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emmyrosem's review against another edition
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
Spoiler
Mary dying of typhoid feveremirpprime's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic. Well written with enough Doyle to fit with the canon but without feeling dated.
Classic Holmes and a great read in it's own right.
Classic Holmes and a great read in it's own right.
holly_keimig's review against another edition
4.0
50 Book Reading Challenge 2015: A mystery or thriller
I was pretty skeptical going into this book because I love Sherlock so much, but somehow Horowitz did it justice! No wonder it was endorsed by his estate. This is a classic Sherlock tale told by Watson with lots of nice twists. Recommended! :)
I was pretty skeptical going into this book because I love Sherlock so much, but somehow Horowitz did it justice! No wonder it was endorsed by his estate. This is a classic Sherlock tale told by Watson with lots of nice twists. Recommended! :)
ays2974's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
hippybrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very dark book
codygard's review against another edition
4.0
In my opinion, the author of this new Sherlock Holmes book does an incredible job writing in the same style as Sir Author Conan Doyle. This book truly does have the same feel as any of Doyle's writings. It is somewhat more dark and violent than any of the original Holmes' adventures and the conclusion of what the House of Silk truly is is nothing short of horrendous. That being said, Horowitz does a great job of setting up the story. He writes it as Doyle almost always did - from the perspective of Watson. However, here in Horowitz's book, Watson is writing as an old man after Holmes has already died and he has this last story to tell that is so sordid he has not written it yet. Not only that, he insists that it not be released to the public for a hundred years. It is true, as I said earlier that what is discovered is truly "monstrous" (as Watson says), but Horowitz does not write it in an explicit or gratuitous manner. In doing so I believe Horowitz was trying to say something about the decline of morals in our day. After Watson says that this story must not be shared for a hundred years he writes, "It is impossible to imagine what the world will be like then, but perhaps future readers will be more inured to scandal and corruption than my own would have been."
All that being said, I found this book to be enjoyable and to hold true to the original Holmes' stories. If you are a fan of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes you will not be disappointed by Horowitz's Sherlock Holmes.
All that being said, I found this book to be enjoyable and to hold true to the original Holmes' stories. If you are a fan of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes you will not be disappointed by Horowitz's Sherlock Holmes.
rachelellyn's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent story! Great writing. Excellent narration!
rachreads97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Drug use, Child abuse, Child death, and Pedophilia
rcarri264's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Death, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Gore, Pedophilia, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence
sarabookdragon's review against another edition
5.0
I may be biased toward Sherlock Holmes given my obsession with him, however, some might argue that this would make me extra picky as to what I appreciate and what I don't.
And the fact that a new Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by someone who is not Conan Doyle and yet was this good, this in itself speaks volumes.
PROS:
1- it portrayed Sherlock, watson, and Mycroft JUST RIGHT, it would've been hard to guess that this wasn't written by Doyle himself
2- the characters were very true to their classical self, it's amazing.
3- the writing style was perfectly portrayed as if written back in the 1980s
4- the clues, the adventure, the reasoning, the wit, the remarks, the comments, the conversation, the unraveling, every little thing was just done very right. I was shocked
5- the adventure in itself /the case, was one that perhaps is now one of my favorites that will be hard to forget
6- I devoured this book so fast and was so amazed despite being skeptical at first, I'm so happy I stumbled over it.
Cons:
1- I think the only giveaway would be the choice of certain words or even the tone was not 100% accurately portrayed as the genuine Sherlock. But even then, it's not fair given the difference in authors.
..
P.s: I read Moriarty by Horowitz before this book, and I did not find it as appealing or as accurate or even as enjoyable to this, given my early skepticism.
And the fact that a new Sherlock Holmes adventure was written by someone who is not Conan Doyle and yet was this good, this in itself speaks volumes.
PROS:
1- it portrayed Sherlock, watson, and Mycroft JUST RIGHT, it would've been hard to guess that this wasn't written by Doyle himself
2- the characters were very true to their classical self, it's amazing.
3- the writing style was perfectly portrayed as if written back in the 1980s
4- the clues, the adventure, the reasoning, the wit, the remarks, the comments, the conversation, the unraveling, every little thing was just done very right. I was shocked
5- the adventure in itself /the case, was one that perhaps is now one of my favorites that will be hard to forget
6- I devoured this book so fast and was so amazed despite being skeptical at first, I'm so happy I stumbled over it.
Cons:
1- I think the only giveaway would be the choice of certain words or even the tone was not 100% accurately portrayed as the genuine Sherlock. But even then, it's not fair given the difference in authors.
..
P.s: I read Moriarty by Horowitz before this book, and I did not find it as appealing or as accurate or even as enjoyable to this, given my early skepticism.