jjares reviewed Sherlock Holmes and the King's Evil: And Other New Tales Featuring the World's Greatest Detective on + 3414 more book reviews
This book is abysmal. If Arthur Conan Doyle had written this book, folks would have never heard of this sleuth. I absolutely forced myself to finish this turgid collection of stories because I couldn't believe an author got a publisher to print multiple novels of nothing.
I love the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. I have enjoyed a number of reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes, including THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION. In KING'S EVIL, Holmes and Watson are stilted and boring. The stories are extremely wordy but without the snap and sparkle of the originals.
At the outset, the story lines are promising. There's the English lord who has stopped playing the piano but who has started wearing gloves constantly. Then, there's the story about two brothers who disappear, although they are responsible for the lighthouse in an isolated area. Next, there's the story of the blackmailer who keeps dying (to avoid his creditors). The worst of the bunch was the plan Germany had to invade the US during World War I.
Although I haven't read one pf the Doyle originals in more than 20 years, I feel these are poor imitations. The author spends too much time telling us how Sherlock knows odd facts and makes his observances. The Victorian Age is not important to these stories, as they often were in Doyle's works.
I felt I wasted my time reading this book. There are many reinterpretations of the Sherlock Holmes-John Watson partnership available that are much better. I gave this book an additional star for the moderately-interesting story of the brothers who disappeared. I'm sure there are some who will enjoy this return trip to visit Sherlock Holmes' sleuthing; unfortunately, I am not one of them.
I love the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. I have enjoyed a number of reinterpretations of Sherlock Holmes, including THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION. In KING'S EVIL, Holmes and Watson are stilted and boring. The stories are extremely wordy but without the snap and sparkle of the originals.
At the outset, the story lines are promising. There's the English lord who has stopped playing the piano but who has started wearing gloves constantly. Then, there's the story about two brothers who disappear, although they are responsible for the lighthouse in an isolated area. Next, there's the story of the blackmailer who keeps dying (to avoid his creditors). The worst of the bunch was the plan Germany had to invade the US during World War I.
Although I haven't read one pf the Doyle originals in more than 20 years, I feel these are poor imitations. The author spends too much time telling us how Sherlock knows odd facts and makes his observances. The Victorian Age is not important to these stories, as they often were in Doyle's works.
I felt I wasted my time reading this book. There are many reinterpretations of the Sherlock Holmes-John Watson partnership available that are much better. I gave this book an additional star for the moderately-interesting story of the brothers who disappeared. I'm sure there are some who will enjoy this return trip to visit Sherlock Holmes' sleuthing; unfortunately, I am not one of them.
