En el Londres Victoriano, la señora Hudson, una mujer entrada en años, astuta y eficaz, busca casa donde ella misma y su joven ayudante Flottie puedan encontrar cobijo y trabajo. El azar las llevará hasta Baker Street, donde dos solterones un tanto excéntricos buscan a alguien discreto que se haga cargo de su nuevo hogar. Muy pronto el sentido común, la inteligencia y la sagacidad de ambas las convertirán en la mano derecha de Holmes y Watson, hasta el punto de que ellas mismas resolverán el caso que se traen entre manos, un misterio procedente de Sumatra y relacionado con unos negocios muy turbios que acaban con la muerte de un hombre.

This version of the Sherlock Holmes stories casts housekeeper Mrs. Hudson in a much more prominent role than stories in the canon. It is told by Flotsam, a poor young orphan girl, who is brought in as Mrs. Hudson's apprentice both in housekeeping and detective work.

The case begins when a man comes to Baker Street to try to hire Holmes. He tells a complex tale including a curse laid on him in Sumatra which has followed him home. He is in great fear and begs Holmes' help.

Mrs. Hudson has some doubts about the man's story and begins her own investigation among her wide variety of acquaintances in London who range from a solicitor to a boy sells vegetables in the market. While Holmes is using his brain and deductive skills, Mrs. Hudson is finding out what is really going on (and giving Holmes hints to guide him to a proper solution.)

Throughout the story are hints that Mrs. Hudson has had a long career solving problems and collecting a lot of favors. She even has a long history with a man named Fogarty who is the reason Flotsam found herself on the street, fleeing villains, before she met Mrs. Hudson. Fogarty has quite a role in this mystery which moves it from curses in Sumatra to murders in London.

I really liked the setting and the historical detail. I enjoyed this new take which gives Mrs. Hudson an enhanced role and an apprentice. It was a fun story. ( )

One evening Nathaniel Moran visits Holmes and Watson with a tale of malignant curses, vindictive spirits, and murders starting in Sumatra but now they have followed him to London and he needs their help.
But while Holmes investigates the bizarre, it is the housekeeper Mrs Hudson and the maid Flotsam, while studying the commonplace, who solve the mystery.
An interesting story which kept me entertained. ( )

This one is a solid 4.5 stars for me. It’s so rare to find a really well written Sherlock Holmes story when the author decides to take on a non-standard characterization of him. In this case it was: What if Mrs Hudson was the real brains of 221B? This book is like Flavia deLuce meets Miss Marple meets Sherlock Holmes. Mr AJ Raffles also makes an appearance and I was delighted to find him as glib and irresponsible as ever. This one was well worth the read! ( )

I just finished reading Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse by Martin Davies. Mrs. Hudson is looking for a new employer (her last one committed suicide). Mrs. Hudson has an excellent reputation (as well as helping several wealthy people out of pickles) and can have her choice of housekeeping positions. However, she is looking to spice things up and wants to work for Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. They have taken rooms on Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson thinks this position will be just the one for her and Flotsam (Flottie for short). Flottie was brought to Mrs. Hudson two years earlier in need of assistance. Mrs. Hudson took her in and gave her a position. She is making sure Flottie gets an education.

Mrs. Hudson is given the position and they move to their new accommodations immediately. Despite the boxes with unusual contents, the two settle in quite nicely with their new employers. Then one night just after 8 p.m. and unusual (and supposedly mysterious) man arrives with a letter and a dagger for Mr. Holmes. The letter is from Nathaniel Moran who wishes to meet with Holmes and Watson. Mr. Moran has just returned from Sumatra Islands where he and some friends established a business (Sumatra and Nassau Trading Company). They were not welcomed by the natives and were threatened. They were told they had offended the spirits and had to leave. After several deaths (including one of their own) the men fled the island. Mr. Moran had to wait to travel (in other words, the others left him behind) because he was ill (and just arrived in England). Mr. Moran claims the threat has followed him home, and he is afraid for his life (as well as his colleagues). While Sherlock and Dr. Watson start their inquiries, Mrs. Hudson (along with Flotsam) make some of their own. Who is threatening Mr. Moran and his business associates? Why did the curse follow them home? Will more people die before the mystery can be solved?

Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse did not meet my expectations. The book makes Mrs. Hudson out to the mastermind behind Sherlock Holmes. The Sherlock makes wrong assumptions (scientific based) but wrong. Mrs. Hudson uses her common sense as well as intellect and network of friends to solve crimes. Dr. Watson’s role was reduced to errand boy (for the most part). There are many scientific terms (as well as what my father calls $10 words) used and long-winded speeches (deductions that were incorrect). The book is a cute idea, but the writer was not able to pull it off. The novel is told from Flotsam’s perspective (I would rather have had it from Mrs. Hudson’s point-of-view). This is a British novel so some of the word spellings and terms are different from those that we use in America. The mystery was very simple and a cinch to figure out. Therefore, I give Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse 3 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of Mrs. Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own. ( )