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Amelia Watson
The Adventures of the Second Mrs. Watson
The redoubtable Amelia Watson - the second wife of Dr. John H. Watson of Baker Street fame - returns for thirteen light-hearted adventures whose puzzles would tax the ingenuity of the master himself! Whether soaring over England in a hot air balloon; sailing the seas on board ship; journeying to Scotland on behalf of His Majesty himself; becoming enmeshed in a Royal conspiracy at Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show; or following the clues of an ancient treasure hunt through the streets of Edwardian London, Amelia Watson is never far from a mystery, and never fails to solve the most baffling of conundrums.
- GenresMystery
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Michael Mallory
90 books16 followersMichael Mallory is an internationally-recognized authority on the subjects of film, animation and 20th century pop-culture, and the author of sixteen nonfiction books, which include The Art of Krampus, Essential Horror Movies, and Marvel: The Characters and their Universe. With the legendary American animation artist Iwao Takamoto he co-authored the memoirs Iwao Takamoto: My Life With a Thousand Characters, and has written more than 600 magazine and newspaper articles that have been published worldwide. A former newscaster, occasional actor, and frequent public speaker, Mike lives and works in the greater Los Angeles area.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 26, 2024
If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, you'll absolutely find this a delightful addition to the popular series. Amelia Watson is a good character, and the author does a credible job for Sherlock Holmes. 5 ⭐
October 15, 2012
I didn’t expect much of this set of short stories; I got them in my kindle because I saw a short tale dealing with Irene Adler. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find out a lot of healthy good humor and fine interventions from our favorite sleuth though the stories are told from the point of view of the “second Mrs. Watson” of the title: a fabulously well written character. And the tale about Irene Adler did not disappoint me at all.
Strongly recommended for the (not to serious) Holmes fan.
Strongly recommended for the (not to serious) Holmes fan.
January 3, 2013
What is a woman to do when all she hears each day is a constant stream of praise for that great detective and thorn in her side, Sherlock Holmes? A staid, respectable wife would throw her hands up in despair and meekly accept her fate as a veritable widow to the great man's claim on her husband's life. Luckily for the reader, Amelia Watson, the second wife of Dr. John Watson, isn't a proper, retiring wife! Frustrated by the absence of her husband in her life, all due to his apparent greater loyalty to Sherlock, Amelia takes matters into her own hands. Fighting fire with fire, she takes on the great detective in several extraordinary and perplexing cases, assisting (and, in a few, even besting him) in detection. With an equal mixture of wit, ingenuity and charm, Amelia works to solve each case with as much skill and acting ability as the great detective himself. Much more blessed than her husband in the art of perception and deduction, Amelia proves herself an able sidekick to Holmes and shows, time and again, that a woman have a brain and use it as well as, if not better than, a master detective!
This collection of twelve intricately plotted short stories highlights Amelia's skill as a detective and Michael Mallory's talent in creating a Sherlock pastiche that is certain to entertain and delight any Conan Doyle fan. I should admit, however, that I am not as avid a reader of Doyle's original stories as others. Thus, those with more stringent criteria for Doyle-like accuracy and reproduction may disagree. From my limited experience, I do feel that these stories ring true, both in historical accuracy and in Holmesian quality, Whatever the case, they are just as delightful on their own, whether or not they perfectly reproduce the Doyle style. Five stars for this wonderful collection!
This collection of twelve intricately plotted short stories highlights Amelia's skill as a detective and Michael Mallory's talent in creating a Sherlock pastiche that is certain to entertain and delight any Conan Doyle fan. I should admit, however, that I am not as avid a reader of Doyle's original stories as others. Thus, those with more stringent criteria for Doyle-like accuracy and reproduction may disagree. From my limited experience, I do feel that these stories ring true, both in historical accuracy and in Holmesian quality, Whatever the case, they are just as delightful on their own, whether or not they perfectly reproduce the Doyle style. Five stars for this wonderful collection!
May 16, 2021
Delightful Fan-fiction
The Canon had produced many parodies and pastiches. Many of them are bad. Several are good. Some are good. Few are truly excellent, commanding respect from the ardent Sherlockians as well as post-modern fans. This book lies in the middle. It contains a bunch of fan fiction written by the second wife of Dr. John Watson.
Learned Holmesians and Sherlockians would know, a huge amount of ink as well as bit and byte have been spent trying to understand the number of Watson's wives and the nature of the relation between Holmes and Watson. This collection deals with both, and furnishes its own series of adventures.
The writing style is witty, but marred by too many Americanisms and shoddy editorial inputs (or lack thereof), robbing the book off a pastiche-status. These are fan-ficrions. The mysteries are nothing to talk about. At times they are so absurd or silly that a degree of fun and thrill is generated purely out of speculations regarding the extent to which the author and Mrs. Amelia Watson would go.
Good collection to pass these dreary times. Nothing more.
The Canon had produced many parodies and pastiches. Many of them are bad. Several are good. Some are good. Few are truly excellent, commanding respect from the ardent Sherlockians as well as post-modern fans. This book lies in the middle. It contains a bunch of fan fiction written by the second wife of Dr. John Watson.
Learned Holmesians and Sherlockians would know, a huge amount of ink as well as bit and byte have been spent trying to understand the number of Watson's wives and the nature of the relation between Holmes and Watson. This collection deals with both, and furnishes its own series of adventures.
The writing style is witty, but marred by too many Americanisms and shoddy editorial inputs (or lack thereof), robbing the book off a pastiche-status. These are fan-ficrions. The mysteries are nothing to talk about. At times they are so absurd or silly that a degree of fun and thrill is generated purely out of speculations regarding the extent to which the author and Mrs. Amelia Watson would go.
Good collection to pass these dreary times. Nothing more.
December 7, 2015
The Adventures of the Second Mrs. Watson by Michael Mallory
The first thing that I must point out is that this book is most definitely non-canonical. It has been argued among Holmes scholars as to who was Watson’s second wife, and indeed, if he even married twice.
The indispensable Mr. Baring-Gould in his Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street states that Watson’s first wife was Constance Adams, whom he married on November 1, 1886. This would make Mary Morstan Watson’s second wife, not the first. Further, Baring-Gould has a third Mrs. Watson, but experts are divided on who she was. Two suggestions havr been Violet de Merville (The Illustrious Client); and Lady Francis Carfax. Baring-Gould states in the footnotes in chapter 23 that both have been squashed by most Sherlokians.
The Mrs. Watson in this case is Amelia Pettigrew Watson. She has quite a different feeling about Holmes and the audacity to investigate on her own.
Now Canon aside (Mr. Mallory uses the same quote from “The Adventure of the Blanched Solider” that Baring-Gould uses to justify a third Mrs. Watson to make a case for Amelia as second) the stories are pretty good.
I came across Michael Mallory when Murderous Intent Magazine where these stories first appeared honored me by publishing a poem I wrote called “He Escaped.” I liked the stories (I got a free one year subscription for my poem) and my copy of the book is personally signed by Michael Mallory.
Here’s a complete rundown. Any spoilers are totally unintended.
“The Adventure of the Left-Behind Wife:” is a letter to a friend describing her tense relationship with Holmes.
“The Adventure of the Other Woman:” Watson is kidnapped and Holmes has to team with Amelia to solve the case.
“The Adventure of the Ripper’s Scrawl:” An man is found ripped up in an alley with Jack the Ripper’s famous Goulston Street Graffito scrawled above him. Great twist ending on this one!
“The Adventure of the Damsel in Grey:” A young woman confined to her room by illness dies from head trauma, and is found in the yard fallen from a window. Was it accident or murder? Amelia is on the case!
“The Adventure of the Glass House:” Watson being away on a case, Amelia runs into an old friend. There are valuable diamonds at stake.
“The Adventure of the Illustrious Patient:” Doctor Watson takes on a very special client at the request of Mycroft Holmes.
“The Adventure of the Bramley Court Devil:” An Inspector Laurie comes looking for Amelia, as a supernatural demon has apparently decided to haunt Bramley Court.
“The Adventure of the Retiring Detective:” The Woman Irene Adler returns in mortal danger.
“The Adventure of the Disappearing Coach:” Amelia’s friend Harry Benbow is in trouble again, accused of kidnapping…
“The Adventure of the Nefarious Nephew:” Watson is a witness at a murder trial, and Amelia impersonates the Prosecutor.
“The Adventure of the Japanese Sword:” One woman is murdered and another in danger from someone who kills with a katana.
“The Adventure of the Three Verners:” Amelia Watson is shaken by leaves from her family tree…
All in all, while I like the stories, I find them a little sophomoric at times. Canonical continuity is not only missing but parts of the canon are questioned or simply declared to have never happened.
But it is a lot of fun, and Mr. Mallory did sign the book for me.
Three stars out of five.
Quoth the Raven…
The first thing that I must point out is that this book is most definitely non-canonical. It has been argued among Holmes scholars as to who was Watson’s second wife, and indeed, if he even married twice.
The indispensable Mr. Baring-Gould in his Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street states that Watson’s first wife was Constance Adams, whom he married on November 1, 1886. This would make Mary Morstan Watson’s second wife, not the first. Further, Baring-Gould has a third Mrs. Watson, but experts are divided on who she was. Two suggestions havr been Violet de Merville (The Illustrious Client); and Lady Francis Carfax. Baring-Gould states in the footnotes in chapter 23 that both have been squashed by most Sherlokians.
The Mrs. Watson in this case is Amelia Pettigrew Watson. She has quite a different feeling about Holmes and the audacity to investigate on her own.
Now Canon aside (Mr. Mallory uses the same quote from “The Adventure of the Blanched Solider” that Baring-Gould uses to justify a third Mrs. Watson to make a case for Amelia as second) the stories are pretty good.
I came across Michael Mallory when Murderous Intent Magazine where these stories first appeared honored me by publishing a poem I wrote called “He Escaped.” I liked the stories (I got a free one year subscription for my poem) and my copy of the book is personally signed by Michael Mallory.
Here’s a complete rundown. Any spoilers are totally unintended.
“The Adventure of the Left-Behind Wife:” is a letter to a friend describing her tense relationship with Holmes.
“The Adventure of the Other Woman:” Watson is kidnapped and Holmes has to team with Amelia to solve the case.
“The Adventure of the Ripper’s Scrawl:” An man is found ripped up in an alley with Jack the Ripper’s famous Goulston Street Graffito scrawled above him. Great twist ending on this one!
“The Adventure of the Damsel in Grey:” A young woman confined to her room by illness dies from head trauma, and is found in the yard fallen from a window. Was it accident or murder? Amelia is on the case!
“The Adventure of the Glass House:” Watson being away on a case, Amelia runs into an old friend. There are valuable diamonds at stake.
“The Adventure of the Illustrious Patient:” Doctor Watson takes on a very special client at the request of Mycroft Holmes.
“The Adventure of the Bramley Court Devil:” An Inspector Laurie comes looking for Amelia, as a supernatural demon has apparently decided to haunt Bramley Court.
“The Adventure of the Retiring Detective:” The Woman Irene Adler returns in mortal danger.
“The Adventure of the Disappearing Coach:” Amelia’s friend Harry Benbow is in trouble again, accused of kidnapping…
“The Adventure of the Nefarious Nephew:” Watson is a witness at a murder trial, and Amelia impersonates the Prosecutor.
“The Adventure of the Japanese Sword:” One woman is murdered and another in danger from someone who kills with a katana.
“The Adventure of the Three Verners:” Amelia Watson is shaken by leaves from her family tree…
All in all, while I like the stories, I find them a little sophomoric at times. Canonical continuity is not only missing but parts of the canon are questioned or simply declared to have never happened.
But it is a lot of fun, and Mr. Mallory did sign the book for me.
Three stars out of five.
Quoth the Raven…
March 13, 2012
I read the first two stories and a portion of the third as a free sample, and immediately was hooked and had to buy the book.
Although this is a set of short stories, they do have an internal order.
Amelia Watson (nee Pettigrew) is the second wife of Dr. John Watson, the friend and chronicler of Sherlock Holmes. She gets frustrated at her husband's willingness to drop everything when Holmes calls him to assist on a case, but becomes more accepting after meeting Holmes in the first story. Amelia comments in a letter to a friend "Once again, it was 'Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes.' But at least I had the satisfaction this time of knowing that when the two are out on one of their 'games,' Mr. Holmes is likewise treated to "Amelia, Amelia, Amelia, Amelia...'"
(possibly my favorite line in the book).
Holmes appears in about half the stories. In the second half of the book Amelia is the main detective.
Amelia is a very amusing and engaging character, and I look forward to reading more about her.
My one quibble with the content is with the portrayal of Irene Adler in the story "The Adventure of the Retiring Detective". It didn't ring true to the original Irene created by Conan Doyle.
I also wished for a table of contents in the e-book in order to refer back to specific stories.
Although this is a set of short stories, they do have an internal order.
Amelia Watson (nee Pettigrew) is the second wife of Dr. John Watson, the friend and chronicler of Sherlock Holmes. She gets frustrated at her husband's willingness to drop everything when Holmes calls him to assist on a case, but becomes more accepting after meeting Holmes in the first story. Amelia comments in a letter to a friend "Once again, it was 'Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes, Holmes.' But at least I had the satisfaction this time of knowing that when the two are out on one of their 'games,' Mr. Holmes is likewise treated to "Amelia, Amelia, Amelia, Amelia...'"
(possibly my favorite line in the book).
Holmes appears in about half the stories. In the second half of the book Amelia is the main detective.
Amelia is a very amusing and engaging character, and I look forward to reading more about her.
My one quibble with the content is with the portrayal of Irene Adler in the story "The Adventure of the Retiring Detective". It didn't ring true to the original Irene created by Conan Doyle.
I also wished for a table of contents in the e-book in order to refer back to specific stories.
June 22, 2011
This was an interesting collection of short stories featuring the second Mrs. Watson (nee Amelia Pettigrew) as the heroine/narrator. At times pastiche, at times "alternative view"...of interest to Sherlock Holmes' fans, especially those that bemoaned the lack of strong feminine characters, after Irene Adler (of course).
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
