The Sherlock Effect by Raymond Kay Lyon
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book Summary:
Christopher Sherlock Webster always blamed his Holmes-obsessed father for burdening him with an embarrassing middle name. He spent his school days desperately trying to live it down.
But after his old man prematurely dies, Christopher finds that he has somehow inherited the very same obsession…
Teaming up with Mo Rennie, a marketing-conscious pal, he starts up an agency called Baskerville’s, which specialises in the application of rigorous Holmesian method.
Here are five bizarre adventures from the files – a sumptuous feast upon which the gastronome of crime may gorge.
– A young beautician is stalked by a haunting stranger through the narrow streets of Cambridge. Yet he possesses love letters from the girl, ostensibly in her handwriting. How come?
– A science journalist disappears while investigating UFO sightings in Wiltshire. But is the explanation earthly or supernatural?
– When a pornographer receives death threats online he arranges protection 24/7. Will it work?
– A pop diva’s boyfriend is kidnapped twice by animal rights extremists. Should the ransom be paid again?
– Everything in the garden seems rosy when a millionaire widower meets Miss Perfect through a dating agency. But the lady soon starts to behave oddly. Should the wedding plans be shelved?
Book Review:
This book intrigued me from the very outset, since I’m a huge Sherlock fan anyway. The blurb was enticing enough that I immediately wanted to read it, and I did!
A modern day Sherlock, with all the trappings – whose name is also Sherlock (albeit his middle name), complete with Victorian attire and intriguing cases.
This is a collection of five short stories set in our modern age – what if Sherlock lived now? This would most probably be it.
I love stories that draw on much loved characters and this was no different. The stories were very neat, all loose ends tied up, and I could predict the ending for a couple of the stories, which I immensely enjoy. However, the original​ Holmes Canon makes it slightly more difficult for the readers to decipher, so that’s a difference I can point out.
However, I would like to speak about this book on it’s own merit and not draw parallels anymore. It is an extremely well written book, and I enjoyed the depth of characters that Kay Lyon has managed to create even in short stories. It is definitely difficult to create nuanced characters and justice has definitely been done here.
As I progressed through the book, the stories kept getting better and more intriguing. A satisfying read with a satisfying end. If you’re a Sherlock fan, you’ll enjoy it. Even if you aren’t, you will still appreciate this book.
Looking forward to more works by this author.
*A review copy was provided to Oh Just Books by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
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