Reviews

The Canary Trainer: From the Memoirs of John H. Watson, M.D. by Nicholas Meyer

tobin_elliott's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Sherlock meets the Phantom. 

This was fun, and I did like that Sherlock was, for once, the narrator and that he'd been taken away from all of his familiar haunts.

Not the best adventure, but definitely nowhere near the worst.

nuthatch's review

4.0

Sherlock Holmes meets the Phantom of the Opera. This would be a great movie.

sljbook's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

rhiannonxgrace's review

adventurous funny mysterious reflective tense 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

4.5

It seems as if this book was made for me! I thought it was a fun and engaging mystery, and it worked so well — it felt almost as if Sherlock had always been a part of the Phantom of the Opera! It loses .5 for the pacing of the conclusion (could have done with a little more time in the lair) and the implication of the unspoken romantic feelings hanging between Sherlock and Irene Adler which I thought was unnecessary and added little of value. I really loved the scene that takes place in Père Lachaise!

we_are_all_mad_here26's review

2.0

Holmes without Watson deduces very little. This is how I would sum up The Canary Trainer.

Another 'lost' Dr Watson manuscript, this one apparently dictated to the doctor by his friend Holmes. A ghost in an opera house who is also a music teacher and demands a monthly stipend. A number of characters who existed for no reason whatsoever and only served to confuse me. The most unlikely resolution imaginable, and most questions left unanswered.

A quick but frustrating read.

kiramke's review

Ah, fanfic.

cmbohn's review

3.0

A retelling of the Phantom of the Opera, with Holmes after the bad guy. Interesting background, but the story was not as good as in The West End Horror, by the same author.

_van_'s review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

tharina's review

3.0

Popsugar 2019: A book featuring an amateur detective.

kelseyvsy's review against another edition

4.0

Basically Phantom of the Opera but with Holmes running around, not really contributing but I guess it kept him occupied. Loved every minute however, and the only thing that could make it better is a film adaption, because why not. Besides, this story will always be incomplete without the music to accompany it.