Lestrade and the Sign of Nine

Sholto Lestrade Mystery #12

by M.J. Trow

What do a lecherous rector, a devious speculator, and a plagiarist novelist have in common?

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Historical Mystery

223 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2000

About the author

Meirion James Trow is a full-time teacher of history who has been doubling as a crime writer for seventeen years. Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda in South Wales he now lives on the Isle of Wight. His interests include collecting militaria, film, the supernatural and true crime.

Reviews

[Barbara Cromer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. Not that good.

[Connie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have been a very entertaining Victorian detective farce with a chance to chuckle at Holmes for a change, but the good humour was spoiled early in the listen by scattered, weaker and shabbier lines playing off ethnic stereotypes and mild homophobia (Holmes: "We're looking for two men; Watson: Speak for yourself, sir!") ; THEN the author really crossed a line in the last 30-45 minutes with a denouement dependant on men in blackface, frequently referred to as "coons" and another word I won't reproduce. This was set in Victorian England where such language and attitudes would have existed, but this is not a work of literary realism -- and I saw no social satire as the point of the situations - I listened to the audio version --I don't know if this objectionable humour is as noticeable in print.

Other books in the series might be excellent, but I am not tempted to read them because of the humour in this.

[Lynn Alan Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but Politically Incorrect

This is the second book in the Inspector Lestrade series. In this book Holmes and Watson are seen as incompetent similar to how Lestrade is incompetent in Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately, this book has quite a bit of crude language when referencing persons of African descent. While I recommend this book for the mystery, I would avoid it if you are sensitive to the use of derogatory language.

[Graham Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful.

[Andrea Santucci · Rating 1 out of 5]

Una sequela di battute cretine e in parecchi casi vagamente omofobe che non fanno ridere e spezzano il ritmo della storia, tipo film Marvel. Assolutamente irritante.

[Linda Amos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. A rather comic characterisation of Lestrade. Holmes and Watson appear in little scenes and are true to how they have been portrayed by Conan Doyle.