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The Canary Trainer

Nicholas Meyer

Didn't like the way Erik was portrayed. I understand this was more a Sherlock story, but with that portrayal and the changing of a few other characters from POTO, I just can't get into it. Also with a small jab at the end of Leroux's work.............its on my "Trade Only" list as opposed to the "Buy" list.
It was an OK read, much more Sherlock and Watson, their portrayal was spot on. Plenty of great atmosphere and gothic/Victorian/Paris feel.
Great for Sherlock fans not so much for Phantom fans. For both like me, not so good.
Much prefer Angel Of The Opera.

A Study In Terror

Ellery Queen

I would have given 5 stars but the story within the story, just didn't do it for me.
Its a nice idea but to me at least, it takes away one atmosphere from the other. 
Its more graphic than the movie, but I liked the movie much better.
I found myself skipping over the Ellery part, only skimming to see how it played out, but the Sherlock part of the story I loved, but still liked the movie better.

The Last Sherlock Holmes Story

Michael Dibdin

It wasn't the gory details that disturbed me, that sort of thing goes along with the territory of the Ripper. It was the authors lack of respect for the real people involved.
It seemed to me, that he forgot he was not writing total fiction. 
I borrowed it from the library, I have it for 3 weeks, I honestly don't suppose I will finish it. Once he began referring to the people {women} of White Chapel as something other than human, I just tossed it back on my pile and went ahead to what else I checked out.
They were real people in a bad situation.

The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

Lyndsay Faye

Still not getting into the big anthologies.
The stories though by themselves are good, good atmosphere, the presentation is good, the usage of time appropriate speech and all such the like. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Faye's Dust and Shadow. 
I just found again I like the original canon to any other "big set of Holmes stories"

Cover Review

Art In The Blood: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure

Bonnie MacBird

Both Holmes and Watson using swear words? No
Americanized ones at that? No
Sherlock Holmes and Mycroft distrusting one another, Sherlock cussing at Mycroft? No
Mycroft accusing Sherlock of having 'feeling' for a woman? No
Mycroft letting Sherlock sit in jail, allowing a fake case against him to continue..................of Jack the Ripper at that ***cough Dust and Shadow anyone cough*******
Using more French than English, and not bothering to translate for those of us who don't know much French.
The descriptive scenery is good, I liked the plot enough, just not enough to finish it. Not when I have others to read. 
I would recommend for those who are not too particular about their Sherlock Holmes. I am not a purist, just didn't care for this one.

Cover Review

The Big Book Of Sherlock Holmes Stories

Otto Penzler

I understand now that I prefer the original canon. I don't need the same details rewritten a thousand times by different authors.
I would highly recommend it to any other fan looking for variety past Doyle. I read most of it and those stories I did enjoy.
Though upon borrowing it from the library, I learned I prefer the originals or single stories in a single book form, just not so many all in one place.

Cover Review

The Further Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes: Scroll Of The Dead

David Stuart Davies

Wasn't what I expected. No Egypt. I didn't quite expect a seriously denied love story. Holmes whispering in Watson's ear on several occasions, if I wanted that I would write it myself. 
I would recommend it because at heart it was a good story, it was just the details I could do without.
It was fast paced and full of action but it won't be going into my collection.

Cover Review

The Further Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes: The Veiled Detective

David Stuart Davies

I guess I just was not as interested as I thought I would be in Watson trying to cover up his past enough to finish this one.
Watson working for Moriarty WTF?? I left after that.

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Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

Lyndsay Faye

This one I like alot, it dealt with incident, keeping in mind the fact they were indeed real people involved, though I did have one question at the end. This one is going into my collection no doubt.

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The Angel of the Opera: Sherlock Holmes Meets the Phantom of the Opera

Sam Siciliano

Watered down version of both Erik and Sherlock, but still a good light read. Not something that will require a visit with a therapist after. cough {Phantom}.
You should know, IMO anyway, you should be very familiar with both Erik and Sherlock to be able to appreciate this one.
I have heard many terrible things about it, but I personally really enjoyed it.
Update: Now that I actually have the book and can savor it slowly without being in a rush to get it back to the library, I bumped it up a star. I really enjoyed it much more, reading slowly.

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The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Sherlock Vs. Dracula

Loren D. Estleman

This was a fun way to spend some time. I caught the BBC version.
You gotta take this one with some grains of salt and be familiar with Dracula the novel to really enjoy this one. I can see how many Holmes purists would loathe this but I loved it.
Update: I finally own the book and love it so much more that the BBC version. Bumped it up to 5 stars

Cover Review

The Grimswell Curse

Sam Siciliano

This would have been 5 stars if it had not gotten so blasted repetitive:  We know Henry wants and loves his Michele, we know Rose is a large woman, we know Dartmoor is cold and windy.  Aside from those and a few other annoyances of a similar nature, this was a good story and I would recommend it.  You should though be familiar with Siciliano's other works, which is another unfortunate thing about it, it refers back to other stories he has written

Cover Review

The Italian Secretary

Caleb Carr

By 3 1/2 chapters and we have not even left London yet?????  If I wanted a history lesson of Mary Queen Of Scots I would have gotten a history book

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