Dead Man's Land

Written by Robert Ryan

Narrated by Richard Burnip

Deep in the trenches of Flanders Fields, men are dying in their thousands every day. So one more death shouldn't be a surprise.

But then a body turns up with bizarre injuries, and Sherlock Holmes' former sidekick Dr John Watson - unable to fight for his country due to injury but able to serve it through his medical expertise - finds his suspicions raised. The face has a blue-ish tinge, the jaw is clamped shut in a terrible rictus and the eyes are almost popping out of his head, as if the man had seen unimaginable horror. Something is terribly wrong.

But this is just the beginning. Soon more bodies appear, and Watson must discover who is the killer in the trenches. Who can he trust? Who is the enemy? And can he find the perpetrator before he kills again?

Surrounded by unimaginable carnage, amidst a conflict that's ripping the world apart, Watson must for once step out of the shadows and into the limelight if he's to solve the mystery behind the inexplicable deaths.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio UK
• Release date: Apr 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781471150913

Robert Ryan

Robert Ryan is an author, journalist and screenwriter who regularly contributes to GQ and the Sunday Times where he was Deputy Travel Editor for seven years. Ryan is currently working on his next novel and a variety of television projects. Find out more at RobTRyan.com and follow him on Twitter @robtryan.

Reviews for Dead Man's Land

[Adrian Ellenwood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book enjoyed every minute of it . Will highly recommend it

[charlotte · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a little slow to start but very good story overall.

[theravenking · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Es ist Ende 1914 und Major John H. Watson trifft auf den Schlachtfeldern von Flandern ein. Er möchte helfen das Leiden der Verwundeten zu lindern. Seine große medizinische Erfahrung dafür verwenden noch einmal etwas Gutes zu tun. Sein alter Gefährte Sherlock Holmes hat sich längst auf eine Farm in Sussex zurückgezogen, wo er sich der Bienenzucht widmet. Watson ist also allein. Einsam, aber nicht gebrochen, obwohl der Abschied von Holmes unter wenig glücklichen Umständen stattfand. Es kam zum Zerwürfnis zwischen den beiden, denn Holmes wollte nicht, dass Watson in den Krieg zieht. Ob aus Egoismus oder aus Sorge um seinen Freund ist nicht ganz klar, jedenfalls gingen die beiden im Streit auseinander.Watson leidet darunter ebenso wie unter der entsetzlichen Brutalität des Krieges und den schwierigen Arbeitsbedingungen im Feldlazarett. Sehr schnell wird allerdings klar, dass man ihn kennt und nicht nur wegen seinem reifen Alter als Respektperson behandelt. Sein Ruf als Chronist von Sherlock Holmes eilt ihm voraus. Und ja, man möchte ihn sogar zur Detektivarbeit bewegen. Kein geringerer als Winston Churchill tritt mit einem solchen Anliegen an ihn heran. Aber mittlerweile scheint Watson mit diesem Teil seines Lebens abgeschlossen zu haben. Er möchte nur noch in medizinischer Funktion tätig sein.Doch dann macht er eine unerwartete Entdeckung. Denn offenbar geht im britischen Lager ein Serienmörder umher. Seine Opfer sind verwundete Soldaten. Die Kriegsführung hält Watsons Verdacht für zu weit hergeholt und verlangt eindeutige Beweise. Wider seines Willens wird Watson also erneut zum Ermittler. Es gelingt ihm eine Verbindung zwischen den Opfern herzustellen, doch auf seinem Weg den Mörder zu entlarven gerät auch er selbst in tödliche Gefahr.Die Urkatastrophe des 20. Jahrhunderts bietet den Hintergrund für diesen Krimi. Ursprünglich wollte Robert Ryan einfach einen historischen Kriminalroman über den 1. Weltkrieg schreiben. Dann kam ihm die Idee Dr. Watson als Detektiv zu verwenden. In Seine Abschiedsvorstellung deutet Watson an, dass, sollte es zu einem Krieg kommen, er sich wohl erneut in die Dienste seines Vaterlandes stellen und als Arzt an die Front gehen würde. Schließlich wurde Robert Ryan sogar die Ehre zuteil, dass sein Buch vom Conan Doyle Estate offiziell genehmigt wurde.Es dauert lange, sehr lange bis Dead Man’s Land zu einem Krimi wird. Zunächst geht es um das alltägliche Leben der Soldaten, die Mühen der Krankenschwestern, das Leiden der Verwundeten, das durch die primitiven Behandlungsmethoden nur geringfügig gelindert werden kann.Ryan blickt auch auf die andere Seite der Front. Ein ganzer Erzählstrang ist einem deutschen Scharfschützen gewidmet, der die Aufgabe bekommen hat, Winston Churchill zu töten. Dieser war zu dem Zeitpunkt erster Lord der Admiralität, später Munitionsminister. Und obwohl man natürlich weiß, dass Churchill keineswegs im Ersten Weltkrieg ums Leben kam, wird diese Nebenhandlung doch sehr fesselnd geschildert.Als Krimi bewegt sich der Roman, trotz der einigermaßen originellen Idee, doch eher im Mittelmaß.Leider ist Watson hier nicht der Erzähler, wie man es aus den Sherlock-Holmes-Geschichten kennt. Mehr über seine Gedanken und inneren Zwiespälte zu erfahren hätte der Handlung noch eine gewisse Intimität verliehen.Am Ende ist der Doktor noch einmal auf Schützenhilfe seines alten Freundes angewiesen, der so immerhin aus dem Hintergrund noch etwas zur Auflösung beitragen kann.Ein wirklicher Sherlock-Holmes-Roman ist Dead Man’s Land trotzdem nicht. Eher ein interessanter historischer Kriegsroman, dessen Krimianteil nicht vollständig überzeugend in die Handlung integriert wurde.Robert Ryan hat noch zwei Fortsetzungen verfasst. Wer sich für den Ersten Weltkrieg interessiert, dem ist die Trilogie durchaus zu empfehlen.

[john257hopper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a spin off novel featuring Sherlock's Holmes companion Doctor Watson, in later life serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War. While there, he solves a bizarre series of murders taking place against a backdrop of mass death and destruction. As a well written novel describing the horrors of the trenches this works well - while reading it, I thought the author really wanted to write a novel about the trenches and that the inclusion of Dr Watson was more of an afterthought - a feeling borne out in the acknowledgements section. As a Dr Watson story (with a brief appearance by Holmes) I didn't think this really worked - they seemed a fairly pale reflection of their original characters and were portrayed as being much older than they should have been in 1916, Holmes especially being a frail old man here, barely able to look after his bees on the Sussex Downs, never mind engage in any remote sleuthing. Also, without wishing to give away spoilers, I thought the basic rationale for the murders was completely implausible in this setting. The plot took rather a long time to get going, I thought, and the novel rather too long at nearly 500 pages. Some of the secondary characters, especially the nurses were well drawn. Overall, a bit of a disappointment, and I'm not certain if I will read the sequels.

[mysterymax_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mr. Ryan explains in his acknowledgements that the book’s idea was inspired by Holmes’ suggestion at the end of "His Last Bow" that Watson would return to his ‘old service’. Dead Man’s Land is a powerful novel of WWI that could be read for this aspect alone, but lovers of Holmes and Watson will be astonished at the depth of Ryan’s Watson as the beloved doctor goes to war. He encounters there not only the appalling injuries and deaths from battle, but a death that he believes was murder. More deaths occur and it is up to Watson to discover the truth. He has a wee bit of help from Sherlock. The book has been authorized by the Conan Doyle estate and it is a book not to be missed by any fan of Holmes and Watson.

[infjsarah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. Dr Watson is recommissioned into the army in France and encounters a serial killer. Enjoyable and well written. I'll be getting the next one to read.

[smiler69 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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 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.

[deltaqueen50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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, 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.

[mancmilhist · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An interesting, enjoyable piece of historical fiction with the added bonus of Holmes & Watson thrown in.

The novel moves along at a good pace and describes the horror of the trenches very well. I also learnt alot about WW1 medical practice along the way!

[amsa1959 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting and a well described setting in the trenches of WWI. Nice to have Dr Watson as main character. Nevertheless I did not get hooked. I found it a bit too unfocused and the characters a bit shallow. I did not like it as much as I had hoped.

[readingwithtea · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"He half expected to hear a nagging voice in his ear, telling how he was looking but not observing."John Watson feels called to serve humanity as best he can - in the support effort to the trenches in Flanders, employing once more his medical knowledge in the field. In between the criminal understaffing, the treacherous mud and the deadly attacks by the other side, there seems to be a murderer about with intent - but who would bother going to all that trouble when the men are falling about them anyway?Plot wise this was top-notch; it took a little while to get going and there were plenty of red herrings, but solid ones. For a few awful pages I thought Mrs Gregson was the killer! Couldn't have that. Ryan steers us inexorably through a succession of treacherous half-clues and crazy motorcycle chases, gas attacks and sniper attacks from church towers towards the front line to have the drama play out in no man's land.Ryan writes Watson very well*; he's getting on a bit, a little old-fashioned, concerned with chaperones and propriety and stuff, but also willing to throw all that to the wind to solve a murder. Mrs Gregson is a great character and I loved the development as the plot went on, mixing the politics of the suffragettes and a touch of 1910s English life into the desperation of the trenches. Oh yes and Sherlock makes an appearance - but he's old now and has a bad back.I found the setting overly graphic (silly me - it's set in a hospital, in a war), but also surprising in that behind the front lines, often it was quiet. Watson and Mrs Gregson don't have too much trouble travelling around to Bailleul and the Big House, which surprised me, so I suppose I learnt something about World War I!Niggles? I ended the book not quite understanding the motive of the killer. A lot of time was spent on the German side of the trenches with little effect, I felt, and the German soldiers were given no humanity at all; it's this sort of attitude towards Germany, still commonly encountered in Britain, that really bugs me. Also nearly everyone seemed to be dead by the end; a little overcooked.In summary, a clever whodunnit set in tragedy and gore.*my only acquaintance with Watson to date has been in the form of Martin Freeman to Benedict Cumberbatch's Holmes, and to a lesser extent, in the form of Jude Law to Robert Downey Jr's Holmes.