Monday, February 28, 2011

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Alternating between present day and 1900, Moore gives readers a bit of a mystery. In the present day, the leading Sherlock Holmes expert has found the lost Arthur Conan Doyle 1900 diary and arrives at the annual Baker Street Irregulars meeting to present his findings. Only, he's murdered before he has a chance to tell his secret. And, the diary is missing from his hotel room. Recent Irregulars inductee Harold White, using his Sherlockian knowledge, decides he will discover the identity of the killer. Naturally, he gets more than he bargains for...

In 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle lives with an outraged public after he "killed off" Holmes in The Final Problem. However, he is soon drawn into a real life murder of a young woman, and he asks for assistance from his friend Bram Stoker (of Dracula fame). Doyle brings his character to life as he and Stoker follow clues to the killer's identity.

Lovers of Sherlock Holmes will enjoy this novel. Even those who love historical stories will enjoy this novel. Though I have not read any Sherlock Holmes mysteries (a situation I hope to change in the near future!), I am very glad I read The Sherlockian. Moore's writing style makes the book easy to read and follow the plot line in both centuries. With shortish chapters, he maintains the reader's interest from century to century.

The novel's mysteries may just have you thinking What Would Sherlock Do?

Reviewed by Jessica