The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Scroll of the Dead

The Scroll of the Dead by David Stuart DaviesThis novel is the sequel to “The Veiled Detective.” Holmes has returned to 221B Baker Street where Watson joins him, having lost his wife Mary to illness. They get back to work at once.A man calling himself Sebastian Melmoth comes to Holmes with suspicions of a spiritualist who says he can reunite Melmoth with his dead son. The séance takes place and Holmes discovers that the spiritualist is only a great mimic and ventriloquist, and the other effects are done by a Negro confederate who doesn’t show in the darkness surrounding the table. The cold is caused by an opened window.Melmoth leaves Holmes a large bottle of champagne as a reward for solving the case and disappears.The death of a famous Music Hall Artiste brings Inspector Hardcastle to Baker Street. Holmes pooh-poohs the case. Hardcastle has another case that is more promising. Noted archeologist Sir George Faversham has been murdered.In related news, the British Museum has been robbed. The night watchman is found shot to death with a Derringer. An Egyptian scroll, known as the Hemmtawy Papyrus, has been stolen. It supposedly contains the directions to find the fabled Scroll of the Dead, and instructions on the use of the scroll to return someone to life. The finding of one hundred guineas in the deceased watchman’s locker explains how the thief was able to enter the museum after hours.Hardcastle reminds Holmes that he cannot blame this mess on Professor Moriarty. Nonetheless, Holmes suspects a cunning mind behind the crimes. Sebastian Melmoth is reported dead in a hunting accident, which Holmes believes was no accident. He informs Watson that he knew Melmoth was the man who robbed the museum and killed the night watchman.Another archeologist who specializes in Egyptology is now kidnapped. His name is Sir Alastair Andrews, and he was recently visited by a man matching Melmoth’s description. Someone obviously needs Andrews to translate the Hemmtawy Papyrus.Andrews and Flaversham were rivals, each seeking to find the key to the papyrus before the other. Now Holmes must race against time a face down a member of Moriarty’s inner circle, a task made more difficult as the man is supposed to be dead!From London to Egypt, to a final showdown on Ullswater Lake off Grebe Island, Holmes and this newest threat battle to the death.Once more Mr. Davies has written a truly great novel! Although it strives hard to adhere to the canonical formula, this still isn’t your Father’s Sherlock Holmes. If one can ignore that the book becomes a delightful read, packed with action, betrayal, twists and turns, and a solid mystery for a core! If you happen to be a Holmes purist, you might not want to read this one, although you should—it is worth it!I gladly give Mr. Davies five out of five stars!Quoth the Raven…

"The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Scroll of the Dead" - what an intriguing title! The book is an enjoyable read, but the plot disappoints a bit and gets a bit predictable near the end. Being a "sucker" for books and movies dealing with Egypt and Egyptology, perhaps I expected more of a supernatural aura to the book. The story was certainly adequate and even exciting and tense in spots, but it still left a bit to be desired. "The Scroll of the Dead" by David Stuart Davies, who has written other Holmes books, gives us a relatively short (approximately 180 pages) tale concerning the great detective's attempt to recover an ancient Egyptian artifact that most seem to believe holds the secret to eternal life. The story begins well enough as that supernatural flavor begins with Holmes attending a séance to unmask an impostor posing as a medium, which he does as we predict. While there, he meets a rather undesirable man, Sebastian Melmoth, who expresses a great interest in the "dead" and a desire to "know" about death. As the mystery tightens, murders begins to happen and we discover many people are intensely interested in the discovery of an ancient Egyptian papyrus that allows the resurrection of the dead. It is now up to Holmes and Watson to stop the killers, find the missing papyrus, and restore the "kingdom to order"!Considering the plot involved the search for an ancient Egyptian scroll that could raise the dead, there should have been more suspense. The ending should have been stronger as well; it was just a bit too predicable. Still, after a slow beginning that establishes some groundwork in a flashback, the plot does move fairly quickly and speeds up as it moves to the end; the action moves from London to the picturesque Lake District as Holmes and Watson once more battle with the forces of evil. Davis' characterization is very good, and the dialog tends to be realistic and in Doyle's style. Despite my criticism, I did enjoy the book and would still recommend to any Holmes or mystery fan.

A strange robbery and murder at a British museum with a huge number of ancient Egyptian artifacts is brought to the attention of Holmes by the police. At the request of Mycroft, Holmes has already exposed the seance tricks of a London spirit medium, and in the course of so doing, has met a very odd and sinister individual named Sebastian Melmoth. Holmes is able to connect Melmoth to the museum robbery, but clearly more is going on, involving more "interested parties," than might at first appear. Everything seems to be motivated by the existence of a well-hidden ancient scroll that supposedly contains a spell that can be used to resurrect the dead! There is enough going on to hold the reader's attention, and there are some surprises along the way.

This is one of the better pastichs. My hat off to Davies. While he did a really good job of capturing Mr. Holmes. With exception to a few phrases that are way to modern. He failed to do so with Dr. Watson. Watson is a battle hardened military man. In the story of Augustus Milverton. Watson and holmes break in to appledore estate. While hiding they witness the murder of Mr. Milverton. Seconds before this takes place. The duo are on the verge of being discovered. Dr. Watson is reading to spring upon Milverton like a tiger with pistol in hand. In the scroll of the dead. Watson is a scardy cat. In a particular part. He is constantly second guessing holmes and being irritatingly fearful. This only happens on the one page. Watson is less intelligent and holmes treats him more like a butler than friend in another scene. These are my only complaints. I can't expect it to be like doyle. Which irritates me about most critics. As if they could do better. So, my final thought is. Great job Mr. Davies!!!!

Gripping story

Another enjoyable Holmes adventure by David Stuart Davies.I heartily recommend this book,a real page turner.I would love to see David's Holmes stories adapted for the screen.

not bad

another great adventure

At first I couldn't understand why this book got some poor reviews. The pacing and narration was good and the story interesting and nearly half way into the book I lost interest, partly because of the rapidly unbelievable plot and mainly due to Holmes and Watson's dialogue which became flat and predictable. Such a shame as the start had potential. One for the charity shop am afraid.