Charlotte Anne Walters makes her debut as a novelist, bringing a unique perspective to literary fiction. Her writing is characterized by its keen observation of human nature and its ability to deeply engage the reader. Walters explores compelling themes with a nuanced style, drawing readers into intricately crafted narratives. This debut promises a fresh and resonant voice in contemporary literature.
"Each story is based directly on an adventure from the original work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but updated with a modern-day twist. Instead of the foggy cobbled streets and hansom cabs of Victorian London, we get over-paid footballers, pop-stars, a famous model, the tabloid press and social media." -- Cover, page four
To celebrate the release of her novel Barefoot on Baker Street, Charlotte Anne Walters undertook the task of reading and reviewing one of the original Sherlock Holmes short stories every day until she had completed all 56. The reviews were posted daily on her blog and attracted viewers from all over the world. The reviews are full of humour and Holmesian insight, ending in a score out of ten for each story. This book contains all 56 blogs plus additional material including reviews of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's four Holmes novels. Although it was a pleasure for a life-long Holmes admirer to re-visit the stories, trying to do this on top of holding down a busy full-time job and family commitments was a big challenge - resulting in some stressful but comical moments detailed in the blogs. Even Mr Walters couldn't resist throwing in a few comments of his own. Charlotte is donating all her royalties from this publication to the Undershaw Preservation Trust, a charity striving to protect and restore the former home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - saveundershaw.com.
Set in late Victorian London, the story follows a young workhouse orphan named Red as she navigates a tumultuous life marked by crime and survival. After escaping the workhouse at thirteen, she encounters the harsh realities of slum life, street gangs, and petty crime. A fateful meeting with the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes sparks an unexpected infatuation, while her burgeoning criminal activities attract the attention of the dangerous Professor Moriarty. The narrative explores themes of poverty, infatuation, and the struggle for identity amid the industrial revolution.
Aine-Marie Walters wrote Moondrop to Gascony immediately after the war, while the events were still vivid in her mind. It is a tale of high adventure, comradeship and kindness, of betrayals and appalling atrocities, and of the often unremarked courage of many ordinary French men and women who risked their lives to help drive German armies from French soil. And through it all shines Anne-Marie's quiet courage, a keen sense humour and, above all, her pure zest for life. --