Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God (Further Advent/Sherlock Holmes) [Paperback]

GUY ADAMS (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2011

When several leading society figures begin acting out of character, Holmes is enlisted on an investigation that will see him team up with famed ghost hunter Thomas Carnacki, and the famous occultist Aleister Crowley.

 As London fills up with mindless zombies, possessed by the spirits in the air, Holmes must descend beneath the city via the new underground train network to combat the source. 

A brand-new original novel, detailing a thrilling new case for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's timeless creation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Titan (September 20, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0857682822
• ISBN-13: 978-0857682826
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars "Once you have Eliminated the Impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." October 3, 2011

By Sand under foot

Format:Paperback

I would like to preface this review by saying that I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. And as much as I enjoy Holmes pastiches, I am a bit apprehensive about reading them because I hope that the author can capture the right voice and tone which Doyle used in his stories. This book does recapture that voice, however it is nothing like any other Sherlock Holmes story which I have ever read before. Its closest counterpoint is perhaps the 2009 film with Robert Downey Jr.

A man is found crushed to death in the London snow. However there are no signs of human involvement. It's almost as though the man was killed by the air itself. Along with Dr. John Silence and Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes embarks on a quest to to uncover the truth. His trail will led him to a meeting with Thomas Carnacki, Julian Karswell and Alestair Crowley. Strange happenings begin to force Holmes to doubt the one thing he holds dear - logic. However, is the supernatural to blame, or is there a much more logical answer?

This newest installment in Titan Books' "The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," is being published in print for the first time. The mystery in the book is quite unlike anything which would have appeared in one of the original Doyle stories, which is either something which would turn away potential readers, or have them excited to try something completely new. The departures from the Doyle story are not as great as the Fred Saberhagen books were Holmes and Count Dracula are cousins, however it feels hard to suppose that this is a lost case of the world's foremost criminal investigator. On the plus side, author Guy Adams, does have a good writing style, not too far removed from the Doyle style. There are a few infrequent occasions when he changes the point-of-view and has another character narrate the chapter of the book. I have never read any of the Thomas Carnacki stories so the chapter which he narrates I cannot compare with the originals.

The problems that I have with the book are not great enough that I would not recommend it. Quite obviously, Adams was unsure about how to present Holmes so his involvement in the story is somewhat limited. I did get a good chuckle when Holmes suggested that he and Watson should perform a "Baskerville maneuver" where Holmes observes from afar the actions which Watson encounters first hand. The scene in which Watson, Crowley, Silence, Karswell and Carnacki stage a great battle against the forces of the supernatural is a bit far-fetched. And lastly, when clients are telling their stories to Holmes, the margins in the book become larger, and it becomes a bit difficult to discern exactly what's happening at times. Nonetheless, the book was enjoyable.

For Sherlock Holmes fans, I am sure that there will be bits to pick at in this pastiche by Sherlockians, but frankly that can be overlooked for the enjoyment of a horror-tinged Sherlock Holmes adventure.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable October 3, 2011

By Heather T. Radomski

Format:Paperback

I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan for a long time now and while I don't like every author's take on the classic character I did like this one. It was a true adventure and it was lots of fun. I laughed out loud several times.
I will admit that the story is not for those who are only interested in stories that pattern themselves painstakingly after the Canon (for that try Donald Thomas). This story does have supernatural elements but I felt they were dealt with in a way that was satisfactory and interesting. So if you're willing to enjoy Holmes (and Watson) as written by someone else you should give this book a try. (If for no other reason the explanation Guy Adams gives for the inconsistencies related to Watson's marriages was touching and clever.)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining If A Bit Squirrely October 8, 2011

By Elizabeth

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I like my Sherlock Holmes dry. But it's been thin-reading without as many pastiche novels out there so - what the heck? This WAS interesting. I knew a small amount about Crowley - and this was an interesting use of him as a younger character. It is a tad on the adult side - eh. I'm not wild about stepping Holmes and Watson outside of what Doyle would have them - but it was an interesting read. My biggest complaint is the end and the aside stories where the author went into some long details - where I began skimming pages. Perhaps a little rushed at the end.