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The Supernatural Case Files of Sherlock Holmes #1
Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula: The Adventure of the Solitary Grave
From the Supernatural Case Files of Sherlock Holmes London's most beloved detective encounters his most deadly foe, and the results will be unlike any Sherlock Holmes adventure before it!
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
November 8, 2021
The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula by Christian Klaver is a 2021 Titan Books publication.
The previously classified files of Sherlock Holmes are released by Dr. Watson after Holmes’ death. These ‘black box’ cases are preternatural and utterly shocking!!
First up is a most unusual case that finds Sherlock Holmes working with the most famous vampire in the world- Count Dracula -and his bride- Mina.
A renegade group of vampires is on the loose and Dracula’s beloved Mina has been kidnapped. Even one of the most feared beings on earth turns to Sherlock Holmes for help- naturally!
Of all the fictional characters in the world, Sherlock Holmes and Dracula top the list for the most incarnations- or pastiches- out there.
Naturally, someone would want to pit the two against one another at some point- and they did- Loren Estleman for one, back in the late 1970s- for example.
I know what you’re thinking- because I was thinking the same thing when I heard about the Holmes/Dracula takeoffs. Isn’t this a little like ‘jumping the shark’?
As it turns out Estleman’s book was fairly well received by readers, believe it or not. Now Christian Klaver has taken a jab at combining the two most notorious fictional characters in one novel.
I confess to enjoying various spins on the Sherlock Holmes series and have immense respect for the great detective and his massive stamp on crime fiction- but I’m not an aficionado by any stretch of the imagination.
While I have been curious about some of the older pastiches of the Holmes/Dracula theme, I must confess I approached this one with a fair amount caution, not knowing exactly how the author intended to approach the material.
It’s a horror/fantasy story featuring two of the most infamous characters in fiction, and the author approached the fantastical premise seriously.
While Dracula’s crimes are not dismissed out of hand, he is the least of our worries, making him more of an ally than an enemy, which was interesting, but I wasn’t crazy about the fate of some of the other important characters, to be honest, and was never fully able to accept the idea of it.
To be honest, I chose this book for two reasons- I thought this might be a good ‘Halloween’ read, for one- but mostly, it was out of curiosity.
I was surprised that the story turned out to be more engrossing than I had anticipated. While some Sherlockian experts might be a little harder to please, for me the book was entertaining and a nice change of pace!!
3.5 stars
The previously classified files of Sherlock Holmes are released by Dr. Watson after Holmes’ death. These ‘black box’ cases are preternatural and utterly shocking!!
First up is a most unusual case that finds Sherlock Holmes working with the most famous vampire in the world- Count Dracula -and his bride- Mina.
A renegade group of vampires is on the loose and Dracula’s beloved Mina has been kidnapped. Even one of the most feared beings on earth turns to Sherlock Holmes for help- naturally!
Of all the fictional characters in the world, Sherlock Holmes and Dracula top the list for the most incarnations- or pastiches- out there.
Naturally, someone would want to pit the two against one another at some point- and they did- Loren Estleman for one, back in the late 1970s- for example.
I know what you’re thinking- because I was thinking the same thing when I heard about the Holmes/Dracula takeoffs. Isn’t this a little like ‘jumping the shark’?
As it turns out Estleman’s book was fairly well received by readers, believe it or not. Now Christian Klaver has taken a jab at combining the two most notorious fictional characters in one novel.
I confess to enjoying various spins on the Sherlock Holmes series and have immense respect for the great detective and his massive stamp on crime fiction- but I’m not an aficionado by any stretch of the imagination.
While I have been curious about some of the older pastiches of the Holmes/Dracula theme, I must confess I approached this one with a fair amount caution, not knowing exactly how the author intended to approach the material.
It’s a horror/fantasy story featuring two of the most infamous characters in fiction, and the author approached the fantastical premise seriously.
While Dracula’s crimes are not dismissed out of hand, he is the least of our worries, making him more of an ally than an enemy, which was interesting, but I wasn’t crazy about the fate of some of the other important characters, to be honest, and was never fully able to accept the idea of it.
To be honest, I chose this book for two reasons- I thought this might be a good ‘Halloween’ read, for one- but mostly, it was out of curiosity.
I was surprised that the story turned out to be more engrossing than I had anticipated. While some Sherlockian experts might be a little harder to please, for me the book was entertaining and a nice change of pace!!
3.5 stars
December 24, 2021
First think of Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes, he played him in 1970s and his best friend Christopher Lee as Dracula now you are ready to read this 4 volume set of stories all published from 2010 to 2021.
But Dracula is only in the first story, the 2nd is a Lovecraft style and we have very brutal 3rd. Running through the stories the Mariner Priest an evil vampire but unknown shadow who I guessed right. I can't say much about the last story because it ruin it.
But Dracula is only in the first story, the 2nd is a Lovecraft style and we have very brutal 3rd. Running through the stories the Mariner Priest an evil vampire but unknown shadow who I guessed right. I can't say much about the last story because it ruin it.
January 20, 2022
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula was such a fun book to jump into. I liked the twist of Watson and Mary becoming vampires. Then Count Dracula and Sherlock Holmes becoming acquaintances throughout the book was enjoyable. Mostly because of the bantering but they all really worked well together too.
On top of all that, Mary going into the dark side and becoming Maggie was an interesting twist. I did feel bad for Watson though because he really did love her. Then their whole journey of vampirism was different to. Again, she went to the dark route while Watson didn't. He had Holmes to keep him grounded and I'm glad that he did.
As for Holmes. He was pleasantly brilliant. With so many murders, betrayal, and unknown villain - Mariner Priest, every chapter was easy to devour. Or maybe it was just me. I wanted everyone to just get a run in with mysterious villain. Then with each clue, it was pretty easy to figure out who the villain was going to be.
In the end, Holmes and Count bamboozling a certain someone was easy to spot coming. It was still quite enjoyable to read everything though. I'm also wondering if there's going to be another adventure with everyone based on how this one ended. I would totally read it if there is one. If not, I will move on to the next Holmes adventure.
The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula was such a fun book to jump into. I liked the twist of Watson and Mary becoming vampires. Then Count Dracula and Sherlock Holmes becoming acquaintances throughout the book was enjoyable. Mostly because of the bantering but they all really worked well together too.
On top of all that, Mary going into the dark side and becoming Maggie was an interesting twist. I did feel bad for Watson though because he really did love her. Then their whole journey of vampirism was different to. Again, she went to the dark route while Watson didn't. He had Holmes to keep him grounded and I'm glad that he did.
As for Holmes. He was pleasantly brilliant. With so many murders, betrayal, and unknown villain - Mariner Priest, every chapter was easy to devour. Or maybe it was just me. I wanted everyone to just get a run in with mysterious villain. Then with each clue, it was pretty easy to figure out who the villain was going to be.
In the end, Holmes and Count bamboozling a certain someone was easy to spot coming. It was still quite enjoyable to read everything though. I'm also wondering if there's going to be another adventure with everyone based on how this one ended. I would totally read it if there is one. If not, I will move on to the next Holmes adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2022
DNF — got three-quarters of the way through and just couldn’t do it any more. The writing is clunky. Dracula only really appears in the first act. The bit characters and plot lines that keep getting relentlessly introduced are messy rather than intriguing, and I just wasn’t interested enough to keep going and see how they’d all come together — that is, if they ever even do.
March 27, 2023
I freaking LOVED this! Love, love, loved it!!!
This honestly read just like a classic Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but sprinkled with the eldritch of Penny Dreadfuls. Klaver has incorporated the soul of Watson's writing with the macabre, as well as combining Doyle's original cases to this brand new one. Chef's kiss!
I really admired the author's take on Dracula's personality, creating something different instead of the epitome of evil most novels employ. I shipped Dracula and Mina so hard, they were utterly engrossing together on the page. The scene with the coffin full of water...could not put it down!! Holmes remains the brilliant detective we know and love but has humanity inside him for the people he cares for, and my dear Watson is given so much more depth and strength to his characters.
My only grip was what happened to Mary. Mina is AMAZING! She stole the show in all her appearances and I lapped it up! Despite views on women's constitution back in the days this story is set in, Klaver cleverly finds ways to make his female characters interesting and rebel in kind to old-fashioned stereotypes. I hope Kitty and Holly make reappearances.
This was such a fun combination of two of the most greatest literature figures, coming together, with familiar and new characters added to the mix, on a mysterious jaunt through London involving murder, vampires, and mayhem! I can't wait to read what other gothic literature characters will make an appearance in the series. Bring on the next adventure immediately into my hands!!!!
IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3lq4Fvhpr/
This honestly read just like a classic Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but sprinkled with the eldritch of Penny Dreadfuls. Klaver has incorporated the soul of Watson's writing with the macabre, as well as combining Doyle's original cases to this brand new one. Chef's kiss!
I really admired the author's take on Dracula's personality, creating something different instead of the epitome of evil most novels employ. I shipped Dracula and Mina so hard, they were utterly engrossing together on the page. The scene with the coffin full of water...could not put it down!! Holmes remains the brilliant detective we know and love but has humanity inside him for the people he cares for, and my dear Watson is given so much more depth and strength to his characters.
My only grip was what happened to Mary. Mina is AMAZING! She stole the show in all her appearances and I lapped it up! Despite views on women's constitution back in the days this story is set in, Klaver cleverly finds ways to make his female characters interesting and rebel in kind to old-fashioned stereotypes. I hope Kitty and Holly make reappearances.
This was such a fun combination of two of the most greatest literature figures, coming together, with familiar and new characters added to the mix, on a mysterious jaunt through London involving murder, vampires, and mayhem! I can't wait to read what other gothic literature characters will make an appearance in the series. Bring on the next adventure immediately into my hands!!!!
IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3lq4Fvhpr/
February 17, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
WOW! This is a really AMAZING book! (end review). lol
Christian Klaver knows his Sherlock Holmes and has definitely done his research! This book reads EXACTLY like an original Holmes story would! I myself have read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and if someone told me this was also an original, I would believe it! Klaver does a wonderful job of mentioning bits and pieces of Sherlock's previous adventures and history which liven the book up and make it truly feel like it's part of Doyle's original world.
Dracula (as mentioned in the title) is also in this book and brings such LIFE (see what I did there?) to this book! It is such a twist to bring Dracula into the Holmes world and yet Klaver does an incredible job of melding them seamlessly together. You might not have ever pictured them all being together, but I assure you when reading this book you wonder why it hasn't been done before!
Character fan-girling aside, the book on its own is an action packed, enjoyable story. Even if you have never heard of Sherlock Holmes or Dracula, you will love this book! The story has some twists, some turns, and once I started, I could not put it down. I truly hope this book does well and Klaver decides to write more because I think this new combo of heroes could easily turn into a series. I am desperate for more!
If you love Dracula/vampires or a good mystery/Sherlock Holmes this is the book for you! A joy to read, easy to get through, fun and completely enjoyable !!! This is THE book!
WOW! This is a really AMAZING book! (end review). lol
Christian Klaver knows his Sherlock Holmes and has definitely done his research! This book reads EXACTLY like an original Holmes story would! I myself have read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and if someone told me this was also an original, I would believe it! Klaver does a wonderful job of mentioning bits and pieces of Sherlock's previous adventures and history which liven the book up and make it truly feel like it's part of Doyle's original world.
Dracula (as mentioned in the title) is also in this book and brings such LIFE (see what I did there?) to this book! It is such a twist to bring Dracula into the Holmes world and yet Klaver does an incredible job of melding them seamlessly together. You might not have ever pictured them all being together, but I assure you when reading this book you wonder why it hasn't been done before!
Character fan-girling aside, the book on its own is an action packed, enjoyable story. Even if you have never heard of Sherlock Holmes or Dracula, you will love this book! The story has some twists, some turns, and once I started, I could not put it down. I truly hope this book does well and Klaver decides to write more because I think this new combo of heroes could easily turn into a series. I am desperate for more!
If you love Dracula/vampires or a good mystery/Sherlock Holmes this is the book for you! A joy to read, easy to get through, fun and completely enjoyable !!! This is THE book!
June 12, 2012
What's most remarkable about this story is the degree of authenticity Klaver gives it-- it reads just like a story by Doyle (or Watson, if you prefer!). The attention to Victorian detail is also noteworthy, and it's clear that the author knows his Holmes mythology. You may think you've seen all that can be done with teh sub-genre of "Holmes meets Dracula" tales, but The Case of the Solitary Grave is exciting and refreshingly unpredictable. As a bonus, we get a very touching look at the deep bond of friendship between Holmes and Watson.
Can't wait for the next adventure!
Can't wait for the next adventure!
December 21, 2024
I honestly knew nothing about this book before I began reading it. I saw the title, saw how pretty the hardcover release for it was and went 'hell yeah I'm reading that', so I hadn't even glanced at the blurb before beginning to read the book. I think if I had it would have saved me from the first surprise of the book, that this wasn't going to be another story that pitted the great detective against the world's most famous vampire, such as Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula which was also published by Titan Books, but would see the two icons working together.
Like with the vast majority of Sherlock Holmes books this tale is written from the perspective of Doctor John Watson, who has chronicled many of Holmes' adventures. What marks this one as more unusual than most, however, is that this story has waited until the titular detective has died before being published. The introduction from Watson begins by telling us that Holmes is dead, and only now can a series of cases from his 'black box' be shown to the world.
The story begins when Holmes and Watson are presented with a strange piece of evidence by Scotland Yard, a severed woman's finger. Whilst this is grizzly and strange enough in itself it only becomes more and more disturbing when the finger doesn't act in a way you'd expect, and doesn't seem to be normal dead flesh. Even stranger, it reacts violently to both sunlight and silver. This pushes Holmes towards a shocking conclusion, that the finger must have come from a vampire.
This deduction is only confirmed when the two of them are approached by Count Dracula himself. Not only do the two of them now have to wrestle with the idea that vampires are real, but that the account made of Dracula within Stoker's novel was far from the truth, and the 'monster' from the story is a man who needs their help in order to save his kidnapped wife, Mina.
Over the course of their investigation they discover that London has become targeted by mysterious 'elder' vampire working from the shadows, known only as the Mariner Priest, who is amassing an army of newly turned creatures. Not only that, but tragic events will befall Holmes and Watson that will forever change their lives, and change the way that you look at the stories Watson has shared with the public. Over the course of this first volume they will learn of other, even more amazing creatures as they battle to stop this mysterious menace from turning London into a nest of vicious vampires.
From very early on in the book Christian Klaver does one of the best things that he could do for this story, he gets Sherlock Holmes on board with the supernatural. I've seen stories where Holmes has had to deal with monsters and other paranormal entities, and his staunch belief in science and things having a rational explanation often drag down the start of those tails, making the detective feel a little foolish because we know he's wrong in those assertions. But this story not only has Holmes getting on board with vampires being real, but does so withing the first dozen or so pages. Yes, he believes that vampires are rooted more in science than curses and magic, but he fully accepts that they exist.
Once that particular hurdle is out of the way we're able to get into the real meat of the novel, which is seeing our two leads getting to grips with the supernatural being real. They still engage in investigations, and use their past experience and knowledge to get them through the trials that they face here, but they also come prepared with silver bullets too. The book is split into four interconnected stories, spread out over roughly a years time. These stories begin by introducing the world of the supernatural, show how Holmes and Watson adjust to this knowledge and deal with these challenges, before finally coming round to dealing with the threat of the Mariner Priest; though leaving enough dangling at the end to set up for further supernatural adventures.
The book incorporates the supernatural elements into the Holmes canon really well, and it feels like a pretty natural fit for the most part. It doesn't contradict too much, and in the introduction Watson talks about things not quite lining up perfectly with the other stories hes released due to having had to change certain details and pieces to hide the truth from the public on a whole. This is a pretty reasonable explanation, and it does fit with some of the stuff that readers will be familiar with for sure.
Despite the name, Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula, the Count isn't in a huge amount of the book. The focus here is very much Holmes and Watson. I think that this is a smart choice. Dracula is one of those characters best used sparingly. Even in his own original story he was a presence that dipped in and out of the narrative, rather than being the dominant focus. To use him in a similar way here is a good choice. It means that we get the much more human connection with Holmes and Watson, and we get to learn about this new supernatural world through the eyes of people freshly exposed to it, rather than someone who has been a part of it for centuries.
The book doesn't just introduce us to vampires, however, as the final pages of the book have Holmes showing Watson several letters asking for assistance with bizarre and unusual cases that seem to involve ghosts and other strange entities. This give the reader some hints at the kinds of things that may come in future volumes, and assures us that the duo's time dealing with the paranormal will be far from over; but it also gives an indication that there are more than just vampires in the world. The second main chunk of this book also does that too, as it deals with a mysterious body and a strange ship docked in London that travelled from Innsmouth. I'm sure that name will ring bells with certain readers, an I won't say more about that particular part of the book other than it's a rather interesting adventure that begins to introduce creatures other than vampires to the series.
Outside of the supernatural elements, Klaver does a wonderful job at bringing Holmes and Watson to life. Watson goes through a lot over the course of the book. I won't go into too many details so as not to spoil the book, but the events of the story will forever alter his life, and those of his loved ones, and because of this we get some times where we see Watson having to grapple with some truly dark and painful emotions. But Klaver is also one of those writers who seems to understand Holmes too, and doesn't make him insufferably rude.
There are a lot of versions of the character, and one of the things I think people who don't read a huge amount of Sherlock Holmes fiction seem to conclude, and put into their versions of the character, is that Holmes is a rude person. They write him as being so much smarter than the people around him that it ends up with him looking down on other people, treating them like they're beneath him, or simply being cruel because he has no desire to be nice. This, for me anyway, is the complete opposite to what Holmes really is, and Klaver seems to get that. Holmes does feel removed at times yes, but he's also incredibly kind and caring throughout this book. He's polite to others, he cares about Watson, and he makes jokes with people, not at others expense.
Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula is an incredibly imaginative new take on these characters, and Klaver not only brings a fresh spin to Holmes and Watson, but the Dracula mythos too. It establishes a bold new status quo for the world's greatest detective, one that I can't wait to see more of in future volumes.
Like with the vast majority of Sherlock Holmes books this tale is written from the perspective of Doctor John Watson, who has chronicled many of Holmes' adventures. What marks this one as more unusual than most, however, is that this story has waited until the titular detective has died before being published. The introduction from Watson begins by telling us that Holmes is dead, and only now can a series of cases from his 'black box' be shown to the world.
The story begins when Holmes and Watson are presented with a strange piece of evidence by Scotland Yard, a severed woman's finger. Whilst this is grizzly and strange enough in itself it only becomes more and more disturbing when the finger doesn't act in a way you'd expect, and doesn't seem to be normal dead flesh. Even stranger, it reacts violently to both sunlight and silver. This pushes Holmes towards a shocking conclusion, that the finger must have come from a vampire.
This deduction is only confirmed when the two of them are approached by Count Dracula himself. Not only do the two of them now have to wrestle with the idea that vampires are real, but that the account made of Dracula within Stoker's novel was far from the truth, and the 'monster' from the story is a man who needs their help in order to save his kidnapped wife, Mina.
Over the course of their investigation they discover that London has become targeted by mysterious 'elder' vampire working from the shadows, known only as the Mariner Priest, who is amassing an army of newly turned creatures. Not only that, but tragic events will befall Holmes and Watson that will forever change their lives, and change the way that you look at the stories Watson has shared with the public. Over the course of this first volume they will learn of other, even more amazing creatures as they battle to stop this mysterious menace from turning London into a nest of vicious vampires.
From very early on in the book Christian Klaver does one of the best things that he could do for this story, he gets Sherlock Holmes on board with the supernatural. I've seen stories where Holmes has had to deal with monsters and other paranormal entities, and his staunch belief in science and things having a rational explanation often drag down the start of those tails, making the detective feel a little foolish because we know he's wrong in those assertions. But this story not only has Holmes getting on board with vampires being real, but does so withing the first dozen or so pages. Yes, he believes that vampires are rooted more in science than curses and magic, but he fully accepts that they exist.
Once that particular hurdle is out of the way we're able to get into the real meat of the novel, which is seeing our two leads getting to grips with the supernatural being real. They still engage in investigations, and use their past experience and knowledge to get them through the trials that they face here, but they also come prepared with silver bullets too. The book is split into four interconnected stories, spread out over roughly a years time. These stories begin by introducing the world of the supernatural, show how Holmes and Watson adjust to this knowledge and deal with these challenges, before finally coming round to dealing with the threat of the Mariner Priest; though leaving enough dangling at the end to set up for further supernatural adventures.
The book incorporates the supernatural elements into the Holmes canon really well, and it feels like a pretty natural fit for the most part. It doesn't contradict too much, and in the introduction Watson talks about things not quite lining up perfectly with the other stories hes released due to having had to change certain details and pieces to hide the truth from the public on a whole. This is a pretty reasonable explanation, and it does fit with some of the stuff that readers will be familiar with for sure.
Despite the name, Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula, the Count isn't in a huge amount of the book. The focus here is very much Holmes and Watson. I think that this is a smart choice. Dracula is one of those characters best used sparingly. Even in his own original story he was a presence that dipped in and out of the narrative, rather than being the dominant focus. To use him in a similar way here is a good choice. It means that we get the much more human connection with Holmes and Watson, and we get to learn about this new supernatural world through the eyes of people freshly exposed to it, rather than someone who has been a part of it for centuries.
The book doesn't just introduce us to vampires, however, as the final pages of the book have Holmes showing Watson several letters asking for assistance with bizarre and unusual cases that seem to involve ghosts and other strange entities. This give the reader some hints at the kinds of things that may come in future volumes, and assures us that the duo's time dealing with the paranormal will be far from over; but it also gives an indication that there are more than just vampires in the world. The second main chunk of this book also does that too, as it deals with a mysterious body and a strange ship docked in London that travelled from Innsmouth. I'm sure that name will ring bells with certain readers, an I won't say more about that particular part of the book other than it's a rather interesting adventure that begins to introduce creatures other than vampires to the series.
Outside of the supernatural elements, Klaver does a wonderful job at bringing Holmes and Watson to life. Watson goes through a lot over the course of the book. I won't go into too many details so as not to spoil the book, but the events of the story will forever alter his life, and those of his loved ones, and because of this we get some times where we see Watson having to grapple with some truly dark and painful emotions. But Klaver is also one of those writers who seems to understand Holmes too, and doesn't make him insufferably rude.
There are a lot of versions of the character, and one of the things I think people who don't read a huge amount of Sherlock Holmes fiction seem to conclude, and put into their versions of the character, is that Holmes is a rude person. They write him as being so much smarter than the people around him that it ends up with him looking down on other people, treating them like they're beneath him, or simply being cruel because he has no desire to be nice. This, for me anyway, is the complete opposite to what Holmes really is, and Klaver seems to get that. Holmes does feel removed at times yes, but he's also incredibly kind and caring throughout this book. He's polite to others, he cares about Watson, and he makes jokes with people, not at others expense.
Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula is an incredibly imaginative new take on these characters, and Klaver not only brings a fresh spin to Holmes and Watson, but the Dracula mythos too. It establishes a bold new status quo for the world's greatest detective, one that I can't wait to see more of in future volumes.
January 5, 2022
Oh, what a fun little romp this was!
The tales of Sherlock Holmes have always been part mystery, part adventure, part wry humor, and this new addition to the Holmes storyline is no exception. Our tale is told, as always, by Dr. Watson. With the death of Holmes, Watson is now free to share a selection of the most secretive of cases on which he and Holmes worked, cases which were by necessity kept quiet and hidden until the great detective's death.
For you see, Sherlock Holmes has been cavorting with vampires.
We begin around a dozen years after the (supposed?) death of Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. Presented in four parts, each a separate but related case, we learn of the existence of vampires, of a cunning vampire lord called the Mariner Priest, and of the Priest's plans to raise a vampire army and overtake London, among other places.
Holmes and Watson find a surprising ally in the legendary Count Dracula, though the story the Count presents varies greatly from the one Stoker wrote about him. Mina, his bride, is at his side, as they face down enemies and work alongside the detective and the doctor to discover the identity of the Mariner Priest and stop his nefarious plans from coming to fruition.
Fans of Lovecraft will especially appreciate Part Two: The Innsmouth Whaler, though I'll not provide any more information on that because of spoilers.
The tales herein are fast paced and fun, dark and dangerous, twisty and clever and full of daring adventure and battles and Holmes outsmarting everyone around him (of course). I had a great time reading this, a bit of lighter fare but still full of the monsters and darkness horror lovers adore.
Near the end, when things are wrapping up, Holmes presents to Watson a sheaf of letters, cases for him to consider:
"I have been sifting through my correspondence to locate the most outre for you, but this last bundle rather outdoes itself. We have tales of disappearing men and talking animals, cadaverous monsters and magical portraits...."
These cases speak to the continuing story of Holmes and Watson's 'Classified Dossier', and it seems that the author, Christian Klaver, intends to put the great detective's mind to work dealing with all of the classics of Gothic horror. I think we are in for a real treat as this series continues.
The tales of Sherlock Holmes have always been part mystery, part adventure, part wry humor, and this new addition to the Holmes storyline is no exception. Our tale is told, as always, by Dr. Watson. With the death of Holmes, Watson is now free to share a selection of the most secretive of cases on which he and Holmes worked, cases which were by necessity kept quiet and hidden until the great detective's death.
For you see, Sherlock Holmes has been cavorting with vampires.
We begin around a dozen years after the (supposed?) death of Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. Presented in four parts, each a separate but related case, we learn of the existence of vampires, of a cunning vampire lord called the Mariner Priest, and of the Priest's plans to raise a vampire army and overtake London, among other places.
Holmes and Watson find a surprising ally in the legendary Count Dracula, though the story the Count presents varies greatly from the one Stoker wrote about him. Mina, his bride, is at his side, as they face down enemies and work alongside the detective and the doctor to discover the identity of the Mariner Priest and stop his nefarious plans from coming to fruition.
Fans of Lovecraft will especially appreciate Part Two: The Innsmouth Whaler, though I'll not provide any more information on that because of spoilers.
The tales herein are fast paced and fun, dark and dangerous, twisty and clever and full of daring adventure and battles and Holmes outsmarting everyone around him (of course). I had a great time reading this, a bit of lighter fare but still full of the monsters and darkness horror lovers adore.
Near the end, when things are wrapping up, Holmes presents to Watson a sheaf of letters, cases for him to consider:
"I have been sifting through my correspondence to locate the most outre for you, but this last bundle rather outdoes itself. We have tales of disappearing men and talking animals, cadaverous monsters and magical portraits...."
These cases speak to the continuing story of Holmes and Watson's 'Classified Dossier', and it seems that the author, Christian Klaver, intends to put the great detective's mind to work dealing with all of the classics of Gothic horror. I think we are in for a real treat as this series continues.
February 27, 2012
This is an unexpectedly rich and satisfying Sherlock Holmes-meets-Count Dracula tale. Dracula enlists Sherlock Holmes's assistance - on the promise he will leave the country if Holmes will help, but he can't be held responsible for the many innocent lives in London if Holmes refuses - to find his kidnapped bride, Mina Harker. Holmes and Dracula join forces against the now-immortal Moriarty (whose unique brand of genius is changing the face of vampirism), but the character who truly shines here is John Watson, who faces a terrible loss and horrific transformation with tremendous courage and humanity. I was surprised at how canon-friendly this story seems, despite the fantastic nature of the crossover plot, and how unexpectedly poignant this was at times. I read Klaver's two Holmesian books out of order (this comes before The Innsmouth Whaler chronologically), but this did not detract from my enjoyment. Again, I wish someone had proofed the formatting with more care (there are a few missing words, several improper paragraph indentations, and a couple of genuine typos), but it's a tribute to how effective this story is that I found it to be compelling anyway. I'll definitely watch for more pastiches by Klaver.
A couple of my favorite lines (spoilers!) are as follows:
"Holmes put a hand on my shoulder and I could see that my otherwise austere comrade was quite shaken with that deep emotion that I had always known lay underneath the cool exterior. 'If not for me,' he said, 'your dear wife would most surely be alive.'"
"'I have always said,' my friend remarked, 'that there are great unplumbed depths to Watson. You would do well not to underestimate him, I should think.'"
A couple of my favorite lines (spoilers!) are as follows:
"Holmes put a hand on my shoulder and I could see that my otherwise austere comrade was quite shaken with that deep emotion that I had always known lay underneath the cool exterior. 'If not for me,' he said, 'your dear wife would most surely be alive.'"
"'I have always said,' my friend remarked, 'that there are great unplumbed depths to Watson. You would do well not to underestimate him, I should think.'"
September 11, 2022
Read this for Maven of the Eventide's vampire book club.
First off, I want to say how gorgeous the artwork for this book is. The cover and endpapers are so nicely designed! Glad I got a physical copy of this.
Second, I would say that this is more of a Sherlock Holmes story rather than a Dracula / vampire story, for anyone looking to read this. I think you have to be more of a Sherlock Holmes fan, but of course a horror fan as well. I guess you could kinda describe this as Wellington Paranormal with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as the investigators, haha. It's been some years since I last read any Sherlock Holmes, but I feel this does capture the spirit of those stories, it's very well written.
I'm not sure, but it looks like the parts of this book were previously a series of short stories? Which explains why I guess that dragged it a bit down for me, I wasn't super into the plot. It might have gone down better if I knew what I was going into? I'll give it 3.5 stars.
First off, I want to say how gorgeous the artwork for this book is. The cover and endpapers are so nicely designed! Glad I got a physical copy of this.
Second, I would say that this is more of a Sherlock Holmes story rather than a Dracula / vampire story, for anyone looking to read this. I think you have to be more of a Sherlock Holmes fan, but of course a horror fan as well. I guess you could kinda describe this as Wellington Paranormal with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as the investigators, haha. It's been some years since I last read any Sherlock Holmes, but I feel this does capture the spirit of those stories, it's very well written.
I'm not sure, but it looks like the parts of this book were previously a series of short stories? Which explains why I guess that dragged it a bit down for me, I wasn't super into the plot. It might have gone down better if I knew what I was going into? I'll give it 3.5 stars.
April 15, 2022
I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, so why not see how Sherlock Holmes handles vampires?
It was interesting, and different, but ultimately not satisfying. I just didn't like the universe that the author chose to create. Dr. Watson, God bless him, is stuck being a vampire. That's a sad way to leave him. Vlad Dracula has very little personality; I guess Stoker's book really was a fabrication. Moriarity has to be involved, because we all know there are no other truly gifted bad guys in the world capable of confronting Holmes. Isn't Mrs. Hudson a peach to quietly serve warm blood in a teapot every morning without raising a fuss? Sorry, good try, but it doesn't work for me.
It was interesting, and different, but ultimately not satisfying. I just didn't like the universe that the author chose to create. Dr. Watson, God bless him, is stuck being a vampire. That's a sad way to leave him. Vlad Dracula has very little personality; I guess Stoker's book really was a fabrication. Moriarity has to be involved, because we all know there are no other truly gifted bad guys in the world capable of confronting Holmes. Isn't Mrs. Hudson a peach to quietly serve warm blood in a teapot every morning without raising a fuss? Sorry, good try, but it doesn't work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2014
A fun story. Klaver does an excellent job of capturing the language of the Adventures, the love between Holmes and Watson, and the air of crime-ridden Victorian London.
My only complaint is that Klaver's vampires are of a decidedly modern variety, having very little to do with Stoker's creation. I could tell that tremendous pains were taken to remain - as far as possible, given the subject matter - true to the Holmesian Canon, and I wish similar care had been taken with the Count and his fellows.
My only complaint is that Klaver's vampires are of a decidedly modern variety, having very little to do with Stoker's creation. I could tell that tremendous pains were taken to remain - as far as possible, given the subject matter - true to the Holmesian Canon, and I wish similar care had been taken with the Count and his fellows.
August 23, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed! Writing captured the feel of the original stories perfectly. Looking forward to reading the next installment.
January 11, 2022
So toll! Und so wunderbar gelesen. So viele unterschiedliche Stimmen, Holmes, Watson, Mina, Dracula, Kitty… alle. Ich bin schwer begeistert! Und Watson ist einfach ein genialer Erzähler. :)
October 20, 2023
Great stories, I loved the voice of Dracula.
September 30, 2023
Calling this book ‘Sherlock Holmes’ feels like an insult. I’m not actually sure that Klaver even read the books before writing this cluster fuck. He establishes that this is set after the events of most of canon and then proceeds to write John pre any character development whatsoever. He is an actual idiot who spends the whole time being completely useless. On top of this, he just hates women for some reason? Additionally, it is completely ridiculous to suggest that John has a stronger and ‘better’ personality than Mary to the extent that his personality would persevere through the change into a vampire but hers would not. She is one of the few female characters in this book and gets character assassinated right from the start. Her plot line ends in a weird toxic romance sub plot which really served no purpose. The other few women do not fair any better. Mrs Hudson only gets two lines (again, despite this being post the majority of canon when she is established as her own character with her own voice). Kitty Winters is portrayed as a stereotypical hysterical woman who also must have a romance subplot to stay relevant. Mina spends the whole time being eyed up by John who constantly tells us how not like other girls she is… even though he married Mary Watson. On top of the sexism, there is also a sprinkling of xenophobia whenever Dracula is mentioned. Speaking of Dracula, why is he even a titled character? He’s here for about 100 pages, adds nothing to the plot it feels like a complete deviation from any portryal of him- Bram Stoker or otherwise. He would have been a fun villain but instead Klaver decides to go with complete unoriginality and bring back Moriarty. What a surprise (not). He doesn’t even go through the effort of bringing Moriarty back in an accurate way. The man has now become a complete idiot whose every plan fails and who just gives up in the end after a long unintelligent speech about how angry he is. The twist of Moriarty being the villain was predictable right from the start. The same can be said for every other plot twist. In terms of dialogue, Sherlock feels vaguely accurate to the original books (ignoring the rampant sexism) but everyone else speaks like they’re in a cartoon. I hated it and spent most of it just skimming. Gets half a star because I was excited for about 20 pages at the start.
April 26, 2014
As a dyed-in-the-wool Sherlock Holmes fan, I was very pleased with this story. It had a definite Conan Doyle feel about it, and tapped easily into the legendary Sherlock Holmes methods of deduction in this original story about Holmes' encounter with Dracula. It had a touch of the supernatural with dark undertones, but was so very well thought-out. These 'unusual' elements took the story to another level with the excellent flow of the story as a whole.
For a make-believe tale, it made you believe all events were in fact true and plausible. It was a quick, entertaining read, for which I gladly give five-stars and my only tiny gripe would be that I'd have preferred it was part of an anthology of tales by this Conan Doyle imitator (that's a complement by the way) given that it was a relatively short story. I will certainly be looking out for more of the same by Christian Klaver.
(Oh yes, as mentioned in other reviews, the editing needs work).
For a make-believe tale, it made you believe all events were in fact true and plausible. It was a quick, entertaining read, for which I gladly give five-stars and my only tiny gripe would be that I'd have preferred it was part of an anthology of tales by this Conan Doyle imitator (that's a complement by the way) given that it was a relatively short story. I will certainly be looking out for more of the same by Christian Klaver.
(Oh yes, as mentioned in other reviews, the editing needs work).
November 1, 2022
I chose this book because of Halloween and it was not scary, definitely more of a mystery. It seems Sherlock Holmes has passed on, and Dr Watson has decided to write a tell all on stories, this being the first. Dracula apparently came to them in regards to his wife, Mina, being kidnapped. I have a problem with the story…first Watson would never betray Holmes by writing their secrets. Second, by writing this secret takes, he is exposing himself to attack by the people he helped! At least make the story believable.
August 6, 2016
This is a 5 STAR story with an execution barely worth half of that. Among Holmes/Dracula stories, Klaver produces some of the more unique ideas but presents them so summarily as to do them no justice. What is presented here as a novella would probably have been better as a full-length novel if not a series of novels. Maybe Klaver will revisit his ideas with something more grand in mind.
3 STARS
3 STARS
July 11, 2022
This is a collection of different cases of Sherlock’s that all somewhat have to do with vampires and stuff. There’s definitely surprises and parts of 5-star action so it was a mostly enjoyable experience (especially the ending!!!), but there were also some low, boring points too.
January 2, 2023
Dreadful fan fiction nonsense.
October 30, 2024
What I loved about this:
- The intro. We are finally spared these long "I found a hidden package with Watson's old stuff" style intros and thus the story begins quickly. I liked the little reminder that "Sherlock is long dead".
- Dracula as a Client of Sherlock Holmes
- Mina & Dracula's relationship
- Mina &
- the new characters, especially the addition to the Baker Street Boys:
-
- despite being part of a series this can also be read as a standalone
- I liked the writing style and I recommend listening to the audiobook version since the narrator does a fantastic job
What I didn't like:
- This is tagged as horror but most of the time it really isn't creepy or spooky, which is a shame.
- A certain story arc reminded me too much of but it sadly can not live up to that comparison
- The villain is lackluster and the final battle against them feels a little rushed after what came before, it wouldn't surprise me if we hadn't seen the last of them
- Every Dracula scene is great but there's a looong stretch without him and I missed him very much
- Watson
- Many things do not get explained satisfactorily. This could be because they play a role in the sequels, but I'm reviewing this book now so:
Finally: I recommend this if you are looking for an exciting pastiche that is more focused on action than case solving and proudly steps foot into the supernatural. I'm looking forward to the sequels, though I hope the next villain will be crazier.
- The intro. We are finally spared these long "I found a hidden package with Watson's old stuff" style intros and thus the story begins quickly. I liked the little reminder that "Sherlock is long dead".
- Dracula as a Client of Sherlock Holmes
- Mina & Dracula's relationship
- Mina &
- the new characters, especially the addition to the Baker Street Boys:
-
- despite being part of a series this can also be read as a standalone
- I liked the writing style and I recommend listening to the audiobook version since the narrator does a fantastic job
What I didn't like:
- This is tagged as horror but most of the time it really isn't creepy or spooky, which is a shame.
- A certain story arc reminded me too much of but it sadly can not live up to that comparison
- The villain is lackluster and the final battle against them feels a little rushed after what came before, it wouldn't surprise me if we hadn't seen the last of them
- Every Dracula scene is great but there's a looong stretch without him and I missed him very much
- Watson
- Many things do not get explained satisfactorily. This could be because they play a role in the sequels, but I'm reviewing this book now so:
Finally: I recommend this if you are looking for an exciting pastiche that is more focused on action than case solving and proudly steps foot into the supernatural. I'm looking forward to the sequels, though I hope the next villain will be crazier.
May 5, 2022
Legends from two different worlds join together against a common villain. Surprisingly that villain isn’t Dracula. I went into this first installment of The Classified Dossier with expectations because you can’t keep calm after hearing Dracula and Sherlock Holmes TOGETHER!!
I’m so glad the story turned out to be an entertaining one - mixed with Holmes’s curiousness and Dracula’s morally grey vibes! The atmosphere the story set is so apt that this reads almost like the gothic original. Not gonna spoil anything, but the murder mystery type story was a fun one to read!! I believe Holmes is in the second part but his partner in crime differs in each book!
Thank you Titan books via Netgalley for the reader’s copy.
I’m so glad the story turned out to be an entertaining one - mixed with Holmes’s curiousness and Dracula’s morally grey vibes! The atmosphere the story set is so apt that this reads almost like the gothic original. Not gonna spoil anything, but the murder mystery type story was a fun one to read!! I believe Holmes is in the second part but his partner in crime differs in each book!
Thank you Titan books via Netgalley for the reader’s copy.
November 1, 2022
I was once again surprised how much I liked this book. Not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, however, if he is like Christian Klaver depicts him, I think he could be. I loved the banter btwn Holmes and Watson. There is something charming about Victorian banter. Plus the fact that the author is local!! Then throw in Count Dracula and Mina and you have a story that is throughly enjoyable!
I only know Dracula as he is depicted in pop culture. Now I need to read Bram Stoker’s novel!
This whole gothic horror genre could be becoming a thing🤷🏻
I only know Dracula as he is depicted in pop culture. Now I need to read Bram Stoker’s novel!
This whole gothic horror genre could be becoming a thing🤷🏻
September 15, 2022
When Count Dracula approaches Holmes to uncover evidence of who is trying to kill him, his uncanny nature will have lasting repercussions on Mary Watson and the investigation will change Dr Watson forever
Klaver's linking of two powerful characters works well and the novel is presented in a naturalistic style which grounds the supernatural adventure and places it firmly in London's smoggy streets.
Klaver's linking of two powerful characters works well and the novel is presented in a naturalistic style which grounds the supernatural adventure and places it firmly in London's smoggy streets.
January 12, 2022
As a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dracula, I was intrigued to see how this mash up would go - I've read other stories with both characters together and they have been way off the mark and a bit blah. So I was pleasantly surprised with this.
I can't say much about the plot without spoiling some elements of the story, but would highly recommend this if you're a fan of either of our two heroes.
This is the first book in a new supernatural series, and I'll definitely be reading the rest.
I can't say much about the plot without spoiling some elements of the story, but would highly recommend this if you're a fan of either of our two heroes.
This is the first book in a new supernatural series, and I'll definitely be reading the rest.
May 16, 2024
Christian Klaver's The Classified Dossier: Sherlock Holmes and Count Dracula checks off so many boxes of things I adore, but particularly the meeting between the Great Detective and the Count. At times, the story was so good and then at others, it drug a little for me. To put it another way, when it was on, it was very good. I love the grand ideas and story it was telling though. I will certainly be checking out the next installment in the series.
Special Thanks to Titan Books and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Titan Books and Edelweiss Plus for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
October 2, 2022
CAWPILE 7.43
I really enjoyed this mash up of Holmes & Watson with Dracula, mentions of Lovecraft too...so much fun. I'm eager to pick up the sequel which released a few weeks ago.
I really enjoyed this mash up of Holmes & Watson with Dracula, mentions of Lovecraft too...so much fun. I'm eager to pick up the sequel which released a few weeks ago.
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