The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Veiled Detective

[Ken B]

Davies re-writes the origins of the Holmes/Watson/Mrs Hudson relationship and even throws in a curve ball about Mycroft. While generally, I prefer that pastiches merely add to the Holmes casebook and not redefine the characters, I did find the book enjoyable.

I only gave the book three stars as I was just a little disappointed with the re-working of several major Holmes events.

[Joanna]

I have been wanted to read a Davies book! I am really looking forward to this one. I wonder just how much it redefines the characters.

[Ken B]

It is a fairly dramatic redefinition, almost to the point of not being enjoyable to a traditionalist like me.

[Dave]

Ken wrote: "It is a fairly dramatic redefinition, almost to the point of not being enjoyable to a traditionalist like me."

I read and enjoyed Davies The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Scroll of the Dead but have been putting this one off for exactly that reason. I enjoy some deviation and even supernatural elements, but can't really get into Holmes or Watson character rewrites.

[Joanna]

I started this book a few days ago. Thankfully I am not a traditionalist! I want to see where Davies goes with his Dr. John Watkins.

So are I am enjoying the parallels between Holmes and Moriarty, at least so far (I am on page 50). Moriarty says things analogous to what Holmes says in the canon, and Holmes ponders on how interesting it would be to live a life of crime.


We're not so different, you and I

[Joanna]

I have to say I got stalled in the middle of this book. For longer than I wanted, it was just... a retelling of A Study in Scarlet, and honestly I got kinda bored. But I pulled through, and when there was a new mystery to read about it picked up a little bit, but unfortunately I don't think it fully recovered from my week or more long lack of interest.

I almost think some of the problem was that the characters weren't rewritten enough for my liking. I guess I would prefer it if the author took the premise (view spoiler)[of Watson working for Moriarty (hide spoiler)] and took it further. If you are going to rewrite some characters, I think it would be more interesting to see how far you can push it. Even the ending where (view spoiler)[Holmes and Watson push Moriarty off into the Reichenbach Falls (hide spoiler)] kinda was too little, too late for me.

Aside from this though, I thought it was well written and will definitely read another one of Davies's books.