Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great entry in an excellent series, May 24, 2010
This review is from: The Secret Fiend: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fourth Case (Hardcover)
Like the other reviewer, I think this may be the best in the series so far. In this series, Sherlock Holmes is a poor, half-Jewish boy living, more or less, on the streets of London. In earlier books, Holmes' beloved mother has been killed, and Holmes has found a home with an eccentric apothecary. It is from this man that Holmes learns much that will make Holmes into the man we know. In this story, Holmes finds himself attracted to, and confused by, two very pretty young women - one is poor, like himself, and the other wealthy, and too mature for her age. We learn more about Holmes' nemesis, who calls himself Malefactor, confirming suspicions about this young man's real identity. We also see Holmes' friendship with the young Lestrade growing into a type of mutual respect. Most importantly, we see Holmes going from boy to man. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, as I have others in this series. I look forward to more.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as the first volumes, December 29, 2010
This review is from: The Secret Fiend: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fourth Case (Hardcover)
I was intrigued with the idea of a seris of juvenile novels based on the young Sherlock Holmes, since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provided virtually no background for his greatest literary creation, it is fertile ground. Generally this series, while aimed at youth/teen readers is well written and compelling and an intriguing "alternative reality" to the literary canon character. However, like so many other modern pastiche writers, Peacock has fallen into the regrettable habit of peppering his narrative with characters "borrowed" from other literary sources and some from pesudo-real life. Early on Peacock introduces us to Andrew and Irene Doyle--who figure promimently as a philanthropist and his daughter--why the author felt the need to use the name of the creator of Holmes, albeit in altered form is mystifying except as a pretty conceit, and one he cannot forbear from exercising in subsequent volumes. Another example is the apothecary Trigestimus Sigerson Bell, who becomes young Sherlock's "foster parent" is introduced in book two and continues into this volume. His surname taken from ACD's own mentor and inspiration for Holmes, Dr. Joseph Bell quite obviously (the Sigerson is from canon, the name of the Norwegian Explorer Holmes travels as during the Great Hiatus). In "Secret Fiend" Bell takes a more active role in the novel than he has in the prior two volumes he's appeared in. Bell is an interesting if somewhat fantastical and farcical character and is presented as a major influence on the boy who will become the Great Detective. The real Joseph Bell was a fascinating historical figure in his own right, and actually deserves better introduction into youth Holmesian pastiche than his counterpart in this series. Beatrice Leckie, a childhood friend of the young Sherlock gets her surname from ACD's second wife. Other examples exist, but do not bear mention, aside from the truly uninventive use of "Louise Stevenson" as friend of young Beatrice. The Robert Louis Stevenson connection is carried to near mania in this volume, with a "Robert Hide" and a "Mr Utterson--thinly disguised (?) versions of themselves from RLS's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde". Such conceits, while clever and probably lost on the target audience (who one hopes encounter these wonderful literary inventions in their own ouevre eventually), have the unfortunate effect of wearing on the patience of the adult reader and distracting any knowledgeable person from full enjoyment of the Peacock tales for their own sake. Secret Fiend brings back other characters in the series, Malefactor--immediately recognizable as a boy Moriarty, in spite of his coy moniker (in much he same way that Irene Doyle is slowly transforming into the ubiquitous and completely overused Irene Adler of canon), Malefactor's gang the "Irregulars" (taken from the Baker Street Irregular army of street urchins the adult Holmes will employ as aides in his cases), are more plausible and less overtly precociously used but are not seved well in this volume in terms of continuing character development. Well written, as a life long fan of Sherlock Holmes, I find myself wishing for a series of "young Sherlock" books which extrapolate more faithfully and believably from the existing Holmes Canon. The book The Childhood of Sherlock Holmes" by Mary Morstein (a nom de plume if ever there was) covers similar subject matter in a much more involving and compelling manner and I would recommend it even to young readers as an example of what can be artfully done withour parodizing the Great Detective to the degree The Boy Sherlock Holmes series tends ultimately to do.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spring Heeled Jack is on the Loose, August 22, 2010
This review is from: The Secret Fiend: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fourth Case (Hardcover)
Reason for Reading: Next in the Series. Shane Peacock has made it to the 4th book in this series and in my opinion the best one so far. I've been consistently rating the books a 4/5, knowing that Mr. Peacock had something more to give that was waiting for my full five rating and "The Secret Fiend" fits the bill. Oh, the case is a bit out there but then some of Doyle's cases were also so I won't hold that against an author who can hold it all together. Sherlock, who has decided to wait until he has become a man to resume detecting, has been spending his time on his studies: academic, mental and physical, when a very close friend from childhood, Beatrice, arrives at his door saying she and a friend have been attacked. She tells a wild tale and will he come and help find her friend. One thing leads to another and Sherlock decides that this time the case has chosen him and he takes it on. Apparently, all over the East Side of London a figure who may be (or is just dressed like) the legendary character Spring-Heeled Jack is on the loose frightening women, leaving notes about chaos and finally seems to be the culprit in a gruesome murder. Sherlock is older now, at 14 years-old his studies are quite academic and he sees his future ahead of him, but unfortunately feelings keep getting in his way, interfering with logical deduction. So he continues to struggle with giving up personal feelings. Holmes' character has grown very much over the four books where he is now poised on the edge of the Sherlock Holmes character we know from the source. Peacock presents us with a fast-paced, action packed, atmospheric and at times dark mystery. The usual character's from the past books return but there are changing dynamics between friends and foes that are very different from earlier books. We get a good inside look into the political and social arena of the times as Disraeli, the first ever Jew, becomes Prime Minister. Peacock also throws a nod out to Robert Louis Stevenson in this book by having a secondary character known only as Louise for most part until eventually her last name is revealed to be Stevenson and further on we are told her father's name is Robert. I really enjoyed the mystery and was so involved in all the activities going on between Sherlock and the various characters, that while I had the suspects listed in my head I never bothered to try to figure out whodunit as I was having too much fun being wrapped up in all the other story threads. Peacock gives a major clue (to the overall story arc of the series) in this book that Holmesian fans will have solved in a heartbeat, but will make no sense to those who haven't read (or watched) Holmes before. I was excited with this reveal as I had been guessing at it for the last couple of books now and it makes book five an even more eagerly anticipated read. This book (along with the others) is well-written and I don't hesitate to recommend them to adults as well as teens.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
