Sherlock in Love

A mystery within a mystery, applied on a tightly woven historical background and written in a spookily authentic-sounding Conan Doyle tone, this is a delightful entertainment.

Unlike the author's truly astonishing Ahab's Wife, or The Star-Gazer, however, this wasn't (to use Graham Greene's differentiation) a novel. Ahab's wife went through a remarkable transformation as a person, exploring universal themes from a specific and deliciously history- and literature-ridden space. Alas, Watson reports the case and his thoughts with authentic detail and introspection, yet never pauses to consider the idea that would have turned this otherwise highly amusing book into a truly moving piece of literature: Watson himself married more than once and show more had successful, healthy relationships with different people who wanted different things, but what does it mean when a slightly sociopathic (in the technical sense) solipsist falls in love? Is that love? Or merely the motive that, in Naslund's clever plot, explained how Holmes responded to certain opportunities?

Regardless, a fun read, far more so than that Laurie R. King stuff, which incidentally also fails to answer the question of what happens when solipsists fall in love, especially when one is so obviously caught up in a rationalizing, self-aggrandizing Mary Sue fantasy. Yes, Naslund's book is quite above that nonsense and is a real bibliophile's holiday.

(Especially fun if you're up on your 19th century Continental royal family history and a bit of late 19th century science, but that's not an entrance requirement - you just get more of Naslund's often partly-concealed references, which are part of the pleasure of reading her historical fiction.) show less

I have tried many times in the past to read other selections by Sena Jeter Naslund and I always hit a brick wall...namely with "Ahab's Wife" (but I think I might try picking her up again). The story of Sherlock Holmes in love is told in the first person my Dr. Watson and immediately when you read the first sentence you are hooked. You know that there will be a mystery involved that will take you down a classic path of Holmesian logic. The drama begins in the present day...late in Dr. Watson's life and two years after Holmes has died. The classic second fiddle companion decided to put forth the request for letters, stories, and information about Holmes that would allow him to compose a complete biography. Shortly thereafter weird things show more happen to Watson...pages of his notebooks are cut out with a razor, threatening letters appear, and he is even assaulted! All is clear in the end and the reader even goes on a journey back in time to when Holmes is still alive and meets Crazy Ludwig of Bavaria. Another read that surprised me...and enjoyed so much that I read it in a day. show less

Sherlock purist and persnickety readers will probably poo-poo this slim volume, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Told mainly from Dr. Watson's point of view after Sherlock's death (his real one, years after the falls). Very touching in some areas. I enjoyed the retelling of part of the detectives life.

That was the weirdest slash I ever read. Well, not including slash that have pregnant men in it.

Reviewed by Darlene Cypser, amazon.com. This is a cute little book with an interesting twist, which I won’t spoil for you. Unfortunately the twist is just rather blurted out at the end rather than being more dramatically developed. I think she lost some opportunities to really allow us to explore the heart and soul of the characters.
I think Naslund has a very good handle on Watson’s character and an interesting perspective on Holmes’ character. I think, however, she could have fleshed out the story a bit more carefully... I also think that she should have decided on one perspective and stuck with it. A consistent 3rd person omniscient would have allowed her the freedom to jump inside people’s heads as needed and it is not show more unprecedented in the Canon, even though the majority of the Canon is written from Watson’s perspective. Jumping back and forth from first person to third person and even trying her hand at using the present tense was rather confusing.
But even with the flaws I found it to be an enjoyable read. show less

This is a cute little book with an interesting twist, which I won’t spoil for you. Unfortunately the twist is just rather blurted out at the end rather than being more dramatically developed. I think she lost some opportunities to really allow us to explore the heart and soul of the characters.
I think Naslund has a very good handle on Watson’s character and an interesting perspective on Holmes’ character. I think, however, she could have fleshed out the story a bit more carefully... I also think that she should have decided on one perspective and stuck with it. A consistent 3rd person omniscient would have allowed her the freedom to jump inside people’s heads as needed and it is not unprecedented in the Canon, even though the show more majority of the Canon is written from Watson’s perspective. Jumping back and forth from first person to third person and even trying her hand at using the present tense was rather confusing.
But even with the flaws I found it to be an enjoyable read.
Reviewed by: Darlene Cypser, September 2005. show less