Good Night, Mr. Holmes (Irene Adler)

Rating:
Summary: fun Holmes pastiche featuring THE woman
Review: Douglas has written a fun (and feminine) perspective on A Scandal in Bohemia. Narrated by a new acquaintance of the diva-detective, we learn about Doyle's story from Irene Adler's point of view, which also gives us an interesting look at Victorian England -- both from a proto-feminist's perspective and from a more traditional spinster of the time.

Much as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead turned Hamlet on its head, this interesting story brings Adler to the fore and relegates Holmes to an occasional visitor to the story. In the course of the narrative we also meet Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker, as well as some familiar fictional characters.

I agree with another reviewer that it will enhance your pleasure if you read A Scandal in Bohemia before reading this fun book. Douglas has done a great job of creating a convincing backstory to the original, and she writes very well.

Rating:
Summary: Best sluth since Holmes himself!
Review: For all you fans of Irene Adler, or for those of you tired of reading mysteries from the male point of view, this series is for you. Similar to the Holmes format established by Conan-Doyle, the adventures of "the woman" are chronicled by her companion. Carole Nelson Douglas does a wonderful job of telling "the real story" behind Scandal in Bohemia, and continues giving back information on many of Holmes's most famous cases. She also makes an attempt to clarify discrepencies found in the original Holmes mysteries. A delightful read, full of suspense and humor. Of course, how could the team of an American actress/diva, an English parson's daughter, and a very British barrister not be funny and interesting?

Rating:
Summary: Highly polished writing
Review: Ms. Douglas is a talented and practiced writer. This book and the others of this series show how well she has honed her craft.

This is a deeper look at Irene Adler who was a character in Doyle's, "A Scandal in Bohemia". She was one of the few people and the only woman to outwit Sherlock Holmes. The book retells the story from Adler's viewpoint and goes on to solve some other puzzles. Irene Adler, as she appears in the Douglas books, is truly an amazing woman. One would be hard pressed not to have admiration for her and her enormous abilities. She is shown as a virtuous, honest, married woman in this book instead of the "fallen woman" she is portrayed to be in the Doyle book.
All the narrative is done from the supposed diary of Penelope Huxley (Adler's Doctor Watson). Ms. Huxley is a dedicated spinster who apparently is meant to be the conscience of Victorian London. Some of her straight laced, over done morals are a bit trying but she is probably representative of the outlook of "proper" Victorian England. Penelope is a whiz at taking notes, much as Archie Goodwin is a supposed human tape recorder (Nero Wolfe series). It's very convenient to have someone on hand to do nothing but observe and record, thereby giving more credence to the story. There is much name dropping in this and all the other books of the series. Famous characters appear here and there for no apparent reason except to give added spice to the book. I think anyone who likes the Holmes series or who likes to boost the status of women in general will enjoy this book and the ones following it.