The Haunting of Torre Abbey

"Watson, do you believe in ghosts?"

With this question, Sherlock Holmes shatters the calm of a quiet evening in their London flat and, with Dr. John Watson at his side, embarks upon a particularly strange case. Holmes has received a request for aid from Lord Charles Cary, whose family is seemingly being threatened by ghosts in and around the family manor. The manor is Torre Abbey, a twelfth-century monastery in Torquay, Devon, and it has a long history of hauntings. While skeptical of the supernatural, Holmes does believe that the Cary family is in danger-a belief which proves to be horrifyingly accurate when, shortly after they arrive at Torre Abbey, a household member dies suddenly, mysteriously, and seemingly of fright. As strange sightings and threatening apparitions become almost commonplace, Holmes must uncover the secrets of the haunted abbey and the family that lives there if he is to have any hope of protecting the living and avenging the dead. In a case that taxes his wits, and seems beyond the reach of his usual methods, Holmes must grapple with his most deadly and unforgiving foe.

 

"Bugge's careful period descriptions capture the trappings and incidentals of Conan Doyle's novel"         - Publishers Weekly

 "Bugge does a compelling and realistic job of bringing Holmes and Watson back to life. She offers a complicated plot, the appealing atmosphere of the Victorian resort, and much fascinating information on ghosts, seances, and medieval English history. Her brisk plot and concise prose are a welcome relief from many Holmes re-creations, which too often collapse under the weight of excessive period detail and unwieldy language. Suggest this one to Holmes buffs who liked Nicholas Meyer's take on the sleuth in the deerstalker hat."
- John Rowe, Booklist

"As with her first Holmes novel (see THE STAR OF INDIA), Carole Bugge captures the essence of the era in her latest tale, THE HAUNTING OF TORRE ABBEY. The story line is enjoyable and fans of the great detective will relish a return to the famous moors. Though at times, Ms. Bugge allows her love for Watson and Holmes to permeate the tale, both charcaters are well designed and stay within Arthur Conan Doyle's blueprint. Readers who relish more novels starring Holmes and Watson will find Ms. Bugge's homage a triumph."
- Harriet Klausner