Sherlock Holmes and Mr. Hyde

The Classified Dossier Series, Book 2

By: Christian Klaver

Narrated by: Tom Woosnam

A deftly crafted, scintillating mash-up of Victorian mystery and horror—Sherlock Holmes and Mr Hyde encounter villains with unfathomable, terrifying abilities.

1903. A darkness has descended on London. A series of grisly murders are uncovered, trophies taken, bodies arranged, and soon there are whispers of Jack the Ripper’s return.

A new client arrives at Baker Street seeking Sherlock Holmes’s help: Dr. Jekyll claims his friend has been wrongfully accused of the hideous crimes, a friend called Mr. Edward Hyde, whose very existence relies on a potion administered by the doctor himself.

But the case becomes more complicated, more unsettling than simply proving Mr. Hyde’s innocence—for Holmes and Watson unearth beastly transformations, a killer who moves unseen, a secret organization, and then find a traitor in their midst.

©2022 Christian Klaver (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Vampires, Werewolves and Cthulu?

Another great tale from the Classified Dossiers series.A great story, and narration that kept my attention.

Everything was too easy

All the supernatural problems they encountered were super easy to solve, barely an inconvenience. But it was entertaining.

Great Stuff

I really enjoyed the story, but the narrator could've been better. He read the story on a very solid way. The story itself is really fun. I love to see Sherlock with supernatural things

good fun

this series is a lot of fun. i weirdly enjoyed the fact that the narrator struggles a bit with some accents but sallies forth nonetheless.

A solid entry into the series.

I don't have much to add that others haven't already stated. A fine story with all the sorts of action, thrills, and mystery the series has given readers so far.

What I'd like to address though, is only important inasmuch as there are more books to come.
Character progression.

There are few "rules" writers can rally cling to when it comes to creating characters and making them feel alive. It's all up to their imaginations of course. but still.

1. Don't make your characters annoying (unless it's a part of their personality...and even then there's a limit to what a reader will accept/digest).
2. Don't make your character stupid or obviously and repeatedly obtuse (see rule #1).

John Watson has been around now for a little while and similarly experienced his "condition" for a while. His reactions in this book, however, remains static. It's like he's still confounded by what he is and what the ramifications of his condition portends. Flexibility...adaptation....an open mind. While these things are not a given, when faced with such extraordinary circumstances you either adapt or you die.
Watson's obtuseness in reaction and reasoning with what's going on around him, his lack of personal awareness, his lack of personal growth...is presented less as a challenge for him to overcome but is used as a mechanic. A stumbling block that will dictate how he responds...again and again and again.
Eventually this will go from being annoying to being a serious detractor to the story.

Everyone changes over time. The only ones who don't are dead.

So too I find a bit ridiculous that Sherlock, imminently logical as he is....would have to have explained to him, by Watson of all people, the rational behind why the end had to be the way it was.

That's not being thick-headed, that's being purposely obtuse.

I hope that this does not continue in the future.