Robert Ryan (1963–)

The Great War is raging, and an aging Major John Watson has been recommissioned to train medical personnel on the front lines in the new technique of blood transfusion. After the death of a patient who had just received a blood transfusion, Watson sets out first to prove that the blood transfusion didn't cause the death, and then to identify the cause. Is it possible that someone has taken advantage of the chaos of war to commit a murder? Dr. Watson tries to imagine how his old friend and show more partner Sherlock Holmes might tackle the problem. Watson's pursuit of the truth brings him into great danger, and also endangers the lives of his two young VAD nursing assistants.

Dr. Watson and the Great War are an inspired pairing. Ryan hit the right tone both with the aging Dr. Watson and with the glimpses he gives of Watson's former partner and friend. I looked forward to picking up the book whenever I had a chance to read. One of the things I enjoy about mysteries is trying to piece together clues to solve the mystery before the fictional detective does. I'm always a little disappointed with books like this one where the characters acquire knowledge that isn't shared with the reader. I was also disappointed with some aspects of the ending. The setting and characters made it worthwhile, and I'm looking forward to seeing what this author will do with them next. show less

Dead Man’s Land by Robert Ryan was a very good thriller set among the muddy trenches of World War I. The author chose Dr. John Watson to anchor this story, and, I think, did a very good job with this iconic character. Ryan includes enough references to Sherlock Holmes and the relationship between the two men to remind the reader of their past detective efforts yet this would be just as easily read if one wasn’t familiar with this duo.

Although rather elderly to be serving at the front, show more Dr. Watson arrives with the intent to oversee and record the new medical technique of blood transfusions. He stumbles into a murder mystery and along with the intrepid VAD, Georgina Gregson is soon working to uncover a killer.

Along with the main story, the author includes a side story about a German sniper that I really enjoyed. The excursions out into No Man’s Land were vivid and terrifying. A well-known celebrity also appears as Winston Churchill makes an appearance in the story as well. Details about the conditions that the medical staff worked under, and indeed, the shortcomings of medical knowledge of that time period was appalling. Overall the realistic descriptions of the war, the actual murder mystery and the strong characterization of Dr. Watson made Dead Man’s Land a satisfying page turner. show less

I ended up finding this book excellent, though I wasn't all that sure at first, because I felt having John (Dr) Watson as a protagonist was a bit of a stretch, especially here when we encounter him as an old man who has decided to join the First World War effort to bring his skills as a doctor to good use, by introducing the new science of blood transfusion. This was my first Robert Ryan book, and I had seen he had written quite a few war books, and must say his descriptions of this show more particular war and what soldiers experience at the front and while behind the front lines seemed very realistic. He's also made Watson a very well-rounded character and had him interacting with an interesting cast of characters, not least of which Mrs Georgina Gregson, a VAD (part of the voluntary aid detachment), who denigrated by the nurses and sisters in charge as being a workhorse lacking skills, is chosen by Dr Watson as his assistant. It doesn't come as a great surprised that Mrs Gregson had been involved with the suffragette movement and her murky past comes to the surface as the story unfolds, adding another layer to this wartime murder mystery. The mystery Watson is attempting to solve involves the use of a horrible poison which leaves the victims looking like gargoyles in death, grinning horribly with expressions of dreadful fear and pain in their eyes. It seems someone is not content with the death toll this war of attrition is taking on the troops and has decided to hasten the death of some individuals, ensuring they experience as much suffering as possible. The mystery is solved without the aid of the great Sherlock Holmes, though he does make the occasional appearance in the course of things, as does Winston Churchill, and while all this might have seemed like a mere sideshow, it all ends up making for a convincing story and quite a page turner. It seems the next book might continue exploring what took place in this first instalment, since Watson is not satisfied that the murderer has explained his motives sufficiently. Looking forward to part two in this series. show less

Dead Man’s Land - Robert Ryan
Audio performance by Richard Burnip
4 stars

I just can’t resist books from the ever expanding Sherlock Holmes universe. In this book, Dr. John Watson (yes, That Dr. Watson) steps away from his aging partner and into the trenches during WW1. Defying his own age limitations (and requiring the reader to suspend disbelief) the good doctor takes a new blood transfusion method straight to the front lines. His method and his expertise come into question with the show more strange and horrible death of a soldier following an emergency transfusion.

The plot was very convoluted with a high body count of willfully murdered soldiers in addition to the carnage of war. Watson is forever underselling himself for his lack of Holmesian detective abilities, but he gets there in the end (with some very minor support from his old mentor.) Despite the incongruous presence of Dr. Watson actually in the trenches, I was impressed with the historical detail of this book. The descriptions of field hospitals and the carnage are graphically realistic. There’s a bit of subplot involving Winston Churchill that sent me to google to check the facts. There’s professional competition between the qualified nursing staff and the VAD’s (volunteers). Watson struggles with his Victorian moral standards while depending on female support in surgery and detection. The VAD’s, especially ‘Mrs’ Georgina Gregson have a suffragette backstory, and the murder victims all seem to come from mill towns with histories of union violence. Clearly, all’s not quiet on the home front.

The book seemed a bit long with unnecessary detail as I was reading it. But, I find that I’m appreciating all of those atmospheric, historical details more as I think about it now. I’m definitely interested in continuing with this series. show less