Warlock Holmes: The Sign of Nine (Paperback)

Warlock Holmes may have demons in his head, but now Dr. John Watson has a mummy in his bloodstream. Specifically that of the sorcerer Xantharaxes, who when shredded and dissolved in an 8% solution, results in some extremely odd but useful prophetic dreams. There’s also the small matter of Watson falling for yet another damsel-du-jour, and Warlock deciding that his companion needs some domestic bliss…

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Wed, 10 Jul 2019 | Review by: Breakaway R.

A funny supernatural take on some beloved literary characters Sorcerer Warlock Holmes and his faithful companion Dr Watson are London-based detectives who solve unusual mysteries, often involving demons, magic and aliens. Assisting them in their many unearthly adventures are Inspector Lestrade, who happens to be a vampire and the not-quite-human Inspector Grogsson. In this instalment of their exploits, Watson must deal with his newly developing addiction to the prophetic dreams he experiences when injecting himself with dissolved remnants of the mummified sorcerer Xantharaxes, while Holmes must decide whether their ongoing partnership is in the doctor’s best interests. I was not quite sure what to expect when reading The Sign of Nine, having not encountered any of the previous instalments in Denning’s parody of Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories. However, within a few pages, the tone is set as the author becomes embroiled in a wacky, bizarre and very funny spoof of some classic Holmes’ mysteries. While S I have not read many of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, I did recognise some of the tales as being based on them but with cleverly added occult twists and refreshing bursts of humour sprinkled throughout. The short stories are interspersed with Watson’s curious mummy injection-induced visions and all linked together to culminate in the Sign of Nine itself, a slightly longer story with a more convoluted plot but no decrease in pace or wit. While maintaining the traditional setting and period, the author writes in a very amusing way, giving the characters' mannerisms and behaviours that seem more suited to modern times and as a result creating some amusing exchanges. The supernatural element is made humorous as well by the complete lack of reaction most of the characters have when encountering demons and warlocks, and I too found myself embracing it as normal within a few pages, despite it all seeming very weird at first. While this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I did feel that I would have gained more enjoyment from it if I knew the backstory of some of the characters, particularly as the nature of the parody means that some critical characters (Moriarty and Irene Adler for example) have been introduced before but presumably with slight alterations to make them fit in to the paranormal theme. Additionally, some aspects of the book were quite dark and unsettling at times and may not be for everyone – fans of a traditional detective story where there is no magical reason for odd occurrences should avoid this book! In conclusion, this was a clever and funny update to the beloved Sherlock Holmes character, and I enjoyed the humour of the author immensely. It may not be for everyone, but it is certainly unique, and unlike anything, I have read before. Daenerys Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.

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