Dr. Watson's Charge

By: Patrick Mercer

Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards

Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The enigmatic army officer Captain JAC Smethwick is a veteran of the The Charge of the Light Brigade. But when he visits Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson he has more on his mind than the conflict in the Crimea. There is a mystery surrounding the death of his former employer, Lord Cardigan. Smethwick believes that the man responsible for his death is none other than the former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.

Holmes sends Watson off to Deene Park, Lord Cardigan's estate, to investigate and question the victim's widow - the colourful and flirtatious Adeline de Horsey. But Watson starts to uncover an altogether more sinister and complex conspiracy. And rather than unmask the murderer, Watson may become his next victim. The game's afoot - but who is the hunter and who will be the prey?

Patrick Mercer is author of the Doctor Watson series, as well as Men of Honour. A military historian by training, he was decorated four times as an infantry officer and then was the defence correspondent for BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.

©2013 Patrick Mercer (P)2014 Audible Studios

Critic reviews

Praise for his novel To Do and Die:

"A finely drawn depiction of battle and the camaraderie of war." (Daily Mail)
"A tremendous achievement by a storyteller who knows the humour, the fear, and the frenzy of men in battle." (Bernard Cornwell)

don't bother

This is a raunchy complete insult to the Listener and to Sherlock. Yuck is all I can muster to say.

Not worth your time or money, even if Free.

The performance was acceptable tho a bit melodramatic sometimes. But the story itself was a joke, a scurrilous one. The author should be sure embarrassed over it. Mind you, I am a real fan of many of the current, well-written, quality Doyle-inspired spinoffs that remain faithful to Doyle's chatacters--such as Laurie King's married sleuth. But these characters were not at all faithful to the essential personalities of the original Watson & Holmes. He might keep his silly story word for word as it is, if he merely changed the names; maybe Curlocke Jones & Dr. Harry Whatsit, with new sidekick Batman Bowler. But to associate this drivel with Holmes & Watson is just offensive.

Insulting

We are supposed to believe that the Sherlock Holmes was happy to drive an older woman out of a carriage by claiming to have smallpox. Not to mention the descent into carnality that Sherlock Holmes mysteries are usually above.

Shame on the writer. Shame on the publisher.

Does not know the characters or how to write

Ghastly. Holmes, Watson and even Mrs.Hudson were off. The dialogue was poor and the sexual remarks off-putting. This was not a re-invention but rather a clumsy disappointment. I would have liked to give it zero stars.

Not impressed

1) Too much use of foul language
2) Too much animosity on Watson’s part
Neither of the above are in keeping with the spirit of Conan Doyle’s creation.

Holmes is too much of a jerk and Watson has no subtlety

I don’t think the characters are particularly representative of the originals. The ‘real’ Holmes would never leave Watson to potentially freeze to death all night long, nor publicly ridicule him. And Watson is supposed to be a gentleman, not a thinly disguised bro. Not my favorite.

Worst Holmes & Watson Audiobook

Listened to well over 100 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson books on Audible. This one is without question the worst. Bad story, unlikeable characters. Watson character shallow, openly jealous of Holmes. Ends with Watson getting a “handy” in carriage by 58 year-old woman…wth?!?!

Charming tale of our favorite detective

A new look at Holmes/Watson and seemingly the first appearance of the demonic Moriarty! Hilarious in places and a little too saucy for some reviewers but I thought the flirtatious widow added humor and a feminine touch.

The Other Reviews Are Right: Appalling!

This whole audiobook is just… weird. Everything about it is off kilter: the story, the narration, and the writing structure/dialogue. This author might have been attempting a raunchy parody, if so, it should have been aimed at that audience. But… it isn’t. It’s a serious presentation.

I may be leaning towards being a purist, but I think a certain amount of respect for the canon is appropriate and necessary. The writer is borrowing an entire universe and character set after all. So when Watson especially is presented as a leering buffoon, snarky with Mrs. Hudson even, and we get his inner thoughts on her female attributes in locker room kinds of thinking - just at the very start - it doesn’t bode well.

And it didn’t.

We didn’t finish this one, and we’re very happy to walk away from it.

Give this one a pass!

Dr. Watson's charge

This book was written in a style that seemed easier to understand. I liked this book, but it didn't make me excited about the story.