Holmes On the Range Books

"Dazzling. Sherlock Holmes in a Stetson turns out to be a dandy idea." ― Boston Globe 1893 is a tough year in Montana, and any job is a good job. When brothers Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer sign on as ranch hands at a secretive ranch, they're not expecting much more than hard work, bad pay, and a few free moments to enjoy their favorite pastime: reading stories about Sherlock Holmes. When another hand turns up dead, Old Red sees the perfect opportunity to employ his Holmes-inspired "deducifyin'" skills and sets out to solve the case. Big Red, like it or not (and mostly he does not), is along for the wild ride in this clever, compelling, and completely one-of-a-kind mystery.

It might be 1893 and the modern world may in full-swing, but cowboy Gustav "Old Red" Amlingmeyer is an old-fashioned kind of guy: he prefers a long trail ride even when a train could get him where he's going in one-tenth the time. His brother Otto ("Big Red"), on the other hand, wouldn't mind climbing down from his horse and onto a train once in a while if it'll give his saddle-sore rear end a rest. So when it's Old Red who insists they sign on to protect the luxurious Pacific Express, despite a generations-old Amlingmeyer family distrust of the farm-stealin', cattle-killin', money-grubbin' railroads, Big Red is flummoxed. But Old Red, tired of the cowpoke life, wants to take a stab at professional 'detectifying' just like his hero, Sherlock Holmes and guard jobs for the railroad are the only ones on offer. So it is that Big Red and Old Red find themselves trapped on a thousand tons of steam-driven steel, summiting the Sierras en route to San Francisco with a crafty gang of outlaws somewhere around the next bend, a baggage car jam-packed with deadly secrets, and a vicious killer hidden somewhere amongst the colorful passengers. On the Wrong Track , Old Red and Big Red's much anticipated return, is filled with all of the wit, flavor, humor, and suspense that made Hockensmith's debut, Holmes on the Range, so beloved by critics and fans alike.

In the summer of 1893, Gustav “Old Red” Amlingmeyer and his brother Otto (a.k.a. “Big Red”) find themselves down and out in San Francisco. Though cowpokes by training, the brothers are devotees of the late, great Sherlock Holmes and his trademark method of “deducifying.” But when they set out to land jobs as professional detectives, they land themselves in hot water, instead. First their friend Dr. Chan mysteriously takes a potshot at them, fatally wounding Big Red’s new hat. Then a secretive young woman from their past pops up and convinces them that Chan’s in trouble -- and they’re just the men to get him out of it. Unfortunately, they’re too late: By the time they track Chan down again, he’s dead. The police call it a suicide. Old Red calls that a lie. When he and his brother set out to prove it, they put themselves on a collision course with shady S.F.P.D. cops, brutal Barbary Coast hoodlums and the deadly Chinatown tongs. Before long, all sides are in a race to uncover the secret that could rock the city. And their only clue to what’s actually going on is the enigmatic, exotic and extremely difficult to find “Black Dove.”

In 1893, Otto “Big Red” Amlingmeyer and his brother Gustav, “Old Red” find themselves in a situation that they never expected. They have a bit of money and time to do something other than scramble. It’s enough to confound even that most unconfoundable of men, their mutual inspiration, Sherlock Holmes. So Old Red decides that it’s time for the for the two of them to head off to the Texas hill country, to San Marcos, and deal with the greatest tragedy of Old Red’s life. Five years ago, when Old Red was a cowpoke in San Marcos, he had a sweetheart—a fallen woman at the local house of ill repute. They had made plans but before they made their big move, his fiancée was murdered and the case swept under the rug by the local authorities. Now, Old Red is determined to find out what really happened and to finally find a measure of justice for his beloved. But Big Red and Old Red find themselves facing a wall of silence and in some of the worst situations of their lives: ensnared in a riot at the local cathouse, on the wrong end of a lynching party and perhaps worst of all—having to do the one thing you never want to do in the state of Texas: steal horses.

In 1893, down-on-their-luck cowboys and wannabe detectives Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer receive an urgent summons. The brothers are to come to the World’s Columbian Exposition — the world’s fair being held that year in Chicago. McClure’s Magazine is about to reveal the truth behind the death of Old Red’s hero, Sherlock Holmes, and to drum up publicity it’s sponsoring a mystery-solving contest. Renowned detectives from around the globe will be vying for the title of World’s Greatest Sleuth! And Big Red and Old Red, much to their surprise, find themselves in the running.But the competition has barely begun when the organizer is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Is one of the sleuths trying to cheat…or have Big Red and Old Red stumbled upon a conspiracy that could shake the Exposition’s fabled “White City” to its very foundations? Soon, winning the contest is the least of the brothers’ worries. They have to make sure they’re not the next victims!

Sherlock Holmes-worshiping cowboys Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer have starred in six “Holmes on the Range” novels, rustling up award nominations and fans aplenty as they cracked mysteries using the methods of their English hero. How did these Old West drifters first discover Holmes, though? What were they doing before their novel adventures began? And how did their early, awkward stabs at “deducifying” turn out? These seven short stories provide the answers.In “Dear Mr. Holmes,” Old Red first gets the itch to turn detective -- and just in time, too, because a killer’s stalking him and his brother along a Kansas cattle trail. In “Gustav Amlingmeyer, Holmes of the Range,” Old Red’s attempt to settle down and open his own “cafay” goes haywire when one of the customers gets a side order of arsenic with his steak and potatoes. In “Wolves in Winter,” Big Red and Old Red go up against deadly predators of both the two- and four-legged variety. And the adventure continues in four more stories (most of them originally published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine).Critics have called Steve Hockensmith’s “Holmes on the Range” tales “hilarious” (Entertainment Weekly), “quirky and original” (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), “clever” (The New York Times), “wonderfully entertaining” (Booklist) and “a hoot” (The Washington Post). There’s only one way to find out if you agree. Order your copy of Dear Mr. Holmes today!

Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer’s dream has come true: The Sherlock Holmes-worshiping cowboy brothers are finally in business as professional detectives. But their fledgling A.A. Western Detective Agency faces a few challenges. Their partner, Col. Crowe, is almost as cantankerous and secretive as Old Red himself. The colonel’s daughter, Diana, insists on tagging along for the Amlingmeyers’ first assignment. And that assignment lands them smack dab in the middle of a range war — with Big Red and Old Red expected to shoot it out with rustlers rather than rustle up clues and solve a mystery.When the violence claims an unexpected victim, however, the Amlingmeyers are called upon to holster their guns (for a moment) and use their “Holmesifying” skills to track down the killer. But someone else is tracking them...someone who seems to set one ambush after another for the brothers. Will the Double-A Western Detective Agency’s first case also be its last?

“…a delight to read…many laugh-out-loud moments…I became captivated by the twisting plot.” —Western Fiction Review SHERLOCK HOLMES MEETS THE OLD WEST IN THIS FAST-PACED MURDER MYSTERY THAT UNEARTHS MORE THAN JUST FOSSILS. The A.A. Western Detective Agency takes on a new case in 1894 Wyoming, a land of bandit gangs and rustlers, when a group of scientists come to town in the hopes of rustling up something very different—dinosaur fossils. With Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer on protection duty, Old Red’s obsession with Sherlock Holmes is forced to take a back seat. Until a human body is shockingly discovered during an excavation, that is. As the mystery deepens, these cowboy detectives must put their sleuthing skills to the test to catch a killer stalking their client’s dig site. With death lurking around every corner, can the Double-A Western Detective Agency catch the killer before it’s too late? Embark on this riveting journey today—because adventure and intrigue await, and justice demands to be served! Order your copy now.

Ride into a world where Sherlock Holmes meets the Wild West. Saddle up for adventure with the eccentric cowboy detectives, Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer, as they embark on a thrilling journey to establish their dream detective agency in the Wild West. In this action-packed collection of five stories, join the brothers as they navigate disastrous homecoming trips, strange newspaper feuds, supernatural kidnappings, deadly Christmas celebrations, and a high-stakes conspiracy threatening to tarnish their budding careers. With their Sherlock Holmes-inspired wit and determination, can they crack the cases and outsmart the culprits? Don't miss out on the suspenseful tales that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Get ready to solve some mysteries with Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer in this western detective saga! Order your copy now.

DISCOVER THRILLING WESTERN ADVENTURES WITH COWBOY DETECTIVES BIG RED AND OLD RED AMLINGMEYER! In "Black List," the Amlingmeyer brothers ride into the Arizona Territory on a quest to unearth a buried secret, coveted by a ruthless cattle baron. Can Old Red's deductive skills, inspired by Sherlock Holmes, solve the mystery and protect them from the cattleman's hired guns? In "White Death," the Amlingmeyers investigate mysterious deaths at a tuberculosis sanitarium deep in the Colorado mountains. As they search for clues, a sinister figure lurks in the shadows. When a sudden blizzard traps them with the patients, staff, and the killer, the suspense reaches its peak. As a special treat, enjoy the bonus short story "Expense Report: El Paso," where Big Red embarks on his first solo mission to collect a bandit's head. But what if the head has other plans? Get ready to be captivated by the mystery, suspense, and cowboy camaraderie. Start your adventure today and be a part of the Amlingmeyer brothers' quest for truth and justice!