Rating: 
Summary: Rings Like Watson!
Review: When I picked up this book, I was prepared for the usual pastiche experience; read for five minutes, then begin...to...fall.........sound of thump as reader falls to the floor in a coma. Most of these pastiches are heart breakingly predicable ( Sherlock Holmes falls in love, Sherlocks Holmes undiscovered cases that my grandmother could figure out, etc.) and seem to be chiefly written by the same people who write instruction manuels for toaster ovens. This book however, is fantastic. It sounds just like our dear, homey Watson, and the ideas put forth are a fascinating culmination of ideas that have been propounded for years. Here they are brought together, and this book is a true classic for the dedicated Sherlockian.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: A fine read which purports to tell a lost tale from Watson's deathbed. As Watson is dying, a kindly nurse writes his tale as he dictates. This original beginning is the author's device for explaining away the differences in literary styles between this and an ACD read. Holmes has developed a debilitating cocaine habit which Watson wishes to break him of. Watson attempts to contrive a way to get Holmes help, but cannot think of a way to outsmart the master. Watson enjoins Mycroft to trick Holmes into traveling to Vienna under the guise of tracking Moriarty. There, Sigmund Freud helps Watson break Holmes of his cocaine habit. A mystery is of course dropping in their laps and adventure quickly ensues.
Rating:
Summary: Meyer's Holmes: the best of the best.
Review: Brilliantly done. I've been reading Doyle's Holmes stories for nearly thirty years; I read Meyer's _Seven Per Cent Solution_ when it was new and I still have my original copy. I've also read some of the other attempts to bring Holmes to life again in full-length novels, and in my own view Meyer is the only one who nails it.Indeed he even improves on the original tales in some respects. His account of what _really_ happened between "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House" has the ring of plausibility, and it does far greater credit to Watson than many of Doyle's stories do. Especially in the later stories, Doyle tended to treat Watson as an inept dunderhead, a practice unfortunately followed by some of his blinder imitators. Meyer's take is that Watson employed artistic license in order to bring out the brilliance of his companion, but that the real Watson couldn't have been such an incompetent idiot if he was both a trained medical man and the valued companion of the world's first consulting detective. So in this "rediscovered" manuscript, Meyer does both of these Victorian gentlemen proud. The novel -- which is both an adventure and a warmly humane tale of Holmes's and Watson's friendship -- is sprinkled with touching scenes of genuine affection between the two lifelong friends; the good Watson finally gets his due as a companion and as a human being, and the not-so-bloodless-after-all Holmes comes vividly to life as well. One of the most moving moments (there are many) comes in Holmes's remark to Watson: "Never let them say you were merely my Boswell, Watson. Never let them say that." I won't tell you where and when that remark occurs, and in general I won't spoil the novel for anyone who hasn't read it yet. But it's the sort of Holmes pastiche that reviewers like to describe as a "corking good read," and in this case they're right. Moreover, Meyer relies on the very best Holmesian scholarship (notably William S. Baring-Gould) on matters of chronology and other detail, though I'm sure some of the Baker Street Irregulars will be able to pick nits. If you enjoyed Doyle's stories, you'll love this one -- and _The West End Horror_, too. (I was less impressed by _The Canary Trainer_.) [P.S. Most of you probably already know this, but just in case somebody doesn't: Yes, this is the very same Nicholas Meyer who directed the best of the _Star Trek_ movies. You'll find a bit of Holmes homage in _Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country_, which Meyer helped to script. Spock even quotes Holmes's dictum that "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" -- attributing it to one of his "ancestors." Meyer also scripted and directed the film version of _The Seven Per Cent Solution_ -- which isn't as good as the book, I think, but the cast is terrific, especially Robert Duvall and Alan Arkin.]
Rating:
Summary: Good book...
Review: First, the review from "henry@coombs.anu.edu.au" contains several mistakes. Lestrade does not appear in "The Valley Of Fear", and that story is a prequel to "The Adventure Of The Final Problem". Second, it is probable that Watson altered events in FP in order that it would appear as though it was his first look at Moriarty, since it was the reader's as well. By "Valley Of Fear", readers know who it is, so it is unnecessary to do the same thing. Watson has plainly stated that he altered facts to make stories suitable for the reading public. Third, there is no "official" Holmes continuity. You accept what you, the reader, wish to accept. Nothing more. I disagree with his thoughts on the later Doyle stories, but that is a matter of opinion. That said, this is a great book which does what Doyle never bothered to do; make the narrative an intense character study where we find out some of the deepest corners of Holmes' mind. This is Sherlock Holmes at it's best, filled with splendid characterization and a cunning mystery. The drama is this story is incredible; Holmes' confrontation with Sigmund Freud is heartstopping, and his moments of weakness are heartbreaking. There are also many nice touches that warm a reader's heart, like examining Watson and his wife, Mary Morstan, and her references to "brandy and soda" and calling him "Jack". The mystery is also quite good, and appears halfway through the book (but does not forget to deal with Holmes' addiction). There are moments of high drama and action which are integrated nicely and paced swiftly. Holmes' deductions are excellent and well thought out. If you have ever felt that Doyle's stories lacked emotional investment for the reader, then this is the book to read. Doyle was an excellent writer, but he did not truly understand what a wonderful character he had created in Sherlock Holmes. He saw him as merely a calculating machine, perhaps never noticing the hidden passion that he placed within the character; the kindness and heart within Holmes. But Nicholas Meyer did. And he displayed it in a novel that was a bestseller, that led to a feature film, and revitalized Holmes in the late twentieth century. With creators like these, with people that care so deeply about him, Sherlock Holmes will survive for another hundred years. Final notes. Meyer is the director of several movies, including the movie adaptation of this novel, and a few Star Trek movies. This book does have it's mistakes, and one is that if Moriarty is what he is in this novel, then "Final Problem", "Empty House" and "Valley Of Fear" are lies that slander an innocent, if annoying man.
Rating:
Summary: Good book...
Review: First, the review from "henry@coombs.anu.edu.au" contains several mistakes. Lestrade does not appear in "The Valley Of Fear", and that story is a prequel to "The Adventure Of The Final Problem". Second, it is probable that Watson altered events in FP in order that it would appear as though it was his first look at Moriarty, since it was the reader's as well. By "Valley Of Fear", readers know who it is, so it is unnecessary to do the same thing. Watson has plainly stated that he altered facts to make stories suitable for the reading public. Third, there is no "official" Holmes continuity. You accept what you, the reader, wish to accept. Nothing more. I disagree with his thoughts on the later Doyle stories, but that is a matter of opinion. That said, this is a great book which does what Doyle never bothered to do; make the narrative an intense character study where we find out some of the deepest corners of Holmes' mind. This is Sherlock Holmes at it's best, filled with splendid characterization and a cunning mystery. The drama is this story is incredible; Holmes' confrontation with Sigmund Freud is heartstopping, and his moments of weakness are heartbreaking. There are also many nice touches that warm a reader's heart, like examining Watson and his wife, Mary Morstan, and her references to "brandy and soda" and calling him "Jack". The mystery is also quite good, and appears halfway through the book (but does not forget to deal with Holmes' addiction). There are moments of high drama and action which are integrated nicely and paced swiftly. Holmes' deductions are excellent and well thought out. If you have ever felt that Doyle's stories lacked emotional investment for the reader, then this is the book to read. Doyle was an excellent writer, but he did not truly understand what a wonderful character he had created in Sherlock Holmes. He saw him as merely a calculating machine, perhaps never noticing the hidden passion that he placed within the character; the kindness and heart within Holmes. But Nicholas Meyer did. And he displayed it in a novel that was a bestseller, that led to a feature film, and revitalized Holmes in the late twentieth century. With creators like these, with people that care so deeply about him, Sherlock Holmes will survive for another hundred years. Final notes. Meyer is the director of several movies, including the movie adaptation of this novel, and a few Star Trek movies. This book does have it's mistakes, and one is that if Moriarty is what he is in this novel, then "Final Problem", "Empty House" and "Valley Of Fear" are lies that slander an innocent, if annoying man.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent Sherlock tale, not written by ACD
Review: I highly recommend this to all Sherlockians! This is the first non-ACD Holmes story that I've ever read and found this tale, even though it showed a side of Holmes never shown by ACD, greatly captured the true-to-Holmes writing style that so many authors fail to capture.
Rating:
Summary: an excellent Sherlock Holmes pastiche
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was very impressed with it. I checked it out from the library to read it but I'm definitely buying a copy for myself. First of all, it was just a well written and entertaining book. Some scenes were hilarious while others were postively heartbreaking. Secondly, I found it to be very true to the spirit of Doyle's stories and to his Holmes and Watson. I felt that Meyer did an excellent job with Holmes' character. Holmes was slightly different from what he was in the canon but I felt that this could have been how Doyle would have written Holmes had he ever chosen to write a story such as this. Meyer also had Holmes and Watson's relationship down to perfection. I loved how he seemed to realize how important Watson was to Holmes. The deductions in the book were also very good. Most of them were worthy of Sir Arthur himself. I also liked Meyer's footnotes. I thought they were cool. What I loved most about the book though was that I got the strong impression that it was written out of a love for the canon and not out of a love for the money. The book appeared to have been written by someone who had read and re-read the canon and not by someone who was getting all their information from the Basil Rathbone movies. I should add that the book does deviate from the canon so I have to advise caution if you're a purist. The book gives a different explanation for the Great Hiatus and Moriarty isn't portrayed as Doyle wrote him. I can understand how some people could have a problem with this. I admit that I did too at first. But I don't anymore. Although I love Doyle's Holmes stories, I realize that they are not perfect. They are not without their faults and contradictions and I feel that those who love the canon the most are the ones who will try to correct the faults and explain away the contradictions. And I felt that that was the reason for the book's deviation from the canon. So I would highly recommend it unless you just can't tolerate a deviation from Doyle's work.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Revealing Glimpse at a Very Private Character
Review: I was delighted with this story once I got into it. Much is revealed about Sherlock and Mycroft's boyhood and personal life.
I especially liked the compassionate side of Dr. Freud.
I am out to rent the movie (if I can find it!)
Rating:
Summary: A Very Revealing Glimpse at a Very Private Character
Review: I was delighted with this story once I got into it. Much is revealed about Sherlock and Mycroft's boyhood and personal life.
I especially liked the compassionate side of Dr. Freud.
I am out to rent the movie (if I can find it!)
Rating:
Summary: Holmes and Freud: The two greatest minds in history meet.
Review: In this well written study of the terrible cocain addiction and recovery of the famous detective, the more human side of Holmes finally comes out. Dr. Watson, after seeing Holmes through a cocain "fit" teams up with Mycroft to deceive Homes into treatment under an up-and-coming expert in the field: Mr. Sigmund Freud. In the process, the doctors and Holmes become embroiled in a mystery. The book is well written, reproducing Doyle's style almost to the letter. However, Holmes' recovery is accomplished too quickly, too easily and practically forgotten by the middle of the book. On the better side, it successfully uses some of the most cliche settings: a train-top sword fight, a train station good-bye, with originality and flair. Further, the relationship between Holmes and Watson is vividly shown for its depth. All in all, an excellent book for fans of the detective
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