Holmes on the Range Mystery Books In Order

Publication Order of Holmes On the Range Books

The “Holmes on the Range” series by Steve Hockensmith features the characters Big Red and Old Red. The pair are brothers. It features novels and short stories to it. The pair made their debut in a story called “Dear Mr. Holmes” that was first published in an issue of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine in the year 2003.

Gustav, or Old Red, like Sherlock Holmes stories. He is both quiet and kept to himself. Despite only being 27 years old, he has a crabby type attitude that has led him to be given such a nickname as Old Red.

Otto, or Big Red, is the younger of the two brothers. Otto follows Gustav on the pursuit of his dreams to fulfill obligation to his brother who is the only family that he has left. Otto becomes the Doctor Watson by chronicling Old Red’s exploits.

“Holmes on the Range” is the first novel in the “Holmes on the Range” series by that was released in 2006. The year is 1892. A cowboy named Gustav Amlingmeyer (nicknamed Old Red) is read a story by his little brother named Otto Amlingmeyer (nicknamed Big Red) about Sherlock Holmes called “The Red Headed League”. They are on a cattle drive at the time, and Old Red decides that he wants to follow in his hero’s steps to use observation and logic to solve crimes. It is unfortunate that cowboys do not often have crimes fall in their laps to solve. They hone their ranching abilities until they get a job at a ranch doing maintenance work. The general manager, Mr. Perkins, turns up dead after a stampede. It is believed to be only an accident, even with some unusual circumstances in the case. Old Red uses his skills and sees there is more here than meets the eye. They get pretty far in their investigating and find that there is more than just following clues in solving clues. You have to be able to dodge bullets too.

Fans of the novel found that the characters here are great to read about, and they are like Watson and Holmes but they are not at all knock offs. The plot here is like that of a Holmes novel, complex but still plausible. Fans found that they would read more and more of these fantastic novels and stories. This is a page turner that will keep readers up until the wee hours, until they have polished it off. This story does a great job of showing that it is inspired by Holmes, but is able to stand on its own, just like the characters are able to do.

“On the Wrong Track” is the second novel in the “Holmes on the Range” series by that was released in 2007. It is 1893 with the modern times upon the world. That being said, Old Red still likes to do things the old fashioned way. This includes going on a long trail ride, even though a train could get him there ten times faster. Big Red, on the other hand, would like to get off his horse and onto a train every once in awhile, if only to rest his saddle sore rear. He insists that they protect the Pacific Express, a luxurious train. This goes against conventional Amlingmeyer distrust of cattle killin, money grubbin, and farm stealin railroads. He is still flummoxed at the whole thing. Old Red is ready to give up the cowboy life and give in to the professional detectifying life that Sherlock Holmes leads, and all that he can get is a job protecting the railroad. The two brothers are on the train, while it goes up the Sierras, on the way to San Francisco. There are some outlaws coming around the next bend, somewhere, and the baggage car is cram packed with deadly secrets. There is also a sinister killer hidden in with the other wonderful passengers on the train.

Fans of the novel found that this was one hell of a ride where putting the main characters on a train was a great idea on the author’s part. He is able to use the setting well, both because a steam locomotive is pure Wild West and it is a great setting for two cowboy detectives with a memorable supporting cast. The train leaves and the book takes off and becomes a runaway train. There is no way, with everything that happens right in a row, for the readers or the brothers to catch their breath at any time. Fans cannot recommend this to readers fast enough.

“The Black Dove” is the third novel in the “Holmes on the Range” series by that was released in 2008. Summer of 1893 and Old Red and Big Red are down and out in the city of San Francisco. They have been trying to be like Sherlock Holmes and put his good methods to good use. The pair of cowpokes are in hot water, too when they try to get jobs working as detectives. Their friend, Dr. Chan, takes a pot shot and fatally wounds Big Red’s new hat. A beautiful woman comes back from the depths of their past and tells them that Chan is in trouble. She also tells them that they are just the two boys that can get him out of his trouble. By the time they are able to find him, he is dead. Police rule it a suicide. Old Red calls it a lie. They go out of their way to prove it and are put on a collision course with the crooked cops of San Francisco’s Police Department. Not to mention deadly Chinatown tongs, and Babary Coast hoods. All sides involved are in a race to reveal the secret that bring a whole city to its knees. Their only clue is the Black Dove. Something hard to find, exotic, and enigmatic.

Fans of the novel found the read to be uniquely humorous and it led them to read everything that the author had written. This series features two detectives that are quite unique. Once again, Hockensmith is able to write a great mystery novel that has a resolution to it that you will not be able to get without being told what it is.