You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I really liked the concept of the story, and I enjoyed the book. However, the mystery was not as intriguing as I had hoped. It kind of puttered around and never really brought any suspense. I found the relationship between Kronberg and Holmes interesting, but I wasn't satisfied with where it went.
Dr. Anton Kronberg is England's leading bacteriologist. Dr. Kronberg is called in to investigate a case of a cholera victim floating in the city's water supply. While the fact that the victim died of cholera is pretty clear cut, the way the disease was received and how the body found its way into the water supply opens up to many more mysteries. When Sherlock Holmes is also brought into the case, Dr. Kronberg has even more to fear as Holmes quickly discovers Dr. Kronberg's secret that Anton is really Anna Kronberg. Holmes and Anna find a tenuous relationship as the case brings them into dangerous scenarios with devious men and treacherous plots.
The Devil's Grin is an engaging Victorian Era mystery. Dr. Kronberg is a very interesting character. Her choice to live as a man in order to practice medicine is honorable, yet has many difficulties and bears the consequence of death if found out. Since she could legally practice medicine as a woman in other countries, this seems like a strange and dangerous predicament to place herself into. Other than that, I really enjoyed the sharp and witty writing, the mystery and the passion behind Anna's character. The mystery was a slow burn and grew on me with a series of well crafted layers that started with what seemed like a simple case but quickly grew into a large conspiracy that took Anna under cover. Another interesting aspect of the story was Sherlock's character, a tortured soul and amazing detective, yet very different from the classic Holmes character. Overall, an engaging historical thriller in Victorian London.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Devil's Grin is an engaging Victorian Era mystery. Dr. Kronberg is a very interesting character. Her choice to live as a man in order to practice medicine is honorable, yet has many difficulties and bears the consequence of death if found out. Since she could legally practice medicine as a woman in other countries, this seems like a strange and dangerous predicament to place herself into. Other than that, I really enjoyed the sharp and witty writing, the mystery and the passion behind Anna's character. The mystery was a slow burn and grew on me with a series of well crafted layers that started with what seemed like a simple case but quickly grew into a large conspiracy that took Anna under cover. Another interesting aspect of the story was Sherlock's character, a tortured soul and amazing detective, yet very different from the classic Holmes character. Overall, an engaging historical thriller in Victorian London.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I love anything that has Sherlock Holmes in it, but he was not the focus of this story. Instead, we have a woman who is his intellectual equal, who lives life as a man, back at the end of the 1800s. Not only is she a doctor, but a noted one, who researches bacteria and lots of cutting edge science. She gets called in as a medical examiner on a case one day, and this sets off a complicated chain of their own private investigation that could destroy both of them, about biological warfare and other illicit medical practices. This is the first in a series, and I would read more. Parts of it get far fetched but I love the thought put into it. I read the whole thing while on a plane/vacation.
Despite reading the description numerous times and not thinking it was for me, the title still made me grab it. It was decent. I love a good strong woman character, even if she can't be open as a woman. The story itself was ho-hum for me. I didn't read the first, but I can see how this could be a series people could enjoy. Lots of possibilities for this character.
4/5
Ha sido una lectura que tenía todos los ingredientes que me podían gustar: misterios, Londres victoriano y Sherlock Holmes. Lo cierto es que esta historia me ha sorprendido para bien porque no la imaginaba que fuera a ser tan cruel y que me la fueran a contar sin ningún tapujo; eso ha hecho que la disfrute muchísimo más. Los personajes en sí me han encantado, aunque lo que es cierto es que no puedo comentar mucho del de Holmes, ya que no he leído nada de Doyle acerca de este personaje; pero tal y como me lo muestran en esta novela ha hecho que quede encantada con él.
El misterio que se desarrolla en la historia no se hace nada pesado a pesar de contar con términos algo complejos, todo lo contrario: hace que su lectura sea ligera por saber qué hay detrás del crimen.
Solo puedo decir que ha sido una lectura ligera y amena con la que he podido desconectar y disfrutar. Y desde luego que deja con las ganas de saber qué pasará después.
Ha sido una lectura que tenía todos los ingredientes que me podían gustar: misterios, Londres victoriano y Sherlock Holmes. Lo cierto es que esta historia me ha sorprendido para bien porque no la imaginaba que fuera a ser tan cruel y que me la fueran a contar sin ningún tapujo; eso ha hecho que la disfrute muchísimo más. Los personajes en sí me han encantado, aunque lo que es cierto es que no puedo comentar mucho del de Holmes, ya que no he leído nada de Doyle acerca de este personaje; pero tal y como me lo muestran en esta novela ha hecho que quede encantada con él.
El misterio que se desarrolla en la historia no se hace nada pesado a pesar de contar con términos algo complejos, todo lo contrario: hace que su lectura sea ligera por saber qué hay detrás del crimen.
Solo puedo decir que ha sido una lectura ligera y amena con la que he podido desconectar y disfrutar. Y desde luego que deja con las ganas de saber qué pasará después.
Loved a different perspective with Mr. Holmes it as a short story but a fun quick read. I enjoyed how Anna's character was relating and understanding the world around her.
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:
No
Another great book by Ms. Wendeberg. Like the first book in this series, this story was a good/fast read.
Me gusta porque sale Sherlock Holmes y por la gran protagonista que resulta ser Anna. Sobre todo en una época en la que las mujeres eran meros floreros. Así que, como Goodreads todavía no cree en las medias puntuaciones, aclaro por aquí que es un 3.5.
Very interesting character and certainly a match for Sherlock Holmes.