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A review by angorarabbit
The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr
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.