“The Old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere modernity cannot kill”

                                                     – Bram Stoker ‘Dracula’

Author:

Graham Moore

Publishers:

Twelve Books

Published on:

November 21st 2011

Story:

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.
In January 2010- 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.

Review:

The Sherlockain, has parallel stories of Harold White and the famous and ever so AWESOME Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The concept was interesting and the book had an engaging plot. This book is such a rare one. It’s one of those types where on reading the first line itself, you get to know how awesome it will be. The first lines of this book are so amazing and so awesome.

The first lines are-

‘ Arthur Conan Doyle curled his brow tightly and thought only of murder. 

“I’m going to kill him, ” Conan Doyle said…’

If my quoting didn’t convince you that this book is awesome, maybe my review would.

The author had developed such an amazing story with one of the greatest mystery writers. Two parallel mysteries take place in the book- one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the second of Harold White. Their reason for investigating is also closely related to Sherlock Holmes. Arthur being the creator of SH, would know more about detection. But Harold White, having read all of Sherlock’s mysteries and can quote every single line of it and id a proud member of The Sherlockian, thinks that he too can solve the case using the detective skills of his idol Sherlock Holmes. The story is wonderfully written and the plot is engaging. The story is such that, you’d not want to put the book down. It was hard for me to put the book down while reading it.

The author added a nice touch by giving quotes form the Sherlock books at the start of each chapter. My favorite form that was “Crime is common. Logic is rare.” The ending was stunning and the mystery it self is unique (I don’t want to reveal much of it in this review). The way Harold and Arthur solve their cases was awesome! This is a must read for those hard-core Sherlock Fans and also for those who love Mystery.

Final Verdict:

8/10