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15th out of 128 books
—
142 voters
The Last Sherlock Holmes Story
For fifty years after Dr Watson's death, a packet of papers, written by the doctor himself, lay hidden in a locked box. The papers contained an extraordinary report of the case of Jack the Ripper and the horrible murders in the East End of London in 1888. The detective, of course, was the great Sherlock Holmes - but why was the report kept hidden for so long? This is the s...more
192 pages
Published
(first published 1979)
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Oh my god. Literally. Just don't read this book. That's all I can say. Promise me? PROMISE? Don't do it. It'll ruin you for at least a whole day with rage and an intense feeling that you just wasted two hours of your life that you can't get back. But you know, if you want someone to take Holmes and mostly destroy him as a character then yeah, go for it. This is JUST the book for you. Otherwise, STAY AWAY.
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I understand why this Sherlock Holmes-meets-Jack the Ripper novel is controversial among (even hated by) some Holmes fans who are wed to one interpretation of the detective, but I found it to be fascinating and very well rooted in the canonical Holmesian texts. Its sophisticated (and darkly Gothic) psychological look not only at Holmes (whom I found to be poignantly redeemed at the end, contrary to what I'd expected from other reviews) but also at the wonderful Dr. Watson kept me very interested...more
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I feel I can say very little about The Last Sherlock Holmes story without spoiling the plot. It's clearly aimed at fans of Sherlock Holmes, but I'm not sure many fans will like it. (I gave it four stars because I feel Dibdin did a good job, rather than actually *liking* it.) It's certainly unique in my experience.
Dibdin accounts for differences in writing style and character behavior by attributing the familiar stories as fictional works by Doyle loosely based on Watson's notes of cases Holmes s...more
Dibdin accounts for differences in writing style and character behavior by attributing the familiar stories as fictional works by Doyle loosely based on Watson's notes of cases Holmes s...more
This is a very intense book. Holmes and Watson go out on the trail of Jack the Ripper, whom Holmes is convinced is his infamous nemesis, Moriarty. But gradually, Watson comes to feel that Holmes knows more than he is telling.
It is difficult to review this book without giving away the major plot twist at the end, which was like a physical assault and made me sob hysterically. A lot of people, I know, hated this book because of that ending; it seems to completely change one's perspective on Holmes...more
It is difficult to review this book without giving away the major plot twist at the end, which was like a physical assault and made me sob hysterically. A lot of people, I know, hated this book because of that ending; it seems to completely change one's perspective on Holmes...more
Sarà che forse sono nel pieno della mia fissa per Sherlock Holmes, per questo sono rimasta così presa da questa lettura, che oltre ad essere scritta magistralmente ha anche il pregio di sembrare fino a metà un normalissimo caso alla ACD, per poi diventare improvvisamente tutto il contrario e tenerti comunque incollata alle pagine fino alla fine.
Un finale così potrà far storcere il naso a molti, ma io l'ho trovato molto bello, specie per il dialogo tra Holmes e Watson nelle ultime pagine. L'idea...more
Un finale così potrà far storcere il naso a molti, ma io l'ho trovato molto bello, specie per il dialogo tra Holmes e Watson nelle ultime pagine. L'idea...more
An extremely clever take on the whole Holmes v/s Ripper concept, with a twist-ending that will take your breath away! I know, it reads like those blurbs that we get to read on paperbacks ('The cover will show you somebody shot/the back will tell you what is the plot'!), but that is the most succint description of this book that I can produce without producing spoilers en masse! Read it, curse Michael Dibdin to the core (the guy is dead, so really can't effect any harm), and then keep thinking: w...more
When I first began reading this I thought it was a good read which stayed true to the previous works of ACD but also gave some inventive explanations and changes to give a different perspective on the infamous Sherlock Holmes. However, the twist is revealed half way through the book and, although abandoned by Watson as ridiculous at points, still does not lead to a surprise ending and appears to be very much an anti-climax after a trundling narrative in parts. Although it is still worth a read,...more
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oxford : level 3 : 11/27=30min, 11/28=30min, 11/29=60min
7 words: Dr. Watson / paper / locked box / doctor / murder / Holmes / cocaine
Do you think are there famous detective like Holmes in the world?
>Yes, because there was a author of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle in the world before.
Have you ever experienced the death of mistery around you?
>No, but if my lover died misterious reason, I want detective to solve clearly.
This is the famousdetective story of Sherlock Holmes. If you like m...more
7 words: Dr. Watson / paper / locked box / doctor / murder / Holmes / cocaine
Do you think are there famous detective like Holmes in the world?
>Yes, because there was a author of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle in the world before.
Have you ever experienced the death of mistery around you?
>No, but if my lover died misterious reason, I want detective to solve clearly.
This is the famousdetective story of Sherlock Holmes. If you like m...more
Dibdin's Holmes pastiche matches the great consulting detective with Jack the Ripper in a Victorian celebrity death match. Add Professor Moriarty to the mix and now you have Holmes battling the most notorious canonical fiend AND the most notorious contemporary real life historical fiend in this novella. That's a lot of fiends, perhaps too many, but surprise twists abound simplifying the maths. Dibdin takes a lot of liberties here, pissing off a lot of Holmes fans as seen on the Amazon reviews. S...more
-OXFORD, level 3.
-Time: 10/19 = 30 minutes: 10/22 = 20 minutes: 10/24 = 40 minutes
-7 word summary: Holmes - Watson - murder - kill - knife - fall - bullets
-Discussion questions:
1. If you have a ploblem, do you want to ask Holmes?
Yes, he is so smart, so I think he solve my problem.
2. If you see scene of a murder, what would you do?
Fistly, I'll escape from there and secondly I'll call an police.
I like Sherlock Holmes story, so I chose it. I read it and I want to read other his story. I also watch...more
-Time: 10/19 = 30 minutes: 10/22 = 20 minutes: 10/24 = 40 minutes
-7 word summary: Holmes - Watson - murder - kill - knife - fall - bullets
-Discussion questions:
1. If you have a ploblem, do you want to ask Holmes?
Yes, he is so smart, so I think he solve my problem.
2. If you see scene of a murder, what would you do?
Fistly, I'll escape from there and secondly I'll call an police.
I like Sherlock Holmes story, so I chose it. I read it and I want to read other his story. I also watch...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
An interesting work, I like what michael dibdin did here. I'm a huge sherlock fan, so perhaps liking this book is against the code. I knew the general plot before I began reading, the level of his writing is very good, and I personally have always had a hard time dealing with an ultimate evil, like moriarty. This book shows a more human Holmes, and his complex, loyal friendship with Watson. Despite there apparently being a cloud of controversy about this book, I enjoyed it and recommended it.
Looking through the other reviews, I can see that either you love this book or you hate it. I'm in the first group. First, Dibdin shows you that he can capture the flavor of the old Arthur Conan Doyle stories perfectly; then, not content with merely imitating, he adds some disturbing new elements to the legend. In the afterword, he asks you to forgive him. It's heresy, he freely admits, but the heresy of the true believer. An eloquent and accurate summary!
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This book started out with a strike against it as the Holmes vs The Ripper idea has pretty much reached a complete saturation point. In fact, often while reading this novel, I felt that I had read it previously only to find a new bit here or there that would have left enough impression on me to precisely remember having read this book or not.
That being said, the quoted reviews on the back cover claim the book to be "controversial", a claim with which I can readily agree. As a traditionalist, I f...more
That being said, the quoted reviews on the back cover claim the book to be "controversial", a claim with which I can readily agree. As a traditionalist, I f...more
Dibdin is a decent writer, and I found the writing itself rather enjoyable. That's the upside. But I absolutely detested this particular book because of the story and the premise. When I finished it, I wanted to throw it across the room, stomp on it, and then tear it into little pieces. I settled for fobbing it off to a used bookstore, where hopefully it languishes unread, instead of infecting the psyche of some other poor sod...
You either love this book or hate it. Written in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it reads like all of his Holmes stories. Holmes is on the trail of Moriarty again, whom he suspects of perpetrating the Ripper Murders. Major twist in this story, and I can honestly say the ONLY plot twist in a book that actually made my jaw drop the first time I read it. I reread this about once a year I enjoy it so much.
If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, I don't think this a book for you. This is supposed to be a Holmes story written by Dr. Watson and held back for 50 years as provided in his will. Perhaps it is a good reading novel, though you pretty much know what is going to happen part way through, but I didn't care for its portrayal of Holmes. The Holmes in this story is not "my" Holmes.
The Good: A good deal of clever humor runs through the narrative. There are a number of well placed and subtle references to other Sherlock Holmes stories placed throughout the work.
The Bad: The narrative alternates between plodding and overwrought. The similarity in plot structure with The Seven Per Cent Solution does The Last Sherlock Holmes no favors.
The Bad: The narrative alternates between plodding and overwrought. The similarity in plot structure with The Seven Per Cent Solution does The Last Sherlock Holmes no favors.
The first two-thirds of this novel were perfect. Holmes chasing Jack the Ripper while Watson romances his fiancee in secret. Excellent execution of the Doyle prose style. But then...disaster struck. The ending and "plot twist" were horrific. Michael Dibdin's lucky I'm still willing to give him another shot with Ratking after the stunt he pulled.
Feb 27, 2013
Jona Carolyn
added it
I was on page one, and that's all it took me, I stopped reading because I knew what the ending is. I do not like this story. it is a splotch of ink in Arthur Conan Doyle's masterpiece a tale spun to mar the memory of the most persistent fictional character that I have embraced.
I do not like it.
of course this is just my opinion.
I do not like it.
of course this is just my opinion.
If you can’t conceive our favorite hero portrayed as a hopeless drug addict turned into a madman with a split personality disorder, stay away from this book. But if you can stomach a different –but very logical- take of Sherlock Holmes, you will be treated to a very intelligent, well written story with a devastatingly gritty end.
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Soooo want to read this book, but slightly perturbed by most of the reviews!!! I do not want to spoil how I and the majority of you portray Holmes' traits, oddities and well generally what makes us all admire him!
Think this book will stay on my to-read-list...well maybe till retirement :-)
Think this book will stay on my to-read-list...well maybe till retirement :-)
In the '70s, a box containing papers from Holmes' companion Watson is opened. Those papers tell about the Autumn of Terror and how Holmes joined the investigation. Soon Holmes seems to have a lead on Jack the Ripper...
I love the idea - Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper is THE combination one can just dream of! However it becomes early on quite obvious and my suspicions were confirmed in the middle of the book. Somehow from that point on, the story loses its appeal and drags on until the end.
I love the idea - Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper is THE combination one can just dream of! However it becomes early on quite obvious and my suspicions were confirmed in the middle of the book. Somehow from that point on, the story loses its appeal and drags on until the end.
Every once in a while, a contemporary author feels the need to confront Sherlock Holmes. Especially if the author works in genre literature. Dibdin, a justly acclaimed mystery writer in his own right does the tradition a classic tribute in this very clever take on the Holmes legend.
A phenomenal read for any avid fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon. Dibdin truly captures the entire essence of ACD's style, adding his own flair as Watson narrates in a world where he is friends with our real-life creator of the world's greatest detective.
With an ending that fits canon as well as brings something entirely new to its core to the the table, the novel is one large climax from beginning to end that is almost impossible to put down before reaching one of the few breathing points...more
With an ending that fits canon as well as brings something entirely new to its core to the the table, the novel is one large climax from beginning to end that is almost impossible to put down before reaching one of the few breathing points...more
On the one hand, the style is a fair imitation of ACDoyle, maybe even better than Doyle in places, though I don't think I will forgive the question "221B or not 221B". The most important character twist is dreadful, however. Spoiler or not, Holmes fans beware.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Street Irre...: The Last Sherlock Holmes Story ****SPOILERS**** | 5 | 39 | Dec 01, 2012 04:15pm |
Michael Dibdin was born in 1947. He went to school in Northern Ireland, and later to Sussex University and the University of Alberta in Canada. He lived in Seattle. After completing his first novel, The Last Sherlock Holmes Story, in 1978, he spent four years in Italy teaching English at the University of Perugia. His second novel, A Rich Full Death, was published in 1986. It was followed by Ratki...more
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