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G.W Colkitto
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The Case of the Antiquarian’s Study (The Sebastian Symes Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by G. W. Colkitto (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 55 ratings
Sebastian Symes cannot avoid murder

A friend and sometimes rival of two of the best-loved characters in English literature - Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes - the Sebastian Symes stories are a brilliant addition to the canon of British detective fiction.

Symes is invited by Sir James Bellamy to help with the excavation of a medieval chapel on his estate. It is just the distraction he needs after his bruising encounter with the old-style London Rules fighter, Battling Billy Ford.

But will the promise of a quiet week out of London be as restful as Symes imagines? Not a chance. The Antiquarian is found murdered in a locked room. The ancient treasure stolen. With the help of Major Ritson and the local Constabulary, can Sebastian Symes solve the puzzle?

G.W Colkitto’s charming novella The Case of the Antiquarian’s Study transports the reader back to the late nineteenth century, a world of gentleman detectives, ingenious thieves, bumbling constables, and cryptic mysteries. It is perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Raffles and historical fiction.

Praise for G. W. Colkitto


'Sherlock Holmes possesses both a friend and rival in Sebastian Symes. Conan Doyle would be pleased. More so, the reader will be.' - Richard Foreman, best-selling author of Raffles: The Gentleman Thief

G. W. Colkitto is an ardent Sherlock Holmes fan and former Bookshop owner, who writes both poetry and prose. He lives in Scotland. This is the first book in the Sebastian Symes mystery series.
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  1. Book 1 of 5
    The Sebastian Symes Mysteries
  2. Print length
    67 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    July 31, 2019
  6. File size
    3.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 5 books in this series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07VYT4KFW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lume Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 31, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 67 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ The Sebastian Symes Mysteries
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

About the author

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G.W Colkitto

G.W Colkitto

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G W Colkitto has been an Inspector of Taxes, a Chartered accountant and Bookshop Owner. A prize winning writer of both prose and poetry his work has appeared in magazines and anthologies. He started writing the Sebastian Symes novellas without any intention of seeking publication but had so much fun from them that he hoped others would enjoy them.

He has read at many events in and around Glasgow.

He has two websites. www.gwcolkitto.co.uk

www.sebastiansymes.co.uk

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
55 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot engaging, with one mentioning it has lots of twists and turns. The book receives positive feedback for its readability, with customers describing it as a fun read.

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PlotReadability
4 customers mention "Plot"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, with one mentioning it has lots of twists and turns, while another appreciates its historical mystery elements and good-natured references to Watson and Holmes.

"...Liked the subtle, good-natured digs at Watson and Holmes. On to Ritson's next Symes "account." Thank you, GW Colkitto." Read more

"...They seem to have an interesting background that I'd like to see filled out more. Con. Badly needs editing...." Read more

"The mystery was well presented but it tries a litt too hard to impress (or improve?) with all the BIG words...." Read more

"I enjoyed this historical mystery. The plot had lots of twists and turns before you reached the denouement. It was a fun read." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fun to read.

"...Since I've picked the stories up along the way, worth a read of the series...." Read more

"...It was a fun read." Read more

"Not too terrible, but not good. The fact that it is written in present tense takes some getting used to." Read more

"A good read ... in the library with a glass of sherry..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Cairnwalker
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read ... in the library with a glass of sherry
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    9 March 2013

    The writing was deliciously evocative of the lives of upper-crust London and southern England in the late 1800s: the genteel, more comfortable and proper pace of life with your intriguing characters. The plot unfolded nicely. I was pleased with the budding romance of Ritson and Effie. That's far more character development than Conan-Doyle ever allowed Watson. Liked the subtle, good-natured digs at Watson and Holmes. On to Ritson's next Symes "account."
    Thank you, GW Colkitto.
    Helpful
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  • DRRD
    3.0 out of 5 stars The dialog is nice. It has a feel for the times without ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I've read three of the stories so far, and have another three to read so will plug along on them. So far, all three have the same Pros and Cons, so this review will be for all three.

    Pro. The dialog is nice. It has a feel for the times without being too hard to understand. I like the characters enough to continues, especially as these tend to be shorter stories. They seem to have an interesting background that I'd like to see filled out more.

    Con. Badly needs editing. Too many missing quotation marks, (especially at the front of dialog) miss-placed or wrong punctuation ( a "space-period" instead of "period-space" and use of a period instead of a question mark at the end of a question), wrong word used. (Mother-to-Law instead of Mother-in-Law) and such. It happens often enough to get annoying very quickly. I'm hoping by now some of the older files have been corrected by now. If not, the author needs to go back and fix things.

    The detecting has some 'Holme's like' moments, which is also a Con, IMHO. He's too much like Holmes. And the in-joke of them being acquaintances of Holmes and Watson gets annoying after the first story. Symes does see Holmes as a rival for work, but his style is too close to Holmes, and he's a bit put out that Ritson doesn't write up his work so they can get more cases. Ritson has an active jealousy of Watson that I find a bit unpleasant. The author seems to try to reference the other team way too much. The stories would have been better if the author had left Holmes and Watson as fiction figures, or left them out entirely.

    Since I've picked the stories up along the way, worth a read of the series. But because of the editing mistakes and the too-similar characteristics of Symes and Ritson to Holmes and Watson, I probably wouldn't have bothered to continue otherwise. I hope the later stories pick up a bit and find their own niche.
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  • Sara Paschal
    3.0 out of 5 stars This one tries a little too hard....
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The mystery was well presented but it tries a litt too hard to impress (or improve?) with all the BIG words. I have a good vocabulary but was constantly looking up words while reading this. It was distracting. Overall I enjoyed the book but the author needs to be a litte less verbose!
    Helpful
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  • Vicki pierce
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was a fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this historical mystery. The plot had lots of twists and turns before you reached the denouement. It was a fun read.
    Helpful
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  • JCB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not Sherlock
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2019
    Another able dective of the 1800's along with a doctor as companion.
    Though similar in the use of deductive reasoning, Symes and Riton are a closer match than Holmes and Watson as they of course solve the case.
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  • J. Whitten
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Sherlock Holmes knockoff
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Not too terrible, but not good. The fact that it is written in present tense takes some getting used to.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • BGS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Sebastian Symes and Major Ritson are very similar to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in that they investigate crime. In this case Symes and Ritson invite themselves to the residence of Sir James Bellamy a renowned former judge. During their visit another guest Herbert Cunliff is murdered and while the police are called it is Symes and Ritson who investigate the crime. Thoroughly enjoyable and passed an afternoon during lockdown.
    Report
  • Peter Scott
    3.0 out of 5 stars A most frustrating read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Case of the Antiquarian's Study by G W Colkitto
    A good story that, for me, was spoiled by suspect grammar and punctuation. Most frustrating to read.
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  • Kimmsie
    4.0 out of 5 stars A murder with a difference
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It's all really quite clever and I enjoyed how it was done. Well worth a read if you like locked room mysteries.
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  • Mr. Ian W. Hunter
    5.0 out of 5 stars SMASH AND GRAB!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Following on with their encounter with a pesky Hungarian Foot, Victorian Detective Sebastian Symes and his friend Major Ritson return for a trip into the country to allow Symes a chance for some R&R after a rib-cracking encounter with Battling Billy Ford, but it's not long until Ritson is eyeing up the nosh, and the ladies, while Symes casts an eye on everything else, which is just as well because here comes a locked room mystery. Recommended.
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  • Joanna Porter
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, spoiled by typos
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a fun read, well-written, even if there was never much doubt about the murderer, but there were too many typos.
    Report

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