(A Sherlock Holmes novel, Book 2)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Public Domain Books
Fiction, Mystery
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: The famed London detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend, Doctor John Watson, have investigated a great many mysteries large and small in their time together. Living with the moody man, however, can try even a doctor's patience... especially when Sherlock turns to chemical stimulation when he cannot find any cases worthy of his attention. When Miss Mary Morstan comes to them, Watson only hopes her problem can engage Sherlock's prodigious intellect more meaningfully than the vial of cocaine in the desk drawer. Her tale puts the duo on the trail of a lost treasure, a long-ago betrayal, and a killer determined to settle old scores, no matter what - or who - gets in their way.
REVIEW: Once again, Doyle excels at painting interesting character portraits, granting nearly everyone a unique face and personality and history. Comparatively, the crime is almost an afterthought. The investigation seems a trifle convoluted at times, though this may be due to my reading circumstances. (A project came up that interrupted my reading for days at a time.) Watson, as usual, can only watch in wonderment and confusion as Holmes puts together the pieces, though the good doctor finds his own, very personal reasons to pursue the culprit and see justice done. Unlike A Study in Scarlet, the book doesn't stop itself dead in its tracks for a prolonged flashback; characters spend plenty of time relating their tragic histories, but not to the point of derailing the here-and-now of the investigation. Given my usual luck with mysteries, I enjoyed it.
You Might Also Enjoy:
A Study in Scarlet (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) - My Review
The Ruby in the Smoke (Philip Pullman) - My Review
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (Alexander McCall Smith) - My Review
Sherlock: Season One
- Amazon DVD link
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