| Title | : | Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1781084556 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781781084557 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 278 |
| Publication | : | First published July 12, 2016 |
As more people go missing in a similar fashion, the clues point to a sinister asylum in France and to the underworld of London. However, it is an altogether different underworld that Holmes will soon discover – as he comes face to face not only with those followers who do the Order’s bidding on Earth, but those who serve it in Hell: the Cenobites.
Holmes’ most outlandish adventure to date, one that has remained shrouded in secrecy until now, launches him headlong into Clive Barker’s famous Hellraising universe… and things will never be the same again.
With an introduction by Hellraiser II actress Barbie Wilde.
Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell Reviews
-
I, um... so, you see... um... what the hell did I just read?
So, imagine combining this:
With this:
Sherlock Holmes meets Hellraiser.
This. Should. Not. Exist.
If I made a list of the most unlikely literary crossovers... you know what, this wouldn't have made it. Why? Because I never would have thought of combining the two. It wouldn't have just seemed unlikely, it would have been closer to damn near impossible.
Yet here we are.
Plot: Moriarty is dead. Holmes has made his return from Reichenbach Falls, yet something seems off about the great detective. Ever since the death of his nemesis, something has been missing from his life. Watson begins to notice that Holmes' drug habit is increasing. He finds scars that seem self-inflected, as if Holmes is stretching his own endurance. Watson hopes a new case will prevent these new and alarming habits, but instead they will spiral as they start the investigation of one Frank Cotton who disappeared in a locked room after solving a certain puzzle box.
So, kudos to the author. I genuinely found starting the plot of the initial Hellbound Heart/Hellraiser as a case presented to Holmes to be a clever idea. Credit where credit is due, the first half of the book feels like a genuine Holmes story, with all the classic logic leaps and insignificant details providing Holmes with all the clues.
The second half also feels like a genuine Barker horror story. So, points there as well.
Now you might be thinking, don't these two styles clash? Well yes, yes they most certainly do, and that is why I really do need to praise Kane as he did an excellent job finding the right balance between these two styles and make a cohesive plot out of it. Personally I enjoyed his Holmes take better than the later Barker style better, as I found it to capture the feel splendidly while still adding a horror element to the affair. Some of the later section came off as a tad... cliche seems the wrong word, but let's just say more Hellraiser 3 and on rather than the first two films.
I found myself repeatedly asking, who was this written for? There's a barrage of Holmes references to past cases, and so many winks and nods to Hellraiser that even being well versed in both series, I knew I was missing references. Who did the author have in mind for this?
Then I realized that while I may be missing references, I was catching most of them. Who did the author have in mind?
Me.
He had in mind the niche audience that are fans of both series. Yeah, that may be narrowing down both fanbases a bit, but for those of us who do exist, this is an oddity unlike any other.
In closing: do I suggest this book? I don't honestly know. As I said before, unless you are fairly well versed in both series, I feel Kane is going to leave you behind and shaking your head. If you are a Holmes purist, you may be annoyed at the decidedly supernatural that comes to play here. If you only love Hellraiser, you may be annoyed at how long it takes for the puzzle box to actually come into play.
For those who do like both, and who are willing to take the supernatural and slow pace in stride, it's certainly a fun ride. I can't say it is a great book, but certainly an entertaining one. 3/5 stars.
(And in regards to the GIF, no matter how many actors play him, Jeremy Brett will always be my favorite Holmes) -
I have a confession. Before reading this book, I had no clue who Paul Kane was. Apparently, to the people in the know, he is the leading guru on Clive Barker's Hellraiser films and mythos (outside of Barker, of course). So you'll have to excuse me for being late to the party. What I do know is that I love Clive Barker's Hellraiser films and I enjoy Sherlock Holmes stories. So when I stumbled across the title of this book, I was instantly intrigued. In what seems upon first glance as a farce, started sounding pretty damn full of possibilities the more I thought about it. After jumping head first into Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell, I am pleased to announce that the possibilities were right on the money and Kane delivered one hell of a fun read.
Sherlock Holmes is moping around since he defeated his archenemy, Moriaty. Cases don't seem to be that intriguing or challenging and Holmes is apparently a ball of irritability if his mind isn't challenged. Dr. Watson is worried about his dear friend, especially since he's had a tangle with the opium demon from time to time. Then a missing person case comes in. Apparently, a Francis Cotton went inside his attic room, locked the door, and never came out. Disappeared. Holmes and Watson take the case and are stumped. Other missing person cases come trickling in with the same descriptions. Holmes is convinced that they are tied together. But how? When investigating one of the other disappearances, the duo discover a secret society that focuses on the forbidden pleasures of the flesh and a pillar that contained a small box. Sound familiar?
Kane's tale weaves in and out of tie-ins with previous Sherlock Holmes stories and the Hellraiser films. And it works. Very well, I might add. The story is told Arthur Conan Doyle-style through a re-telling by Dr Watson. We also get a nice perspective from it rotating back and forth from Watson to Holmes POV and back again. Who would've thought that the marriage of Sherlock Holmes and Clive Barker would work so well? You know what? Don't question a good thing and Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell is a good thing.
5 Elementary, My Dear Watsons out of 5
This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5... -
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SERVANTS OF HELL, by Paul Kane, takes place in the late months of 1895. How could anyone resist the "World's Greatest Detective" coming across the dreaded Cenobites from Clive Barker's Hellraiser series? The introduction was written by Barbie Wilde--an author, herself--and an actress cast as the female Cenobite in the movie Hellbound: Hellraiser II. I mention this because the introduction, in this case, was every bit as interesting as the book itself.
The novel immediately grabs you--even those with only a rudimentary knowledge of Sherlock Holmes' adventures can appreciate the dialogue with his faithful companion, Watson.
" . . . I asked him again what I should expect and Holmes, as enigmatic as usual, came back with: "The unexpected, Watson. Nothing more than the unexpected." "
Beginning with a missing person's case--Frank Cotton, from the original Hellraiser movie adaption--the two legendary books instantly show a shared chemistry as Paul Kane flawlessly blends them together. Although I am a fan of both Sherlock Holmes, and the Hellraiser series, this novel is so complete that even those unfamiliar with either will be able to enjoy this epic journey. Those with more prior knowledge will certainly pick up on the crafty references to places, people, and cases past, but again--the novel provides enough depth, characterization, and atmospheric tension to grab any reader.
The point-of-view shifts from Holmes, to Watson, giving us an even more detailed and complete feeling for each character and their individual motivations. I really appreciated the use of this tactic by Kane, as I felt it was the best way to give added depth to the tale.
Bringing the idea of "other worlds" than our own--those with "sensual suffering" and a merging of pain and pleasure--begins with the Cottons, the main characters of Clive Barker's Hellbound Heart. This idea quickly extends to other people, and Holmes' involvement as the missing person cases accumulate.
". . . What happened, though, if the truth turned out to be the impossible?. . . Then, by that token, the impossible became the possible. . . "
As the collision of the Cenobite world and Holmes' universe collide, Kane's genius shows through once again as he brings together previously unconnected characters and blends them together to create a world completely his own, and so very satisfying to the reader. As Watson once states: ". . . I was Alice at the bottom of the rabbit hole . . . but this was no Wonderland . . .".
An extraordinary tale, both to fans of the two literary sides, and those new to either. While I, personally, enjoyed the added understanding of certain cases and supportive characters, I feel that they will appeal to any reader who loves a good horror or mystery book.
"Hell was real . . ."
Highly recommended!
*I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.* -
I was just expecting a funny Holmes vs Pinhead crossover/mash up/pastiche.. what a surprise finding out this novel was far better than that!!! The author, maybe the most expert about Hellraiser mythos after Barker himself shows knowing for good Doyle's canon too and all rhe references to all movies, novels of both universes were just awesome: I missed the one about Holmes' sister, but the one about "Young Sherlock Holmes" and Barker's characters like Cotton and D'amour (and hidden Pinhead!!!) were really touches of genius. The identity of the Engineer was maybe too easy to guess, but this book was a real page-turner, and it gave me nightmares last night... Who could guess that the mix of two so different litterary universes could be just so good???
If you are a fan of both pick up this hell (litterally) of a book... there are lots of sights waiting for you here...
-
Arthur Conan Doyle introduced Sherlock Holmes to readers more than a century ago, and few other characters have proved to possess such longevity or elasticity. Just in my lifetime alone, I've seen Holmes presented as a youngster, a keen yet stuffy detective, a roguish brawler, and an occult detective. I can honestly say I never expected Holmes to come face to face with the Cenobites of Clive Barker's mythology, but Paul Kane corrected that in a mostly, and surprisingly, effective mashup.
Holmes and Watson are charged with investigating the disappearance of one Francis Cotton, a name Barker reader's will know well from The Hellbound Heart, which serves as more than mere inspiration here. As the investigation proceeds, more individuals disappear and the investigators are pulled deeper into the darkest corners of London's recesses as they search for a mysterious organization known as the Order of the Gash, as well as the strange murder weapon - a small puzzle box known as the Lament Configuration.
Right from the get-go, it's pretty clear that Kane is both a Holmes and Barker aficionado (heck, the man wrote about the Hellraiser films and put together a tribute anthology to Barker's mythology), and Barker has even stated in the past that, "Paul’s the resident Hellraiser expert." So yeah, the dude clearly knows his Cenobites from his cinnabites.
Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell is at its best during the book's first half, with Holmes and Watson chasing down leads and disappearances and becoming slowly involved in every-increasingly supernatural events. Holmes himself is still recovering from his fall over Reichenbach Falls, and Watson is happy to have him back, even if slightly wounded by his friend's disappearances and secrets. There's some really solid character work between these two and their relationship, colored by their past cases together, and you get a terrific sense of their shared history. I must admit, I had only read one Holmes book previously, and roughly fifteen years ago at that, and my introduction to Barker came only recently with the audiobook of The Hellbound Heart, but the pop culture landscape these icons have become infused in made reading about them here welcomingly familiar.
I was quite captivated by the subtle shadings of horror Kane revealed over the course of Holmes's and Watson's legwork and appreciated the subdued nature as the story grew progressively darker. Where it kind of fell apart for me was in the finale, where the supernatural horror elements became an almost dark superhero fantasy. The book synopsis notes that this is "Holmes’ most outlandish adventure to date," and that's certainly accurate. It just depends on how much outlandishness you can appreciate, and there's certainly a fair bit of fan-service conducted in the book's final third that didn't quite work for me. Barker fans may relish some of these events, and there are certainly some cool aspects to the hell-raising finale, but it struck me as being so tonally different and fantastical from the well-grounded events prior that it never quite jelled for me.
My other problem came with the structure of the third act. In Part One, the story is recounted by Watson, and Part Two is left to Holmes' point of view. Part Three offers us a look at both, and with this comes a fair amount of repetition. Stuff happens in Holmes' narrative that then gets immediately recounted from Watson's view point, but without enough dissimilarity to make these recaps sufficiently necessary. Thankfully, the shifting narrative in part three works more often than it fails, but it was problematic enough to niggle ever so slightly.
Mostly, Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell worked for me, and it was cool reading such two disparate characters and mythologies as Holmes and the Cenobites come together to produce something unique. I greatly enjoyed seeing the references to Barker's canon and the way some of his plots and characters became repurposed elements for a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Kane's depictions of characters was spot-on, and he captured the grotesque sensual suffering of the Cenobites quite effectively. The last few chapters proved to me, though, that you can definitely have too much of a good thing.
[I received a copy of this title for review from the publisher via NetGalley.] -
As always this review is also on my blog: thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress.com.
Give it a visit, you may like it! :)
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book has a stunning looking cover, featuring a great artistic design that really stands out, incorporating a classic Holmes silhouette inside the middle of the Lament Configuration Puzzle Box from Hellraiser, really foreshadows what’s to come, drawing your attention in, saying look at me! And, so you know, look at this book you most definitely should! It’s a quality read!
On the back of the book above the actual synopsis there’s a sentence:
“The World’s Greatest Detective Meets Horror’s Most Notorious Villains!”
Now that should garner your attention and whet your interest, if only to question what’s going on and what sort of strange mash-up have I stumbled across???
Now, I’m a huge Holmes fan, I’ve devoured the entire Conan Doyle collection and loved it, also enjoying Anthony Horowitz’s two recent Holmes books and the very recent Warlock Holmes parody by G.S Denning – it had me smiling and smirking throughout at its irreverent comedic retelling. While technically I’d also say I’m a Hellraiser fan – I’ve seen the films and read a couple of the books, I’m not a die-hard fan who knows everything about the series but even I was able to spot some of the easter eggs left by Kane as an homage to the original Hellraiser mythology created by Clive Barker and I’m sure for experts in the series there’s plenty more for you to find.
When combining two very different but much-loved works there’s a chance when you join them together that if not done correctly or with respect to the original works then you could alienate the fans of both. It was only after I finished the book, whilst reading the acknowledgements in the back by Paul Kane that I found out he is a Hellraiser expert with Clive Barker – the Hellraiser creator himself describing Kane as ‘the resident Hellraiser expert’. Now, that gives Kane pedigree with the Hellraiser mythology and part of the book but how would he do with the Sherlock Holmes aspect of the book to? Well, suffice to say he nailed it – yes, while he isn’t in the book that’s my Pinhead reference sneaked into the review!
As I mentioned previously, I’m a Holmes fan and two of the biggest things I look for with a new Sherlock book are, firstly, has the author managed to achieve a similar sort of tone and style to Conan Doyle’s classics. And secondly, the relationship between Holmes and Watson, I’m sure there’ll be people who disagree with me and that’s fine – we all have are own views but for me, the friendship and deep bond between Holmes and Watson has always been the core of the Sherlock Holmes canon, no matter what the mystery attempting to be solved, it’s the duo of Holmes and Watson that the tale revolves around. Kane manages to perfectly convey the friendship between the two whilst paying respect to the original works and giving it his own unique version.
Though, there’ll be some people out there who haven’t heard of Clive Barker, Hellraiser, the ‘Order of the Gash’ and the Cenobites, due to them appearing in the more niche horror media market. I’d guess near enough everyone with even a passing interest in literature and due also to the countless films and TV shows throughout the years ranging from Basil Rathbone in the 1940’s onwards and through to Benedict Cumberbatch in the present day will have heard of Sherlock Holmes.
For fans of either Sherlock Holmes or Hellraiser there’s a great deal within this book for you all to enjoy. And for other would-be readers out there, you don’t need any previous knowledge of either original works to enjoy the book, IT’S THAT DAMN GOOD!
Now, I realise this is a book review and as yet apart from the cover, I haven’t actually mentioned the book itself. Never fear I shall now rectify that!
The Lament Configuration has always been a rather ingenious puzzle box since its creation. Add into the mix, strange and unconnected disappearances, people vanishing from locked rooms without a trace, a lingering smell of Vanilla, mysterious footsteps that abruptly halt and murmurings of a clandestine new power looking to take control and you have all the makings of a perfect Sherlock Holmes mystery. And, the Hellraiser mythology blends perfectly with late Victorian London making a perfect time and setting for the book.
Taking place in 1895 following Holmes return to Baker Street and London. And, after the incident at the Reichenbach Falls. It’s the ideal time for the story to take place, giving Kane ample opportunity to delve into the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Holmes during the year’s of ‘the great hiatus’ as it’s commonly known by fans of the series. In the Conan Doyle stories when Holmes did return to Watson and sleuthing, he wasn’t the same man as he had been before with slight changes to both his character and personality. Kane uses the Hellraiser mythos to great effect explaining away these changes to Holmes as we learn Kane’s version that after the Reichenbach Falls, Holmes, during his missing years was preparing himself both mentally and physically for something sinister to come.
The mix of Sherlock Holmes and Hellraiser feels completely organic with each aspect complimenting the other to perfection, whilst still feeling like a Holmes story at heart with Watson narrating from the future this darkest of chapters from their adventures together.
Taking in the darkest recesses of Victorian London, a Mental Institute in France and Hell itself this tale tests the boundaries of the friendship between the pair to the core, literally taking them to hell and back. And, when we’re finally introduced to the Cenobites taking the tale from the more normal to the surreal it really feels natural to the story’s progression and without going into detail, what a vividly described and visualised grotesque bunch they are.
The book itself is well written with a descriptive and fast paced style by Kane that really pulls you in, packing a hell – see what I did there!:) of a lot into its 300 page length building from a mysterious more sedate beginning up to the climactic conclusion.
I have to admit that while the cover ‘sold’ the book to me as something I wanted to read I was in-fact slightly concerned when I started the actual book as I couldn’t help but think that on the surface what a strange amalgamation the two worlds would make, delving deeper however and as the story progressed they fitted together surprisingly well and with what in the hands of a lesser talented author could have been a disappointing mash-up ruining two beloved classic franchises, alienating the fans of both in the process. In the hands of Kane turns into a respectful tale embodying elements of the original works that deftly incorporates aspects from both into a delightfully glorious and stunning read making Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell one of the surprise books of the year!
By Jove! It’s highly recommended. -
An excellent, flawless co-mingling of the worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Clive Barker's The Hellbound Heart (or the Hellraiser franchise).
Going in I had my doubts that this would work, but after reading Kane's tale, I found myself saying, "Why hasn't this been done before?"
Kane does an amazing job of blending the mystery of the Lament Configuration into the great detective's world, but Kane also does much more than that, by taking Holmes' "obsession" with logic and crime-solving and making it truly torturous and horrifying in both the physical and psychological.
Kane also takes us into Barker's vision of Hell and provides many new insights, including a whole new cadre of Cenobites. There's also a lot of serendipity, with numerous - and intentional - connections to Clive Barker's original novella and its characters.
Still, this is a Sherlock Holmes tale in every sense of the word with the great detective and his trusted Watson going to fascinating lengths to solve the mystery, but at the same time revealing their own inner torments.
If you're a fan of both franchises you'll love this story. Highly recommended. -
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Holmes and Watson take on the mystery of several missing people, all the cases are linked and point to a group called the 'Order of the Gash'. Watson is sent to an asylum in France to find out more about the order whilst Holmes puts himself in increasing danger exploring Londons underworld for clues as to where the missing people have gone. He becomes obsessed with solving the puzzle box and like those before him soon wishes he hadn't when faced with what it summons.
The author brings together the Hellraiser universe of Clive Barker and Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and does so very well. Although set in 1895, Kane manages to date the Hellraiser details authentically, blending characters and plot lines in seamlessly to victorian London.
The first 3/4 of the book worked best for me, the lead up to the confrontation with the cenobites flowed well with plenty of references from both worlds,making it a lot of fun to read. Holmes and Watson were given separate POV which kept the storyline fresh and ensured that both characters were well developed and that Holmes didn't dominate the story too much.
The last quarter wasn't quite as enjoyable and to be honest I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that Pinhead wasn't part of the cenobite group. I also thought that some of the details in the last part were too conveniently worked out although the end wasn't in any way what I expected.
Great premise that worked out really well but perhaps fell slightly short of my expectations towards the end. -
I had high expectations for this one. Maybe too high. But from the reviews here at GoodReads I expected a masterpiece.
I'm a huge fan of both worlds/characters and for the first half of the book (which I call "the Sherlock half") they were met, but as soon as the story moves to Hell the suspension of disbelief falls apart. At least, for me, it did.
I still enjoyed the novel and think it was a great experiment. If you're a fan it's definitely worth reading.
So, like the 2-star rating says, it was OK but that's all. -
Review from:
http://www.cinemabluster.com
Author Paul Kane is certainly no slouch when it comes to the world of Hellraiser and the Cenobites that reside within the series. Having written a rather lengthy collection, aptly titled The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy, to put it mildly, Kane is a bit of a historian on the subject. When I saw the announcement for his most recent novel, Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell, I knew this genre and character mashup would certainly be in good hands. Not only has Kane delivered on the Hellraiser end of things with Servants of Hell, he has given us a fantastic entry in the Sherlock Holmes series as well.
In late 1895, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson return to solving crimes even though the incident at Reichenbach Falls has left the duo forever changed. Investigating several disappearances that seem to be interconnected, Holmes and Watson will cross paths with The Order of The Gash and come face to face with the ultimate puzzle in the world, one that will take them to the pits of Hell.
The greatest achievement of this novel comes from the vast knowledge and understanding of Hellraiser and its mythos that Kane puts on display. Where most stories of this type would be filled with passing nods to events and other crowd-pleasing nonsense, Kane instead shows us how everything comes together and incorporates the historical references of the Hellraiser film series and expands upon it in ways that make you come away from this novel with a deeper love for the franchise. It isn’t good enough to Kane to just make a passing quip about a character or event found elsewhere in the franchise, he needs to show you how it relates to this story, and also how it differs. Although this is almost an alternative reality to everything we have come to know about the series, it also fits perfectly next to not only the films but also the recently released Scarlet Gospels. Kane’s look into hell is the perfect dessert to those that enjoyed Clive Barker’s final statement on Hell’s High Priest.
Not to ride to high on the achievements of the Hellraiser mythos alone, Kane also accomplishes one of the best non-Doyle Sherlock Holmes novels I have ever read. The dynamic between Watson and Holmes is absolutely perfect and is incorporated into the events of a Hellraiser narrative without coming off as cheesy or forced. Having taken place after the fateful event at Reichenbach Falls, Kane uses this moment of mortality to uncover a darker side of Holmes and show us a man that seeks challenge when his biggest puzzle has been solved. The swing in personality for Holmes and the detachment of Watson are perfect within the realm of Hellraiser.
There are far too many references to list in this review and keeping track becomes a challenge as even the slightest event or bit of dialogue carries a great amount of depth to those that are familiar with the various tales and films within the franchise. While the story is an absolute delight to the most hardcore of Hellraiser fans, passing readers will still find a tremendous story within the pages that will inspire them to dig deeper into the mythos and I cannot think of a higher utterance of praise for a novel such as this. Essential reading for Hellraiser diehards; a must-read for genre fans alike. -
I'm going to paste in my Amazon review here, simply because I think you need to know if you're the right audience for this book or not:
First off, there is a reason this book (as I write this) has reviews for 1, 4 and 5 stars, but no 2 or 3. It simply will not appeal to everybody. So let me start with a quick guide as to whether you should read it or not:
1. You are a Holmes fan, but you don't like horror or Clive Barker:
Under no circumstances read this book. You will hate it and it will be a waste of your time and a poor review for the author. If you want a "pure" Holmes book might I suggest the other one I've just finished reading (
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Murder at Sorrow's Crown). That is well worth the read.
2. You're a horror / Barker fan, but not really into Holmes
Maybe you'll like it, but it depends on whether you think you could read a Holmes story or not, as it's a little while until the book gets to the hellraiser section (see later in the review for more details). If Holmes really isn't your thing then it's likely you'll give up on this before you get to the Cenobites.
3. You love both Holmes and horror / Barker
This could well be for you, but one very important question. Are you a Holmes "purist"?
Yes: You probably shouldn't read it, the crossover element may upset you.
No: Pretty sure you will love this book.
Being a Hellraiser purist shouldn't be an issue, as that slots nicely into pretty much any time period.
Right, that said, on with the actual review! There may be some minor (very general) spoilers here, but I've done my best to avoid giving anything significant away.
The story is set after Holmes has revealed himself to Watson following his "death" at the hands of Moriarty at the Reichenbach falls. He is in search of something, though he doesn't really know what. Part 1 is Watson's account of Holmes around this time, weaved into a few cases that Holmes takes because they are part of his wider search.
Part 2 is told in the third person (unusual (unique?) for a Holmes story, which are always related by Watson), and tells us what happened with Holmes after Reichenbach. Other than this though it's still mostly in the vein of a "normal" Holmes story, though it's more obvious to the horror fan where it's leading, and it's towards the end of this part that the 2 worlds meet properly.
Part 3 is told in alternating chapters - Holmes then Watson - and I won't say anything about this, as I really can't think of what I would say that wouldn't be a spoiler.
If I have any complaints, it's that I found the change from Holmes story to Hellraiser story a little abrupt, even if I knew it was coming. I'm also not entirely sure about some of what occurs in the final part, though I think that's purely subjective. There were some nice little nods there though that I didn't realise until the end (the names of some of the characters, for example, which meant nothing in a Holmes context, so I didn't think twice about it until I got to the end).
Overall, as a fan of both Conan Doyle and Barker, I loved reading this and stayed up far too late to finish it. 4.5 / 5, rounded up to 5 for sheer enjoyment! -
Muchas gracias to Netgalley for enabling me to get my hands on a free digital advance copy.
When I first heard that Sherlock Holmes was being crossed over with HELLRAISER, my initial reaction was: THIS IS THE GREATEST IDEA EVER! Then I calmed down, regained my senses, and thought, "How, exactly?"
I believe there is a way to make this crossover work, but, unfortunately, this isn't it. Paul Kane approaches the material more like a rabid fan than a professional storyteller, and the result is a book that comes across as fan-fiction. He tries to cram in everything that people love about these two properties without first considering whether each element actually serves to further the story. The result is a dull and repetitive first half, followed by an overly chaotic and ludicrous second half.
Part of what makes the first half so dull is that, despite this being a Sherlock Holmes novel, there is no mystery. At least, not for the readers. Because, for anyone at all familiar with the HELLRAISER mythos, the solution is clear from the get-go. The Lament Configuration is making people disappear, case closed. Each "crime scene" is designed as a throwback to the films, and we learn right away that author Paul Kane is more concerned with making clever references than coming up with fresh ideas. The first crime scene is basically a re-telling of the first HELLRAISER film, with the characters even retaining the same names. The second crime scene uses essentially the same setting as HELLRAISER III. A detective who suddenly disappears is obviously a shout-out to Craig Sheffer's role in HELLRAISER V. In another chapter, Watson talks to a descendant of the main character from HELLRAISER IV. And the entire third act of the novel takes place in what is basically the world of HELLRAISER II. There's even a reference to Harry D'Amour, who isn't even IN a HELLRAISER movie, but rather an entirely different Clive Barker property altogether. The Lost Souls make an appearance, as does every Cenobite from virtually every HELLRAISER comic book and short story known to man.
And don't even get me started on all the references to other Sherlock Holmes cases.
Some people may enjoy this little game of "Spot the Reference," but, for me, it became tiresome very quickly. How can I pretend this book is canon, when it's constantly nudging and winking at me? In my opinion, the HELLRAISER aspect of this story should have been downplayed in favor of a more interesting mystery for Holmes to solve. Truth is, as much as I love the idea of Holmes stumbling across a puzzle box, I don't care to see either him or Watson get tortured in true HELLRAISER fashion. Which happens in this book. I also don't care to see Holmes riding a hellbeast and fighting Cenobites with his cane. Which also happens in this book. -
Как легко догадаться по названию, мы тут имеем кроссовер "Конан Дойль + Баркер".
Первая половина книги идет очень бодро — Холмс расследует дело о таинственном исчезновении из запертой комнаты, далее шкатулка Лемаршана, дома умалишенных, безумные ученые, ночные визиты ценобитов, и далее со всеми остановками.
А потом герои попадают в ад, и вторая половина книги посвящена тому, как армия демонов под командованием ценобита-Холмса сражается с армией демонов под командованием ценобита-Мориарти. Автор в исчерпывающих деталях излагает, какой демон как выглядел, чем был вооружен, и какую часть тела оторвал какому противнику.
4 + 1 = 2.5, округляем вниз. -
4.76
Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell has a brilliant premise: Sherlock Holmes gets a the ultimate locked room mystery to solve: one where the disappearance is caused by none other than the cenobites from Clive Barker's Hellraiser mythos called forth from the Lament Configuration puzzle box. I am not a huge Barker or Hellraiser fan, and in fact beyond the original movie (seen like a billion years ago) and a short story here and there using either the Hellraiser world or references to it, I only know the basics – like that solving the puzzle box causes some seriously scary dudes from Hell to come pay a visit, etc. – and I am not a fan of Barker's gory horror, but I like the concept of Barker's Hell, so for me there was some real promise here. Especially when I realized that this was written in the style of a Conan-Doyle novel – a true mystery told by John Watson about a grand adventure.
I think that as cool as this idea was that there was so much that could go wrong and that bringing these two worlds together was a real risk. Happily, Kane does an amazing job in Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell. The book reads, mostly, like a traditional Holmes story. Narrated by Watson, it is referential to the Holmes oeuvre, as a typical Conan-Doyle story would be, and the voice is authentic. The portions where Holmes enters Hell and references to Hellraiser were brilliantly done – at least from this non-expert's POV. (I did hear Kane is a Hellraiser subject matter expert, so I will put my money on accuracy in this regard anyway). It was gory, but not needlessly so – though do expect some gore – and seemed to explore the stuff I find coolest about Hellraiser (and The Hell-Bound Heart) like the puzzle box and what the story is with Hell.
Most impressively, in my opinion, was how well Kane weaves in the Holmes backstory into this novel. He makes the intersection of Holmes and Hellraiser incredibly plausible – this feels more or less, for most of the novel at least, like something that could have happened in a Conan-Doyle novel. Interestingly, I feel that Kane does a better job explaining Holmes' revival from the dead and after-effects of said more plausibly than Conan-Doyle did. And all the familiar characters make an appearance – for example, notably both Moriarty and Mycroft have parts to play. Which for Holmes fans is kind of neat – or at least for me was neat.
I found the ending too absurd – far too much was going on for my liking, though that may be just me being a non Barker fangirl. (Unfortunately I can't be more detailed lest I spoil a thing). Nonetheless I would say read this right away if you even causally like Sherlock (you will be happy to be in on any new adventure) or Hellraiser (because, seriously, how awesome is this premise?).
Buy, borrow, or burn? Buy. -
As I haven’t read any Clive Barker yet, I didn’t particularly connected the story of Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell with a preexisting universe (other than Holmes’ of course). Nor did I need to, as the book reads itself very well without any knowledge of the Cenobites.
The first part is captivating in a Lovecraftian way : months (years?) after the return of Sherlock, he and Watson work on several disappearances that seem simply not possible : people just vanish inside closed rooms, without seemingly any escape means. Holmes has been acting off for Watson since he came back, and the cases don’t make things better. The mystery is a great read, full of those old school horror story devices : people that disappear inexplicably, ancient satanic artifact collections, asylums, … Kane plays the gothic card very well. I’m no specialist, but as far as I can tell, the story also respects the codes of Holmes’ universe quite well, and the second part ties the story nicely with canonic elements.
The second part is where the story tips into more of a Barker story and a Doyle one. I had a great time reading it, but it didn’t scare me at all. For some reason, I can’t take travels to Hell very seriously, and Hell’s army even less. It didn’t scare me, but I’ve found it pretty engrossing. It’s still well written and imaginative.
Also, the epilogue is just so gross and creepy. I love it.
Disclaimer : I have received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. -
Paul Kane‘s latest novel came out on July 12th 2016, and I’ve had the opportunity to review it thanks to Paul Kane, Rob Power and Rebellion Publishing/Solaris Books. The following will be a spoiler-free review:
“Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell” uses two very well established literary characters, and mixes their worlds together in an extremely fun and refreshing mashup, using both literary universes to the story’s great advantage. The references to each are plentiful, but they grow organically out of the story, in a well-paced, rewarding fashion. It’s a 289-page story that reads quickly, but at the same time challenges you to admire its style and form, written as it is by a certain Doctor Watson in the late 1890s.Of course, I’m talking about Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell, and the characters are the world’s greatest detective Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Hell Priest known in some circles as Pinhead from the Hellraiser movies and Clive Barker’s novella “The Hellbound Heart”. An unlikely match at first, you quickly come to the realization that this may be one of the most fortunate uses of the latter character by including him in late Victorian era London. This brings up the very cultured feel of the time, and a certain refined sensibility to the story that adds to the charm. On the other hand, you also experience the dark, restrictive underbelly of that era, with its moralistic repression and the cult-like hedonism that was practiced in secrecy, behind closed doors, that allows for the hellish side of the story to flourish.
In this story, Holmes has recently survived a terrible ordeal that has left him feeling aimless. After spending some time in mysterious seclusion he returns in spectacular fashion to his 221B Baker Street office, to the familiarity of Mrs. Hudson and his colleague Joseph Watson. This new Holmes seems haunted by some unknown malaise, that we will quickly understand is a training of sorts for his most fantastic case yet.This Holmes is the Holmes of ” The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot”; he doesn’t shy away from death or danger. He’s almost superhuman in his wit, sharp intellect and focused awareness, that makes him the best detective around. However, Watson is back as well, and he’s our narrator, as would be expected. If you’re a reader of Conan Doyle’s Holmes novels, you will definitely feel at home with the way Paul Kane reproduces Watson’s voice; it’s damn near perfect in tone and form. Of course, it’s very convenient that Conan Doyle had Watson be the narrator as it allows Holmes to maintain his internal voice a mystery and make his intellectual prowess even more impressive when he blurts out details that he later explains were hiding in plain sight.
Make no mistake though: Watson is second only to Holmes in his skills. In fact, in this story he often takes a front row seat to the action and keeps the story moving forward while Holmes is left to his own process. Watson is likable and warm, strong and resourceful. The dynamic between the two colleagues is very fraternal. Holmes’ personality would probably be considered nowadays to be stiff and high-functioning, but his respect and almost fraternal love for Watson (and vice-versa) does shine through in brief, personal remarks.
When a certain gentleman named Cotton appears, you can’t help but crack a giant smile and dig in, hoping for a trip that doesn’t disappoint. After an initial string of disappearances, seemingly unrelated, the story picks up speed very quickly. You will find plenty of characters that you’ve seen before in a different form, make their appearance here, weaved into the Victorian era, and made all the more interesting for it. The story will take us on a steam boat from London to Calais and Paris; the detective duo will come across strange disappearances from within locked rooms, with dried blood between the floorboards and the scent of vanilla, and a certain artifact will emerge with terrible consequences.
There’s a craft in melding two universes like this, and in my opinion, Paul Kane has achieved this almost flawlessly. Reading “The Servants of Hell” is like stepping through the looking-glass and coming out the other side in an alternate universe, where the Hellraiser characters all jumped back a century. Most had their names slightly changed to reflect that alternate nature, but for anyone with an average knowledge of the Hellraiser movies, they’ll quickly recognize them anyway. As this is a spoiler-free review, I’ll refrain from adding more details, but this adventure will leave you wanting for more, more of these characters, more of this Holmes.As a avid reader of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, I started with Holmes’ stories as a young kid and moved on to his Professor Challenger stories, like “The Lost World”, and I’ve been a lifelong enthusiast of Clive Barker’s work as you can imagine, so for me this book was an absolute treat. I started with Paul Kane’s book “The Hellraiser Films and their Legacy” and over the years, I’ve had the chance to read more of his work, like “Monsters”, “RED” and ” Blood RED”, the “Hellbound Hearts” anthology, “Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell” and now I am starting “Snow”.
I heard Paul Kane may have this version of Sherlock Holmes meet up with the Wolves from “Blood RED” in the future. I hope this is true, I think he’ll do an amazing job.”Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell” is an amazing experience, that will have you sitting on the edge of your chair. The references are used as a way to make this world seem more real and connected to both universes, but they don’t make the story any more predictable. In fact, you will find yourself guessing the next page only to be pleasantly surprised. The book comes with an introduction by the talented actress and Author Barbie Wilde as well.I can’t recommend this book enough. Buy it, and experience it for yourself. If you’re a Hellraiser fan, you’ll love it. If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan, you’ll enjoy it. If you’ve never read Sherlock Holmes, I hope this will point you towards his novels. Trust me, it’s a win-win. -
this book was far better than I expected it to be. Sherlock acted and behaved exactly how he would in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. it was a different mash up that I didn’t think would blend as well as it did. there is lots to enjoy whether if you’re a Holmes fan or Hellraiser fan. I was there is more books out there like this one.
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I think Billy Idol said that "too much is never enough" but I don't think he read Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell. This is an entertaining Holmes pastiche, to be sure, and it works up until the last 50 pages or so. Author Paul Kane sets the action some time after The Great Hiatus (when the world thinks Holmes is dead) and Kane strings some events from the Holmes canon together to give us an entirely new picture of the man himself. Purists may not appreciate this very much but I guarantee you, Constant Reader, it is not nearly as objectionable as the execrable The Last Sherlock Holmes by Michael Dibdin. Kane is able to handle the characterizations of Holmes and Watson well, but after we start to directly interact with the Big Bads (Cenobites from the world of Clive Barker's Hellraiser) that things go to hell, literally and figuratively. These two worlds were never meant to interact, and it is just too much.
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the weirdest thing about this is that it’s available at bookstores rather than on ao3?
okay in all seriousness, this started out pretty strong and just really got less good as it went on, unfortunately. the first third of the book is from watson’s perspective and is written in the style of one of his first person accounts (though it is apparently a journal he is writing to work his own feelings out & intends to burn afterwards), the second is a third person narrative from holmes’ perspective, and the third alternates between the two perspectives.
the first third is by far the strongest, and got me super excited for this rather ridiculous crossover. the second third is also pretty consistent in quality, i have no major complaints about it. but the final act, which ought to have been the payoff for it all, was frankly just kind of tedious.
each chapter alternates between watson’s first person narrative and the third person narrative that follows holmes, but the vast majority of these chapters overlap so you end up retreading the same ground over & over.
i can see where that kind of perspective layering could actually be pretty interesting but with the chapters from holmes’ perspective not even being first person it just doesn’t have that much of an impact? and if i can be 100% honest it truly started to feel like padding, as if the author needed each of the three parts of the book to be roughly equal in length or something. idk.
again a lot of this is actually super compelling and a whole lot of fun to read, it just badly overstays its welcome and that ended up contributing quite a bit to my impression of the book since the more tedious bits of it are what determined what kind of taste was left in my mouth. i know it’s not entirely fair, but neither is solving a rubiks cube and then getting tortured for eternity, so.
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check out my megareview of the hellraiser movies, books & comics on my blog 24,000 miles to the moon!
https://24000milestothemoon.blogspot.... -
Interesting mash of Holmes Vs Hellraiser
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an absolutely amazing mashup of franchises that just...works!! love this book!!
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Holmes taking on pinhead. Wonderful crossover
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Not my thing
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Paul Kane is no stranger to the Hellraiser universe. He’s the author of the truly outstanding “The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy” as well as the editor for the short story anthology, Hellbound Hearts, which expanded Clive Barker’s mythos still further. This is a man who clearly respects Clive Barker’s most brilliant creation. So there could be no safer hands for a tale that brings together two legends, Sherlock Holmes and the Cenobites. As a huge Hellraiser fan myself, I have to admit I’ve been giddy about the prospect of reading this since I first heard about it. Barbie Wilde (Hellraiser II) is another favorite author of mine (The Venus Complex, Voices of the Damned) and she provides an insightful introduction to the book.
When we meet Sherlock he’s a lost soul. His nemesis, Moriarty, is dead and there are no challenges left for him. So instead he has been experimenting with drugs and is close to destroying himself. Then a very special case comes along. Francis Cotton has been reported missing, having disappeared from inside a locked room, and that piques Holmes’ interest. Then the game’s afoot!
If the last name Cotton sounds familiar, it should. We have Francis, who disappeared (Frank), his brother Laurence (Larry), Kirsten, his daughter (Kirsty), and second wife and stepmother to Kirsten, Juliet (Julia). Further parallels with names from the film series continue as further disappearances cross Holmes’ path. We have the disappearance of Howard Spencer, father of one Elliot Spencer, and club owner J. P. Monroe, a collector of the fantastical. The in-references to the initial Hellraiser trilogy of films come thick and fast. As the names kept cropping up it was nice to place them. There was one surprise appearance outside of the film characters that really put a smile on my face. But it was also a little distracting and and a bit too neat setting up foreshadowing and bloodlines. However, this was done following a suggestion from Clive Barker, according to the epilogue.
The dynamic between Holmes and Watson, our narrator for the majority of the book, is wonderful. Holmes’ curiosity and excitable nature is evocatively brought to life. As ever, Watson is accused of being his nanny by an irritable and insufferable Holmes for worrying about his reckless behavior. Paul Kane, through Watson’s narration, slots the story nicely into the established Sherlock Holmes canon with many references to other established cases that took place before and in between the disappearances in the story.
The setting and time period are perfect, a dark and dingy London, industrialization, thick fog, and men seeking understanding and enlightenment in both science and magic. While it feels primarily like a Sherlock Holmes story, a mystery in the typical vein, full of twists, paths do eventually cross. The arrival of the Order of the Gash introduces us to a plethora of new, inventive, and vile cenobites. This includes a rather Victorian steampunk selection. This was one of my favorite parts of the book.
If I have any real criticisms it’s that some of the beats of the story are a little too familiar. This is especially the case if you’ve been reading the BOOM! Studios graphic novels. It’s worth a mention that the prologue to the story is absolutely incredible. After reading that you’ll cheer and be hooked. To call this a mashup doesn’t do it justice as that suggests a parody, which this is not. It’s the greatest puzzle solver against the puzzle box. I was completely riveted throughout and couldn’t put it down. -
I was determined to like this book from the moment we picked it as a selection for the Nightmare Factory book club. I opened it up with great anticipation, excited about the possibilities inherent in a combining of Sherlock Holmes with the world of cenobites. However, the execution of the premise in this book left much to be desired. The melding of the two worlds ended up being clumsy, the transition from detective story to hellraising horror was awkward, and the portrayal of the relationship between Holmes and Watson failed to ring true to the original books. The amount of actual detective work was minimal, with little more than token displays of Holmes legendary deductive prowess. In the original books, Holmes's drug use was portrayed as something he resorted to when he was bored, but this book tried to turn it into a deliberate plan to toughen his body, extending the idea to Holmes deliberately infecting himself with various diseases with the same goal in mind. This completely ignores the fact that many diseases permanently cripple or weaken people, and that the common expressed idea "that which doesn't kill me only makes me stronger" is fantastical bullshit. I also found it strange that Watson continually referenced being portrayed as bumbling, which is something I didn't remember from the original books. People at book club informed me that this comes from the original BBC Sherlock series (I think the one from the 60's)
There was a lot of repetition in the book, especially whenever the author switched from one viewpoint to another. If this technique had been used to show significant differences in perception of events for Holmes vs Watson, it might have been more useful, but I never really felt that the alternating perspectives ever revealed anything substantial.
Watson's descriptions of the horrors of hell were unintentionally humorous, because he resorted to saying things like "I dare not speak of the horror", which instead of allowing imagination to roam free, just made me snicker at the laziness of the author. The gore that was described came across as little more than a laundry list of viscera and effluvia, packing about as much punch as a handful of ground beef.
Once Holmes and Watson entered hell, the story read like a D&D adventure, complete with the cenobites becoming pals with the heroes of the book, and then becoming a force of minions to battle against Moriarty. This removed any possibility of this book being scary or horrific in any way.
Despite all my complaints, I still enjoyed the book enough to give it three stars. Maybe I'm just easy to please. -
As a Sherlock fans I cannot really appreciate this books where we have a meeting between the best detective ever and people straight from Clive Barker's Hellraiser, sorry, not people, cenobites.
As usual Watson is the loyal friend while Sherlock, recently back on life after the Moriarty affair at the Waterfall is deeply on drugs and depression. I would have liked the story a lot more if there were not two of my favorite character involved.
Come fan di Sherlock Holmes ho trovato quasi baslfemo che lui venisse usato in una specie di mix non particolarmente riuscito con i personaggi inventati da Clive Barker in Hellreise, i rinomati cenobiti. Come al solito Watson é il fedele amico, mentre Sherlock fa uso pesante di stupefacenti e sembra depresso dopo il suo "ritorno in vita" due anno dopo il caso Morirarty e l'incidente alle cascate. Penso che avrei apprezzato la storia molto di piú non se fosse stata incentrata su due dei miei personaggi letterari preferiti, che secondo me non c'entravano proprio niente.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND REBELLION FOR THE PREVIEW! -
It's Sherlock Holmes meets Hellraiser. It sounds far-fetched, and it is, but most importantly it works. Almost as if they were always meant to be together. Recommended and hope someone options the film rights.
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this book is a ton of fun... provided you are like me both a huge sherlock Holmes nerd and a lover of the Hellraiser horror franchise. the mix between the two is artful, the author is a true fan of both components and the result is very well crafted.
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Review will be posted to Monster Librarian soon. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Recommended for Doyle and Barker fans alike.
