Customer Reviews

Sherlock Holmes and the Railway Maniac

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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.

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.