Scan barcode
dozylocal's review
5.0
Brilliant! Didn't like the ending that much but enjoyed the mystery and the dramatic back story.
darwin8u's review
4.0
ACD's last novel (novella?) isn't as masterful as [b:The Hound of the Baskervilles|8921|The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes #5)|Arthur Conan Doyle|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355929358s/8921.jpg|3311984] but it's still classic Doyle. It reminded me a lot of [b:The Sign of Four|608474|The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes, #2)|Arthur Conan Doyle|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1299346921s/608474.jpg|21539872], exept the Mormons are now replaced with the Scowrers. I'm probably repeating myself from earlier reviews of ACD's novels, but Doyle is a born writer of short fiction and his novels just don't carry the same force, and seem like watered-down/diluted versions of his better stories. That being said, I love Sherlock Holmes.
katiesreadinglog's review
4.0
I’ve given this four stars as I had a generally positive experience reading this novel. Much like a Study in Scarlett, this is split into two parts - each of which are set in different locations and dates.
I liked the book overall, it was one of the better Sherlock Holmes in my opinion and is in my top three of the seven books I have completed so far.
My one main gripe, however, is that Moriarty is mentioned at the beginning but is never really spoken of again. The blurb implied that Moriarty would be a more significant character but alas not. I couldn’t help but feel slightly mislead.
This book completes one of the challenges for the OWLs Magical Readathon, the prompt for Arithmancy to read a book outside of my favourite genre. As Sherlock Holmes is considered a classic, this definitely fits the bill.
I liked the book overall, it was one of the better Sherlock Holmes in my opinion and is in my top three of the seven books I have completed so far.
My one main gripe, however, is that Moriarty is mentioned at the beginning but is never really spoken of again. The blurb implied that Moriarty would be a more significant character but alas not. I couldn’t help but feel slightly mislead.
This book completes one of the challenges for the OWLs Magical Readathon, the prompt for Arithmancy to read a book outside of my favourite genre. As Sherlock Holmes is considered a classic, this definitely fits the bill.
kmc359's review
3.0
Told in two parts: present and flashback. The first half I really enjoyed. The second half dragged on a bit, but overall it wrapped up nicely.
Serial Reader
Serial Reader
melerihaf's review
4.0
So Sherlock Holmes books make really really good audiobooks. Just for future reference. But I had to laugh. I've read three of the four Sherlock Holmes novels, and two of those three deal with evil secret societies in America. It makes me giggle to see what the British thought of America in the late nineteenth century.
estel's review
3.0
It wasn't too bad. I liked how realistic the ending was, but I was a little put off by the fact that Professor Moriarty hardly came into the story at all. I mean, I suppose that's the point, but it was billed as an evil nemesis story. Ah well.
snekmint's review
5.0
Half the book takes place in America, with the theme of a branch of Freemasons turned into a crime syndicate in coal-mining Pennsylvania. The twist had me shouting aloud as I really didn't see it coming (but then, I never ponder ahead in Holmes books, because they're just so cute when they reveal The Big Plot). If you're looking for a classic dyed-in-the-wool Holmes tale this isn't it, but for a story of harrowing adventure with some squishy murder and plot, it's serviceable.
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime:
The Valley of Fear, the last of the four Sherlock Holmes novels, ranks among Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's best work. The mystery begins with a coded warning of imminent danger, drawing the illustrious Sherlock Holmes and the faithful Dr. Watson to a secluded English country home. A trail of bewildering clues leads to sleuthing in the finest Holmesian tradition and the gripping backstory of a cult that terrorized a valley in the American West.
Reader ..... Sir Ian McKellen
Abridger ..... Neville Teller
Producer ..... Gemma McMullan.
The Valley of Fear, the last of the four Sherlock Holmes novels, ranks among Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's best work. The mystery begins with a coded warning of imminent danger, drawing the illustrious Sherlock Holmes and the faithful Dr. Watson to a secluded English country home. A trail of bewildering clues leads to sleuthing in the finest Holmesian tradition and the gripping backstory of a cult that terrorized a valley in the American West.
Reader ..... Sir Ian McKellen
Abridger ..... Neville Teller
Producer ..... Gemma McMullan.