A Study in Brimstone (Warlock Holmes Series #1)

by G. S. Denning

Overview

Sherlock Holmes is an unparalleled genius. Warlock Holmes is an idiot. A font of arcane power, certainly. But he’s brilliantly dim. Frankly, he couldn’t deduce his way out of a paper bag. The only thing he has really got going for him are the might of a thousand demons and his stalwart companion. Thankfully, Dr. Watson is always there to aid him through the treacherous shoals of Victorian propriety… and save him from a gruesome death every now and again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783299720
Publisher:	Titan
Publication date:	05/17/2016
Series:	Warlock Holmes , #1
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	649,523
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

G.S. Denning was born in Seattle, Washington. He has published articles for games company Wizards of the Coast, worked as an editor, written a video-game script for Nintendo, and written and performed shows at the Epcot Center, Walt Disney World. With a background in improv, Gabe has performed with Ryan Stiles and Wayne Brady, and he currently has a play running in Seattle. He now lives in Las Vegas with his wife and two children.

Editorial Reviews

02/22/2016
Douglas Adams meets Arthur Conan Doyle in this delightfully absurd collection of six cases narrated by a Dr. Watson who’s teamed with a very unusual partner: Warlock Holmes, a consulting magician. As in the original stories, the good doctor has returned from the Afghan War down on his luck, only to stumble into an opportunity to share quarters with an eccentric sleuth. Almost totally destitute, Watson leaps at the chance, despite Warlock’s warning of his unusual tendencies and the detective’s requirement that the doctor enter their Baker Street rooms by stepping over their threshold backward. Their first case together is a hilarious parody of A Study in Scarlet, wherein a “baked goods wrapper,” inserted in the mouth of a murder victim, proves a vital clue. Watson also gets to meet this universe’s versions of Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson, who are a vampire and an ogre, respectively. Sherlockians will be reminded of Robert L. Fish’s brilliant Schlock Holmes stories. (May)

Publishers Weekly

A funny paranormal adaptation of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries. And when I say funny, I mean I actually laughed out loud on several occasions.” - Newbery and Beyond

"While cast and settings are faithful to the original stories, Denning upends the narrative with a host of paranormal turns that range from the irreverent to the gruesome. Mashup fans will be eagerly awaiting more of this obvious match for fans of Seth Grahame-Smith." - Booklist

“Damn you, G.S. Denning! Damn you, sir, for tainting the Great Detective with your parodic fripperies and your supernatural folderols!  There is a special place in Holmesian hell reserved for impudent whelps such as yourself - and I shall languish there alongside you for the sin of having read your book and laughed like a loon throughout.” - James Lovegrove, New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Odin


“What if Sherlock Holmes wasn't a brilliant detective, but an awkward magician with prophetic fits? What if Scotland Yard was staffed by vampires and ogres? And above all, what if it was funny? Warlock Holmes should have you from the title alone, but if it doesn't, know that it's full of charm, humor and demons. Lots of demons.” - Robert Brockway, author of The Unnoticeables


"Irreverent, hilarious and a ripping good yarn to boot. A must for all those who like their Holmes on the wilder side." - George Mann, author of Sherlock Holmes: The Spirit Box


"With more twists than a Victorian corset, this is Sherlock for the mash-up generation. Tongue-in-cheek, knowing tales, with dollops of Penny Dreadful and a side salad of Atlantis.” - William Sutton, author of Lawless and the Devil of Euston Square

“Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone is charming and excellent entertainment! It's a deliciously entertaining reading experience.” - Rising Shadow

“A good classic read filled with quirky characters, a supernatural touch, and a dash of mysterious murders and peculiar instances.” - Gamers Sphere 

“Adapts classic Sherlock Holmes tales in a way that stays true to the source, but also enjoys itself the whole time” - Hey Poor Player

“The illustrations by Sean Patella-Buckley throughout the novel were epic...If you are looking for a hilarious collection of magical and adventurous mysteries, then this is the novel for you.” - Geek Hard 

“In the age of mash-ups, I found this book to be so much fun and reminded me just why I love reading so much.” - From Girlie to Nerdy

 “Quirky, funny, and clever” - Vivacious Hobo

All in all, I had a wonderful time with this book, and boy am I glad to have the sequel Warlock Holmes: The Hell-Hound of the Baskervilles already on hand because I’m really looking forward to continuing this series. 4.5/5 - Biblio Sanctum 

 “The hijinks feel refreshed and the references renew my interest in reading the originals, which is some of the highest praise I can give to any homage”  The Frumious Consortium

“Denning peppers his hilarious stories with plenty of Holmesian callbacks and Douglas Adams-worthy puns...It’s charming and well-imagined and rewards longtime fans with plenty of great details.” - Barnes & Noble SFF Blog

From the Publisher

2016-03-15
In a debut novel that cheerfully pokes fun at the Holmes-ian canon, Denning introduces readers to Warlock Holmes, a supernaturally gifted counterpart to the famous consulting detective of 221B Baker St. When an acquaintance introduced Dr. John Watson to a tall, thin, and very strange man with the surname of Holmes, an endless world of famous cases and archetypal details stretched out from their meeting. Spinoffs and pastiches are numerous, but Denning's take on these beloved characters is unusual and charming. This Holmes and Watson inhabit a gleefully weird Victorian London and work their way through six cases including a bizarre version of A Study in Scarlet called "A Study in Brimstone," in which the identification of a murderer hinges on an abandoned pastry wrapper and the reader is introduced to Inspector Vladislav Lestrade, a detective at Scotland Yard and a vampire. Though Warlock Holmes shares some of the trappings of his famous progenitor, he is a spectacularly incompetent detective. He relies on occult powers, exchanges with demons, and the cryptic speeches of the mysterious, disembodied Moriarty, who occasionally possesses him. Watson is the one who revels in skills of observation and deduction, discovering a passion for reason and a love of the chase. The characters are so likable that they can pause their absurd antics to contemplate prejudice and privilege without missing a beat or falling out of their outrageous world. Denning has a knack for smooth writing that carries the action along and a keen sense for how to set up a joke. He imagines his world with gusto, lavishing the reader with hilarious details like Holmes' accordion playing and a gang of Baker Street Irregulars made up of horrifying were-rats. A reimagining of Sherlock Holmes that is often very silly but consistently funny, clever, and entertaining.

Kirkus Reviews