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janchamp's review
4.0
Very Sherlock, but VERY Anthony Horowitz. I get the vibe that Mr. H is the guy that definitely has to be the smartest person in the room all the time, every time. I do enjoy his books though, so that probably says something about me, as well.
pauline_b's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised by this book (in a good way). The writing, the pacing of the story and the descriptions threw me right back into an old fashioned Sherlock Holmes adventure. The character depictions were true to the original, but I didn't feel like it was a mash-up of some random old cases.
Great autumn read!
Great autumn read!
hewlettelaine's review against another edition
3.0
Very enjoyable crime novel. Probably not going to satisfy hardened fans of Conan Doyle but I think Horowitz knows that he isn't Doyle and hasn't tried to be. This is a brisk, lightweight page-turner that is perfect for summer holiday reading.
booking_along's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
this did have a very Doyle-esc feel to the writing and story telling and if it wouldn’t have been as long and a bit dragged out it would have felt like an actual real Holmes story.
so clearly this author can write and tell a story in ways that if you love the original holmes stories by doyle this is a good addition.
i even enjoyed the mystery.
but this book was a 100 pages or so to long for me.
look i love running around with Holmes in any format i can get it in (movies, shows or books? give it to me!) but i like the shorter format of how it’s mostly done with the individual cases.
Holmes does his work in a way (and it is done well jn this book, just a smithed to slow for me to love it!) when the spectator sees him take everything in, question some situations, visit a place or two and then does his big reveal of the case as if it should have been obvious from the second the time was seen.
trying to add some layers to that never works for me.
that’s a personal preference but it’s my review so: i didn’t love this but i enjoyed it okay.
i think it’s a good addition to the Holmes book series and it’s a nice read overall.
but be prepared that it can get a bit slow in the middle.
so clearly this author can write and tell a story in ways that if you love the original holmes stories by doyle this is a good addition.
i even enjoyed the mystery.
but this book was a 100 pages or so to long for me.
look i love running around with Holmes in any format i can get it in (movies, shows or books? give it to me!) but i like the shorter format of how it’s mostly done with the individual cases.
Holmes does his work in a way (and it is done well jn this book, just a smithed to slow for me to love it!) when the spectator sees him take everything in, question some situations, visit a place or two and then does his big reveal of the case as if it should have been obvious from the second the time was seen.
trying to add some layers to that never works for me.
that’s a personal preference but it’s my review so: i didn’t love this but i enjoyed it okay.
i think it’s a good addition to the Holmes book series and it’s a nice read overall.
but be prepared that it can get a bit slow in the middle.
ccollard58's review
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot as an arthur conan doyle fan. a more approachable tone/voice in Horowitz's writing than in the originals. not sure if a general mystery or historical fiction reader would find it as rewarding.
grotto's review
5.0
So many twists and turns I couldn't put it down. Brilliantly written mystery that perfectly enraptures you in a suspenseful puzzle. A classic Sherlock Holmes adventure.
lalaoblivion's review
4.0
Anthony Horowitz wrote my favorite books of my childhood, so I expected great things when he tackled Sherlock Holmes. It took me a long while to get to this book, but it was worth it. His writing style is perfectly suited for bringing to life Holmes and Watson, and the story’s execution was a fun ride.
emmyrosem's review
3.0
Overall, I enjoyed this one. As an Arthur Conan Doyle imitation, tone and characterization were spot on.
It's a tight story, but not a flawless one. A few of the plot twists felt hokey () and sensational rather than calculated (). The final reveal didn't really leave me with the shell shocked "oh, it all makes sense now" feeling that I expect from Sherlock Holmes.
I did liked that this novel takes a more critical look at London, urbanization, and class conflicts than I remember of the canonical series (though admittedly it's been a long time since I've read them):
Finally, I will forever be in denial about. Let's please never speak of this again.
It's a tight story, but not a flawless one. A few of the plot twists felt hokey (
Spoiler
Inspector Harriman really doesn't notice he's bringing Holmes along with him out of prison? That must of been a pretty great wig.Spoiler
Why would good-turned-vengeful detective Bill McParland come all the way across the Atlantic if all he wanted was some blackmail money? Wouldn't he have spent as much as he would gain to afford the ship ticket and absorb the lost wages? And why was he even wearing a flat top cap?I did liked that this novel takes a more critical look at London, urbanization, and class conflicts than I remember of the canonical series (though admittedly it's been a long time since I've read them):
Spoiler
And then there was the greatest curse of our age, the carelessness that had out tens of thousands of children out on the street; begging, pickpocketing, pilfering or, if they were not up to the mark, quietly dying unknown and unloved, their parents indifferent if indeed those parents were themselves alive. [...] There were, as I shall soon describe, charities that set out to help them, to clothe and educate them. But the charities were too few, the children too many and even as the century drew to a close, London has every reason to be ashamed.
Finally, I will forever be in denial about