Mark Hodder

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rebellion's final collection of Sexton Blake stories presents a trio of adventures from the tail end of the detective's original career, in the 1960s. They're not great mysteries in the manner of Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers; for all his obvious debts to Sherlock Holmes, Blake's much more a detective in the mould of Batman – with all the ludicrous pulp fun to match.

His adventures are show more fascinating cultural artefacts, soaking up as they did the popular culture and paranoias of the time in an effort to keep sales up. To the usual Blake blend of adventure and mystery, you can add the post-war ingredients of Cold War paranoia, spy-fi, Catherine Cookson, Ealing crime capers, Buddhist transcendentalism, and the horror of Dennis Wheatley.

It's Sexton Blake for a new age, and terrific fun – and hopefully we'll get to see him brought back for the 21st century very soon. show less

While I greatly enjoyed the first two books of this series the question always at the back of my mind was whether I really wanted to read six books of this stuff. With the third installment the answer would seem to be no, as this is just not as much fun as the first two books and it seems to be morphing from a gonzo alternative-history romp into a time-war scenario, as Richard Francis Burton becomes Schrodinger's Man and has to try and put right the damage Spring-Heeled Jack has done to the show more structure of time. We'll see but I'm going to have a very short hook in regards to the fourth volume whenever I get around to checking it out. show less

Easily a four-star read, with lots of talent displayed by Hodder. Thanks go out to Marc, Dark Reader of the Woods, for this recommendation, of which I never would have probably even considered. For a more in-depth, emphatic, and if I remember correctly, enthusiastic review, see here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/886569762

For much of the beginning of the read I wondered what in the world I had gotten myself into, but everything started to fall into line, though the line was fairly show more slanted, with technological marvels and odd work-a-day devices, delightful foul-mouthed messenger-parakeets, the best time-travel aspect I've ever encountered, and a Victorian setting all creating a unique and highly-skilled debut.

If you're looking for different, this is it. Fantasy, and alternative history, (and I don't know all the categories it fits into), with hints of much of the British media that I've encountered and enjoyed throughout the years. The second, of many, will be getting a look-see. show less

Interesting, as a historical curiosity, but not great quality writing, other than additions by Mark Hodder, which were entertaining.

As a comment on the editing of the original stories, I don’t see the necessity for expurgation of words that today would be regarded (correctly) as racist and therefore as highly offensive. Whitewashing history leads to nothing but ignorance.

Secondly, though footnotes are given there is no point in them being in a digital book if you don’t give links to them show more so that you can read them in context. show less