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angorarabbit's review against another edition
4.0
it has been decades since I've read any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories to my comparing this novel to them is not in any way a well informed discussion. However since this is a new adventure of the famous London consulting detective comparisons will be made.
I have noted other review note the fact that the novel is wordy, even verbose. Which would be in keeping with the original time of the stories where the writer was paid by the word and the book would be serialised to sell periodicals. I assume that Mr. Carr's deadlines were not as tight as Sir Arthur Conan Doyles were and the sentence structure and vocabulary seems to be better than the originals.
Mr. Holmes himself seems a little more tolerant of other people. Even admiring the Doctor's talents. I am not sure if the misogyny is much improved as the female characters are thin on the ground and don't say much. This historical writing is rather good, I only noted two anachronisms, both not damaging to the story. The characterisation is better than I remember the originals being. I have a some problems with the plot in particular the method of murders.
All in all a good solid fast read if not a spectacular one. I am comparing this book to others of the genre when making this rating. If I were comparing it to all fiction then it would get a solid 3 stars for the writing. Mysteries seem to have increasingly become fast fiction and I admire this one for taking care of the words, the characters, and the time period.
The book is a murder mystery so has triggers. I added it to https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/844242 Does the Dog Die so you can check to see if anything might be problematic for you.
I have noted other review note the fact that the novel is wordy, even verbose. Which would be in keeping with the original time of the stories where the writer was paid by the word and the book would be serialised to sell periodicals. I assume that Mr. Carr's deadlines were not as tight as Sir Arthur Conan Doyles were and the sentence structure and vocabulary seems to be better than the originals.
Mr. Holmes himself seems a little more tolerant of other people. Even admiring the Doctor's talents. I am not sure if the misogyny is much improved as the female characters are thin on the ground and don't say much. This historical writing is rather good, I only noted two anachronisms, both not damaging to the story. The characterisation is better than I remember the originals being. I have a some problems with the plot in particular the method of murders.
All in all a good solid fast read if not a spectacular one. I am comparing this book to others of the genre when making this rating. If I were comparing it to all fiction then it would get a solid 3 stars for the writing. Mysteries seem to have increasingly become fast fiction and I admire this one for taking care of the words, the characters, and the time period.
The book is a murder mystery so has triggers. I added it to https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/844242 Does the Dog Die so you can check to see if anything might be problematic for you.
greaydean's review against another edition
2.0
Not much new here, but still a fun read and reminds us all of how great Sherlock was.
seizethefreitag86's review
adventurous
dark
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
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
I am not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, but I do enjoy the stories and caleb carr's writing. I think the book was good, not great. It held the story and read like a coonan doyle authored entry, but over all wasnt as good as the recent movies.
murphyc1's review against another edition
I read it years ago and barely remember anything about it. Since I can't remember reading it, I don't like to tare it.
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
4.0
Carr is fast rising the list of authors I really adore. For Christmas, I asked for "Caleb Carr" books, and I must say, I was a bit nervous when I saw that this was a "Sherlock Holmes" book--I feared (ungrounded I now know) that while attempting to write in a Doyle-ish style, Carr might not be able to live up to the first book of his that I read--The Alienist. However, Carr performed amazingly. Although it has been a few months since I have recently read a Holmes story/book, what I remember of the famous detective and his doctor friend seemed to remain true in this novel.
If you are a Holmes fan, I believe you will enjoy this further adventure. If you are a Carr fan, you won't be disappointed either.
If you are a Holmes fan, I believe you will enjoy this further adventure. If you are a Carr fan, you won't be disappointed either.
roseannmvp's review against another edition
5.0
so far, so good...I love the voice of his Watson so far.
tobyyy's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
A fairly light, quick to read addition to the Sherlock Holmes apocrypha. To be fair I’m not sure why creations such as Sherlock Holmes and the Bennetts of Pride & Prejudice have so many apocryphal writings attached to their characters, but it is what it is I suppose.
This was the first book I’ve read by Carr; I own The Alienist and it is my goal to read that this year as well. I enjoyed this read, though, and it felt sufficiently gothic without going fully into the realm of spiritualism; I appreciated that as I don’t feel like Holmes would ever fully believe in paranormal topics, at least per his original character as created by Conan Doyle.
A fairly light, quick to read addition to the Sherlock Holmes apocrypha. To be fair I’m not sure why creations such as Sherlock Holmes and the Bennetts of Pride & Prejudice have so many apocryphal writings attached to their characters, but it is what it is I suppose.
This was the first book I’ve read by Carr; I own The Alienist and it is my goal to read that this year as well. I enjoyed this read, though, and it felt sufficiently gothic without going fully into the realm of spiritualism; I appreciated that as I don’t feel like Holmes would ever fully believe in paranormal topics, at least per his original character as created by Conan Doyle.
tacanderson's review against another edition
4.0
A thoroughly enjoyable Sherlock Holmes novel. This was the first non-Doyle Holmes story I've read and I was a bit apprehensive but being a fan of Caleb Carr's I gave it a chance and Carr did a fabulous job. A great read for any Sherlock Holmes fan.