From the gritty streets of nineteenth century London, the loyal and courageous Dr. Watson offers a tale unearthed after generations of lore: the ha...
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Jan 24, 2011
Christine
rated it: 
Ms. Faye tackles the two individuals in history everyone wishes could have truly crossed paths; Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes. The tone of this book is true to Sherlock Holmes and Ms. Lindsay does not alter the characters. The reader joins the investigation through the words of Dr. Watson and is taken through Whitechaple along with an interesting entourage to investigate the Ripper Killings.
In the 120+ years since the killings many theories have been put forth as to the ident More...
In the 120+ years since the killings many theories have been put forth as to the ident More...
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Aug 30, 2011
robyn
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This was a pretty good pastiche! I wasn't too invested in it at the beginning, but by the time the story hit its stride, I'd come round and was really enjoying it. I like that Faye included a female character in the spirit of Doyle - intelligent and capable but not at the expense of Holmes or Watson. And while I don't think she quite nailed Holmes, she absolutely did a better job than most. It says on the fly-leaf that she's a devotee, and I believe it. This story was a labor of love.
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Aug 01, 2011
Riju
rated it: 
Holmes v/s Ripper has always been a favourite subject of discussion among people fascinated with the subjects of crime & retribution, essentially to "prove" that had there been any body like Sherlock Holmes in London, 1888, he must have caught the Ripper, and therefore, Holmes did not exist. Those who wish to bring the two Victorian icons (yes, even as you wince thinking about it, swirling fog brings the fiend of Whitechapel to mind as easily as it recalls Sherlock Holmes) together had
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Jun 12, 2011
Gena
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Autumn 1888 and London is in the grip of a killer. When an unfortunate woman is killed outside a pub in the meanest part of Victorian London, there is only one man who can uncover the truth before more lives are lost. So enters the Great Detective himself, Sherlock Holmes, into the Jack the Ripper investigation. Soon Holmes and his trusty companion Dr. Watson are racing through the twisted alleys and back ways of Whitechaple on the heels of a very cunning killer. Thwarted at every More...
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Feb 03, 2011
Paul
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The story is a fictional account of the Jack the Ripper murders, and if you did not know it Dr. John H. Watson was the historian for Sherlock Holmes.
If you liked the Sherlock Holmes mysteries you will certainly enjoy this book. You will enjoy it from two aspects. First, you will enjoy it because it is a well put together account of the Jack the Ripper murders, and Secondly, you will enjoy it because the author has done an uncanny replication of the style and writing of Sir Arthur C More...
If you liked the Sherlock Holmes mysteries you will certainly enjoy this book. You will enjoy it from two aspects. First, you will enjoy it because it is a well put together account of the Jack the Ripper murders, and Secondly, you will enjoy it because the author has done an uncanny replication of the style and writing of Sir Arthur C More...
Jan 24, 2011
Lisa
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I think I've read all of the "canon" of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories and novels - as well as many of the derivative works like The Seven Percent Solution and Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series, and of course over the years I've watched many of the Sherlock Holmes movies, like the ones from the '40s with Basil Rathbone, and the Jeremy Brett portrayal from 1980s-'90s TV. Of those various productions, Lyndsay Faye's treatment in Dust and Shadow stands out as amo
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Sep 03, 2009
Mike
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A really good story. Written in the if-I-was-Conan-Doyle style and as one reviewer pointed out, done better than many, many others.
The tale of the Ripper is in itself fascinating: Officially, he really was never caught and seemingly faded into oblivion after several increasingly gruesome murders and mutilations. It has been speculated that the type of knife work employed required some level of medical knowledge, but that like all of the the other theories is pure speculation.
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The tale of the Ripper is in itself fascinating: Officially, he really was never caught and seemingly faded into oblivion after several increasingly gruesome murders and mutilations. It has been speculated that the type of knife work employed required some level of medical knowledge, but that like all of the the other theories is pure speculation.
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Jul 07, 2009
Jason
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(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)
As I've mentioned here before, I'm one of the millions out there with an obsessive love for the great fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, originally the product of Victorian genre author Arthur Conan Doyle but that has since passed into the public domain, which now that anyone can More...
As I've mentioned here before, I'm one of the millions out there with an obsessive love for the great fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, originally the product of Victorian genre author Arthur Conan Doyle but that has since passed into the public domain, which now that anyone can More...
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Jun 02, 2009
Christopher
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Sherlock Holmes pastiche is a tricky subject. Picking up on the scenes of the times is one thing - and Lyndsay Faye does a good enough job with that, seemingly having researched London of the time. Capturing the language of the times, and the language and style of Conan Doyle is another, and whilst Faye has made a promising stab at doing that, DUST AND SHADOW still contains material that would never have made it into THE STRAND MAGAZINE. Rough as one of Holmes's associates is - and street ladies
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May 05, 2009
jordan
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For reasons that are entirely obvious, fans wishing to write new adventures for Conan Doyle's great detective have been drawn to the idea of placing Holmes in pursuit of Jack the Ripper. After all, the same setting easily encompasses the fictional protagonist and the serial killer who's reign of terror, real and murderous though it was, reads like the stuff of fiction. Lyndsay Faye does an impressive and mostly successful job in adding to this cannon with her fine debut novel, Dust and Shadow.
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Apr 29, 2011
Jill
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I always swore that I would never read books of famous fictional characters that were written by other than the originating author.....but then I read the Laurie King Holmes books and was satisfied. So I picked up this novel by Faye and was again satisfied with how the author dealt with trying to follow-up on a classic character.
She has captured perfectly the language of Victorian England and the manner in which Holmes and Watson spoke to each other as so beautifully written by Conan Doyle More...
She has captured perfectly the language of Victorian England and the manner in which Holmes and Watson spoke to each other as so beautifully written by Conan Doyle More...
Aug 15, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper, what's not to love, right? I've been on a bit of a Holmes kick lately-not at all related to my reading pursuits admittedly, but thanks to the BBC's series Sherlock. Lyndsay Faye's take on Sherlock is certainly an enjoyable read, have no doubt, however it is not one of the better Sherlock Holmes tomes I've read.
As the title suggests, this tale is written from the point of view of Dr. Watson, so we miss out on all internal thoughts and discussions More...
As the title suggests, this tale is written from the point of view of Dr. Watson, so we miss out on all internal thoughts and discussions More...
Jun 18, 2009
Sabra
rated it:
I am not a Sherlock Holmes expert, in the least; my knowledge of the iconic literary character mostly gleaned from Disney's The Great Mouse Detective. Yeah, I know, how American am I? So I can't speak to how well Faye holds to Doyle's original characters and literary voice. However I do know a little bit more about the antagonist, having done a pretty comprehensive research paper and presentation on Jack the Ripper for a 19th Century England course in college. Still no expert, but based on wh
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Jun 04, 2009
Linda
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New novelist Lyndsay Faye has done what few have managed before. She has resurrected Sherlock Holmes and company. Faye succeeds admirably in creating the ambience of the original novels, and by pitting Holmes against Jack the Ripper, presents him with a challenge worthy of his talents. The world’s greatest detective emerges true to form, with arrogance and foibles intact. Dr. Watson, dear as ever, remains at his side, but in this tale, he takes a more active role than was his wont. The usual lov
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Jun 21, 2010
Casey
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I found this book lounging in the new books section of my library and snatched it up as if my life depended on it. I am not a fan of modern crime novels or courtroom dramas, but I have a facination with Victorian England and the dichotomies between the straight laced morals of the day and the historical reality of crime and disrepute.
I adore Sherlock Holmes and have since I was a child. I have followed him through the brooding streets of London many time. I am also facinated by Jack More...
I adore Sherlock Holmes and have since I was a child. I have followed him through the brooding streets of London many time. I am also facinated by Jack More...
Jun 25, 2009
Mary Beth
rated it:
I checked this book out of our local library only as a stop-gap read: I was waiting for the books on my library request list to trickle in, and I had nothing at home that I wanted to reread. I had my toddler by the hand(straining, yearning, struggling to run free!) and did a quick peruse of the "new books" section and found this book, grabbed it as a likely candidate, and checked it out before toddler meltdown. Wow! Am I glad that I did! It was a really enjoyable read and not at al
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Sep 27, 2011
Siobian
rated it:
Everyone has heard of Sherlock Holmes and most have heard of his various escapades, but few know of his involvement in one of the most famous cases of all time: the Jack the Ripper killings. When a murderer starts attacking London's "unfortunates", Sherlock Holmes believes he has what it takes to discover the killer's identity. He begins his investigation, all the while delving deeper and deeper into the East End, but soon realizes that he cannot begin to uncover everything. He hire
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May 25, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
There are a million and one Sherlock Holmes books out there (not counting the ones penned by Conan Doyle). Some are pretty bad. Some are pretty good. And every now and again you run across one that is absolutely excellent!
"Dust and Shadow" is written so like the Good Doctor that one is forced to imagine Lyndsay Faye as his great-granddaughter. I harbor a great fondness for both Holmes and Watson and to see them both handled so well is an utter delight. Faye has also take More...
"Dust and Shadow" is written so like the Good Doctor that one is forced to imagine Lyndsay Faye as his great-granddaughter. I harbor a great fondness for both Holmes and Watson and to see them both handled so well is an utter delight. Faye has also take More...
Jan 29, 2012
Grant
rated it:
had I not known this wasn't written by Doyle, thus forcing me to critique the book not only on plot/content but also to nitpick about how it's not true to Doyle's work, I wouldn't have even known it wasn't Doyle. Faye did a great job, great job. the story is great one of the best cases in the Holmes collection. She nailed Watson though, which is the most important thing in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Sure you have to get Sherlock himself right, but if Faye couldn't write through Watson the way
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Aug 18, 2011
apple
rated it:
สุดยอดมวยคู่เอก..เชอร์ล็อค โฮมส์ ปะทะ แจ็คเดอะริปเปอร์
Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack the Ripper!! It's a match made in heaven :) I'm no authority on the subject of Holmesiverse but the author's use of language doesn't sound hinky to me (wait.. I'm also not an English native speaker so better not take my unqualified review for it)
Dr.Watson and Inspector Lestrade were just so adorable in this book. And Sherlock Holmes was very um, Holmeself? It was almost like readin More...
Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack the Ripper!! It's a match made in heaven :) I'm no authority on the subject of Holmesiverse but the author's use of language doesn't sound hinky to me (wait.. I'm also not an English native speaker so better not take my unqualified review for it)
Dr.Watson and Inspector Lestrade were just so adorable in this book. And Sherlock Holmes was very um, Holmeself? It was almost like readin More...
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Jan 30, 2012
Mary Ronan
rated it:
Here's what Library Journal had to say about this book:
Debut novelist Faye takes on the ambitious task of creating a new Sherlock Holmes story focused on his investigation of the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Holmes's rather academic look at the brutal death of Martha Tabram turns personal when he himself is stabbed by the murderer. Then vituperative newspaper articles point to Holmes as the perpetrator, putting him on the defensive. New allies, such as the feisty Mary Ann Monk, More...
Debut novelist Faye takes on the ambitious task of creating a new Sherlock Holmes story focused on his investigation of the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Holmes's rather academic look at the brutal death of Martha Tabram turns personal when he himself is stabbed by the murderer. Then vituperative newspaper articles point to Holmes as the perpetrator, putting him on the defensive. New allies, such as the feisty Mary Ann Monk, More...
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Jul 16, 2009
BunWat
rated it:
Fun, extremely readable, what if Holmes pursued the Ripper tale. I really liked the way she managed the task of writing a new adventure based on such well known antecedents.
There's enough fidelity to Conan Doyle's characters, tone, atmosphere to feel comfortable that you are dealing with someone who knows and respects the original. But its not a completely slavish imitation and that actually works for me. Writing as if it were still 1880 would be fun for the length of a short st More...
There's enough fidelity to Conan Doyle's characters, tone, atmosphere to feel comfortable that you are dealing with someone who knows and respects the original. But its not a completely slavish imitation and that actually works for me. Writing as if it were still 1880 would be fun for the length of a short st More...
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Oct 05, 2011
Warnie B.
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I reeeally enjoyed this one. I thought Faye did a fantastic job of getting Holmes and Watson down right, including the perfect amount of humor and wit. I must admit that I was skeptical at first--I mean, Sherlock Holmes + Jack the Ripper has been done sooooo many times at this point, and honestly, I'm a little bored of it. But this one is just beautifully done--historically accurate, a couple of great twists, and...I don't know. I fell in love with Holmes and Watson all over again. I'm going hom
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Dec 14, 2009
amber
rated it:
There could be nothing better in a murder mystery than pairing the world's greatest fiction detective with Britain's intriguing and infamous killer.
Not only was the idea of the novel so thrilling, Faye does an amazing job of portraying Holmes and Watson as did Doyle. Faye has a natural talent at details, many of which stumped me and kept me reading on.
There is one point at the end that I felt was left unmentioned, but I won't reveal it, naturally. Otherwise, the full More...
Not only was the idea of the novel so thrilling, Faye does an amazing job of portraying Holmes and Watson as did Doyle. Faye has a natural talent at details, many of which stumped me and kept me reading on.
There is one point at the end that I felt was left unmentioned, but I won't reveal it, naturally. Otherwise, the full More...
Nov 15, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
This book is really a 4 1/2 stars. I enjoy a good adventure story, as well as historical fiction. I like to take away little pieces of information from the books I read. I also like getting attached to the characters. This book achieves both. The great thing about it is that the author, Faye, does not go into all the grisly details of the Ripper killings; the narrative instead focuses on the characters of Holmes and Watson, and the details of investigating a case.
Faye does not l More...
Faye does not l More...
Jul 14, 2009
Lynda
rated it:
I am neither a Holmesian scholar, nor a Ripperologist, but I have three shelve of Holmes' pastiches and two shelves of Jack the Ripper books. This is a really good example of both.
What I like most about Victorian literature, both literary and sensational, is the language. That voice is almost always absent from both Ripper and Holmes modern tales. While I don't know enough about the subject to say it is perfect, I feel it was almost perfect.
This was a thoroughly enthra More...
What I like most about Victorian literature, both literary and sensational, is the language. That voice is almost always absent from both Ripper and Holmes modern tales. While I don't know enough about the subject to say it is perfect, I feel it was almost perfect.
This was a thoroughly enthra More...
Jan 25, 2010
Shelly
rated it:
It may sound odd to say that I have never, in my life, read a single Sherlock Holmes story but it would be the complete truth. My knowledge of the great detective stems completely from television and movies. So, even though this is not the work of Doyle, it is my first Holmes novel and I enjoyed it.
The basic premise of the book is fairly simple... Holmes ends up on the trail of Jack the Ripper. Pretty straight forward until you toss in the fact that someone is actually trying to fr More...
The basic premise of the book is fairly simple... Holmes ends up on the trail of Jack the Ripper. Pretty straight forward until you toss in the fact that someone is actually trying to fr More...
Jan 14, 2012
Eleanor
rated it:
Admittedly, I have not read many of the original Sherlock Holmes novels, however, I am familiar with the characters of Holmes and Watson. I believe that Ms. Fay stays very true to them in this novel about Holmes's attempts to solve the case of Jack the Ripper. In reality, it remains unsolved and the author stays true to this as well. Her character of Miss Elizabeth Monk I believe is entirely of her own conjecture and could give the great detective a run for his money. I enjoyed this novel ve
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Mar 09, 2011
It's entirely possible I've cast a shadow over the rest of my reading of Holmesian pastiches by devouring this novel so early in my project. I'm not quite sure how others will compete. That said, I can't remember when I've enjoyed savoring the first reading of a book as much. (Maybe The Thirteenth Tale last year? Although I think Dust and Shadow may exceed that experience, as well.) Lyndsay Faye delivered all I was wanting in this ambitious novel: excellent characterizations of the main characte
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Sep 08, 2010
Girls Gone Reading
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I picked up Dust and Shadow because I was in a mystery phase. I had just read Shutter Island and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-both excellent-and I was on a streak. I went to the mystery section of Barnes and Noble, and Dust and Shadow was featured. It looked interesting-Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper in one book. Robert Downey Jr. had nothing on this book…that was until about page fifty.
Initially, the language took me in. Listening to Holmes speak, make crazy observations, an More...
Initially, the language took me in. Listening to Holmes speak, make crazy observations, an More...
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