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weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
Holmes and Watson live in an encore presentation!
An encrypted cable summons from his older brother, the brilliant yet un-celebrated Mycroft who works secretly behind the scenes at the highest levels of His Majesty's government, sends Sherlock and Watson dashing off to Scotland to investigate the brutal murder of architect Sir Alistair Sinclair and his foreman, Dennis McKay. The location and particularly gruesome resemblance of their murders to the slaying of David Rizzio, Queen Mary's erstwhile Italian secretary and confidante lead Mycroft to hypothesize a political connection to the German Kaiser and a potential assassination threat to Queen Victoria who occasionally vacations at Holyroodhouse. Enroute to Scotland on a specially chartered coach, Holmes and Watson narrowly escape death themselves at the hands of an enraged bomb-throwing Scots nationalist. The game is clearly afoot and it would seem that Mycroft's suspicions are well-founded. But when Holmes and Watson hear the cries of a weeping women, the supposed footsteps of the wraith of David Rizzio humming an operatic aria that while vaguely Italian somehow doesn't seem quite right and a pool of blood that never dries, the clues lead Holmes to a solution much more mundane than the one Mycroft had imagined but in fact much more down to earth and certainly more deadly!
Like so many other contemporary novels that receive mixed reviews (I am reminded of THE EGYPTOLOGIST, THE THIRD TRANSLATION or THE RULE OF FOUR), the "bad news" is based in readers' expectations. Those anticipating a triumphant return to the style with which Carr wowed his readers in THE ALIENIST or THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS are doomed to disappointment. There is very little, indeed next to nothing, by way of elegant prose or descriptive writing in THE ITALIAN SECRETARY that would place the reader in the misty, gothic atmosphere of Holyroodhouse and Victorian Scotland.
The "good news" is that like so many of Conan Doyle's original Holmes short stories, THE ITALIAN SECRETARY is driven almost exclusively by plot and character! And most of that, as opposed to arising through description of action or events, is revealed through dialogue that is an uncannily accurate reproduction of the type of genteel, Victorian male conversation that was the trademark of Doyle's stories. As it was with the titles I mentioned earlier, the enjoyment of a novel like this rests in allowing it to successfully be what it is instead of feeling that it has failed to be what many mistaken readers wanted it to be!
If I wanted to quibble at all, I would suggest that Carr should have included a few more examples of Holmes' logical chains of deduction for our edification and entertainment. Other than that exceedingly minor cavil, I'll offer the opinion that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate got a damn good bargain when they commissioned THE ITALIAN SECRETARY. This first-rate yarn ends magnificently with a subtle, philosophical discussion on the power of ghosts and the supernatural that, if I may say so, sounds like a more upbeat, modern version of Holmes and Watson. Well ... why not? It is Caleb Carr's novel, after all!
Paul Weiss
An encrypted cable summons from his older brother, the brilliant yet un-celebrated Mycroft who works secretly behind the scenes at the highest levels of His Majesty's government, sends Sherlock and Watson dashing off to Scotland to investigate the brutal murder of architect Sir Alistair Sinclair and his foreman, Dennis McKay. The location and particularly gruesome resemblance of their murders to the slaying of David Rizzio, Queen Mary's erstwhile Italian secretary and confidante lead Mycroft to hypothesize a political connection to the German Kaiser and a potential assassination threat to Queen Victoria who occasionally vacations at Holyroodhouse. Enroute to Scotland on a specially chartered coach, Holmes and Watson narrowly escape death themselves at the hands of an enraged bomb-throwing Scots nationalist. The game is clearly afoot and it would seem that Mycroft's suspicions are well-founded. But when Holmes and Watson hear the cries of a weeping women, the supposed footsteps of the wraith of David Rizzio humming an operatic aria that while vaguely Italian somehow doesn't seem quite right and a pool of blood that never dries, the clues lead Holmes to a solution much more mundane than the one Mycroft had imagined but in fact much more down to earth and certainly more deadly!
Like so many other contemporary novels that receive mixed reviews (I am reminded of THE EGYPTOLOGIST, THE THIRD TRANSLATION or THE RULE OF FOUR), the "bad news" is based in readers' expectations. Those anticipating a triumphant return to the style with which Carr wowed his readers in THE ALIENIST or THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS are doomed to disappointment. There is very little, indeed next to nothing, by way of elegant prose or descriptive writing in THE ITALIAN SECRETARY that would place the reader in the misty, gothic atmosphere of Holyroodhouse and Victorian Scotland.
The "good news" is that like so many of Conan Doyle's original Holmes short stories, THE ITALIAN SECRETARY is driven almost exclusively by plot and character! And most of that, as opposed to arising through description of action or events, is revealed through dialogue that is an uncannily accurate reproduction of the type of genteel, Victorian male conversation that was the trademark of Doyle's stories. As it was with the titles I mentioned earlier, the enjoyment of a novel like this rests in allowing it to successfully be what it is instead of feeling that it has failed to be what many mistaken readers wanted it to be!
If I wanted to quibble at all, I would suggest that Carr should have included a few more examples of Holmes' logical chains of deduction for our edification and entertainment. Other than that exceedingly minor cavil, I'll offer the opinion that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate got a damn good bargain when they commissioned THE ITALIAN SECRETARY. This first-rate yarn ends magnificently with a subtle, philosophical discussion on the power of ghosts and the supernatural that, if I may say so, sounds like a more upbeat, modern version of Holmes and Watson. Well ... why not? It is Caleb Carr's novel, after all!
Paul Weiss
truegrit's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kirstensviews's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
4.0
cthuwu's review against another edition
3.0
I can't remember a blessed thing from this one. I know I've read it before, but I also have zero memory of the plot. I remember that it was, at the very least, enjoyable.
dharaiter's review against another edition
2.0
This book started interestingly. Carr's Dr. Watson seemed dense, but his Sherlock was dead on. As the story progressed and the characters got out of Baker Street, they got dull. Dr. Watson got worse, and Sherlock lost his charm and wit. I kept closing the book every time after reading a couple dozen pages. Half way through the book, it got unbearable. I wanted to give up, but I skimmed through to see how the case was solved, which was not awful, hence the two stars.
I wish Carr also concentrated on the duo's inner complexities than just their superficial traits.
I wish Carr also concentrated on the duo's inner complexities than just their superficial traits.
lgiegerich's review against another edition
3.0
Mostly harmless, but not even close to the best Sherlock Holmes pastiche I read this year alone!
altruest's review against another edition
3.0
It's actually a 3.5, rounded down.
This book was originally a part of a short story collection that was basically "sherlock holmes + spooky ghoooooosts", which I'm not the hugest fan of, but I think it could go well if done correctly. I don't think this was done correctly. Arthur Conan Doyle isn't rolling in his grave or anything but it wasn't effective in communicating the story succinctly.
First however, I do believe that Mr. Carr successfully captured the tone of a Sherlock Holmes story, Sherlock sounds like Sherlock and Watson sounds like Watson. Unlike some other reviewers, I don't think that Watson is unreasonably thick in this book, I think he is a pretty equal partner in the adventures they go through.
The problems with this book first and foremost stem from it's length. Most (if not all, I'm no Sherlock scholar) of the original Sherlock adventures were short stories with clearly defined arcs. Sherlock was visited by a grieving widow or confounded policeman, he goes and collects clues, leaves Watson at Baker street while he goes undercover, and then the last few pages wraps everything up into a neat little bow with his amazing power of deduction. Stretching that out into a 300 page novel just bogs down the story, especially when the full first third of the book is exposition. In The Italian Secretary, Sherlock and Watson spend a full 100 pages siting on a train and talking about history. It's just boring and doesn't add anything to the story. Even after the train, there's not much that goes on that really adds to the story.
The supernatural aspect seems forced into the book too. Most of it is just Watson getting the heebie-jeebies when he looks up at a tower, but the last few chapters just throw in a hunchbacked shadow and a random disappearing girl for what seems like no good reason. It doesn't work with the rest of the story, and the last one seems to just be a reason for Sherlock to look wistfully out of a window and deliver a monologue about the supernatural.
If you're really hungry for more Sherlock, I wouldn't dissuade you from reading this, but if you haven't explored the breadth of Sherlock stories that were written by authors outside of Doyle, I'm sure you can find someone to recommend better books.
(My personal favorite is [b:The Beekeeper's Apprentice|91661|The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell, #1)|Laurie R. King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390284148s/91661.jpg|891863], but I'm a sucker for romance. It might not be your thing if you're looking for hardcore mystery solving.)
3.5/5 stars, skip it.
This book was originally a part of a short story collection that was basically "sherlock holmes + spooky ghoooooosts", which I'm not the hugest fan of, but I think it could go well if done correctly. I don't think this was done correctly. Arthur Conan Doyle isn't rolling in his grave or anything but it wasn't effective in communicating the story succinctly.
First however, I do believe that Mr. Carr successfully captured the tone of a Sherlock Holmes story, Sherlock sounds like Sherlock and Watson sounds like Watson. Unlike some other reviewers, I don't think that Watson is unreasonably thick in this book, I think he is a pretty equal partner in the adventures they go through.
The problems with this book first and foremost stem from it's length. Most (if not all, I'm no Sherlock scholar) of the original Sherlock adventures were short stories with clearly defined arcs. Sherlock was visited by a grieving widow or confounded policeman, he goes and collects clues, leaves Watson at Baker street while he goes undercover, and then the last few pages wraps everything up into a neat little bow with his amazing power of deduction. Stretching that out into a 300 page novel just bogs down the story, especially when the full first third of the book is exposition. In The Italian Secretary, Sherlock and Watson spend a full 100 pages siting on a train and talking about history. It's just boring and doesn't add anything to the story. Even after the train, there's not much that goes on that really adds to the story.
The supernatural aspect seems forced into the book too. Most of it is just Watson getting the heebie-jeebies when he looks up at a tower, but the last few chapters just throw in a hunchbacked shadow and a random disappearing girl for what seems like no good reason. It doesn't work with the rest of the story, and the last one seems to just be a reason for Sherlock to look wistfully out of a window and deliver a monologue about the supernatural.
If you're really hungry for more Sherlock, I wouldn't dissuade you from reading this, but if you haven't explored the breadth of Sherlock stories that were written by authors outside of Doyle, I'm sure you can find someone to recommend better books.
(My personal favorite is [b:The Beekeeper's Apprentice|91661|The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell, #1)|Laurie R. King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390284148s/91661.jpg|891863], but I'm a sucker for romance. It might not be your thing if you're looking for hardcore mystery solving.)
3.5/5 stars, skip it.
dipt_in_folly's review against another edition
2.0
Having read all of the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries multiple times, I like to consider myself somewhat experienced on the subject. Absolutely loved the first chapter of the book. The banter between Holmes and Watson was spot on, with an ever so slightly modern twist. Unfortunately I think it went downhill from there. The plot line became increasingly muddled and the paranormal angle, which at first seemed quite promising, was utterly laughable at the end.
Not horrible, but by the last three chapters I felt it was rather a lost cause.
Not horrible, but by the last three chapters I felt it was rather a lost cause.
amielizabeth's review against another edition
1.0
Love Sherlock Holmes... couldn't finish this. A little too slow and boring.
book_lvr's review against another edition
I loved reading Sherlock Holmes stories when I was younger, and this one was no exception.