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Sherlock Holmes at the Varities by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Reader Reviews Slight tale but engaging and energetic., May 21, 2003 Reviewer: Fred Harvey from Birmingham England I was singularly unenthusiastic about my only previous encounter with the Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels written by Val Andrews ."Sherlock Holmes at the Western Front "struck me as slipshod and written as a chore with little energy or style.This entry in the series is better and the music hall background is probably the reason ,given Andrew's skills as a professional magician and experienced stage performer.There is a sense of affection for the setting and characters that helps compensate for a slight and wispy storyline. Homes is called in to investigate a series of near fatal mishaps in a London theatre ;at first attributed to a ghost purported to haunt the theatre it becomes clear they are the result of human agency and specifically aimed at George Robey (an actual character )who narrowly avoids death twice at the hands of his unknown would-be assasssin. This is not the only puzzle however for Robey is a talented violin maker and a has made a replica of a priceless violin and finds that his copy has been switched with the genuine article in a museum. The solution is a bit un Holmesian being achieved by eavesdropping rather than ratiocination but the book has pace and vigour and will (mildly )satisfy devotees of the character without ever approching the standards set by other pasticheurs like Estleman or Boyer. Flip but fun .
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