle's creations. There are a number of seemingly disparate threads of the story that are, naturally, all solved by the end and there are a number of intriguing mystery's that keep you guessing. There are a couple of things you can see coming a mile off, but such is the ubiquitous nature of the Holmes character that is something that can rarely be avoided these days.
All in all this is a very entertaining read which should appeal to avid Holmes fans and those of you who like mystery stories in general.
Roberts' Holmes and Watson are faitful recreations of Doyle's creations. There are a number of seemingly disparate threads of the story that are, naturally, all solved by the end and there are a number of intriguing mystery's that keep you guessing. There are a couple of things you can see coming a mile off, but such is the ubiquitous nature of the Holmes character that is something that can rarely be avoided these days.
All in all this is a very entertaining read which should appeal to avid Holmes fans and those of you who like mystery stories in general.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Lively Holmes pastiche
6 Oct 2008
Format:Hardcover
The book opens in London in 1902 ,when Holmes becomes aware of a series of coded messages appearing in a local newspaper .They are from "Benjamin
Franklin" to "Charles Stuart" and the great detective is not peruaded they are as innocent seeming as they appear,suspecting they may be linked to the cause of the Jacobites -those dissidents working for the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the throne of Britain.He also suspects an American connection .He goes ,with the faithful Watson in tow ,to Regent's park where the correspondents are due to meet ,and discovers the murdered body of one of them-the Benjamin Franklin of the pair .Soon another body turns up in a London hotel room -that of a lawyer McNair,the Charles Stuart of the messages.
Holmes is advised by the US secret service representative in London of the "American angels"-gold coins ,minted in France and destined to fund the American cause in the War of Independence but which never reached America .It is believed that they may have been located in Scotland and been targetted by American anarchists behind the recent assassination of President McKinley ,in order to fund further atrocities.Holmes sets out for Scotland to ferret out the truth ,and the whereabouts of the gold and to forestall the conspirators in the process.
What follows is a busy and lively plot ,with some fine descriptive writing of the Scottish countryside by way of a bonus.There is murder ,grave robbing and attempted poisoning before the resoltion of the case.It is fast moving ,nicely melodramatic and has some nice creepy scenes in a haunted island graveyard.The whole thing is well written ,nicely researched addition to the Holmesian pastiche genre and is recommended with confidence to those who read such titles
Franklin" to "Charles Stuart" and the great detective is not peruaded they are as innocent seeming as they appear,suspecting they may be linked to the cause of the Jacobites -those dissidents working for the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the throne of Britain.He also suspects an American connection .He goes ,with the faithful Watson in tow ,to Regent's park where the correspondents are due to meet ,and discovers the murdered body of one of them-the Benjamin Franklin of the pair .Soon another body turns up in a London hotel room -that of a lawyer McNair,the Charles Stuart of the messages.
Holmes is advised by the US secret service representative in London of the "American angels"-gold coins ,minted in France and destined to fund the American cause in the War of Independence but which never reached America .It is believed that they may have been located in Scotland and been targetted by American anarchists behind the recent assassination of President McKinley ,in order to fund further atrocities.Holmes sets out for Scotland to ferret out the truth ,and the whereabouts of the gold and to forestall the conspirators in the process.
What follows is a busy and lively plot ,with some fine descriptive writing of the Scottish countryside by way of a bonus.There is murder ,grave robbing and attempted poisoning before the resoltion of the case.It is fast moving ,nicely melodramatic and has some nice creepy scenes in a haunted island graveyard.The whole thing is well written ,nicely researched addition to the Holmesian pastiche genre and is recommended with confidence to those who read such titles
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A superlative Sherlock Holmes mystery
6 Sep 2007
Format:Hardcover
Barrie Roberts has a winner with "Sherlock Holmes and The American Angels" and this is his best Sherlockian tale to date. While there are a couple things that some Sherlockians might be picky about, this is a very well done mystery. His description of London and the Scottish countryside during this period is very well handled. Also there are bits of lore from ancient times and the middle ages that will be an added bonus to anyone who is a history buff. I will have to add that there is a bit of early Ian Fleming in some of the writing. A book well worth adding to any collection on The Great Detective.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Delicious and Authentic Holmes pastiche
5 July 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Roberts in my view is the best writer doing Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels in recent years. His mysteries are clever, his tone and language spot on. The Holmes and Watson of Barrie Roberts truly sound and act like the originals. The title is deceptive; the mystery unfolds in the Highlands of Scotland. "American Angels" refers to a treasure of gold pieces sent by the French and aimed to the Colonies (American, pre-revolution) but waylaid somewhere in Scotland, where various murders and intrigues attend attempts at recovery. With crisp description, Roberts brings the reader right into the locale, with clues worthy of the great detective, and enough action to keep the modern reader engageed - providing an armchair adventure that will delight Holmes purists, and newcomers to this classic genre equally. Buy this to enjoy on a train trip through Scotland, or on your favorite sofa at home during a rainy weekend.
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