Night Watch: A Long-Lost Adventure in Which Sherlock Holmes Meets Father Brown

By Stephen Kendrick

Book Overview

In this brilliantly crafted pastiche, Stephen Kendrick brings Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown together in an unprecedented collaboration on a singularly shocking murder case. It is Christmas Day, 1902, and a priest's mutilated body has been found in a London church that is hosting a secret interfaith meeting to discuss the possibility of a Parliament of World Religions. A summons from the Prime Minister plunges Holmes into a case with international, political, and ecclesiastical complications. Untrampled snow surrounding the church suggests that the murderer remains within and that he is, presumably, one of the leaders of the world's great faiths. Throughout the night, as more deaths are discovered, Holmes and Dr. Watson follow one false lead after another. But with his legendary astuteness, Holmes manages to wrap the case up in less than twenty-four hours-or so it seems. Two weeks later, Father Brown, the meek young priest-translator, pays a call at Baker Street to reveal "a few loose ends." The intersection of religion and politics, faith and sin, enmity and forgiveness-these themes are subtly interwoven into this fast-paced mystery that is filled with classic intrigue.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375403671
• ISBN13: 9780375403675
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Pantheon
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

With added emphasis on psychological motive

Fans of Sherlock Holmes-type mysteries who appreciate a historical setting will relish Nightwatch, a mystery set in Edwardian London telling of a priest's murder during a secret high-level interfaith meeting. It's up to Sherlock Holmes and Watson to uncover the roots of the murder, embroiled in both religious and political connections - with assistance from priest Father Brown. The added emphasis on psychological motive makes this especially intriguing.

Holmes is where the art is!

Any author who undertakes to "do" Arthur Conan Doyle takes a great risk. Trying to emulate the great Mr. Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes stories can be dangerous,indeed. But Stephen Kendrick in "Night Watch" has done a splendid job of presenting yetanother Sherlockian story. Naturally (and would we expect otherwise?), this one is along-lost Watson recollection, but no matter. Kendrick's story is quickly afoot and the pace never slows down. Tis the season: Christmas Day, 1902, in London. A group of international religious leaders are meetingand, voila, a corpse in their midst! A priest is found murdered, a real grisly affair. Immediate authorities are without a prayer, and Holmes is summoned. Kendrick presentsall the standard clue requirements (red-herrings, too!), baffling to everyone but ourSherlock. In an interesting--and delightful--twist, Kendrick enlists the aid of the liturgicalside, too, in the form of young Father Brown! Kendrick has done his homework well and the novel provides great insight into thesetting/situation, as well as presenting a great story line. Not being a totally committeddyed in the wool Doyle fan (I can appreciate him, but he's not my favorite writer of thegenre!), I found Kendrick's "version" an exciting piece to read, one that certainly kept myinterest as his suspense is well-paced and captivating. A fun book to read! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Brilliant evocation of Holmes' London

This is a wonderfully entertaining book with an extremely clever plot. The use of world religions added an interesting backdrop to the tale and I learned some new traditions. This was obviously carefully planned out and, though the clues are all there for anyone to see, it would take a rare mind to pick up on them. This book is a terrific holiday gift for anyone who loves the London of Sherlock Holmes.

A delight for Holmes fans

This new addition to the Holmes canon will be very welcome reading, certainly to the Baker Street faithful and also to those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Holmes and Watson before. "Night Watch" is cleverly plotted and written; Kendrick amplifies Conan Doyle's somewhat spare style without breaking the mood of the original stories. Many Doyle characters we know and love show up--even Mycroft drags his substantial butt out of the Diogenes Club--and also we have an interesting encounter with Father Brown in his early days, for good measure. The best test of a Holmes story is how you feel when you've finished it--and finishing this book, I felt the same way I did on finishing "Hound of the Baskervilles": sorry to see it end, and wanting more.