Customer Reviews

The Holmes Factor (Sebastian Holmes)

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Coutless authors have tried their hand at resurrecting Shelock Holmes with varying degrees of success. I have read two recently that merit the attention of mystery readers and Holmes afficionados. The better of the two, A SLIGHT TRICK OF THE MIND, by Mitch Cullin rivals Meyer's THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION in my esteem. The second, THE HOLMES FACTOR,by Brian Freemantle,is thoroughly enjoyable, without deserving such exalted comparisons.

The most important Holmes in THE HOLMES FACTOR is Sebatian Holmes, a son Sherlock fathered while hiding out in Switzerland following his supposed death at the Reichenbach Falls. Sebastian was raised by Mycroft Holmes, learning only a year ago the true identity of his father. Sherlock and son have just returned from a reconciliatory trip to Switzerland, but are still prickly with each other.

It is the eve of World War I and Mycroft is in charge of Great Britain's secret service. He and Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty)send Sebastian on a mission to St. Petersburg to gather intelligence on the stability of the Russian monarchy. An unhappy Sherlock is consigned to the distinctly secondary role of analyzing the information Sebastian sends back.

This book reminds me of the Laurie King series of Holmes novels starring Mary Russell. In spite of the impausibility of the entire concept, Freemantle tells an engaging story, full of derring-do and romance. Sebastian encounters Stalin, Trotsky, and Rasputin, while romancing the daughter of the chief of the Tsar's secret police. I see Brad Pitt as Sebastian in the movie version.