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A review by fictionfan
The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
4.0
This is the third volume of Holmes short stories, and in my opinion the weakest overall, although it still has several good stories in it. Forced by popular sentiment and commercial realities to resuscitate Holmes after the unfortunate drowning incident at the Reichenbach Falls, I always have the feeling that Conan Doyle’s heart wasn’t really in it at this stage – some of these are a bit bland in terms of plot. In the later volumes I feel he got back into his stride and came up with more imaginative and dramatic scenarios – some so imaginative, admittedly, that they test credibility to the breaking point, but more exciting on the whole.
That rather negative introduction shouldn’t put new readers off though – even the weaker Holmes stories are always well worth reading, simply for ACD’s easy, flowing writing style which makes anything he writes a pleasure to read. And the relationship between Holmes and his admiring friend Watson is always a joy.
I listened to Derek Jacobi narrating them this time, and he really is the perfect Watson, as well as creating a full range of voices and personalities for all the other many characters who cross the pages.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
That rather negative introduction shouldn’t put new readers off though – even the weaker Holmes stories are always well worth reading, simply for ACD’s easy, flowing writing style which makes anything he writes a pleasure to read. And the relationship between Holmes and his admiring friend Watson is always a joy.
I listened to Derek Jacobi narrating them this time, and he really is the perfect Watson, as well as creating a full range of voices and personalities for all the other many characters who cross the pages.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com