Book #2 in the Baker Street Mysteries series featuring Sherlock Holmes' secretary Harry (Harriet). Each book contains a complete mystery and a few side events but they also have a reoccuring thread carrying through the series. So, yes, it could be read as a stand alone and completely enjoyed, but the series is entertaining as it moves through the life and times of Holmes and company.

Almost openly inspired by the Hound of Baskerville, or so I felt. The ambience was similar. The author moved a step away from the last investigation. There was a sense of adventure in the last one, even with the evident danger. Here the danger and the foreboding emotions are at the forefront.

The case is to figure out why an established writer suddenly seems to have lost his mind with unnatural fear. The writing and setting of the scene draws you in, even if the actual reveal felt a bit like a let down. The budding romance is also starting to get interesting, as are the hints about the longer running case of the unscrupulous ladies.

I found it very easy to read both the books in the series. I breezed through them and felt invested for the most part. I would recommend this series to fans of the genre. I wonder how different the next one is going to be, given how this one ended.

I received both books as ARCs thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience

Fan fiction is a delightful genre that allows contemporary authors to tread in the footsteps of great writers, repurposing their characters, stories and the worlds they created to tell new tales. Holly Hepburn has created a female protagonist worthy of the legacy of Sherlock Holmes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found the story fresh even though it walked in the shadow of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - and did so with transparent relish. The writing is clean, even, and the plot well-paced. The characters have depth, back story, and clear motivations (even when the heroine is unaware of them). I look forward to finding more titles from Holly Hepburn. Thank you for permitting me to read this book.

The Cursed Writer is the second book in the Baker Street Mysteries series, set in 1930s England. People believing that Sherlock Holmes is a real detective write to his famous 221B Baker Street address asking for help solving a case. But 221B now houses a bank where the protagonist Harriet “Harry” White works. After refusing the advances of her boss, Harry has been demoted from the role of personal assistant to Sherlock Holmes’s secretary. Her only job is to answer the many requests he receives, writing back that the famous detective has now retired. However, when a particular case catches her eye, Harry turns into an investigator, solving the case in the name of Sherlock Holmes.

What gets her attention this time is not only the urgency and the fact that, unlike the other requests, it comes in the form of a telegram, but the mystery itself. In the Fens in Cambridgeshire, famous writer Philip St. John has undergone a sudden and mysterious change in his behaviour and health. His nephew is very worried, so Harry, with the help of her friend Oliver, decides to investigate.

This was a fun and intriguing read. The investigation of the cursed writer is not the only thing keeping Harry busy and I was completely immersed in the story. Harry is a fantastic protagonist. She is clever and kind, a great amateur detective, and she is determined to make it on her own, without the help of her influential family, even if it means working in an uncomfortable environment. The mystery is twisty and spooky, perfect for a Halloween read, and I am looking forward to more books in this fantastic series!

Harriet White also known as Harry is back investigating another case .
The story is set in 1930’s London , Harry works in the Baker Street building society and replies to correspondence that is received for Sherlock Holmes.
Many letters arrive for the fictional character but it’s rare that Harry has to reply to a telegram .
The telegram details problems that a famous author Philip St John is enduring ,
Harry begins an investigation in to the strange goings on at St John’s home Thurmwell Manor and what follows is a great cosy mystery .
The characters are amiable and I like the reasoning Harriet uses and her caring side shines through .
I look forward to more cases for Harry to investigate.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the second book in the Baker Street Mysteries series. I enjoyed the previous book, so I was excited to read this one too.

The protagonist is Harriet White, or Harry for short. I was really happy to read about her again, and she's an awesome character - very clever, self-sufficient and kind-hearted. I felt as though in this instalment, I got to know and understand her a little better too.

The author brings 1930s London to life, and the writing feels original. Historical mysteries are a favourite of mine, and I found this easily readable, fun, and entertaining. If you haven't read the previous book, I'd say this still works as a standalone.

I would like to see more books featuring Harry as a sleuth, and if you are a fan of historical cosy mysteries, I would recommend this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Blogger did it again. No picture and this was one I particularly wanted to show readers as it was so dull and didn’t do the story justice!

To new readers of the series, Harriet works in a Baker Street building society which has the same address for the fictitious Sherlock Holmes. Many believe he is a living person, and Harriet’s job is to ensure that a reply goes to every person who writes in. One particular enquiry catches her eye and she pursues it in a private capacity along with Oliver and they uncover a scene which is quite unimaginable.

Mixing elements of attempted murder, hallucinations and a touch of the supernatural, the setting of Thrumwell Manor is very apt for the story. The plot is complicated, suspicions fall on everyone, but the final solution is far reaching.

Harry returns for another adventurous homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s great detective, to take on another case intended for the fictional Holmes with the help of the slightly-less-reluctant Oliver Fairclough.

This one takes place on the fens and features a large dog, a curse and a man apparently frightened half to death, but from these familiar materials Holly Hepburn has created an entirely new mystery for Harry, and readers, to solve.

As before, the whole concept of people writing to the fictional detective for help and certain cases catching the eye of the secretary assigned to deal with rebuffing them is so clever and works really well, and I love the double layer of Harry having to deal with ‘real-life’ problems like Simeon Pemberton alongside her forays into private detection. (I can’t wait for that odious man to get his eventual comeuppance!)

I do think it best to read The Missing Maid first, as that introduces the main characters and set-up of the series, and events there impact on some aspects of this story, although the author does recap the essential points here.

For me, the main attraction in this series is Harry’s character, and this slightly spooky story is the perfect setting for her blend of quick wits, resourcefulness, bravery and insatiable curiosity to show at its best.

This is a fun, action-and-intrigue-packed historical mystery that I would thoroughly recommend to fans of classic Golden-Age detective fiction as a delightful slightly-more-modern tribute to the genre and an entertaining series in its own right.

Holly Hepburn’s The Cursed Writer is a delightfully atmospheric mystery that immerses readers in the eerie world of 1930s Cambridgeshire. Harriet White, an unlikely sleuth who answers letters on behalf of Sherlock Holmes, finds herself thrust into a real-life mystery after receiving a chilling telegram about celebrated author Philip St John. With ghostly apparitions, a looming curse, and a grand gothic manor, this novel expertly blends elements of supernatural suspense with classic detective work.

Harriet, or Harry, is a refreshingly sharp and pragmatic protagonist, whose confidence in logic is tested as she ventures into the hauntingly beautiful Thurmwell Manor. The setting itself becomes a character, with its eerie halls and misty fens creating a palpable sense of dread. As Harry navigates the superstitious fears of the manor’s residents, the mystery of Philip St John’s “curse” deepens, and Hepburn keeps readers on edge with twists that challenge Harry’s—and our—faith in reason. The loyal wolfhound at St John’s side adds a heartwarming touch to the otherwise chilling atmosphere.

While The Cursed Writer delivers an engaging mystery, the pacing occasionally lags as Harry pieces together the puzzle. However, the richly detailed 1930s setting and Hepburn’s nods to Sherlock Holmes make this a captivating read for fans of historical mysteries and Gothic fiction. It’s a well-crafted adventure with a perfect balance of intrigue and the supernatural, leaving readers eagerly awaiting Harry’s next case.

The Cursed Writer by Holly Hepburn

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Harriet White is no stranger to odd correspondence. Ensconced in the basement of the Baker Street building society, her job is to reply to the mail they receive on behalf of Sherlock Holmes.

But while letters to the fictional sleuth may be plentiful, telegrams are rare, and so when she receives one describing the grave situation of celebrated author Philip St John, her interest is piqued. The writer describes St John as being consumed by terror, seeing ghostly apparitions on the fens, and only at ease in the company of his loyal wolfhound.

Before long, Harry finds herself in Cambridgeshire under the guise of being Holmes’ assistant. The residents of Thurmwell Manor believe their master is cursed. Harry is sure there must be a logical explanation, but inside the echoey halls of the grand gothic house, her confidence in science and reason begin to crumble…

Can Harry solve the mystery before the fens claim their next victim?

My Opinion

This is the first book I have read in the series but I was still able to enjoy the book. When an urgent telegram is delivered to Harry, she is eager to investigate. This was such an interesting premise and whilst I was a bit on the fence from the blurb, I found myself enjoying the book more than I originally thought. With an enjoyable writing style, Holly Hepburn has once again written a delightful book.

Rating 4/5

Whilst this did have points of being a page-turner, and the cosy mystery was there, this book was a bit of a slow read. The book took time to fully process and piece together as various parts of the mystery were unveiled. This is normally what I enjoy about mystery books, but in this one it could have been done a bit differently.

I preferred the first book but this was an intriguing story 🙂

Full review available on my instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBLuLLigK0c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Second book in the Baker Street Mysteries starts with an unusual telegram to Mr Sherlock Holmes that throws Harriet for a loop. How is she going to respond with her usual reply letter in this seemingly urgent matter of the titular Cursed Writer?

This book deals with some darker topics than the first one. Important topics to tackle and some that have to do with Harriet's workplace. But all these tiny "side quests" set off the pacing of the novel and also set back the actual solving of the mystery to far past the 60% mark. In short, it felt like it was dragging on until it actually got really interesting. Maybe it's Second Book Syndrome.

I'll still pick up the next in the series.

I just loved this book so much, I just couldn’t put it down. I just loved the story and the characters all the way through this book along with the twist and turns.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a good mystery story that keeps you guessing with wonderful characters. I would also recommend reading the first book in this series as well as it was amazing too.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Harriet is back and in this second instalment in this series and it’s a new novel that I thoroughly enjoyed as it’s compelling, plays with gothic and golden age tropes, and kept me guessing.
It also plays homage to The Hound of the Baskerville as the author did in excellent job in being inspired but not letting the mythical gothic mystery affect her style of writing or plotting.
The mansion full of dark and strange echo, the writer who’s seeing ghosts or hearing voices, the isolation are well played.
Harriet grows as characters, she’s at ease in the role of Sherlock Holmes assistant and her relationships with Oliver is slowly growing and it’s well plotted as it never put the mystery in the backseat.
I love the Missing Maid but this one was even better and I hope there will be more in the next one.
If you want to read a delightful historical cozy this is the right novel.
Many thanks Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I haven’t read the first novel, but I plan to go back and do so very soon. Harry is a brilliant character, to the point that I believe even the notoriously misogynist Sherlock Holmes would have approved. I think its entirely plausible that someone would have answered some of the letters that the bank received. Human nature being what it is. I wonder, though, if the first book gives the reader a deeper look at Harry’s relationship with her brothers.

I very much enjoyed the parallel to The Hounds of the Baskervilles, but I must say that the ending was much, much better. I would be interested to see the author do something similar to The Greek Interpreter since that is the first introduction to Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft. Specifically, I would like to see how deep her relationship is with her own brothers. I also want to know more about Oliver.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Harry responds to letters that come into 110 Downing Street.

She receives a letter about someone who isn’t well and has fits in a Manor House that doesn’t have good surroundings.

She goes off with another person to investigate before something serious happens.

I recommend this book.

This is a delightful mystery I thoroughly enjoyed. What a clever idea to create mysteries in the style of Sherlock Holmes. Letters written to the fictitious Holmes generate real mysteries needing solving. Along with Harry (Harriet), we get to wonder how Holmes would go about solving the mystery. While Harry does not have all of the finer tools Doyle gave Holmes, she does have a curious and adventurous spirit and the help of her friend Oliver.

I like the complicated mystery. It initially seems almost beyond figuring out. Clues become evident and Harry thinks each one through. We are taken to a remote manor where there are tales of ghosts wandering the fens. But Harry is convinced the culprit is real flesh and bone and is determined to uncover him or her. There is only a little bit of suspense so this is a great cozy mystery.

It is the second in a series. While there are some references to the adventures in the previous book, I have not read it and feel this one reads very well on its own.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first in the series earlier this year and loved it, so jumped at the chance to get stuck into this one. Harry is still in her office answering letters that arrive at the bank for Sherlock Holmes - the Abbey building society’s offices take in his address, so fans and people with cases to be solved write to him and Harry gets to sort through them and respond. Occasionally something catches her eye, and a telegram inviting a meeting about a serious crime is the eyecatcher in this novel.

There’s a couple of stories in this one, she’s being followed and having her office tampered with, and a famous novelist is cursed - well, according to local superstition anyway. Off Harry goes to the country estate to see for herself what is going on. The story takes a turn once she’s there, and she must try to get to the bottom of it before Philip St John passes.

I really enjoyed this book, the writing flows so well and it’s such an engrossing read. I can’t wait to find out if there’s more in the future, fingers crossed!

This mystery was so well done, I loved The Missing Maid so I knew I was in for a great story. Overall I thought it was a great addition to the series, full of fun and twists,

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Holly Hepburn for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Cursed Writer coming out October 17, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the first book in the series. I really enjoyed the Sherlock Holmes story. I love the old, dark house trope. I think this book had more telling than showing. I would’ve liked a little more action throughout. Overall, I really enjoyed it though. I would definitely check out other books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes mysteries!