Reviews

The Exploits Of Sherlock Holmes by Adrian Conan Doyle, John Dickson Carr

ericbuscemi's review against another edition

3.0

Not as good as Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary stories, but it wouldn't be fair to expect them to be.

angelinalaramie's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

i_n_a_n_n_a's review against another edition

DNF

tombomp's review against another edition

2.0

All the stories contain some point which breaks suspension of disbelief and a couple of them break "improbable" and go straight to "absurd". Also one scene is notable for portraying Lestrade as a Clouseau-like character which seems a pretty ridiculous break in characterisation. Not awful but not some of the better Sherlock Holmes fanfiction I've read.

eserafina42's review against another edition

4.0

No, it's not Sir Arthur, but no Holmes pastiche is, and yes, they did recycle plots but so did some of the later originals. Enjoyable expansions on passing references made in the original stories to tantalizingly intriguing but unrecorded adventures, including Mr. James Phillimore, who returned to his house for his umbrella and vanished from the earth, and Wilson, the notorious canary trainer.

I was going to give this 3 stars (probably a 3.5 if it were allowed), but given that I let the water on my potatoes completely boil away and burn a saucepan beyond rescue in the next room while reading the last two stories, I feel that it would be only fair to round up to a 4.

evangeli__08's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.25

the_games_a_foot's review against another edition

5.0

The Gift has been Passed to the Next Generation

12 short stories that put us back on that foggy cobbled gas-lit street, as though not a single year has passed. Yet, it is the youngest son and not the celebrated father that has taken us there. Adrian has deftly cut through the years, as though they were the product of dreams, and we are again following Holmes and Watson on an adventure that Watson has mentioned in other tales, but has only just got around to recording.

Adrian worked hard to recreate the world and atmosphere for the Baker Street duo and himself. He sat at the same desk with many of the same implements as his father had to hand when using his time between patients to pen those early stories of the great detective.

Hold tight for a dozen new stories you thought you knew. Adrian delivers in such a way that I truly believe his father would be proud of the addition to his (and Holmes) legacy.

vaderbird's review against another edition

4.0

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish

evelum's review against another edition

3.0

<3

rynstagram's review against another edition

3.5

I love that the authors wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the original Holmes stories, but there were a few details that they seemed really hung up on in order to recreate the world (like the slipper with tobacco in it or Holmes writing on his shirt cuffs) and a lot of repeated instances that seemed kinda un-Holmes-like (like suddenly turning around a carriage because he solved the case randomly after leaving the site; saying the word "Tut" a thousand times; making a conjecture based on Shakespeare). The little sentimental moments at the ends of the stories didn't work for me usually, especially the one at the very end of a glimpse into Holmes's and Watson's life as older men in which Holmes is a beekeeper at a farmhouse. Watson also reeeeaalllyy loves beautiful young women. It's weird. 

BUT despite all those complaints, I loved being back in the Holmes world. It was really smart to use cases referenced in the original Holmes stories, and I liked that they included the references at the end of each story. Though a lot of the unpleasant characteristics of Holmes seemed to be ignored in these stories, there are still a few good insults and awkward moments here and there. 

It was delightful to read these cases (or "adventures"). I know a lot of people have issues with the way (in the original stories) the clues aren't all in the story until it's being solved, but I don't mind it. The cases are imaginative and intriguing just like any Holmes case should be!