Book Review: The Sherlockian by Graham Moore

Title: The Sherlockian
Author: Graham Moore
Publisher: Twelve
Publication Date: December 1, 2010
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN: 978-0446572590
Genre: Mystery, Fiction

From the Publisher:

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.

My Review:

Alternating between 1893 and 2010, The Sherlockian by Graham Moore is a delightful double mystery novel for not only mystery lovers but also for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Moore cleverly crafts two mysteries; one involving the duo of Doyle and Stoker and the other, a modern day duo Harold and Sarah, each pairing works quite well together. I truly enjoyed The Sherlockian, but I do not think it hurt that I have been a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series for as long as I can recall. However, as stated earlier, I think Doyle fans and those who have not read any of Doyle’s works will enjoy The Sherlockian. Moore details the latter half of the nineteenth century and cleverly crafts his characters as well as the clues and plot twists making both mysteries intriguing, captivating and fantastic to read. Does The Sherlockian beat out any of the original Holmes series? No, but I do not believe it was ever meant to, rather this is a “what if” type novel, taking a step back in time which leads to the present day mystery. Simply put, I truly enjoyed The Sherlockian and found it a quick and enjoyable book to read. I would recommend The Sherlockian to any mystery fan.

I received a complimentary copy of The Sherlockian by Graham Moore from Hachette to review. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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