Sherlock Holmes and the Hapsburg Tiara: Library Edition

Rating:
Summary: The Doyle Estate must be broke to let this be published...
Review: Alan Vanneman's first Sherlock Holmes novel was a weak try at suspence and mystery. I was disappointed by his unrealistic view of what a Holmes mystery should be. But, that book could win awards compare to the trash that this one turned out to be. A seven year chase from here to there in Paris, Austria, Turkey and England with Watson and his adopted daughter in tow, never solving anything and bad mouthing Winston Churchill throughout the story. Watson spends more time in an intimate affair with a countess (a suspected murderess) than being the wise old companion that Holmes needs. Holmes puts Watson's daughter into danger every chance he get and those are too many. Keep your money or buy an Nero Wolf Novel instead.

Rating:
Summary: Another book you can avoid reading
Review: This was one of the poorest pastiches it has been my misfortune to read. The story is disjointed and spread chronologically over too great a time span. Sadly, the author felt compelled to have Dr. Watson involved in a steamy love affair that really had no place in the story. Please don't waste money or time on this book.

Rating:
Summary: Sir Arthur must be spinning in his grave!
Review: Yo, Vanneman!

I don't know how you got permission from the Conan Doyle Estate to use his characters in this one! And the said part is, the mystery is not bad at all, nor is the interaction between Holmes and the upper class, who frankly never have got along. With Holmes it has always been justice not law that is important. But Watson as a sexual deviant and comfirmed agnostic, if not actual atheist? Certainly he has always had an "eye for the ladies", and admits to "youthful indescresions." But he was MARRIED TWICE for crying out loud! (Three times if you count Philip Jose Farmer's Adventure of the Peerless Peer). And Holmes having trouble with the Foreign Office? What happened to Mycroft Holmes who WAS the Foreign Office? I thought your last book was off-the-wall, but this one is pathetic. The Blade says clean up your act! This is Holmes, not steamy romance novels! You deserve a zero, but one star is as low as they go. To everyone else, skip this one. I know I wish I had.