I am going to start off my review with the divulging that I am very surprised that this book has received such high ratings so far.

I didn’t like the writing style from the offset, started getting intrigued by the characters, got set back again by some really poor plot lines, and then was eventually disappointed by the lack character depth by the end of the book.

There are a number of cases being worked on at the same time, which is a great in itself, but when the main case gets cracked accidentally, by some fluke of mathematic improbability, whilst drunk, it just feels a little absurd. Add to that the fact that my favourite character was probably the receptionist, it just doesn’t reflect well on what should have been a trio of characters one should have been glued to.

Maybe too much effort was put on trying to set up a series, rather than writing a good book?
Unfortunately, this just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for a Review Copy

As soon as I saw the title I knew I had to read this. For anyone who isn’t sure it’s Brendan Holmes (Sherlock Holmes), Margaret Marple (Miss Jane Marple) and Auguste Poe (Edgar Allan Poe). These three characters set up a detective agency in New York in a very run down building, but they clearly have access to unlimited funds as they spend a fortune renovating the property to provide offices and three apartments for themselves. The strange thing about our detectives is that they have no footprint anywhere, no past, they just appear to have materialised from nowhere. Who are our intrepid trio?

Briefly, during the course of the book they solved the theft of valuable books, a kidnapping, cold case mass murders and that’s just for starters. But they also manage to get under the collars of the mayor, NYPD and the FBI. I say again, who are our intrepid trio?

I loved that the characters resembled their namesakes in their personality traits, in particular Holmes who seemed almost like a doppelgänger in personality if not in looks. Trademark short chapters added to the readability in this fast paced read. The cases were quite light in detail and were solved without a great deal of investigation but that was fine although I did find it relatively easy to guess at the conclusion for all but one of them. I’m assuming this is the start of a new series, I certainly hope so. As such this was a great introduction to the team with multiple storylines and one detective taking the lead in each case. A good fun read, quite light and with just one outstanding question. Who are our intrepid trio?

A witty take on the private detective genre sees three charismatic individuals set up an agency in New York. Supporting characters include glamorous NYPD detective Grey, quirky receptionist Virginia and a beautiful dog and cat. The three cases the team are involved in were rushed but is it a quick read and presume first of a series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

As is typical of James Patterson this book is fast paced and full of action. Holmes, Marple and Poe set themselves up in an old bakery in New York as a prestigious Private Investigation Firm. They spring to prominence from obscurity after solving a major crime that NYPD couldn't solve and then gatecrashing the subsequent press conference, instantly making an enemy of the Police Chief but gaining admirers within the force and making them instantly famous!
Immediately their phones start ringing off the hook with large jobs including art theft, kidnapping and mass murders. The three main characters have an air of mystery about them and where they've come from. Surely Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe aren't their real names but each person has certain quirks that are reminiscent of their famous namesakes.
With the jobs coming in thick and fast there is a lot going on at any time which makes for an intriguing read which at times is quite amusing as well as thrilling. As is the nature of the job they gain many admirers however they also garner some enemies, putting their lives at risk.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Holmes, Marple and Poe run a detective agency in New York and all show characteristics of their famous namesakes. Detective Helene Grey though sees them as rivals and wants to know much more about who they are and their backgrounds. They solve some seemingly impossible crimes and so gain the attention of the New York City police and the FBI. It is fast paced and the different personalities of the three are really quite interesting. I did think though that some details of how some crimes were solved were glossed over in parts. It was a fun, fast read though which is what we expect from James Patterson. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy to review.

I don't normally read James Patterson collaborations as I think he is a better author on his own.

However the title of this intrigued me

Holmes Marple and Poe arrive in New York mysteriously and set up an Investigations agency . They have no plenty of money and no backstory.

They set about solving crime much to the annoyance of NYPD and soon attract powerful enemies.

This is a fun book,easy to read probably on holiday. The ending cries out for a sequel which would also be worth a read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Century Publishing for the chance to read and review this book

As a lover of Sherlock Holmes books I was intrigued to read this. Holmes, Marple and Poe, Private Investigators in NYC was an excellent read and one I couldn't put down. Definitely to be recommended

This was, for me, a one sitting read. The way the partners interacted with each other and the police made for interesting reading. I did guess the conclusion of one of the cases, but the others kept me guessing. Settings were described enough to help the imagination picture the scenes. I don't know if is a standalone book, or the first of a series, but I'd love to catch up with the characters in another book

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this eCopy to review

Holmes, Margaret and Poe was ok, I found the story lines quite rushed and confusing as the trio had multiple crimes to solve some at the same time so keeping track of everyone was tricky. Clues did not seem to be shared either the crimes were just solved which I found a bit of a let down as I like to work them out for myself.

The 3 detectives were all quirky and if this becomes a series we may get to know them a little bit better as there wasn't enough time to get to know the 3 PIs plus detective Gray plus their receptionist.

The biggest mystery is who the 3 actually are, hopefully this would be revealed in a future book

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Holmes, Margaret and Poe, the first novel to feature PIs Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe who have recently set up an agency in New York.

With the success of their first case well publicised, the Holmes, Marple and Poe Agency is soon inundated with work. They get involved in kidnapping, art theft, a gruesome discovery beneath the city, bribery and corruption at City Hall and a decades old murder on their own premises. This success and the detectives’ mysterious appearance soon attracts the attention of NYPD and the FBI.

I thoroughly enjoyed Holmes, Margaret and Poe, which is a fun read with some ingenious solutions to the cases and mysterious protagonists. It is a lightweight novel that follows several cases with the solves coming at different points in the narrative. The authors also have room for a few twists along the way. It is very entertaining.

The novel feels like a series of short stories mingled together to make a novel with the detectives being the thread that pulls it together. I didn’t mind that as this mingling makes the reader pay attention to be able to keep up and as the plots are quite slight it makes sense to join them. The novel offers a bit of everything with smart plots, a hint of the supernatural, gizmos, car chases and physical altercations. Then there’s the more psychological tension between the PIs and law enforcement, where the final showdown made me laugh.

The biggest mystery in the novel is the identity of Holmes, Margaret and Poe. They arrive fully credentialed with a lot of money and skills and a long list of contacts. The rest is a blank. There are hints but no established facts and that adds to the fun.

Holmes, Margaret and Poe is a fun read that I can recommend.

I loved this book. It is an easy to read, well written crime story, with floored but very likeable characters.

Holmes, Marple and Poe are private investigators in NYC who are employed to recover stolen very rare books, to find two missing kidnapped people and are investigating a historic unsolved murder in their Appartement.

But who are Marple, Holmes and Poe?

A fabulous holiday read.

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe are detectives, each with a unique talent. They appear from nowhere to help the police solve a crime whilst establishing their own agency. As ever, James Patterson presents us with a complex plot line involving several crimes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to find out more about #HolmesMarpleandPoe Buy it and you won't regret it! #NetGalley

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe are the top private investigators in New York City. Holmes, Marple and Poe are a team like no other, taking on cases and solving them so impressively that they start to get the attention of the NYPD and the FBI, but not always in a positive way. But the results speak for themselves, and when the trio are as good as they are, and their results include solving kidnappings, decades old murders, art thefts, and undercovering a horrific human torture and murder prison, there is not much the authorities can do to shut them down.

I was drawn to this book by two things, I always love reading what James Patterson writes, and I was intrigued by a group of PIs with names referring back to such literary greats. I really hope that this is the first of many we will see of these three, as they are an amazing set of characters. The business they are building is just taking off, they have just hired staff and have started a relationship with the police, there is much potential. The story is fast paced, with multiple storylines which all skillfully weave together, and keep you gripped, following each investigator on their individual and group efforts. I was completely engrossed and finished the book in two sittings, with the day job getting in the way of a one sitting completion! Each of the PIs really stands out as a well developed character, relatable, interesting, with foibles, and quirks, habits, skills and flaws relating to their namesakes. The relationship between the trio was perfect, with a real and genuine friendship that you can tell is born of time and shared experience. The book is full of drama, humour, and action, and mystery, leaving us in awe of the PIs' skills, and yet wondering, who they really are?

More please!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

Holmes, Margaret and Poe is an engaging and immersive book that pulls you into the life of three New York eccentric Private Investigators who have set up shop together. After working on a high-profile case their names are suddenly in the limelight and everyone wants a piece of them, including the police.

The three PIs Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe, are vastly different and yet are so alike. Their cases likewise, from valuable items stolen, to missing people, and a possible serial killer going back years.

I adored this book. The chapters are short and snappy, a little like our main characters who are also wise, cunning, determined, and not afraid to ruffle some feathers. The cases intrigued me and it was nice to have more than one thread running throughout.

With an array of characters and cases, I was wondering whether things may muddle but they never did. Each stood out on its and their own merit. The setting was perfect, who doesn’t love a book set in New York, and the characters are a book lover’s dream.

Overall, Holmes, Margaret and Poe is a superb book that was exciting and captivating the whole way through. The plot doesn’t stand around for long so the pace is sharp and the pages are never dull, just how I like my reads.

I’ve always enjoyed Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple novels/films so was eager to read this book. I enjoyed the entire novel, it’s well written and witty and had me hooked. There’s a lot going on in it but it kept me enthralled to the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK Cornerstone and the author for the chance to review.

Poe, Marple and Holmes are names that conjure up expectations of mysterious crimes that are cleverly solved. However I was disappointed in the lack of sleuthing and the quite weak storylines. Not a book for me which is surprising as Patterson on his own is such a superb author with compelling stories that keep you gripped.

It takes a lot of self-confidence as a writer of a detective story to name your three main characters after Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple and Edgar Allan Poe as it immediately invites comparisons and raises expectations. This self-confidence was sadly misplaced on this occasion. The story felt laboured and contrived, the characters were cartoonish and the plot was predictable. Not for me I’m afraid.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe run a detective agency in New York. They are very successful and work in conjunction with the Police. Each of them has their own individual specialisms.
They are soon caught up in unsolvable crimes which they solve with ease.
But this brings them to the attention of all sorts of people - good and bad.

A different concept and an interesting read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

I’ve read quite a few James Patterson collaborative novels as well as his own books and loved every one, but sadly this one not so much.
Holmes, Marple and Poe, the three PI’s who live and work together (that’s slightly strange in itself) are all enigmas in their own right and the book didn’t give much away about any of them, save the fact that Holmes is a heroin addict with a hyper sensitive sense of smell, which seemed rather unlikely considering the detrimental effects on the nasal mucosa caused by snorting heroin!
There were lots of cases going on all at the same time and I found it all quite confusing. It seems that they solve cases use more gut instinct than anything else and I was somewhat surprised that the police force allowed them such access and allowed them to accompany them on raids.
Very disappointing on the whole, although I would say that if it’s the start of a series, I would read the next one just to see if I can get more insight into the trio and their back stories. I was left wondering who they are and whether or not they are actually criminals themselves?