Library of Clean Reads: Anna Elliott

Monday, November 27, 2017

The Sherlock Holmes & Lucy James Mystery Series by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

Today I wanted to share with you this press release about a series I am excitied about. I read Remember, Remember this past week and thought it was such a fun book.

As of today, all of the 2017 releases in the Sherlock & Lucy series will be available in a special box set edition (e-book & audiobook formats only) via Amazon. See for more info below.

Have any of you read any of these books?

The Sherlock Holmes & Lucy James Mystery Series

by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

Father-Daughter Author Team Pen the First-Ever Series to Center on Sherlock Holmes’ Daughter, Lucy James

A FUN, FEMINIST ROMP THROUGH VICTORIAN LONDON – AND FRESH NEW RIFF ON CLASSIC HOLMESIAN LORE

Since Sherlock Holmes first appeared in print in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet, the fictional detective has gone on to become one of the most beloved and iconic pop culture characters of all time, spawning thousands of stage and radio plays, television shows, films, and books.

Now, father-daughter author duo Charles Veley and Anna Elliott have introduced the world to a fresh yet faithful reimagining of Holmes with The Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery Series (http://sherlockandlucy.com/) -- praised by Publishers Weekly as a "winning" addition to the Holmesian canon that "readers will look forward to further adventures [in].”

Introducing readers to Lucy James -- an independent, modern-minded young woman who inherited her father’s intelligence and detective skills – and a Sherlock who must contend with the mysteries and challenges of being a parent, the 2017 releases in The Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery Series -- available in a special boxset edition as of ‘Cyber Monday’ (November 27, 2017)! -- include Remember, Remember, The Crown Jewel Mystery, The Jubilee Problem, and Death at the Diogenes Club.

Preceded by The Last Moriarty (2015) and The Wilhelm Conspiracy (2016) -- books #1 and #2 in the series, penned by Charles Veley -- the Ellliott-Veley collaboration on the Sherlock & Lucy series has been praised by critics as "a new way to enjoy Sherlockian mysteries" (The Santa Barbara Independent) and "a very delightful way to spend an afternoon" (History From A Woman's Perspective).

“While the Victorian era looked in many ways very different from our own – corsets! Lack of indoor plumbing! No iPhones! – there are human themes like love and family, and darker themes like crime and hate, that are still universal,” Elliott says of the Sherlock & Lucy series.

“My father, who has been a Sherlock Holmes fan since boyhood, read me Conan Doyle stories as bedtime stories throughout my childhood, and writing these books in collaboration with him has proven one of the most fun, joyful, effortlessly delightful writing experiences of my whole career,” she continues.

“I hope readers will enjoy a slightly new twist on the Sherlock Holmes character, and that they’ll grow to love Lucy and her own journey to discovering her place in Victorian London, her career as an actress, and what she wants for her own life, too.”

About the Authors:

Charles Veley has loved Sherlock Holmes since boyhood. As a father, he read the entire canon to his then-ten-year-old daughter at evening story time. Now this very same daughter, grown up to become acclaimed historical novelist Anna Elliott (the Twilight of Avalon trilogy; The Pride & Prejudice Chronicles), has worked with him to develop critically acclaimed adventures in The Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery Series! Following the release of The Last Moriarty (2015) and The Wilhelm Conspiracy (2016) – books #1 and #2 in the Sherlock & Lucy series, penned solely by Veley – in 2017, Veley and Elliott’s collaboration has brought readers Remember, Remember, The Crown Jewel Mystery, The Jubilee Problem, and Death at the Diogenes Club.

Praise for The Sherlock Holmes & Lucy James Mystery Series:

"Elliott (the Twilight of Avon trilogy) and Veley, her father, collaborate on the winning third mystery pairing Sherlock Holmes and his daughter, Lucy James. Readers will look forward to Lucy's further adventures." -- Publishers Weekly (Remember, Remember: A Sherlock Holmes & Lucy James Mystery, Book 3)

"Fans of Holmesian stories, historical fiction, and Victorian romance will all find something to enjoy in the Sherlock Holmes & Lucy James Mystery Series." -- Critical Blast

"[Lucy James is an] independent, strong feminist young woman who is unafraid to take care of herself even in very uncomfortable situations. This fact alone sets [The Sherlock & Lucy series] apart from most Regency historicals or other Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Women are generally damsels in distress, but not Lucy!" -- Tynga's Reviews

"It might be difficult to imagine the original Holmes even having an offspring -- much less one he accepts as an investigating partner. Still, the authors make it seem plausible, and for readers who are not purists but rather pleased to see a hint of warmth coming from Holmes, [the Sherlock & Lucy series] is a new way to enjoy Sherlockian mysteries." -- The Santa Barbara Independent

"I absolutely loved Remember, Remember and think it's the perfect book for Sherlock Holmes fans, as well as mystery lovers. I cannot praise this book and its authors enough for this well written and imaginative story." - The Nerdy Girl Express

"Reading this novel was a very delightful way to spend an afternoon. Remember, Remember will not only appeal to fans of Sherlock Holmes, but also to those who love The Secret Life Anna Blanc, The Beekeeper's Apprentice, and A Curious Beginning. - History from a Woman's Perspective

"Elliot's writing style is solid and easy to become absorbed in. She gives Lucy a strong narrative voice, which caused the plot to both flow well and pack a punch. Her world building of 1897 London is vivid and skilled, making it a very high point of the novel. She unravels the mystery at a steady pace, showing her talent for creating a storyline that hooks her readers and keeps them wanting more. [...] A very fun story, and an inventive take on some very timeless classics." - The Quirky Book Nerd

The Sherlock Holmes & Lucy James Mystery Series by Charles Veley and Anna Elliott to date includes The Last Moriarty (2015) and The Wilhelm Conspiracy (2016), and the 2017 releases Remember, Remember, The Crown Jewel Mystery, The Jubilee Problem, and Death at the Diogenes Club. As of November 27^th, all of the 2017 releases in the Sherlock & Lucy series will be available in a special box set edition (e-book & audiobook formats only) via Amazon. All titles are available for purchase in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats via Amazon and Audible.

Website: http://sherlockandlucy.com/

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Remember, Remember by Anna Elliott with Charles Veley (Book Review)

I was curious and eager to dig into this new Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery series and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Book Details:

Book Title: Remember, Remember (Book #3 Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mysteries)
Authors: Anna Elliott with Charles Veley
Category: Adult Fiction, 357 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Wilton Press
Release date: April 21, 2017
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

The game's afoot in this fast-paced Victorian mystery! A lovely young American actress has a major problem. It's a cold morning in 1897 when she awakens outside the British Museum, lying face down on the concrete pavement. She has no memories. She does not even know who she is, although she has a vague recollection of the name Sherlock Holmes. She thinks she may have just killed someone, and she knows someone wants to kill her. As she searches for clues to her true identity, she will learn that she is not the only target. Unless she can defeat her evil adversaries, the people most dear to her will die.

Scroll up and click to read the latest in the exciting new Sherlock and Lucy series! This novel takes place after The Wilhelm Conspiracy.

The optimal reading order of the Sherlock and Lucy books is:
The Crown Jewel Mystery
The Last Moriarty
The Wilhelm Conspiracy
Remember, Remember
The Jubilee Problem
Death at the Diogenes Club

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add to Goodreads

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I've always liked Sherlock Holmes, both as a kid when I was introduced to him through Arthur Conan Doyle's books and then through the British TV drama series on Netflix. I was curious and eager to dig into this new Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery series and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

I wasn't aware that Remember, Remember is actually Book #3 in the series, but these books can very well be read as stand-alone novels. I did not feel that I missed anything. Actually, because the main character lost her memory, it was even more of a mystery as to who she was, seeing that I had not read any of the previous books.

In this installment, the main character has amnesia and has to figure out who she is and why she feels that she's in danger. She meets a police detective and other memorable characters and as her memory slowly returns we unravel the mystery along with her. I love historical fiction and this book takes place in 19th century London. I was intrigued and pulled in right from the start and I loved Lucy's character. She was brilliant, brave and independent.

The dialogue is witty and both Sherlock and Lucy's deductive sleuthing is smart and fun. I was thoroughly entertained as I quickly read through the pages. The inclusion of 8-year-old street-smart Becky made the story touching even as it was action-filled and adventurous. The blossoming romance in the story did not overshadow the mystery element but enhanced the storyline, in my opinion.

I am so pleased to have discovered this entertaining cozy mystery series, that I am now looking forward to reading the rest of the books. If you like historical fiction, cozy mysteries and are a Sherlock Holmes fan, then this series is a perfect addition to your reading list.

Disclosure: Thanks to Smith Publicity for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

About the Authors:

ANNA ELLIOTT: The daughter of two English literature PhDs, Anna Elliott grew up in Connecticut in a house filled with books. She is a longtime devotee of historical fantasy and fell especially in love with Arthurian legend and Celtic history while at university. Anna now lives in the Washington, DC, Metro area with her husband and two daughters. She likes Jane Austen, British TV, Castle, Firefly, The Big Bang Theory, sewing toys for her children, and rainbows and unicorns, especially those drawn by her daughters. Mosquitos love her.

CHARLES VELEY has loved Sherlock Holmes since boyhood. As a father, he read the entire canon to his then-ten-year-old daughter at evening story time. Now this very same daughter, grown up to become historical novelist Anna Elliott, has worked with him to develop seven new adventures in the Sherlock Holmes and Lucy James Mystery Series! The sixth volume in the series, "Death at the Diogenes Club," is now available for pre-order in Kindle, and will soon be available in paperback and audiobook formats. You can see more on the series website: www.sherlockandlucy.com

Other than the Sherlock and Lucy series, all the books on his Amazon Author Page were written when he was a full-time author during the late Seventies and early Eighties. He currently works for United Technologies Corporation, where his main focus is on creating sustainability and value for the company's large real estate development projects.

Charles is also a fan of Gilbert & Sullivan and wrote "The Pirates of Finance," a new musical in the G&S tradition that won an award at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2013.