Under a Raven's Wing
by Stephen Volk
(PS Publishing, 2021)
Introduction by Charles Prepolec
(PS Publishing, 2021)
Introduction by Charles Prepolec
(cover and book design: Pedro Marques)
Order your copy of Under a Raven's Wing here
Watch the book trailer for Under a Raven's Wing below:
Order your copy of Under a Raven's Wing here
Watch the book trailer for Under a Raven's Wing below:
The Apprenticeship of Sherlock Holmes
In 1870s Paris, long before meeting his Dr Watson, the young man who will one day become the world’s greatest detective finds himself plunged into a mystery that will change his life forever.
A brilliant man—C. Auguste Dupin—steps from the shadows. Destined to become his mentor. Soon to introduce him to a world of ghastly crime and seemingly inexplicable horrors:
Tales of Mystery, Imagination, and Terror
Investigated in the company of the darkest master of all.
In 1870s Paris, long before meeting his Dr Watson, the young man who will one day become the world’s greatest detective finds himself plunged into a mystery that will change his life forever.
A brilliant man—C. Auguste Dupin—steps from the shadows. Destined to become his mentor. Soon to introduce him to a world of ghastly crime and seemingly inexplicable horrors:
- The spectral tormentor that is being called, in hushed tones, The Phantom of the Opera . . .
- The sinister old man who visits corpses in the Paris morgue . . .
- An incarcerated lunatic who insists she is visited by creatures from the Moon . . .
- A hunchback discovered in the bell tower of Notre Dame . . .
- And — perhaps most shocking of all — the awful secret Dupin himself hides from the world.
Tales of Mystery, Imagination, and Terror
Investigated in the company of the darkest master of all.
"A phantasmagoric outing... highly imaginative stuff" Financial Times
"While I’ve read plenty of Sherlockian pastiches... few collections have proven to be such a treasure trove of quality and originality as this one. Here is my review. Seven words. Buy it. Read it. Luxuriate in it... (A) wonderful gift for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian-era genre fiction, or any lovers of 19th-century weirdness" Ann Laabs, Horrified Magazine
Read the full review at Horrified Magazine
"Volk’s premise is fascinating and superbly done. This is a sublime collection of tales, filled not only with suspense but some genuinely moving moments too, certainly worthy of addition to the Holmes canon. Fans won’t be disappointed, and even those with a passing familiarity will find this book one to treasure" Alister Davison, Starburst
Read the full review at Starburst Magazine
"Under a Raven's Wing is unquestionably a work of loving devotion to both Poe and Doyle's Holmes, and every page rings with that love. It also represents an astonishing feat of imagination, bringing out all of Volk's talents at evoking time and place, together with a literary approach that's faithful without being in any way derivative. In this fusion of two absolute classic voices of genre literature, Volk has created something gloriously all its own; a set of tales worthy to stand alongside the past masters in whose proud tradition he follows" Kit Power, Ginger Nuts of Horror
Read the full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror
"A treat... Every background detail feels authentic to the period... There's plenty of horrific elements throughout and Volk never shies from painting as full a picture of those as any other... A gripping set of tales recounting a very different side to Sherlock Holmes" Paul Simpson, SciFi Bulletin
Read the review at SciFi Bulletin
"I really can't express how impressed I was with Under a Raven's Wing. The stories in here are some of the best to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes that I have read - and bear favourable comparison to the originals. It's proof yet again that Stephen Volk is one of the most creative writers currently plying their trade and also one of the most skilled at his craft" Anthony Watson, Dark Musings
Read the review at Dark Musings
"An inventive and meticulously-detailed account of the genesis of Sherlock Holmes and his mentor. Stephen Volk's knowledge is encyclopedic and he writes with real devotion, but pulls off the sleight of hand of being original and surprising. It's a fiendishly clever and joyously gothic book. An antidote to real life as it is currently" Priya Sharma, award-winning author of Ormeshadow
"Volk proves he's the master not only of the horror genre, but mystery too: he brings Holmes and Poe to life on the page in a double act and an eclectic, nuanced mix of stories that proves irresistable. Be still my (tell-tale) heart!" Lizzie Fry, author of The Coven
"Very very astute premise. Beautifully written" Patrick Marcel
"A great collection from a great writer. This is how mash-up fiction should be written, intelligent, witty, intriguing and well thought out and researched." Marc's World of Books
Read the review at Marc's books wot I read
"While I’ve read plenty of Sherlockian pastiches... few collections have proven to be such a treasure trove of quality and originality as this one. Here is my review. Seven words. Buy it. Read it. Luxuriate in it... (A) wonderful gift for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian-era genre fiction, or any lovers of 19th-century weirdness" Ann Laabs, Horrified Magazine
Read the full review at Horrified Magazine
"Volk’s premise is fascinating and superbly done. This is a sublime collection of tales, filled not only with suspense but some genuinely moving moments too, certainly worthy of addition to the Holmes canon. Fans won’t be disappointed, and even those with a passing familiarity will find this book one to treasure" Alister Davison, Starburst
Read the full review at Starburst Magazine
"Under a Raven's Wing is unquestionably a work of loving devotion to both Poe and Doyle's Holmes, and every page rings with that love. It also represents an astonishing feat of imagination, bringing out all of Volk's talents at evoking time and place, together with a literary approach that's faithful without being in any way derivative. In this fusion of two absolute classic voices of genre literature, Volk has created something gloriously all its own; a set of tales worthy to stand alongside the past masters in whose proud tradition he follows" Kit Power, Ginger Nuts of Horror
Read the full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror
"A treat... Every background detail feels authentic to the period... There's plenty of horrific elements throughout and Volk never shies from painting as full a picture of those as any other... A gripping set of tales recounting a very different side to Sherlock Holmes" Paul Simpson, SciFi Bulletin
Read the review at SciFi Bulletin
"I really can't express how impressed I was with Under a Raven's Wing. The stories in here are some of the best to feature the character of Sherlock Holmes that I have read - and bear favourable comparison to the originals. It's proof yet again that Stephen Volk is one of the most creative writers currently plying their trade and also one of the most skilled at his craft" Anthony Watson, Dark Musings
Read the review at Dark Musings
"An inventive and meticulously-detailed account of the genesis of Sherlock Holmes and his mentor. Stephen Volk's knowledge is encyclopedic and he writes with real devotion, but pulls off the sleight of hand of being original and surprising. It's a fiendishly clever and joyously gothic book. An antidote to real life as it is currently" Priya Sharma, award-winning author of Ormeshadow
"Volk proves he's the master not only of the horror genre, but mystery too: he brings Holmes and Poe to life on the page in a double act and an eclectic, nuanced mix of stories that proves irresistable. Be still my (tell-tale) heart!" Lizzie Fry, author of The Coven
"Very very astute premise. Beautifully written" Patrick Marcel
"A great collection from a great writer. This is how mash-up fiction should be written, intelligent, witty, intriguing and well thought out and researched." Marc's World of Books
Read the review at Marc's books wot I read
Jump on the link here to read my short piece on the inspiration behind the book: "I've been a fan of Sherlock Homes, like forever" (Also available on the blog page of this website)
Read Part 1 ("No Spoilers") of my in-depth interview with Kit Power at Gingernuts of Horror on Holmes, Poe, and the genesis of the book. Read Part 2 ("Spoilers") when you are ready; more probing of the subject matter - on how you create a mystery, on Poe and racism, on the "problematic" past, and on my laughingly-so-called process.
Read Part 1 ("No Spoilers") of my in-depth interview with Kit Power at Gingernuts of Horror on Holmes, Poe, and the genesis of the book. Read Part 2 ("Spoilers") when you are ready; more probing of the subject matter - on how you create a mystery, on Poe and racism, on the "problematic" past, and on my laughingly-so-called process.
Watch an extract from Under a Raven's Wing read by James Swanton (Frankenstein's Creature, Host):
Read "When Poe Invented the Detective Story, He Changed the Literary World Forever" by Olivia Rutilgliano (CrimeReads, 19 Jan, 2021)
Read "I think I've Written More Sherlock Holmes Than Even Conan Doyle: The Ongoing Fight to Reimagine Holmes" by Alison Flood (The Guardian, 4 Feb 2021)
Read "I think I've Written More Sherlock Holmes Than Even Conan Doyle: The Ongoing Fight to Reimagine Holmes" by Alison Flood (The Guardian, 4 Feb 2021)
