Two Holmes

The first book, The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr is the meatier of the two stories being fleshed out to full, albeit short, novel length. This tome is classic Holmes from the late 1800's with all of the principals present including Watson, brother Mycroft, and the redoubtable Mrs. Hudson, the landlady. The majority of the story is set in Edinburgh and concerns deaths that may or may not be of some importance to the British Crown.

Overall the book is an enjoyable read. Written from the viewpoint of Watson but on a more intimate basis then the classic Conan Doyle stories one gets a slightly different feel for the aforementioned character then I remember from the originals. Watson does seem to be somewhat more on the ball then he normally is portrayed, a change I liked. The mystery itself isn't that engrossing and incorporates elements of the supernatural that I really didn't find that compelling. The conclusion of the mystery was, to my mind, a bit unsatisfactory, But for something to while a way a couple of afternoons, preferably during a dreary, drizzly day (to set the proper mood) one could do worse.

The second book, The Final Solution, is stylistically a bit more interesting. Set in the waning years of a very long life, a famous detective confronts his final mystery. Written by Michael Chabon, one of my favorite contemporary authors, the book is written in traditional third person as the usual diarist has presumably passed away years earlier. The story itself is actually more of a novella fleshed out with some interesting sketches which I quite liked. So not quite a graphic novel but more in line with the Holmes story versions I read as a child, with similar but more conventional illustrations.

The setting is World War II and I find it a little disconcerting that the main character finds himself in this era, as does he himself at one point. I've always been uncomfortable with the Basil Rathbone movies where he saves the British Empire from the Nazis (much as I enjoy his portrayal of the title character and indeed my consideration of all other versions of Holmes have been slightly tainted with my predilections towards Mr. Rathbone). Actually, we should all breathe a sign of relief that this series of Holmes movies were made in England. If they had been made in Hollywood I'm sure we would have seen 'Sherlock Holmes Versus Dracula', followed by 'Sherlock Holmes versus Abbot and Costello'. I'm sorry, I like my literary characters in their correct geologic era.

In any case the story was somewhat interesting but not engrossing. The book's brevity in this case is an advantage as one can sail through it quickly and when done won't feel that their time has been wasted. It still didn't strike me as rich as the original stories but then it might be more that I'm frustrated that the protagonist is really just a shadow of his former self, though capable of  the inductive leaps of old.

So once again a qualified recommendation, perhaps a good book to curl up with on a cold wintry night with a good cup of cocoa and a fire.