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stapilus's review
5.0
A generally worthy followup to the Return, this one follows on Moriarty's visit to and return from America, with scenes focused mostly on London, but extending to Paris, Rome and elsewhere. It works as an immediate successor to Return but aspects of it are a little too overlapping - the point of hammering home the story line of teaching a lesson to those who don't show sufficient respect is a little overdone, and there are moments of inconsistency and lack of followthrough from the first book. The Paget story, which figured so prominently in the first and seemed a clear setup for a revenge plot in the second, was dropped completely. The Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Crow characters got a little more development this time around, and Holmes is actually a substantial player this time, but the stories involving them don't seem entirely satisfying (and I don't see why Moriarty would have considered his planned revenge for either as sufficient.) The atmosphere remains good, there's an excellent safecracking subplot, and if the first one grabbed you at all (and the first should be read first), then the second is likely to be an enjoyable read.
booksuperpower's review
3.0
The Revenge of Moriarty: Sherlock Holmes' Nemesis Lives Again by John Gardner is a re-release by Open Road Media/Pegasus books. I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
I believe this book was originally published in 1975.
As the title states, Moriarty is alive and well and back in London. Detective Crow and Sherlock Holmes are on the villian's list of people he seeks to destroy.
As always the professor is diabolical and cunning. He hatches a complicated plan to take over as the leader of underworld crime in Europe as well as getting rid of his enemies.
Each member of his gang that had branched out on his own while Moriarty was away is taught a valuable lesson as to who is really the one in charge. But, when it comes to besting Crow and Holmes, Moriarty may have met his match.
The author writes this book as if it were actual events and not a novel. This is a unique approach and I felt like at times I was reading a true crime novel set back in the 1800's.
I thought this was a clever way of telling the story.
I have to admit though that I struggled to keep up with all the characters. Moriarty has quite an entourage and used other people to help him carry out his schemes. I also found myself a little bored at first. But, if you continue on with the book, the action picks up and through the last half of the book I was a lot more engaged.
This was an interesting read if nothing else. I would recommend this book to fans of Sherlock Holmes and mystery lovers that enjoy old school detective stories.
Overall I would give this one a C+.
Thanks again to the publishers and Netgalley for the oppportunity to read and review this book.2`1
I believe this book was originally published in 1975.
As the title states, Moriarty is alive and well and back in London. Detective Crow and Sherlock Holmes are on the villian's list of people he seeks to destroy.
As always the professor is diabolical and cunning. He hatches a complicated plan to take over as the leader of underworld crime in Europe as well as getting rid of his enemies.
Each member of his gang that had branched out on his own while Moriarty was away is taught a valuable lesson as to who is really the one in charge. But, when it comes to besting Crow and Holmes, Moriarty may have met his match.
The author writes this book as if it were actual events and not a novel. This is a unique approach and I felt like at times I was reading a true crime novel set back in the 1800's.
I thought this was a clever way of telling the story.
I have to admit though that I struggled to keep up with all the characters. Moriarty has quite an entourage and used other people to help him carry out his schemes. I also found myself a little bored at first. But, if you continue on with the book, the action picks up and through the last half of the book I was a lot more engaged.
This was an interesting read if nothing else. I would recommend this book to fans of Sherlock Holmes and mystery lovers that enjoy old school detective stories.
Overall I would give this one a C+.
Thanks again to the publishers and Netgalley for the oppportunity to read and review this book.2`1
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