Sherlock Holmes and the Railway Maniac [Paperback]

Barrie Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

'Nothing would tempt me back to my old career on any but the most temporary basis.' Now in his third year of retirement, the celebrated master detective Sherlock Holmes announces to his old friend Dr. Watson his firm resolve to stay well out of the affairs of others. But this emphatic sentiment is to be short lived. At the behest of his enigmatic brother, Holmes is persuaded to investigate two unexplained, catastrophic train derailments that have caused the deaths of more than forty people. Why would a criminal wreck an express train? As the clues accumulate the most homicidal lunatic in Britain remains at large. Can even the strenuous efforts of Sherlock Holmes avert an international calamity and bring to justice this evil assassin? All is revealed in a tale that would make even the late Conan Doyle proud.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The author takes his plot and characters seriously and delivers an excellently researched and spirited addition to what I hope personally, may be the never ending story of the Great Detective.' John Seeley, The District Messenger, The Newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London.

About the Author

Barrie Roberts has worked as a criminal lawyer for over twenty years. He is also the author of a series of popular Sherlock Holmes pastiches and books on true crime and the paranormal

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Allison & Busby LTD (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749005467
• ISBN-13: 978-0749005467
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,431,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Deep Waters!, December 14, 2002

By 

Rory Coker (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the Railway Maniac (Paperback)

Here's the first paperback edition of a Holmes and Watson pastiche from 1994, and a very nice one it is, too. Roberts gets the Conan Doyle style, and the dialogue of Holmes and Watson, dead-on in a way American authors don't seem to be able to manage. [His dialogue for American characters is notably less successful, however!]

It's 1906 and a retired Holmes and vacationing Watson are dragged into investigation of two mysterious railway accidents--- the accidents, and many characters Holmes and Watson meet in the course of their investigation are actual and historical, by the way. However, the investigation incredibly drags on for seven long years(!), before the maniac responsible is brought to justice.

During the course of the investigation Mycroft and a close relative of The Woman play key roles. And the events of "His Last Bow" actually occur within the confines of this novel.

For my taste, Holmes here comes across as a bit slow on the uptake, but after all he's been retired for quite a while, and there are semi-plausible Reasons why he is unable to devote his full energies to the case.

I've lost track of the number of pastiches I have read in the past 10 years, but this one ranks quite high among that group. Recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's a Roberts, November 6, 2008

By 

Bookmeister - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes and the Railway Maniac (Paperback)

While there are many fine attempts at Holmes pastiches, Barrie Roberts is recognized by many as one of the finer authors in this genre. He remains true to the original characters without having to resort to outlandish environments to capture readership. Read and enjoy this storyteller, for his talent comes through in the finer details of his writing style, which doesn't need to attempt reinvention of Doyle's world, because Roberts is good enough to keep the original alive and well.