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23rd out of 215 books
—
218 voters
The Whitechapel Horrors
Edward B. Hanna brings Sherlock Holmes stunningly back to life in this homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's great creation. The Whitechapel Horrors, with its spellbinding story and atmospheric prose, is the best new Holmes adventure since Seven-Per-Cent Solution. Here Hanna imagines the characters anew, while maintaining the integrity of Conan Doyle's originals. Grotesque mu...more
Hardcover, 395 pages
Published
by Carroll & Graf Publishers
(first published 1992)
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17th out of 133 books
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147 voters
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Fusion of truth and fiction is fascinating for several reasons, foremost among them being the efforts on part of the author(s) to resolve the inconsistencies related to dates and events. Edward B Hanna's "The Whitechapel Horrors" is doubly fascinating because it brings together two of Victorian England's iconic figures: the beloved Sherlock Holmes and the hated Jack the Ripper! Although this particular brand of fusion has been attempted at in several previous works, beginning with Ellery Queen's...more
One of the most crucial elements in the original Sherlock Holmes stories is the narration. Having Watson present, witnessing events and then capturing the quicksilver genius of Holmes in his sharp and unfussy prose, is of course massively important to the success of the tales. (As proof of this, see those later stories which Conan-Doyle had Holmes narrate. They are amongst the weakest.) The good Doctor is of course a reader substitute, there to have these wonderful deductions explained to him an...more
I always swear I will never read a pastiche where the main character is iconic....but I broke that resolution with this Sherlock Holmes book......and am glad I did. My only complaint is that Watson is not the narrator and the story in written in the third person. Regardless, that was not enough to spoil my enjoyment of this tale in which Holmes in engaged by his brilliant and extremely well connected brother, Mycroft, to track down the infamous Jack the Ripper. The reason for Mycroft's involveme...more
Sep 09, 2012
Avril
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
murdermostfoul,
sherlockia
This book is a lot of fun. While it sadly finishes without definitively identifying Jack the Ripper, the path it takes to its non-conclusion is an enjoyable journey. Perhaps the best part is the 'Notes'; 120 end notes that assume that Holmes and Watson are historical figures and so add historical references and explanations to the narrative. It's a little disappointing that the book is written in the third person, rather than by Watson, but since some of the action takes place while Watson is on...more
As soon as I started to read this book, I was of the opinion that the idea of having the greatest literary detective of all time, investigating the greatest mystery of all time, was never going to fail. It truly is a concept that doesn’t disappoint in any way. From the off the seamless way reality is blended with fictional characters is evident to see. The narrative is also gripping, taking you on several different turns, you formulate countless theories as to the true identity of the infamous a...more
Although it took more than a few chapters to begin to appreciate Mr. Hanna's story, the more I read, the more I enjoyed it. His references to The Canonical stories are expertly placed. The idea that Watson went to Dartmoor alone with Sir Henry Baskerville because Holmes was working on the Ripper case at the request of Queen Victoria had never occurred to me but it makes perfect sense. Have not yet finished it but I am looking forward to seeing what comes next. The footnotes are distracting, espe...more
I'm not really sure about this book. Oh, it was really well written indeed and well researched too. But for me there far too many questions unanswered to be satisfied. Also the over 100 foot notes were much too distracting (as informative as they were).
If I read a fictional book about the Ripper accounts and one that features Sherlock Holmes I want the killer to be identified at the end (that's what's fiction is for imo). The third person narrative was also a little off putting for me.
So reading...more
If I read a fictional book about the Ripper accounts and one that features Sherlock Holmes I want the killer to be identified at the end (that's what's fiction is for imo). The third person narrative was also a little off putting for me.
So reading...more
I really really wanted to like this book but unfortunately it failed in every possible way a Holmes-pastiche can fail, in every way a fictional re-telling of Jack the Ripper's crimes can fail and in most ways a (historical) crime novel can fail.
First of all: The story is not told by Watson but by a third person-narrator with insight in the minds of Holmes and Watson. So the we don't only read about Watson being amazed by Holmes deductions, we also see Holmes being desperate, having no idea what...more
First of all: The story is not told by Watson but by a third person-narrator with insight in the minds of Holmes and Watson. So the we don't only read about Watson being amazed by Holmes deductions, we also see Holmes being desperate, having no idea what...more
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Edward B. Hanna definitely did his research, both about the Holmesian canon and the Whitechapel murders. (The 100+ endnotes are fascinating, and quite possibly my favorite part of the novel.) I particularly enjoyed the sense of historical context and the glimpses into Mycroft Holmes and his relationship to various figures of the time (Prime Minister Lord Salisbury, Lord Randolph Churchill, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, etc.) as well as his own brother. Hanna manages to make the tired Royal Con...more
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Whitechapel Horrors by Edward B. Hanna plays at "What If?" What if Sherlock Holmes were a real person? (Gasp! Who could doubt it?) And what if he had investigated the horrible murders committed by Jack the Ripper? For surely, the Great Detective would have been called in on such a notorious case.
There is no doubt that Hanna knew his Holmes. He was a long-time Holmes buff and a member of the Baker Street Irregulars. And he most definitely had done hi...more
I'm not keen on Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper, but made the acceptation with this tale and glad I did so. This was a long, but very enjoyable read. It takes you through the Ripper events from start to finish, is packed with extra information about that period and Sherlock Holmes, and just makes for a bit of fun. Edward Hanna was clearly a lover of Sherlock Holmes and did a very good job at inserting Holmes into this historical event. This book is certainly worth the read.
A very enjoyable book to read, that is thoroughly researched and footnoted by the author, but the ultimate solution kept me from giving this a five star rating. Hanna has written a book that entertwines classic Holmes' adventures with the horrors of the Jack the Ripper murders very well, and I couldn't put it down. Watson and Holmes' voices were true to their characters as were the other "notables" that appear. I just wish the solution for Jack's identity had been better...
This wasn't my favorite re-telling of Sherlock Holmes. For me, I just couldn't get over the fact this wasn't told with Watson's point-of-view. Instead it was done in third person. I gave it two stars because there were moments in this book that I did enjoy. Small moments between Sherlock and Watson, or a moment that just made be smile. Also, I sort of rushed the end of this book. I felt like there was this build up to a great ending, and the book sort of just fizzled out. To the point I felt I f...more
A thoroughly enjoyable Sherlock Holmes story, one of the best I've read in quite awhile. In fact, I haven't enjoyed a Sherlock Holmes "pastiche" story as much as this one since I read The Seven Per Cent Solution all those years ago.
The Holmes and Watson characterizations were superb, in fact Mr. Hanna sacrificed some plot momentum in favor of developing the characters, which worked well in this story because, let's fact it, it had a foregone conclusion. Holmes and Watson felt very much like the...more
The Holmes and Watson characterizations were superb, in fact Mr. Hanna sacrificed some plot momentum in favor of developing the characters, which worked well in this story because, let's fact it, it had a foregone conclusion. Holmes and Watson felt very much like the...more
I enjoyed the story and the concept -- Sherlock Holmes investigates Jack the Ripper-- and I thought the author did a nice job channeling Conan Doyle's writing and setting the scene for London at the time of these grisly crimes. I also enjoyed the political intrigue surrounding the monarchy and the government -- had the book continued in that vein, I would have given it four stars, but I had to subtract a star because of the supremely unsatisfying ending.
This took me forever to read. I don't know if that is my fault or the book's. In any case, I figured around halfway that at least some of the problem was that the book didn't care so much about the Jack the Ripper as it did all these other entertaining late Victorian personages. Which is fine. I just thought it would be more... jack the ripperish? And the ending of the book confirmed the author's lack of interest in creating a tight mystery centering around Jack the Ripper. Which is fine. I just...more
Well written (although not in the traditional Watsonian narrative), well researched and compelling reading, but a little disappointing in the ending, although understandable and oddly appropriate. The author even explanins the disappointing ending as necessary and realistic. While I'm not an expert on Holmes or the Ripper, I go greatly respect the author's apparent knowledge of both.
Not bad, but it feels slow and drags in some passages. Besides, I had recently read “Dust and Shadow” and I would take the later as a definitive narration of Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper.
in the spiret of the great detective, and very good it is too, few unfortunate americanisms and also a few historical gaffs, but very readable, "get out that deerstalker"
I didn't like The Whitechapel Horrors for the same reasons another reviewer criticised the story. Hanna chose third-person narration instead of Doyle's first person, and I don't think it worked well. I also disliked Hanna's depiction of Watson as stupid with some (unnecessary for the story) reactionary political views.
Overall, I think Dibdin's The last Sherlock Holmes story was more compelling. And I think Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye captured the tone and characters much better than Hanna.
Overall, I think Dibdin's The last Sherlock Holmes story was more compelling. And I think Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye captured the tone and characters much better than Hanna.
A marvelous study in the Sherlockian genre! Dramatic, authentic, atmospheric, this book ascribes to everything a true Holmes mystery should be. A must read for those who study the great detective's methods.
The author has obviously done extensive research into Arthur Conan Doyle's writings about Sherlock Holmes. I thought the book was very interesting.
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It's a Holmes story without Watson as the narrator, and which portrays the great detective as desperate and indecisive. Ultimately, the book fails - not on every level, to be sure, but on all the key ones.
Very good book, not the kind i'd usually read. I was attracted to this book because it was about Jack the Ripper. I will definatly check out other Sherlock Holmes books.
Excellent read- very enjoyable! I'm lucky that my first non-Conan Doyle Sherlock was good... Or am I? I've already picked up another (by a different author) and found it wanting.
A record of Sherlock Holmes' investigations into the then-in-progress Jack The Ripper murders.
not *my* watson. read it for the jtr lore if you want, but this is not the watson from canon, and i read sh adventures because i love watson. don't make him a naive bigot!
Why is this a genre?
Nov 18, 2012
Trish
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