A Soul of Steel

It was a decent read. The story is primarily about Irene Adler in much the same way that Sherlock Holmes' stories are written. She has a friend/accomplice (Nell), who is also her biographer. Nell is very Victorian, almost to a fault and a lot of detail is given for the setting of each "scene", almost to a fault. In fact, I found the description of what everyone was wearing and how their hair was styled too much.

Irene, her husband Godfrey, and Nell are living in a "cottage" near Paris, incognito, when they encounter a person who looks like they have been living in the wilds of Afghanistan and India, recognizes Nell and is almost killed (poisoned). They take him in and therein starts a twisted tale of two apparently unrelated mysteries show more (one given to Sherlock and one in the hands of Irene Adler) that are indeed related. It takes them to London as Quentin is trying to protect Dr. Watson (yes, the very one) who saved him in Afghanistan, but unknowingly has some evidence of the killer's subterfuge in the Afghan wars. This involves Russia, England, France, India, Sherlock, Irene, and Capt. Moreau. It attempts to fill in some missing blanks in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle canon (rather cleverly). All that on the positive.

On the negative, I found that the narrative dragged frequently, often getting mired down in the minutiae of who's wearing what, who is where, etc. I understand that you need details for stories like this, but it often took away from the flow of the story. And it didn't help to conceal any important clues and I often guessed what the reader was supposed to be surprised by in the next chapter or so. So, I found it a little predictable. Also, Sherlock is not portrayed in the most positive light, not by Nell's description or thoughts of him, which is understandable, but by how easily they thought they could fool him. Douglas leaves room here for allowing that Holmes may know all along, but Irene Adler should know better. As a result, I felt that they were trying to fool Sherlock Holmes in a way he could see through easily, but you never were sure that he knew and, if he did (which he should), you didn't know why he didn't reveal their subterfuge. Furthermore, the reason they wouldn't directly confront Sherlock and ask for his help directly was rather weak, in my opinion. Therefore, the interactions with Sherlock (and Watson) were pretty unsatisfying.

I give it 3 stars. An okay read. show less

Anyway, this one centered more on Nell than on Irene and Nell comes face to face with how much she’s changed when she comes face to face with someone from her governess days. Quentin Stanup was the uncle of some of her charges. He remembers her and collapses at her feet. He was a spy in the war in Afghanistan and was betrayed and his betrayal (bad information) was the cause of a huge defeat of the English Army. Many men died and the traitor spy has been after Stanup ever since. Quentin remembers being treated by a Doctor Watson over there and of course it is THE Dr. Watson.

As usual, both Holmes and Irene are working different angles of essentially the same case. And as usual, Holmes is working what he believes to be the noble side, show more but it isn’t and Irene has to figure out a way to deal with him as well as her own problems.

I really thought that at the end, Nell and Quentin would end up together, but Quentin disappears again after fighting with the traitor spy and falling into the Thames. No bodies are recovered and months go by when Nell receives a package in France. It is Quentin’s medal from the war. A tantalizing hint that he is still alive and still wants Nell. show less

A mysterious Arab falls ill at their feet in a Parisian Bistro. Irene guns down a cobra then, Nell and Godfrey are off to London to find and alert a Dr. John Watson who may be in danger because of his medical stint during the 2nd Afghan War.
It is the true Watson of Sherlockian lore, with a dead cobra under his desk and thus brings Holmes into play. Much tooing and froing often in disguise until before the archenemy Sebastion Moran falls to his death, clutching Nell's love interest, Quentin. The game is still afoot and to be continued in future installments.

First edition as new