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Rating: 
Summary: Passable Holmesian Pastiche
Review: Something a bit different from Val Andrews this time around: Holmes has had a nervous breakdown and is in a catatonic state. How to snap him out of it? Mycroft, Watson and a glamourous figure from Holmes' past join forces to re-awaken Holmes' interest in "mean streets" with unexpected results. Several Holmes pastiches (and an old play by William Gillette, which became the basis for the first Basil Rathbone Holmes film) have used the notion of planting fake clues to lead Holmes astray. Here, Andrews works not one, not two, but three twists on this concept, as the clues are supposed to bring Holmes back to himself, and... could it be they're not fake after all?If you have liked previous Holmes books by Andrews, you'll enjoy this one too.
Rating:
Summary: Passable Holmesian Pastiche
Review: Something a bit different from Val Andrews this time around: Holmes has had a nervous breakdown and is in a catatonic state. How to snap him out of it? Mycroft, Watson and a glamourous figure from Holmes' past join forces to re-awaken Holmes' interest in "mean streets" with unexpected results. Several Holmes pastiches (and an old play by William Gillette, which became the basis for the first Basil Rathbone Holmes film) have used the notion of planting fake clues to lead Holmes astray. Here, Andrews works not one, not two, but three twists on this concept, as the clues are supposed to bring Holmes back to himself, and... could it be they're not fake after all? If you have liked previous Holmes books by Andrews, you'll enjoy this one too.
Rating: 
Summary: the torment of sherlock holmes
Review: This was a fairly improbable book with a few spelling errors and many grammatical problems, like many of Val Andrew's books. The premise was unlikely - Irene Adler becomes involved with trying to ameliorate Sherlock Holmes' depression. After all this negativity, I must say that I enjoyed this book. I wouldn't buy it if you need high-quality editing, but it is, after all, a Sherlock Holmes book, and as such, a good sketch of Dr. Watson's and Sherlock Holmes' relationship.
Rating:
Summary: the torment of sherlock holmes
Review: Val Andrews, a magician and photographer who has turned to writing has written a number of Holmes pastiches. This is the first I've read, and while disappointed, I'll give his work another try. This story finds Holmes pulling out of a depression and becoming involved in a long dormant murder of a young woman at a seaside resort, by way of his old acquaintance Irene Adler. Andrews hits on all the Holmesian cliches (Holmes' disguises fooling Watson, the arrogant local policeman, etc.) but doesn't fool the reader as Doyle so cleverly did with the mystery elements. As someone skilled in slight of hand in real life, perhaps Andrews will grow more skilled at making us look at the wrong suspect more convincingly in his next works. A good editor might help this writer to perfect Watson's unique narrative voice which here sounds right only part of the time. A pleasant read for an uncritical Holmes fan.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Holmes novella, but...
Review: Val Andrews, a magician and photographer who has turned to writing has written a number of Holmes pastiches. This is the first I've read, and while disappointed, I'll give his work another try. This story finds Holmes pulling out of a depression and becoming involved in a long dormant murder of a young woman at a seaside resort, by way of his old acquaintance Irene Adler. Andrews hits on all the Holmesian cliches (Holmes' disguises fooling Watson, the arrogant local policeman, etc.) but doesn't fool the reader as Doyle so cleverly did with the mystery elements. As someone skilled in slight of hand in real life, perhaps Andrews will grow more skilled at making us look at the wrong suspect more convincingly in his next works. A good editor might help this writer to perfect Watson's unique narrative voice which here sounds right only part of the time. A pleasant read for an uncritical Holmes fan.
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