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Sherlock Holmes and the Holborn Emporium by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Reader Reviews 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: The First Super-store?, August 17, 2001 Reviewer: Rory Coker from Austin, TX USA If you're looking for a baffling mystery within the literary form of the Holmes pastiche, this won't be your oyster. The main aim of author Andrews here is an evocation of the legendary department store Gammages, at the turn of the last century. Here it is in thin disguise as A. W. Forrage, Ltd., e.g. "Forrages." As in a number of Andrews' recent Holmes novels, a number of real, historical characters appear, including magicians Stanley Collins and Wil Goldston... can you spot the others? The plot, to the extent that there is one, is a thinly veiled excuse to have Holmes and Watson wander around Gammages and marvel at the diversity of offerings of this wonderous store. You'll probably (correctly) identify not only the villain, but also his motives, after a few dozen pages. Andrews adds a couple of mild snappers at the end, but at 126 pages it's not just the plot that's thin. Gammages is the focus, not Holmes and Watson. Keep this in mind as you read and you won't be too disappointed.
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