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becca_g_powell's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not awesome. The idea itself is kind of cool (the protagonist in present day is solving the mystery of where Arthur Conan Doyle's lost diary is, while ACD is solving a mystery that is recorded in said diary. The book switches back and forth between the two.) However, neither the contemporary or the historical mystery is that brilliant. They're not BAD, but I didn't find myself marveling at the cleverness of the author. In a mystery about mysteries, plot is everything and this one fell flat. The big "twist" at the end (heavily foreshadowed) felt contrived (as well as being less than mindblowing). The final resolution of the contemporary story seemed silly and wasn't consistent with what we knew about the characters or the diary.
There is one redeeming chapter, "A Death in the Family," or something like that, that consists mainly of Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker discussing the death of their friend Oscar Wilde. The conversation subtly echoes the conflict at a point where literary history diverges - as the Victorian moment is coming to a close, modernity is rising. Bram's character, like his Dracula, indicates a willingness to herald in a new literary era, while simultaneously being frightened of it's prospects. He rejects the cold, barbarous past for the more brightly lit future, while conceding that "the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere 'modernity' cannot kill."
Conan Doyle, however, needs Victorian England. It's the only place Sherlock can really survive, and he is defined by it.
Wilde is another case, as he, and his works, are deeply rooted in the Victorian Era but unlike Sherlock, never seem to "fit" very comfortably within its confines.
The shades of character that Moore gives to these historical figures weaves these more global social and literary conflicts subtly through the book in a very interesting way.
However... one interesting chapter doesn't make a novel. The subpar plot and widespread flat characterization in the kind of book that really should turn on an interesting plot made this whole thing kind of a flop for me.
There is one redeeming chapter, "A Death in the Family," or something like that, that consists mainly of Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker discussing the death of their friend Oscar Wilde. The conversation subtly echoes the conflict at a point where literary history diverges - as the Victorian moment is coming to a close, modernity is rising. Bram's character, like his Dracula, indicates a willingness to herald in a new literary era, while simultaneously being frightened of it's prospects. He rejects the cold, barbarous past for the more brightly lit future, while conceding that "the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere 'modernity' cannot kill."
Conan Doyle, however, needs Victorian England. It's the only place Sherlock can really survive, and he is defined by it.
Wilde is another case, as he, and his works, are deeply rooted in the Victorian Era but unlike Sherlock, never seem to "fit" very comfortably within its confines.
The shades of character that Moore gives to these historical figures weaves these more global social and literary conflicts subtly through the book in a very interesting way.
However... one interesting chapter doesn't make a novel. The subpar plot and widespread flat characterization in the kind of book that really should turn on an interesting plot made this whole thing kind of a flop for me.
mamagames's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this historical fiction piece surrounding a missing diary - especially on the heels of last month's enjoyable romp through The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. I'm sure I will read some Holmes novels/stories following this, just as I read a few Poirot novels after the other book. I liked both the Doyle chapters (set in and around 1900) and the modern chapters (2010), and especially the parallels between them.
christajls's review against another edition
3.0
The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Mild mannered, Harold White, is the newest inductee to the famed Sherlockian society, the Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars are interested in all things Sherlockian, but the one thing that really has their attention is that the infamous lost diary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has been found! On the day of its revelation, however, its finder is found dead in his hotel room and the diary is no where to be found. Due to White's love and knowledge of Sherlock Holmes and his adventures, he sets out to to find the killer and the diary. Meanwhile in 1893, Arthur Conan Doyle has completed his latest Sherlock Holmes story. Tired of the attention given to his creation, Doyle decided it's best to simply kill him off. The public is of course outraged but Doyle refuses to give in, until of course he does, with the writing of the Hound of the Baskervilles, eight years later.
This book is an exciting and fun account of what happened during those Holmes free years, specifically the period contained within the missing diary. I loved the chapters on the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle. I previously knew very little about the man and his character in the novel was very informative and captivating. The second major historical figure was that of Bram Stoker, before he was a known writer. He was probably my favourite character of the book and the two of them together made the perfect stand ins for Holmes and Watson. As much as I loved the historical chapters I wasn't too impressed with the modern story of Henry White. It was still fairly captivating but it read more like a Dan Brown novel than I would have expected (nerdy hero, beautiful but mysterious girl to help him out, racing around historical European landmarks etc etc). I found the modern characters a little one dimensional and a couple of times found myself rushing through those chapters to get back to the adventures of Doyle and Stoker.
Though not a great work of literature it is probably the most fun I've had reading a book in awhile and I would definitely recommend it to any mystery lovers out there. It keeps you guessing to end and will make you appreciate Arthur Conan Doyle, instead of losing him in the shadows of his creation. If nothing else it is the book that will get you in the mood to read all the old Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
Mild mannered, Harold White, is the newest inductee to the famed Sherlockian society, the Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars are interested in all things Sherlockian, but the one thing that really has their attention is that the infamous lost diary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has been found! On the day of its revelation, however, its finder is found dead in his hotel room and the diary is no where to be found. Due to White's love and knowledge of Sherlock Holmes and his adventures, he sets out to to find the killer and the diary. Meanwhile in 1893, Arthur Conan Doyle has completed his latest Sherlock Holmes story. Tired of the attention given to his creation, Doyle decided it's best to simply kill him off. The public is of course outraged but Doyle refuses to give in, until of course he does, with the writing of the Hound of the Baskervilles, eight years later.
This book is an exciting and fun account of what happened during those Holmes free years, specifically the period contained within the missing diary. I loved the chapters on the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle. I previously knew very little about the man and his character in the novel was very informative and captivating. The second major historical figure was that of Bram Stoker, before he was a known writer. He was probably my favourite character of the book and the two of them together made the perfect stand ins for Holmes and Watson. As much as I loved the historical chapters I wasn't too impressed with the modern story of Henry White. It was still fairly captivating but it read more like a Dan Brown novel than I would have expected (nerdy hero, beautiful but mysterious girl to help him out, racing around historical European landmarks etc etc). I found the modern characters a little one dimensional and a couple of times found myself rushing through those chapters to get back to the adventures of Doyle and Stoker.
Though not a great work of literature it is probably the most fun I've had reading a book in awhile and I would definitely recommend it to any mystery lovers out there. It keeps you guessing to end and will make you appreciate Arthur Conan Doyle, instead of losing him in the shadows of his creation. If nothing else it is the book that will get you in the mood to read all the old Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
nicoleankenmann's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook: 11hr 41m
Fact and fiction are skillfully woven into this fast-paced exploration of Arthur Conan Doyle's missing diary and the days in his life there chronicled. Half the story follows the famed author, at the brink of 1900, shortly after he killed off Sherlock Holmes; every other chapter takes place in the roughly-present era of pre-COVID nerd conventions where strangers could meet and still read each other's facial expressions, sans mask.
The Sherlockian is a well-crafted caper and will be a romp worth reading for anyone who's ever had a literary crush on the deer-stalker hat (or his maker).
Fact and fiction are skillfully woven into this fast-paced exploration of Arthur Conan Doyle's missing diary and the days in his life there chronicled. Half the story follows the famed author, at the brink of 1900, shortly after he killed off Sherlock Holmes; every other chapter takes place in the roughly-present era of pre-COVID nerd conventions where strangers could meet and still read each other's facial expressions, sans mask.
The Sherlockian is a well-crafted caper and will be a romp worth reading for anyone who's ever had a literary crush on the deer-stalker hat (or his maker).
amibunk's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought the line between fiction and biography was wonderfully thin and well blurred inside this novel. It was difficult to know when one ended and the other began. It was almost like reading a stunningly well executed Dan Brown novel, only much better written, and without much Catholicism in it
. I also found the alternating point of view to be quite compelling (unlike several of the reviewers.) The fictional character, Harold, was quite a foil to the other character, Arthur Conan Doyle. The reader reaches the point by the end of the novel when he must ask, "Who is the actual hero in this book?" I believe that each reader would have a different answer to that question.
I recommend it to those who love Sherlock Holmes, literature, detective stories, and other writers of the late Victorian era.
. I also found the alternating point of view to be quite compelling (unlike several of the reviewers.) The fictional character, Harold, was quite a foil to the other character, Arthur Conan Doyle. The reader reaches the point by the end of the novel when he must ask, "Who is the actual hero in this book?" I believe that each reader would have a different answer to that question.
I recommend it to those who love Sherlock Holmes, literature, detective stories, and other writers of the late Victorian era.
chrisbaker1981's review against another edition
4.0
Very good book. Great mystery with a great ending.
lavoiture's review against another edition
3.0
I'd say more like 3.5, to be honest. I liked it, but it never really hooked me so much that I didn't want to stop reading. Still, interesting story.
quietdomino's review against another edition
2.0
I finished this book because it was of professional interest--but with my civilian hat on I can only recommend it to people who are interested in seeing two sets of cardboard cutouts attempting to solve two of the world's dullest mysteries.
balletbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I find this book very...meh (wish I could give half-stars, since it wasn't quite "this book is not good" but it wasn't quite "this book is OK" because I view 3-stars as "OK" and 2-stars as "not good" with 1-star as "I want to set this on fire"). The Sherlockian wound up keeping the bathroom counter company because the constant alternating chapters between 2010 characters/mystery and 1900 characters/mystery got on my nerves - making it an excellent book for reading while on the pot. One chapter at a time.
I couldn't decide if the main character was Harold or Arthur.
I was interested in the 1900s mystery....for a while. The diary mystery wasn't very interesting. And then the ending....I've read a lot of reviews that loved this book but it just wasn't anything to make me jump up and down. It was just "whatever" and I love Sherlock Holmes stories. Maybe I expected too much.
I couldn't decide if the main character was Harold or Arthur.
I was interested in the 1900s mystery....for a while. The diary mystery wasn't very interesting. And then the ending....I've read a lot of reviews that loved this book but it just wasn't anything to make me jump up and down. It was just "whatever" and I love Sherlock Holmes stories. Maybe I expected too much.