Customer Reviews

Chinese Box Mysteries: Sherlock Holmes

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Chinese Box Mysteries" is a series of short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes (well after his retirement) and John S. Watson, son of his late chronicler. Dan Kilcup obviously tries to produce stories worth reading, but sadly doesn't succeed.

The problems, to me, are a poor portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, a failure to depict the Edwardian age in a believable fashion, and an attempt to use language beyond the author's grasp of vocabulary.

Kilcup's Holmes is an extraordinarily arbitrary character. I have no problems with the fact that Holmes is not infallible as this is consistent with Conan Doyle's portrayal. However, some of his actions are very strange, and do nothing to progress his investigations. I think his intention was to make Holmes likable, but I think he fails.

In setting stories in a particular time period, an author should portray the period believably. Mr Kilcup's characters use oddly harsh language - not necessarily for our time, but for that about which we are reading. Other things, details like Holmes' unlikely query of a London cabby as to when the next train to Brussels leaves, grate rather harshly.

With these factors distracting the reader, Mr Kilcup's use of words in the wrong context certainly makes the reading of this book a chore.

Sorry, Mr Kilcup, but not worth the time I spent reading it let alone the money I spent buying it.

Spellbinding! Keeps you entangled throughout!

I'm a devoted fan of the Conan Doyle efforts but I was amazed how close to the original these stories were, in atmosphere and in developing the feel of the characters. Also the PBS series with Jeremy Brett came to life for me in these stories - a little darker, more intellectual and perhaps, amazingly, more human. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a return to Holmes!

The author has a clear affection for Holmes, yet these stories are not particularly well-written. Holmes is the most interesting of fictional characters, but the author puts him through some very familiar paces. Normally when I get a new Holmes pastiche I read it that day...I started this one and it has been sitting on my shelf for weeks. It's worth having if you collect pastiches, probably not otherwise.

I have had the priviledge of reading this book as well as Vol II which is now available. Not only is this one a must for fans, don't miss out on Volume II. I would recommend this book for any lover of a good mystery solved by the master!