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cinchona's review against another edition
2.0
The attention to historical accuracy in this book is at turns interesting and tedious, but always painstaking. Of course, most of the events are fictional, but it is clear that the author took care to draw ideas from real events--both in the Victorian and modern era. This is at times a great strength, as some fascinating events happened in real life, but at times bogs down the text with explanations or little facts that are distracting and boring.
The format is extraordinarily distracting--I get that the author is trying to draw parallels between the two mysteries, and contrast the modern and Victorian worlds, but my brain just can't handle the switching. The chapters are short and every one is forced to end on a cliff-hanger, and I just wish I'd read one story or the other because this way was much more painful.
The writing is tolerable, and portions of it I enjoyed very much. I found the Conan Doyle story much more compelling and interesting than the modern-day one, mostly because his characterization was interesting while Harold was an often embarrassing, irritating, and unbelievable hero.
The format is extraordinarily distracting--I get that the author is trying to draw parallels between the two mysteries, and contrast the modern and Victorian worlds, but my brain just can't handle the switching. The chapters are short and every one is forced to end on a cliff-hanger, and I just wish I'd read one story or the other because this way was much more painful.
The writing is tolerable, and portions of it I enjoyed very much. I found the Conan Doyle story much more compelling and interesting than the modern-day one, mostly because his characterization was interesting while Harold was an often embarrassing, irritating, and unbelievable hero.
yellowchevron'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
4.0
blondierocket's review against another edition
I saw this book awhile back in a store and it look intriguing, so when I ran across it at the library and I figured it was a sign.
The Sherlockian is a fictional account of the mystery behind the missing diary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the strange happenings that resulted.
While fictional, Moore used real life accounts, stories, news articles, and anything else he could find, plus a great imagination, to great a dual world of intrigue and mystery.
I love the way he sets up the book, alternating chapters between the present and the past, showing the time during the missing diary as well as the newest Sherlockian and his new reporter friend as they search for a killer and the missing diary.
It took me some time to get into the story, but once I had a grasp I found myself flying through the quick chapters, waiting for the next shoe to fall, mystery, clue or adventure. It almost felt as if I was reading a non-fiction story about the actual happenings and couldn’t help but sink deeper in, like I was right there with them.
Great book and good job!
The Sherlockian is a fictional account of the mystery behind the missing diary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the strange happenings that resulted.
While fictional, Moore used real life accounts, stories, news articles, and anything else he could find, plus a great imagination, to great a dual world of intrigue and mystery.
I love the way he sets up the book, alternating chapters between the present and the past, showing the time during the missing diary as well as the newest Sherlockian and his new reporter friend as they search for a killer and the missing diary.
It took me some time to get into the story, but once I had a grasp I found myself flying through the quick chapters, waiting for the next shoe to fall, mystery, clue or adventure. It almost felt as if I was reading a non-fiction story about the actual happenings and couldn’t help but sink deeper in, like I was right there with them.
Great book and good job!
wylovat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ptothelo's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book, the jumping from past to present was clear and well done. Sometimes when I read books like that I end up just wanting to read one narrative or the other but I was fine with going back and forth here. I grew up as a fan of Sherlock Holmes but never read much about Conan Doyle himself. It's fun to see how maddening Holmes can be to Conan Doyle and how much more real Holmes is to most people than its creator. Now I'm a little tempted to read more about Conan Doyle.
Interesting questions are asked like "Is the mystery more pleasurable than the solution? Is knowing more satisfying than wondering?" and it's a question I asked myself about this book when I got to the end and so I wish one of the endings was different.
Interesting questions are asked like "Is the mystery more pleasurable than the solution? Is knowing more satisfying than wondering?" and it's a question I asked myself about this book when I got to the end and so I wish one of the endings was different.
libcolleen's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the past story far more than the present story, but I did like the way they worked together. And the notes about bits that are historically true makes it all the more interesting how it was constructed. Fun.
spaceman5000's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I've read a mystery and this was a lot of fun! The story is really the telling of two mysteries one set in present day dealing with a murder and the theft of a lost Sir Arthur Conan Doyle diary and the other is about Doyle himself and Bram Stoker solving the murders of two women.
What a brisk story that wastes zero time moving along. I liked how the chapters switched between time periods as it really kept your interest and kept things moving along. Overall I enjoyed the Doyle and Stoker mystery more as it was simply more interesting. The modern day story was fine, but the fact the murder was actually a suicide was kind of lame and the fact they THREW THE FUCKING DIARY AWAY?!?!? Total bullshit and an insult. A true book lover and literary scholar would NEVER have allowed that.
What a brisk story that wastes zero time moving along. I liked how the chapters switched between time periods as it really kept your interest and kept things moving along. Overall I enjoyed the Doyle and Stoker mystery more as it was simply more interesting. The modern day story was fine, but the fact the murder was actually a suicide was kind of lame and the fact they THREW THE FUCKING DIARY AWAY?!?!? Total bullshit and an insult. A true book lover and literary scholar would NEVER have allowed that.
vtb's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the idea of the two mysteriy stories, one in modern day with a person who is a Sherlock devotee- Sherlockian and another with Arthur Conan Doyle. Problem though is you just get snippets of each story and find you want more of one than the other. I also found that after each story went on for some time, the ending was rushed and murky. But I loved the concepts and it made me want to learn more about Doyle. This is a first book for Moore and think he will be someone to watch. Interested in finding about about Twelve Publishing as well.