The Devil's Dust by James Lovegrove

The Devil's Dust

James Lovegrove

2018  

4/5 stars

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books , book #14 

This is very much a niche book -- it was written for that (probably rare) reader who is a fan of both Sherlock Holmes and H. Rider Haggard's hunter/adventurer Allan Quatermain.

I AM that reader.

Quatermain is second only to Holmes in terms of favorite male characters*, so for me, the teaming up of these two is absolutely delightful.  

It's apparent that Lovegrove is familiar with Haggard's work, as he characterized Quatermain very much like the original.  The carry-over of certain characters was a pleasure, as well as surprising at one point.  I found this Quatermain's motivations to be believable, based on my reading of the Haggard series.

The rivalry-chemistry between Holmes and Quatermain was exactly what one would expect from that pair, and great fun.  I have read one of Lovegrove's pastiches before (Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon, my review here) and was pleased then, as now, with the closeness to the personality and actions of the genuine Holmes and narration of Watson.  I will certainly continue to read Lovegrove's books.

I'll admit this is not going to be a book for everyone.  Only a lover of Victorian adventures is going to appreciate it -- and goodness, how much I did!  I can't give it five stars in all fairness, but I certainly got that much enjoyment out of it.

Note on the audiobook: At first, I didn't like Dennis Kleinman's voice for Holmes, but once I adjusted to that, I found him to be an excellent narrator.

(*I even have a pet named for him.)

October 2026 Wrap-Up

Books Read:

Wife or Death by Ellery Queen, ghost-written by Richard Deming (1963)  4/5 stars

I did not realize until I started this book that Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee (co-authors/creators of the Ellery Queen books) had ghost-writers for some of the books written in the 1960s and '70s.  Previously, I had tried House of Brass and found it to be slimy, unlike the previous books of the series, and simply unreadable for me (my dnf review); I now know that it was ghost-written by Avram Davidson and will avoid any others by him.  

This one, however, by Richard Deming was quite good.  The story focuses on a man whose wife is known to be a serial adulterer.  When she is found murdered, he is the first and most likely suspect, so begins his own investigation to prove his innocence.  It was well-plotted, interesting, and engaging.  I figured out most of it, but still enjoyed it enough that I wouldn't hesitate to read another by Deming.

The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime by Judith Flanders (2011)  3/5 stars  (my review here)

Birds of Prey by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1867) 3/5 stars

This is not Braddon's best, with very little thrills, suspense, or even melodrama.  It ends abruptly, setting the stage for its sequel Charlotte's Inheritance; I'm not sure I enjoyed it enough to continue to the next book. 

Evidence of Things Seen by Elizabeth Daly (1943)  4/5 stars

Henry Gamadge mysteries, book 6 

Gamadge's wife becomes a suspect in a murder case, and he must set things right.  This was a very enjoyable quick read with a satisfying conclusion.  I like Daly better with each one I read.

Audiobooks Completed:

The Crystal Stopper by Maurice Leblanc  (1912)  4/5 stars

Arsène Lupin, book 5 

This is a mystery/adventure about the likable gentleman thief and master of disguise, Arsène Lupin.  In it, Lupin nearly meets his match when he tries to save one of his gang from the guillotine.  This is a fun, enjoyable read that gradually becomes quite serious and tense as the execution nears and Lupin fails attempt after attempt.  I can't rate it five stars, but I did get that much pleasure from it.

A Short Bright Flash: Augustin Fresnel and the Birth of the Modern Lighthouse by Theresa Levitt (2013)  4/5 stars

This is a biography of the short life of Agustin Fresnel, inventor of the Fresnel lens which changed modern lighthouse technology.  After his biography, the author continues with the history of modern lighthouses in France, Great Britain, and the U.S., up through World War II.  While it is sometimes rather technical, the book is interesting and informative, and generally easy to follow.

The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet by Katherine Cowley (2021) 4/5 stars

The Secret Life of Mary Bennet, book one

This was a delightful tale of Austen's Mary Bennet, taking place after the death of her father.  Cowley stuck very closely to the original character -- not giving her glasses, unlike the movies and some other pastiches, and keeping her overly scholarly, prim, and sometimes annoying.  Mary made an excellent amateur detective, with her detailed mind, nosey nature, and plain exterior.  The changes to her personality were slow, slight, and believable.  I thoroughly enjoyed this and couldn't read it fast enough; I certainly plan on reading the other two the author wrote.  (Note: for those that want to know how it compared to The Other Bennet Sister,  I'll just point out that I did not care enough for the un-Austen-like Mary in that one to finish it (my dnf review), yet I loved Cowley's version of Mary.)

The Invention of Murder by Judith Flanders

 

The Invention of Murder: How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime 
Judith Flanders
2011 
3/5 stars

The author gives the account of many highly-publicized Victorian murders and her reasons for why these crimes caught the public's attention when other equally disturbing ones did not. She shows the newspaper articles, plays, and novels each crime inspired.  The book is highly (at times painfully) detailed, and was obviously well-researched.  

Unfortunately, the book is also formulaic, with Flanders treating each crime the same way (description, trial, public reaction), and then jumping right into the next one -- for more than 400 pages.  It is easy to read and understand, with lots of interesting facts, but overall it's presented in a dull manner that makes it hard to persevere.   

I do want to point out that given  the nature of the crimes, there are some gruesome descriptions and Flanders does not stint on the particulars.  This may be a problem for some readers; I was certainly uncomfortable many times.  True crime is not my interest -- Victorian history is.

The most problematic issue for me, though, was her treatment of the novels mentioned in her book.  

It seems obvious that the author should expect her audience to be those interested in Victorian history and literature. Those readers would most likely be familiar with the novels that are mentioned and may be a regular reader of this genre.  Despite this, Flanders spoils the plots of all the melodramas and sensational fiction she discusses.  

I have already read many of the books mentioned, but she still managed to ruin the sequel to the melodrama I'm currently reading (Charlotte's Inheritance by M.E. Braddon).   Two others that are on my to-be-read list were also spoiled before I could skim over the paragraph.  I'm not sure why the author felt the need to give all the plot details but it was a huge problem for me.

(On a side note, the author also appears to feel that Dickens was the only Victorian author of sensational fiction/melodrama that could be considered "literature", which bothered me as well, given it's so highly untrue.  )

I'm rating the book three stars for the obvious amount of work and research that went into it, but can't strongly recommend it as I didn't feel it left me enlightened about the era or that it proved the subtitle ("How the Victorians Revelled in Death and Detection and Created Modern Crime") as promised.

September 2026 Wrap-Up

James Burke

Books Read:

Twin Tracks: The Unexpected Origins of the Modern World by James Burke (2003)  4/5 stars

In this, science historian Burke takes one idea or event (for example, the 1770 Falklans War) and shows how, by two different tracks starting from the same origin, it led to an important invention in the modern world (in this case, television).  Delivered with Burke's usual wit, irreverence and levity, it's fun to read, even though, at times the connections seemed tenuous and the humor forced.  (Disclaimer: I have a crush on Mr. Burke.)

Songs of Stone by Celeste Baxendell (2022) 4/5 stars

Bewitching Fairy Tales book #5

This is a well-written and compelling spice-free fantasy that follows one of the characters from the previous book as he encounters and falls in love with a young female criminal.  The story is often serious, as it deals with themes of repentance, justice, and how far one would go to save a loved one.  It's not an exact retelling, but contains references to the stories of The Pied Piper and the Sandman, wrapped up in Baxendell's original convincing world. At over 600 pages, it is detailed and full of character development, but does require a committed reader.

Gilded in Ice by Sarah Pennington (2021)  4/5 stars

Bastian Dennel PI, book 2 

This mystery involving two missing people is set in a fantasy world similar to a US city during the Jazz Age, and lightly follows the stories of "Snow White and Rose Red", "East of the Sun, West of the Moon", and Cupid and Psyche. The concept is unique, fun, and engaging, but even in this second book of the series, the world, magic system, and characters aren't fully developed. Despite that, I enjoyed it and will most likely read another by the author.

Blood on the Tracks: Railway Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (2018)  4/5 stars

This is a short story collection from the British Library Crime Classics.  The variety of authors from still popular to now obscure is excellent, worth five stars as always, but the quality of the work varies, bringing it down to 4 stars.  Some of them are particularly memorable, though, and introduced me to authors I will definitely be looking up in the future.

Audio Books:

The House of Dudley: A New History of Tudor England by Joanne Paul (2022)  4/5 stars

This is a nonfiction account of the rise and fall of the Dudley family, from the reign of King Edward VIII through to Queen Elizabeth I.  I listened to the audio version, so I don't know what kind of references Paul used, but I would like to know her sources for some of the vivid descriptions of feelings and actions she included.  Other than that, it's generally well written and held my attention; it would be a good fit for anyone interested in that era.

Miss Pym Disposes by Josephine Tey (1946)  4/5 stars

This is not a typical mystery, suspense, or even crime novel.  It takes place at a girls' college, and Tey spends a good deal of time allowing the reader the know and like the characters.  When an accident happens, Miss Pym -- a visiting psychiatrist -- becomes emotionally involved and faces a tough decision.  This is a well-written and surprisingly compelling story, but the reader must not expect the usual Golden Age whodunnit.  

August 2026 Wrap Up

Books Read: 

Passenger to Tehran by Vita Sackville-West (1926) 4/5 stars

This short memoir tells of the spring 1926 journey Sackville-West made to Persia -- first visiting Egypt, then coming back to England through Russia, Poland, and Germany.  It is full of beautiful prose and vivid descriptions, but mostly shows the reader the author herself through her comments, reactions, and emotions.  It's laugh-out-loud funny at times, moving at others, and always thought-provoking.  I wouldn't recommend it as a reader's introduction to Sackville-West (I would suggest All Passion Spent, or her novellas "Seducers in Ecuador" and "The Heir"), but for those already familiar with her work, this is a must read.  Note: I read the version with the introduction by her son, Nigel Nicholson, and found that it added to tremendously to the experience.

 

Mr. Zero by Patricia Wentworth (1938)  3/5 stars

This is a light, though tense, novel of espionage and suspense with a dash of romance. Though it was easy to solve, it was still enjoyable.

John Marchmont's Legacy by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1863)  4/5 stars

This was an entertaining Victorian melodrama and while it lacked the surprises and twists that her books usually have, it was still well-written and engrossing.

The Flight of the Shadow by George MacDonald (1891)  4/5 stars

This is a typical Victorian melodrama with strong Christian overtones.  It's well-written, interesting, with a few nice twists.  Definitely not MacDonald's finest work, but still an entertaining read if you enjoy that genre.

Come, Tell Me How You Live by Agatha Christie Mallowan (1946)  4/5 stars

As with her Autobiography, Christie's archeological memoirs are chatty, insightful, and fun to read.  There are bits that were amusing to the author that don't sit well with 21st-Century sensibility, but overall it's was an entertaining depiction of living in Syria for three seasons of excavation.  

Audiobooks Completed:
The Worcester Whisperers by Kerry Tombs (2008)  4/5 stars

Inspector Ravenscroft mysteries, book 2

This is a solid mystery with appealing characters and a satisfying solution.  I didn't like that the Inspector had information that the reader did not, but other than that, I enjoyed the book.

A Body at a Boarding School by Benedict Brown (2021)  3/5 stars

Lord Edgington Investigates, book 2

A retired Scotland Yard Inspector investigates a murder with his teenage grandson learning at his side.  This is a fun, light, cozy mystery and, while not deep, did have an entertaining plot.

No. 17 by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1926)  4/5 stars

This is a delightful crime novel/adventure starring Ben, presently out-of-work from the Merchant Navy, who discovers a dead body in an empty house.  It's funny, mostly well-written, and (though often predictable), still has a few twists. 

Did Not Finish

The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan 

This is the first in a steampunk-alternate history trilogy that I really wanted to like.  My problem was twofold: the author does more telling than showing, but despite all the info given, after seven chapters I was still unable to fully grasp the world of the novel.  

July 2026 Wrap Up

Books Read:

Fly Country by Anthony Lang (1928)  4/5 stars

This is a light mystery/crime story with a bit of romance.  It is well-written and engaging and, though I figured out a good deal, I was interested to the end.

HIH Grand Duke MIchael Alexandrovich

Michael and Natasha: The Life and Love of Michael II, the Last of the Romanov Tsars by Rosemary and Donald Crawford (1997)  4/5 stars

This is a biography of the Grand Duke Michael Aleksandrovich, brother of Tsar Nicholas II, who was made Tsar for a brief period during the Russian Revolution of 1917.  It focuses on his relationship with Nathalie Wulfert with whom he fell passionately in love -- enough so to defy his family to marry her.  It is well-written and very interesting, up until the Revolution.  At that point, the authors go into excruciating detail with a mind-boggling amount of minutia.  Overall, though, I was glad to learn about Michael, Natasha, and their life and would recommend the book with the understanding that the middle chapters may need to be skimmed due to the information overload.

Nothing Can Rescue Me by Elizabeth Daly (1943)  4/5 stars

Henry Gamadge, book 5

This is a solid mystery, well-written and entertaining, though a bit convoluted at the end.  

Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf (1941)  3/5 stars

This is Woolf's final novel, published posthumously.  It spans about 24 hours: the night before, the day of, and the evening after the village play.  That play (and the play that was inside that play) is detailed line by excruciating line. I felt like some of the audience, wondering just what the play was about, what I was supposed to feel, and thinking it a bit of a time-waster. (Perhaps that was her point?)  Woolf's examination into the thoughts of the characters was as good as always, but the play felt contrived, almost a filler, and I came away disappointed.  Despite the fact that there are some gorgeous and amazing sentences, I wouldn't recommend this to new readers of Woolf, only to completist fans. 

The Master's Violin by Myrtle Reed (1904)  4/5 stars

This is a gentle novel of romance -- first love and second-chance -- with the overly lyrical prose and heavy emotions typical of the time.  As a fan of this genre and era, I found it enjoyable and entertaining, though I would only recommend it to those who also appreciate turn-of-the-20th-century melodramas.

Audiobooks Completed:

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages by Dan Jones (2021)  4/5 stars

This (long) nonfiction exploration of the Middle Ages is told by theme (such as monks, crusaders, merchants, and navigators) rather than by strict chronological order.  I found this to be a very effective arrangement and, though I didn't learn many new-to-me facts due to lots of previous studying of this time period, I enjoyed the writing, presentation, and style.  I definitely recommend this to those interested in, but relatively new to, the study of the Middle Ages.

Did Not Finish:

House of Brass by Ellery Queen

This was written in 1968 and it shows with its attitude toward sex and women, and overall slimy feel.  I enjoy the Queen novels of the 1940s, and even some later, but this one was just unreadable for me.  (Note: I found out after this review that was ghostwritten by Avram Davidson.)

 

Bonjour Agent by Fabergé Eastern 

It isn't a bad book -- I would give it 3 stars based on the 30% I read -- but it felt immature, both plot and prose.  Also, adding historical figures as characters in a book takes a good deal of convincing writing, and it just wasn't believable in this one. 

Ties of Dust by Deborah Grace White

It got too stressful for me due to the politics.

June 2026 Wrap Up

Books Read:

Beasts of Beauty by Celeste Baxendell (2021)  5/5 stars

Bewitching Fairy Tales, book 3 

This well-written no-spice fantasy is a gender-flipped version of Beauty and the Beast. This is a moving tale, full of danger, betrayal, guilt, redemption, and various forms of love. It is an engrossing and satisfying book that gutted me at times, but enchanted me throughout. (Do note that the villian and the male main character appear prominently in the second book of this series, and there is a cameo from the first book, so I recommend that the series be read in order. My review of book two can be found here and of book one, here.)

Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis (1958) 5/5 stars

This was a reread. My original review is found here.

Cinders of Glass by Celeste Baxendell (2022) 4/5 stars

Bewitching Fairy Tales, book 4

This is another well-written no-spice fantasy by an author that has become a favorite. Cinders of Glass is a retelling of "Cinderella", mixed with "The Little Match Girl", and follows Prince Cynrik, a character that appeared in the second book of this series. It is funny, exciting, and even moving a times, as it follows a plot of treason, betrayal, heartbreak, and redemption. The flawed characters make this a special book that shows that even the hardest heart can change.

Eight Faces at Three by Craig Rice (1939) 3/5 stars

John J. Malone series, book 1

This mystery is written in the screwball comedy style, with snappy dialogue and silly situations, a style I enjoy. Unfortunately, the author focused to much on drunken humor for my taste. The mystery itself was not particularly interesting, and I figured most of it out early on. This book is the start of a series, and I own several others, but I wasn't impressed enough to begin another any time soon. Rice was a popular Golden Age crime novelist, so I'm hoping the books improve as the series progresses.

Audiobooks:

Elf Prince by Tara Grayce (2020)  4/5 stars

Elven Alliance, book 7

This book tells the same story as Fierce Heart, only from Farrendel's point-of-view, instead of Essie's.  It was tender and emotional, watching first hand as he dealt with his anxiety, depression, and PTSD.  At first, I didn't think I'd read it, having read Fierce Heart just a few weeks prior, but I'm so glad I did.

Heart Bond by Tara Grayce (2023)  4/5 stars

Elven Alliance, book 8

This is a set of short stories and novellas that flesh out parts of the main story arc, or tell more about side characters.  While I was disappointed with a couple of the stories, wishing there had been more details, overall it was a wonderful collection and a great addition to the series.

Elf King by Tara Grayce (2023)  4/5 stars

Elven Alliance, book 9

Grayce finishes off this series by going far back in (series) time to tell the stories of the Elven Kings from Farrendel's grandfather up to his brother, the current King.  It was well-written,  often touching, and overall a fantastic way to wrap up The Elven Alliance. 

The Malvern Murders by Kerry Tombs (2006)  3/5 stars

Inspector Ravenscroft, book 1

This mystery takes place in Victorian England, and follows Inspector Ravenscroft, who has been sent to a health resort in Malvern after failing to capture a criminal.  While there, he becomes involved in a murder investigation involving important people of the town.  It's an interesting mystery, mostly well-written, with engaging characters, however, it wasn't particularly gripping.  Despite that, I will certainly continue the series to see what happens to Ravenscroft.