sphinx reviewed on 10/12/2020 + 97 more book reviews

This may be the very best Sherlock Holmes pastiche I've read so far (its only competition would be The Last Sherlock Holmes Story, which also happens to be a Holmes/Jack The Ripper crossover). Watson's voice is just about perfect as Faye writes it, which is a rare accomplishment indeed. She also understands Holmes and Watson's relationship far better than most male writers do, and hence writes it in an extremely believable, true-to-canon way. A further refreshing change from the many male-penned pastiches is the inclusion of a major female character who is not just a damsel in distress, but a Violet Hunter sort of figure who is very intelligent and capable, and is recognised as such by Holmes, who employs her talents. I was terrified for this character's safety throughout the story, which demonstrates Faye's ability to write an appealing character that readers can emotionally connect to.

As for the story itself, Faye treats the horrific subject matter with the sensitivity and weight that it deserves, and makes sure to name each victim of the vicious murderer instead of treating them as valueless, nameless statistics. She also manages to imbue the tale with a deep horror that left my skin crawling by the dramatic climax of the action. This is very much a page-turner, and I found it hard to put the book down once I got going; the twists and turns of the tale will keep you anxious and curious to discover how things turn out, to see if our heroes will be triumphant or torn apart by this horror-show of a case. We get to see Holmes and Watson stretched to the limit of their abilities, and it is nail-biting stuff.

The more you know about Sherlock Holmes and about the Ripper murders, the more you will appreciate this story, as the author is extremely knowledgeable about both. Slash fans will also find a sly wink in the course of the narrative (I won't reveal what it is, since I hate spoilers, myself). Keep an eye out for it, if you choose to read this book (and I highly recommend you do)!

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