Holmes is Missing by James Patterson and Brian Sitts
Read by Christine Larkin
Publication Date: January 2, 2025
Summary from Goodreads:
Success has come quickly to Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations, a Brooklyn-based elite team of three detectives with famous names and mysterious pasts.
At two a.m., Auguste Poe, the “muscle” of the trio, speeds across the Williamsburg Bridge toward a fresh NYPD crime scene, called by Detective Helene Grey. His passenger, Margaret Marple, is the “eyes” of their operation—a PI whose contact list is rivaled only by her keen powers of observation.
Six infants are missing.
So is the “brain” of their agency, Brendan Holmes.
When the two PIs arrive at the scene, they’re confronted by a perplexing abduction case.
Poe whispers to Marple, “Of all the times to be one brain short!”
If only they could consult with the errant Holmes—before the kidnappers strike again.
Confession:
I read this book in basically two days. The short chapters certainly helped but I was really invested in the story and just couldn’t put it down. I actually had a physical copy of the book and split the time between reading it and listening to it, but the majority of the time I did listen to the book.
Christine Larkin again did a really nice job with the narration. She captures the voices of the characters well and also does a nice job with all of the secondary characters. I again wonder at the choice of a single narrator for this story though, as each chapter is from one of the three main character’s points of view. I just think it would be nice to have different narrators, but like I said Christine does a great job with the story.
I am still very much enjoying these three characters. They are wonderfully written and have a true affection for each other as well as being brilliant at their jobs. It is a lot of fun watching them figure out what is going on and getting the police to listen to them. This book focuses a little bit more on Holmes and his issues with addiction, but we are still treated to the other’s lives and issues as well. I also love the secondary characters of Helene Grey and Virginia. Helene is a cop and Poe’s love interest. Virginia is their assistant and housekeeper/cook and perhaps might just have some psychic abilities. Both of these women are strong characters in their own rights and have the skills to deal with the eclectic trios issues as well as helping them solve the cases.
The story is very fast paced as they try to find the six missing infants and discover why they were kidnapped. That part of the story was a little far fetched but I could also very much see it happening. There were also some personal secondary plots with the characters as well as another mystery that Holmes tries to solve on his own. This mystery is tied into the kidnappings nicely, although again a bit far fetched. The ending was great and a nice lead up to another book which I am very much looking forward to reading.
As much as I enjoyed the book I am still a bit confused about some of it. In the first book there are some hints as to the history of the three PIs and where they came from, and I was hoping we would learn more about them in this book, but alas no. We do get some info on Holmes’ childhood, but that is it. I’m also a bit confused about the title. Holmes was never missing, he was in rehab and Poe and Marple knew that. He rejoins them by page 50, so what was up with that? I also left off the start of the summary on Goodreads that seemed to have nothing to do with this book, so if you look at that, just ignore the first paragraph.
Despite these minor issues, I found this to be a very exciting and fast paced thriller. The characters are well rounded and a nice mixture of different skill sets that make them a fantastic group of detectives. If you like a fast paced thriller with a plot that is at least plausible if a little far fetched, then give this series a chance. I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one though. Go back to the beginning and read Holmes, Marple & Poe.
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