Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Twelve (2010), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 368 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:Hurtling from present day New York to Victorian London, The Sherlockian weaves the history of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into an inspired and entertaining double mystery that proves to be anything but "elementary." In December 1893, Sherlock Holmes-adoring Londoners eagerly opened their Strand magazines, anticipating the detective's next adventure, only to find the unthinkable: his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, had killed their hero off. London spiraled into mourning-crowds sported black armbands in grief-and railed against Conan Doyle as his assassin. Then in 1901, just as abruptly as Conan Doyle had "murdered" Holmes in "The Final Problem," he resurrected him. Though the writer kept detailed diaries of his days and work, Conan Doyle never explained this sudden change of heart. After his death, one of his journals from the interim period was discovered to be missing, and in the decades since, has never been found.... Or has it? When literary researcher Harold White is inducted into the preeminent Sherlock Holmes enthusiast society, The Baker Street Irregulars, he never imagines he's about to be thrust onto the hunt for the holy grail of Holmes-ophiles: the missing diary. But when the world's leading Doylean scholar is found murdered in his hotel room, it is Harold-using wisdom and methods gleaned from countless detective stories-who takes up the search, both for the diary and for the killer.… (more)
Media reviews
Moore is well-steeped in Holmes lore but savvy enough as a writer to keep the reader's interest with the parallel, and eventually intersecting, plots.
...juxtaposing two separate mysteries set a century apart and featuring distinctly different sleuths. It’s an ambitious approach based on sound scholarship, but the fussy and schematic split-focus narrative only makes us long for the cool, clean lucidity of Conan Doyle’s elegant style.
So “The Sherlockian” manages to make a journey from the ridiculous (Harold White, instant detective?) to the sublime. And it is anchored by Mr. Moore’s self-evident love of the rules that shape good mystery fiction and the promises on which it must deliver.
"Moore's debut cleverly sets an accidental investigator on the track of an old document within the world of Sherlock Holmes buffs, though the results may please those with only a superficial knowledge of the great detective."
"While occasionally heavy-handed and coincidental, Moore’s fiction provides a shrewd take on the noted author and his legendary scion."
The result may not be a great crime novel, but it certainly has some witty and ingenious moments. The plot is rococo in complexity. Harold is never at a loss for an appropriate quotation from the Holmesian canon.....Much of the story takes place in London, past and present. American readers are
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likely to find this setting more plausible than British ones will. This doesn't really matter...Holmes haunts the book in more ways than one. The real mystery is perhaps not the missing diary or the murderer's identity but the detective's extraordinary appeal. Elementary? That's one thing it isn't. Somehow, Conan Doyle created a figure that loomed much, much larger than Doyle himself, even in the latter's lifetime. Moore gives us a glimpse of what this must have meant to Doyle. To his credit, he also gives us a glimpse of why Holmes continues to fascinate us.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member susiesharp
I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes but will admit to not knowing much about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I don’t know if a word of the historical side of this book is in any way accurate. But it was sure a good story! The author notes were interesting to learn a little more on what was and wasn’t
In the historical side of this novel we see Arthur Conan Doyle wanting to forget Sherlock Holmes ever existed but the reading public is up in arms, after there is an attempt on his life he sets out with friend Bram Stoker to figure out who is behind it. I loved the line when Bram Stoker said “You want me to be your Watson?’ because now of course we know who Bram is but at the time Dracula was not a classic and as Arthur couldn’t even remember the name of the country Bram’s little book was set it as a fan of literature I enjoyed these parts very much. Arthur wasn’t a nice person in this book especially on his views of women and I don’t know enough about the real man to judge but he is pretty snobby in this book.
As for the Sherlockians they are an elite group of Sherlock aficionados, scholars and such when one of their own is found dead their newest member Alex decides he is Holmes enough to solve this case.
Alex was a bit bumbling but was a good character along with Sarah a reporter there is almost a romance plus a pretty good whodunit and treasure hunt all rolled into one.
I enjoyed this book and think any fan Doyle’s work will enjoy this as well. I listened to this on audio and James Langston does a really great job on the narration.
3 ½ Stars
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real.In the historical side of this novel we see Arthur Conan Doyle wanting to forget Sherlock Holmes ever existed but the reading public is up in arms, after there is an attempt on his life he sets out with friend Bram Stoker to figure out who is behind it. I loved the line when Bram Stoker said “You want me to be your Watson?’ because now of course we know who Bram is but at the time Dracula was not a classic and as Arthur couldn’t even remember the name of the country Bram’s little book was set it as a fan of literature I enjoyed these parts very much. Arthur wasn’t a nice person in this book especially on his views of women and I don’t know enough about the real man to judge but he is pretty snobby in this book.
As for the Sherlockians they are an elite group of Sherlock aficionados, scholars and such when one of their own is found dead their newest member Alex decides he is Holmes enough to solve this case.
Alex was a bit bumbling but was a good character along with Sarah a reporter there is almost a romance plus a pretty good whodunit and treasure hunt all rolled into one.
I enjoyed this book and think any fan Doyle’s work will enjoy this as well. I listened to this on audio and James Langston does a really great job on the narration.
3 ½ Stars
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LibraryThing member TheCrowdedLeaf
Graham Moore’s debut novel has all the ingredients to be a delicious mystery. it opens with Arthur Conan Doyle and his dear friend Bram Stoker as Arthur debates the pros and cons of killing off his famed character, Sherlock Holmes. Filled with a bitter hatred for his character because all of
In the present, newly inducted Sherlockian Harold White celebrates his membership into the exclusive Holmes fan club, the Baker Street Irregulars. On the morning of the most important Irregular meeting in history, the presentation of the missing diary of Arthur Conan Doyle, Harold is pulled into his own Sherlock novel when the man who found the diary is murdered and the diary goes missing.
Alternating between these two mysteries, The Sherlockian flows along quite nicely in the beginning. The plots are intriguing and, like a good mystery, keep you turning the page. But about a third of the way in a shift in the writing can be felt, a twist in the flow. No longer was I reading a mystery whose words carried the story. Suddenly I could feel the presence of the author, his hand in the way things were turning out, his decisions in making a clue appear here or there. It caused me to step back from the book and view it as a piece of the author’s work, not a natural thing of its own.
I know a good book because the writing works for itself, the characters carry me along, not the author. When I can sense an author at work, I am removed and the book feels clumsy and even contrived. Sadly, The Sherlockian became that for me. The writing was still decent, but Harold became an annoying, weak character instead of a charming Holmes enthusiast, and Arthur Conan Doyle became a silly, bumbling detective instead of the writer of great mysteries.
Overall I became underwhelmed by The Sherlockian about half-way through. I persisted out of curiosity to see how Moore would solve the mystery of the diary, but in hindsight, I’ve already forgotten what kept me turning the page, and I only finished reading last night.
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London believes Holmes to be real, and Arthur to be his literary agent, he sets about to destroy Sherlock and falls into a real life Holmes mystery along the way when murdered young women start appearing across his path.In the present, newly inducted Sherlockian Harold White celebrates his membership into the exclusive Holmes fan club, the Baker Street Irregulars. On the morning of the most important Irregular meeting in history, the presentation of the missing diary of Arthur Conan Doyle, Harold is pulled into his own Sherlock novel when the man who found the diary is murdered and the diary goes missing.
Alternating between these two mysteries, The Sherlockian flows along quite nicely in the beginning. The plots are intriguing and, like a good mystery, keep you turning the page. But about a third of the way in a shift in the writing can be felt, a twist in the flow. No longer was I reading a mystery whose words carried the story. Suddenly I could feel the presence of the author, his hand in the way things were turning out, his decisions in making a clue appear here or there. It caused me to step back from the book and view it as a piece of the author’s work, not a natural thing of its own.
I know a good book because the writing works for itself, the characters carry me along, not the author. When I can sense an author at work, I am removed and the book feels clumsy and even contrived. Sadly, The Sherlockian became that for me. The writing was still decent, but Harold became an annoying, weak character instead of a charming Holmes enthusiast, and Arthur Conan Doyle became a silly, bumbling detective instead of the writer of great mysteries.
Overall I became underwhelmed by The Sherlockian about half-way through. I persisted out of curiosity to see how Moore would solve the mystery of the diary, but in hindsight, I’ve already forgotten what kept me turning the page, and I only finished reading last night.
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LibraryThing member JoshMock
Graham Moore's first novel, "The Sherlockian," follows an avid Holmes' fan, Harold White, as he investigates a murder and searches for Arthur Conan Doyle's lost diary that details the time in Conan Doyle's life during what is known among Sherlockian circles as "The Great Hiatus." The story
The book is extremely well paced and perfectly blends fact with fiction. I was completely engrossed from start to finish, sometimes trying to discover what Conan Doyle would unearth was what drove me onward, other times it was Harold's quest for the diary that kept me engaged. Although, I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Bram Stoker and Conan Doyle.
Overall, "The Sherlockian" is a fantastic read whether you have read all of Holmes' adventures, just a few or none at all. I myself decided to read it immediately after "The Final Problem," with "The Hound of the Baskervilles" awaiting me after I finished. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy "The Sherlockian" on its own, but it left me charged and ready to continue reading through the rest of Holmes' adventures.
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alternates between Harold's story, and Arthur Conan Doyle investigating a crime of his own shortly after killing off his most famous creation.The book is extremely well paced and perfectly blends fact with fiction. I was completely engrossed from start to finish, sometimes trying to discover what Conan Doyle would unearth was what drove me onward, other times it was Harold's quest for the diary that kept me engaged. Although, I particularly enjoyed the interactions between Bram Stoker and Conan Doyle.
Overall, "The Sherlockian" is a fantastic read whether you have read all of Holmes' adventures, just a few or none at all. I myself decided to read it immediately after "The Final Problem," with "The Hound of the Baskervilles" awaiting me after I finished. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy "The Sherlockian" on its own, but it left me charged and ready to continue reading through the rest of Holmes' adventures.
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LibraryThing member evangelista
The pipe, the blood, the present day Sherlockian meet-up for the socially maladjusted with which the novel commences. It all warned me off this one. But only for a moment. The Sherlock love prevailed, and what first appeared to be an awkward and cringe-worthy foray into the world of Baker Street
Between the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off his legendary detective and then resurrected him in print some eight years later, the author avoided speaking of the character that consumed his own identity, the fictional voice that so many thought was real. As T. S. Eliot is quoted at the beginning of Chapter 22 in The Sherlockian (one of many great quotes at chapter head in this book), "Perhaps the greatest of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries is this: that when we talk of him we invariably fall into the fancy of his existence." Conan Doyle's resentment at public reaction to Sherlock's death was surely in part motivated by the fact that his creation had stolen his own spotlight, had somehow become more than his creator. So why does he bring him back? No one has ever been certain but the answer to that mystery has been rumored to have been contained in the one missing volume of Conan Doyle's exhaustive journaling.
The story flips back and forth from this frustrated 19th century writer to present day where a Holmes scholar has claimed to have found the missing diary, and then is discovered murdered before he is scheduled to produce it to a conference of Sherlockians the next day. What initially appears humorous as the book-obsessed fancy themselves the detectives of their dreams turns serious as one emerges from their ranks to lead the search for the journal and the killer. The interesting part is of course that he is also seeking a resolution to the mystery of his own motivations.
Conan Doyle, accompanied by his friend, Bram Stoker, have embarked upon a hunt of their own whose resolution will sync nicely with its contemporary equivalent by book's end, but the focus rests equally upon thoughts of authorship. As Stoker resists his friend's attempts to draft him into a role in his crime solving endeavors, he fires back with a sound reason as to why. He is flesh, he has dimension, he is not a literary device.
"Watson is a cheap, efficient little sod of a literary device. Holmes doesn't need him to solve the crimes any more than he needs a ten-stone ankle weight. The audience, Arthur. The audience needs Watson as an intermediary, so that Holmes's thoughts might forever be kept just out of reach. If you told the stories from Holmes's perspective, everyone would know what the bleeding genius was thinking the whole time. They'd have their culprit fingered on page one. But if you tell the stories from Watson's perspective, the reader is permitted to chase in the darkness with the bumbling oaf. Watson is a comic flourish. He's a gag. A good one all right, I'll give you that, but I hardly see how you'll be needing one of him."
And then later, Conan Doyle again injects himself into his own fictions, equating his own real life confusions and frustrations to what his readers must occasionally feel.
"Was this how it felt to be one of his readers? To be lost in the middle of the story, without the slightest of notions as to where you were headed? Arthur felt horrible. He felt as if he had no control of events as they unfolded. What trust his readers must put in him, to submit themselves to this unnerving confusion, while holding out hope that Arthur would see them through to a satisfying conclusion. But what if there were no solution on the final page? Or what if the solution were balderdash? What if the whole thing didn't work? His readers took a leap, did they not? They offered up their time and their money. And what did the author promise them in return?"
In the case of Sherlock Holmes, the author promised them answers. In a world full of uncertainties, Holmes will always prevail with concrete explanations to the unexplainable. As our contemporary sleuth suggests near the end, you only need be smart enough and the world is understandable, manageable. That is a comforting and irresistible notion to entertain. So more important than the satisfying parallel plots here is this look into Sherlock appeal. Not a perfect book but a fun book and a nostalgic ride for Holmes fans. Really enjoyed it.
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devotees, soon revealed itself to be a very clever and entertaining mystery and meditation on why we love the stories, why he seems so real, why such a deeply flawed character has such enduring appeal.Between the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off his legendary detective and then resurrected him in print some eight years later, the author avoided speaking of the character that consumed his own identity, the fictional voice that so many thought was real. As T. S. Eliot is quoted at the beginning of Chapter 22 in The Sherlockian (one of many great quotes at chapter head in this book), "Perhaps the greatest of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries is this: that when we talk of him we invariably fall into the fancy of his existence." Conan Doyle's resentment at public reaction to Sherlock's death was surely in part motivated by the fact that his creation had stolen his own spotlight, had somehow become more than his creator. So why does he bring him back? No one has ever been certain but the answer to that mystery has been rumored to have been contained in the one missing volume of Conan Doyle's exhaustive journaling.
The story flips back and forth from this frustrated 19th century writer to present day where a Holmes scholar has claimed to have found the missing diary, and then is discovered murdered before he is scheduled to produce it to a conference of Sherlockians the next day. What initially appears humorous as the book-obsessed fancy themselves the detectives of their dreams turns serious as one emerges from their ranks to lead the search for the journal and the killer. The interesting part is of course that he is also seeking a resolution to the mystery of his own motivations.
Conan Doyle, accompanied by his friend, Bram Stoker, have embarked upon a hunt of their own whose resolution will sync nicely with its contemporary equivalent by book's end, but the focus rests equally upon thoughts of authorship. As Stoker resists his friend's attempts to draft him into a role in his crime solving endeavors, he fires back with a sound reason as to why. He is flesh, he has dimension, he is not a literary device.
"Watson is a cheap, efficient little sod of a literary device. Holmes doesn't need him to solve the crimes any more than he needs a ten-stone ankle weight. The audience, Arthur. The audience needs Watson as an intermediary, so that Holmes's thoughts might forever be kept just out of reach. If you told the stories from Holmes's perspective, everyone would know what the bleeding genius was thinking the whole time. They'd have their culprit fingered on page one. But if you tell the stories from Watson's perspective, the reader is permitted to chase in the darkness with the bumbling oaf. Watson is a comic flourish. He's a gag. A good one all right, I'll give you that, but I hardly see how you'll be needing one of him."
And then later, Conan Doyle again injects himself into his own fictions, equating his own real life confusions and frustrations to what his readers must occasionally feel.
"Was this how it felt to be one of his readers? To be lost in the middle of the story, without the slightest of notions as to where you were headed? Arthur felt horrible. He felt as if he had no control of events as they unfolded. What trust his readers must put in him, to submit themselves to this unnerving confusion, while holding out hope that Arthur would see them through to a satisfying conclusion. But what if there were no solution on the final page? Or what if the solution were balderdash? What if the whole thing didn't work? His readers took a leap, did they not? They offered up their time and their money. And what did the author promise them in return?"
In the case of Sherlock Holmes, the author promised them answers. In a world full of uncertainties, Holmes will always prevail with concrete explanations to the unexplainable. As our contemporary sleuth suggests near the end, you only need be smart enough and the world is understandable, manageable. That is a comforting and irresistible notion to entertain. So more important than the satisfying parallel plots here is this look into Sherlock appeal. Not a perfect book but a fun book and a nostalgic ride for Holmes fans. Really enjoyed it.
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LibraryThing member ben_a
Fun book. Not exactly a well-wrought urn, but for a fan of Holmes an irresistible page-turner.
LibraryThing member bookmagic
Harold White is the newest member of the Baker Street Irregulars, the most exclusive of the various Sherlockian groups. The Sherlockians are devoted fans and scholars of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle, memorizing every story, even writing papers for Sherlockian journals (think
They meet annually and this year in New York, Irregular Alex Cale has declared that he found the lost Conan Doyle diary, the one from the fall of 1900, before Conan Doyle restarted his Holmes stories, after the Great Hiatus, as it is referred to by Sherlockians, the seven years after Holmes was killed off and before he was then resurrected. This is one of the great mysteries of the devout Sherlockians and even of the Conan Doyle family. Conan Doyle was an avid diary keeper and this is the only one missing.
Alex Cale shows up the night before he is to present the lost diary to the other Sherlockians. He tells Harold and another Irregular that he thinks he is being followed. The next day, Alex is found dead in his hotel room and the diary is nowhere to be found. Sebastian Conan Doyle, a great-grandson, has also been looking for this diary. He hires Harold and a reported named Sarah, to find Alex's killer and locate the diary.
Back in 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle is trying to live in peace after he killed off Sherlock Holmes to the dismay of Britain. He despise Holmes and those that think he is real. Seven years after Holmes' fall off a cliff, Conan Doyle receives a letter bomb. In the package with the bomb is a newspaper clipping about a murder of a girl in Whitechapel. Arthur enlists the aid of his close friend Bram Stoker to investigate this murder, thinking the murderer is also the sender of the letter bomb. Arthur is convinced that he can do a better job than Scotland Yard and discovers another girl murdered. This leads Arthur and Bram all over London, looking for the killer of these girls.
The Sherlockian is a fun, engaging romp of a mystery, with short chapters alternating between Harold in London 2010 looking for the lost diary and Arthur Conan Doyle in London 1900 looking for a murderer. I thought the Arthur chapters were more atmospheric and had better characters than the present chapters.
I haven't read many Sherlock Holmes stories and was not aware of much about Arthur Conan Doyle. I loved how much he hated Holmes and was thrilled to kill him off only to be encountered by strangers on the street wearing black arm bands, in mourning for their lost detective.
There were lots of mysteries to be solved, some more obvious than others. It was also a look at obsession and its downfall and how we are better off not knowing some things.
I enjoyed this fast-paced historical fiction mystery. I look forward to reading more of this author.
my rating 4/5
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Trekkies).They meet annually and this year in New York, Irregular Alex Cale has declared that he found the lost Conan Doyle diary, the one from the fall of 1900, before Conan Doyle restarted his Holmes stories, after the Great Hiatus, as it is referred to by Sherlockians, the seven years after Holmes was killed off and before he was then resurrected. This is one of the great mysteries of the devout Sherlockians and even of the Conan Doyle family. Conan Doyle was an avid diary keeper and this is the only one missing.
Alex Cale shows up the night before he is to present the lost diary to the other Sherlockians. He tells Harold and another Irregular that he thinks he is being followed. The next day, Alex is found dead in his hotel room and the diary is nowhere to be found. Sebastian Conan Doyle, a great-grandson, has also been looking for this diary. He hires Harold and a reported named Sarah, to find Alex's killer and locate the diary.
Back in 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle is trying to live in peace after he killed off Sherlock Holmes to the dismay of Britain. He despise Holmes and those that think he is real. Seven years after Holmes' fall off a cliff, Conan Doyle receives a letter bomb. In the package with the bomb is a newspaper clipping about a murder of a girl in Whitechapel. Arthur enlists the aid of his close friend Bram Stoker to investigate this murder, thinking the murderer is also the sender of the letter bomb. Arthur is convinced that he can do a better job than Scotland Yard and discovers another girl murdered. This leads Arthur and Bram all over London, looking for the killer of these girls.
The Sherlockian is a fun, engaging romp of a mystery, with short chapters alternating between Harold in London 2010 looking for the lost diary and Arthur Conan Doyle in London 1900 looking for a murderer. I thought the Arthur chapters were more atmospheric and had better characters than the present chapters.
I haven't read many Sherlock Holmes stories and was not aware of much about Arthur Conan Doyle. I loved how much he hated Holmes and was thrilled to kill him off only to be encountered by strangers on the street wearing black arm bands, in mourning for their lost detective.
There were lots of mysteries to be solved, some more obvious than others. It was also a look at obsession and its downfall and how we are better off not knowing some things.
I enjoyed this fast-paced historical fiction mystery. I look forward to reading more of this author.
my rating 4/5
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LibraryThing member Tasker
I'm not an expert on this star-rating stuff so I wasn't sure whether "The Sherlockian" should be a three- or four-star and decided on a three due to the weak Harold White character, in my opinion.
But, if asked, I would certainly remember and recommend this novel a year from now because it was an
I should admit that I'm starting to move away from mysteries and thrillers into historical fiction since I'm not one to pick up clues and guess "who did it" while I'm reading - to me, it's just a story. Since I'm very interested in how things worked, or people dressed, or how they spoke in the nineteenth or twentieth century, I couldn't wait to finish Harold's chapter and start ACD's chapter.
After this debut, I'm looking forward to Mr. Moore's next book. His research is amazing and, if it's all BS, he's a great storyteller. I'm paraphrasing something I believe Arthur Conan Doyle said in the novel - "it's fiction".
But, if asked, I would certainly remember and recommend this novel a year from now because it was an
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enjoyable read. First, proper-length chapters that alternated between the A. C. Doyle story in 1900 and the Harold story of 2010 were easy reading. The dialogue wasn't hokey. I should admit that I'm starting to move away from mysteries and thrillers into historical fiction since I'm not one to pick up clues and guess "who did it" while I'm reading - to me, it's just a story. Since I'm very interested in how things worked, or people dressed, or how they spoke in the nineteenth or twentieth century, I couldn't wait to finish Harold's chapter and start ACD's chapter.
After this debut, I'm looking forward to Mr. Moore's next book. His research is amazing and, if it's all BS, he's a great storyteller. I'm paraphrasing something I believe Arthur Conan Doyle said in the novel - "it's fiction".
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LibraryThing member ChristaJLS
The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
Mild mannered, Harold White, is the newest inductee to the famed Sherlockian society, the Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars are interested in all things Sherlockian, but the one thing that really has their attention is that the infamous lost diary of Sir Arthur
This book is an exciting and fun account of what happened during those Holmes free years, specifically the period contained within the missing diary. I loved the chapters on the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle. I previously knew very little about the man and his character in the novel was very informative and captivating. The second major historical figure was that of Bram Stoker, before he was a known writer. He was probably my favourite character of the book and the two of them together made the perfect stand ins for Holmes and Watson. As much as I loved the historical chapters I wasn't too impressed with the modern story of Henry White. It was still fairly captivating but it read more like a Dan Brown novel than I would have expected (nerdy hero, beautiful but mysterious girl to help him out, racing around historical European landmarks etc etc). I found the modern characters a little one dimensional and a couple of times found myself rushing through those chapters to get back to the adventures of Doyle and Stoker.
Though not a great work of literature it is probably the most fun I've had reading a book in awhile and I would definitely recommend it to any mystery lovers out there. It keeps you guessing to end and will make you appreciate Arthur Conan Doyle, instead of losing him in the shadows of his creation. If nothing else it is the book that will get you in the mood to read all the old Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
Mild mannered, Harold White, is the newest inductee to the famed Sherlockian society, the Baker Street Irregulars. The Irregulars are interested in all things Sherlockian, but the one thing that really has their attention is that the infamous lost diary of Sir Arthur
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Conan Doyle has been found! On the day of its revelation, however, its finder is found dead in his hotel room and the diary is no where to be found. Due to White's love and knowledge of Sherlock Holmes and his adventures, he sets out to to find the killer and the diary. Meanwhile in 1893, Arthur Conan Doyle has completed his latest Sherlock Holmes story. Tired of the attention given to his creation, Doyle decided it's best to simply kill him off. The public is of course outraged but Doyle refuses to give in, until of course he does, with the writing of the Hound of the Baskervilles, eight years later.This book is an exciting and fun account of what happened during those Holmes free years, specifically the period contained within the missing diary. I loved the chapters on the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle. I previously knew very little about the man and his character in the novel was very informative and captivating. The second major historical figure was that of Bram Stoker, before he was a known writer. He was probably my favourite character of the book and the two of them together made the perfect stand ins for Holmes and Watson. As much as I loved the historical chapters I wasn't too impressed with the modern story of Henry White. It was still fairly captivating but it read more like a Dan Brown novel than I would have expected (nerdy hero, beautiful but mysterious girl to help him out, racing around historical European landmarks etc etc). I found the modern characters a little one dimensional and a couple of times found myself rushing through those chapters to get back to the adventures of Doyle and Stoker.
Though not a great work of literature it is probably the most fun I've had reading a book in awhile and I would definitely recommend it to any mystery lovers out there. It keeps you guessing to end and will make you appreciate Arthur Conan Doyle, instead of losing him in the shadows of his creation. If nothing else it is the book that will get you in the mood to read all the old Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
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LibraryThing member teamweasley
Seriously one of the coolest books I have ever read! I love this author. I learned a lot and I laughed a lot. I hope Mr. Moore isn't done!
LibraryThing member stephaniechase
Bumbling Sherlock Holmes fan seeks to solve the last, greatest mystery of Arthur Conan Doyle, told in chapters alternating between present day and the turn of the 20th century. The Sherlockian begins slowly; the story is a little too pat, and the characters a little too caricature. The story, and
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the characters, grow and improve as the story continues, and the book settles in to being a fun, amusing, creative adventure. Show Less
LibraryThing member Berly
Apparently there is a missing journal from Arthur Conan Doyle’s collection. It has always been missing, but the world’s top Sherlock Holmes scholar has tracked it down and plans to unveil it during the Baker Street Irregulars annual convention. Unfortunately, he is murdered in his hotel room
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and the diary is missing…again! Our hero, the newly anointed Baker Street boy, Harold, lands the job of solving the mystery. He finds his own Watson and off the pair go on an adventure. Simultaneously, we the reader, get to jump back in time and follow Arthur Conan Doyle as he plots the death of his most famous detective and stumbles into a murder mystery of his own. A very fun, clever book. Loved the bit of history thrown in during the Doyle chapters. The puzzle is not a complete surprise, but still well worth the journey. Recommended! Four stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
The author claims this is a book of historical fiction. It is certainly heavy on the fiction. I am nowhere close to being an expert on Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle so I'm unable to judge whether the history is accurately portrayed. I didn't have to read the author's notes to decide that
The reader is presented a mystery - ala Sherlock Holmes- with many quotes from the venerable clue solver, about events that took place between 1890 and the early 1900's in England, and events that took place in the US in 2010. The 2010 story involves a young member of the Baker Street Irregulars--Harold White --who sets out to solve the murder of one of the other members --Alex Kale. Alex claimed to have been in possession of Arthur Conan Doyle's missing diaries covering a crucial period in his history. In the meantime, the other story gives us the details of the events as they "actually happened" during the missing diary period. How the two tie together is revealed at the end. The stories galloped along, and were fun to read...as long as you are not interested in total historic accuracy. The device of the two stories running parallel was well done and held my interest.
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he probably took a lot of liberty with history, and I had to suspend a lot of belief to get through this double layered story.The reader is presented a mystery - ala Sherlock Holmes- with many quotes from the venerable clue solver, about events that took place between 1890 and the early 1900's in England, and events that took place in the US in 2010. The 2010 story involves a young member of the Baker Street Irregulars--Harold White --who sets out to solve the murder of one of the other members --Alex Kale. Alex claimed to have been in possession of Arthur Conan Doyle's missing diaries covering a crucial period in his history. In the meantime, the other story gives us the details of the events as they "actually happened" during the missing diary period. How the two tie together is revealed at the end. The stories galloped along, and were fun to read...as long as you are not interested in total historic accuracy. The device of the two stories running parallel was well done and held my interest.
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LibraryThing member bluejazz1084
Compelling little story. Not overly complicated but very fun if you love Sherlock Holmes and Victorian England. Engrossing.
LibraryThing member MrsMich02
I wished I liked the intrepid Sherlockian but by the end of the book, he disappointed me. I did like the parts of the story that focused on Arthur's and Bram's adventure.
LibraryThing member Jthierer
This was an interesting historical thriller that combined a fictional adventure for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with a slightly more based on reality adventure of a Holmes researcher. Both stories moved quickly, but I was more interested in the Doyle half of the story, in part because he was a more
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intriguing character. I would recommend this book to Holmesophiles, but only if they understand that few contemporary detectives live up to the incomparable Holmes. Show Less
LibraryThing member manatree
A good first book, and an interesting bit of historical fiction. Definitely enjoyed the story line of Archur Conan Doyle & Bran Stoker better than the modern day thread, which was trying much too hard to push the romance between the lead characters. Only major disappointment was the the book was
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building up to the confrontation between Doyle & Stoker, only to end without it. Show Less
LibraryThing member LiterateHousewife
When Jen from Devourer of Books raves about something, I take notice. I may not always act upon it, but I always pay attention. Her love for The Sherlockian just so happened coincide with the renewal of my Audible credits, so I snatched it up on audio. It definitely pays to listen. The Sherlockian
I came to The Sherlockian knowing about Sherlock Holmes and even less about Sir Arther Conan Doyle. Having no idea that Holmes at one point had been killed off, I found it interesting that an author could despise his own creation as much as Doyle despised Holmes. He hadn’t anticipated the reaction of the masses, which led to a lot of fun at Doyle’s expense. I was pleasantly surprised to have Bram Stoker show up and play an integral role in his storyline. The two men were a perfect combination of characters and I enjoyed following them along their path to discovering the truth about a potential serial killer Scotland Yard wasn’t terribly interested in finding.
Harold White was a wonderful character. He could read at a lightening speed and retain even the smallest of details. It was this skill and his passion for Sherlock Holmes that gained him entry into the Baker Street Irregulars. In business, Hollywood studios used his talent to disprove lawsuits brought against them by authors claiming that this movie or that stole his/her story. Harold would ultimately point to an older text as the premise for the movie, winning the case almost every time. When Alex Cale, a Sherlockian scholar, is found dead in his hotel room at the annual New York City dinner for the Baker Street Irregulars, it is Harold who uses what he’s learned from Doyle and Holmes to see a Sherlockian connection to the murder. His observations send him off to Europe in search for clues to Doyle’s lost diary along with Sarah, a spunky reporter he barely knew and isn’t sure he can trust.
James Langton, a new-to-me narrator, was a splendid choice to read The Sherlokian. His voice itself exudes fun and he made Harold, Doyle and Bram come to life. He went between American and British accents seamlessly and he gave the impression that he enjoyed the novel just as much as his readers would. On a personal note, there is a character in The Sherlockian named Jennifer whose name is mentioned frequently and I felt warm all over (while shoveling snow in the freezing cold no less) every time Langton said my name. He’s a seductive one, that Mr. Langton. I highly recommend him to one and all.
The Sherlockian was fun from start to finish. The book made me want to learn more about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker. I also, for the first time, want to read some Sherlock Holmes. The references to A Study in Scarlett especially intrigues me. There are those who have reviewed The Sherlockian who indicate that die hard Doyle or Holmes fans won’t enjoy this novel. I can’t speak to that, but I can tell you how much I enjoyed Graham Moore’s writing and characterizations. It was his writing that allowed James Langton’s narration to shine. I couldn’t recommend The Sherlockian any more highly.
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follows two story lines: the life of Doyle after he kills of Sherlock Holmes, a character he has grown to despise, and the drama that quickly surrounds Harold White shortly after he is inducted into the extremely selective Baker Street Irregulars, an almost solemn society of Sherlockians. Both men find themselves ensconced in a murder mystery of Sherlock Holmes proportions, each with their on Watson.I came to The Sherlockian knowing about Sherlock Holmes and even less about Sir Arther Conan Doyle. Having no idea that Holmes at one point had been killed off, I found it interesting that an author could despise his own creation as much as Doyle despised Holmes. He hadn’t anticipated the reaction of the masses, which led to a lot of fun at Doyle’s expense. I was pleasantly surprised to have Bram Stoker show up and play an integral role in his storyline. The two men were a perfect combination of characters and I enjoyed following them along their path to discovering the truth about a potential serial killer Scotland Yard wasn’t terribly interested in finding.
Harold White was a wonderful character. He could read at a lightening speed and retain even the smallest of details. It was this skill and his passion for Sherlock Holmes that gained him entry into the Baker Street Irregulars. In business, Hollywood studios used his talent to disprove lawsuits brought against them by authors claiming that this movie or that stole his/her story. Harold would ultimately point to an older text as the premise for the movie, winning the case almost every time. When Alex Cale, a Sherlockian scholar, is found dead in his hotel room at the annual New York City dinner for the Baker Street Irregulars, it is Harold who uses what he’s learned from Doyle and Holmes to see a Sherlockian connection to the murder. His observations send him off to Europe in search for clues to Doyle’s lost diary along with Sarah, a spunky reporter he barely knew and isn’t sure he can trust.
James Langton, a new-to-me narrator, was a splendid choice to read The Sherlokian. His voice itself exudes fun and he made Harold, Doyle and Bram come to life. He went between American and British accents seamlessly and he gave the impression that he enjoyed the novel just as much as his readers would. On a personal note, there is a character in The Sherlockian named Jennifer whose name is mentioned frequently and I felt warm all over (while shoveling snow in the freezing cold no less) every time Langton said my name. He’s a seductive one, that Mr. Langton. I highly recommend him to one and all.
The Sherlockian was fun from start to finish. The book made me want to learn more about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker. I also, for the first time, want to read some Sherlock Holmes. The references to A Study in Scarlett especially intrigues me. There are those who have reviewed The Sherlockian who indicate that die hard Doyle or Holmes fans won’t enjoy this novel. I can’t speak to that, but I can tell you how much I enjoyed Graham Moore’s writing and characterizations. It was his writing that allowed James Langton’s narration to shine. I couldn’t recommend The Sherlockian any more highly.
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LibraryThing member amanderson
Fun, fast mystery read, good stuff! It goes back and forth alternating chapters set in current & historical times. Arthur Conan Doyle is trying to kill off Holmes who has taken on an annoying life of his own in the public's eye, and is also trying to solve a murder mystery. In our times, a socially
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awkward, appealing, very intelligent member of an international Sherlock Holmes fan club is also trying to solve a murder mystery and the to discover whereabouts of the Arthur Conan Doyle diary volume supposedly found by the murder victim, that has gone missing. Has pathos, humor, historical details about the women's rights movement of the time; I enjoyed it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Ben114
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, by the point I am admittedly jaded when it comes to derivative takes on Holmes, but this book is engaging and fresh throughout. In his debut novel, Moore is able to conjure up a very believable world of Sherlockians, a nice mystery, and a
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well-researched speculative plot involving Conan Doyle's cases. It's difficult to alternate chapters (chapters alternate between a present day mystery and the adventures of Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker), and keep the reader engaged into both parallel plots, but Moore manages it while conjuring up an acute sense of nostalgia and yearning for Sherlock Holmes and his world. Even what seems to be the obligatory female sidekick/possible love interest ends up being a character with more than a couple of layers. Much in the vein of Matthew Pearl, Graham Moore delivers an entertaining, informative, well-researched, and ultimately satisifying entry in the growing literary-historical-mystery-fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member skraft001
A really fine mystery. Often when there are two story lines going I'm racing or annoyed with one of them that detracts from the experience. In this instance, both the Conan Doyle line from 1900 and the today plot line were both extremely enjoyable and well written. I have read Conan Doyle in the
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past and this book led me to purchase of the complete works to revisit. I now have a deeper insight and understanding of the works and the author which should add to that read. A REAL FAST read. Show Less
LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
Readable, but less engaging than I had hoped. The timeline switches back and forth between 1900 and 2010, between the life of Arthur Conan Doyle and Harold White, a Sherlockian, investigating the murder of a pre-eminent Sherlock Holmes scholar, Alex Cale. To me, the most interesting interactions
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occur between Doyle and Bram Stoker. Show Less
LibraryThing member ruthiekro
Really excellent. The chapters alternate between the adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle and his friend, Bram Stoker and a modern day Sherlockian on the trail of the same events between Conan Doyle and Stoker. The events are based on fact and are quite exciting. Graham Moore weaves the two stories
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together masterfully. The book is an enjoyable way to learn about Conan Doyle's real life friendship with Bram Stoker. It's also just a darned good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kenny11
Amazing! Brings you in immediately and keeps you in the thick of it throughout - each page full of mystery and wonderful characters; each next page take you deeper in. It had to end, but I wish it hadn't.
LibraryThing member SandiLee
I almost didn't pick up this book, but I'm glad I did. It's good fun if you like mysteries. Bram Stoker as Conan Doyle friend and accomplice is delightful.
LibraryThing member MickyFine
In 1893, to the consternation of legions of fans, Arthur Conan Doyle killed Sherlock Holmes in "The Final Problem." Eight years later, he brought the sleuth back to the page with no explanation. Following the author's death in 1930s, several of his papers are found to be missing, including the
Moore's novel is an intriguing mix of the historical and contemporary. The chapters alternate between Arthur Conan Doyle in 1893 and 1900 and Harold in 2010. The two mysteries in the different time periods feed off of each other. Moore plays with the Holmes canon and the mystery story, often outlining the mechanics of what he'll do before he does it. While some of the antics Arthur Conan Doyle gets up to had me raising my eyebrows in disbelief, I did appreciate some of the other literary individuals that popped up in that story line. Harold also had some flaws. His hypocrisy bothered me at times as he looks down on other Sherlockians attempting to solve the murder as amateur when he is in exactly the same position. The mysteries themselves are intriguing and the novel is entertaining for anyone who's ever encountered Sherlock Holmes in one form or another.
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diary that covers the period just prior to the return of Holmes. In 2010, Harold White attends the annual meeting of the Baker Street Irregulars, a Sherlockian society. The society is eagerly anticipating a speech by Alex Cale who has found the lost diary. On the morning of the speech, however, Cale is found dead in his hotel room and the diary is missing. Harold decides to use Holmes' methods to solve the murder and find the diary, but mysteries are far different to solve than they are to read.Moore's novel is an intriguing mix of the historical and contemporary. The chapters alternate between Arthur Conan Doyle in 1893 and 1900 and Harold in 2010. The two mysteries in the different time periods feed off of each other. Moore plays with the Holmes canon and the mystery story, often outlining the mechanics of what he'll do before he does it. While some of the antics Arthur Conan Doyle gets up to had me raising my eyebrows in disbelief, I did appreciate some of the other literary individuals that popped up in that story line. Harold also had some flaws. His hypocrisy bothered me at times as he looks down on other Sherlockians attempting to solve the murder as amateur when he is in exactly the same position. The mysteries themselves are intriguing and the novel is entertaining for anyone who's ever encountered Sherlock Holmes in one form or another.
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Awards
Anthony Award (Nominee — First Novel — 2011)
Original publication date
2010-11-30
Physical description
368 p.; 6.5 inches
ISBN
0446572594 / 9780446572590