Sherlock Holmes and the Unholy Trinity

This was a full length Sherlock Holmes spin-off novel, like others by this author being based on other adventures casually mentioned by Holmes or Watson in Conan Doyle's stories. In this case, the author combines the mentions of the sudden death of Cardinal Tosca and the case of the two Coptic Patriarchs into a mystery involving lost Gospels and internecine strife between sections of the Christian religion. While this made for a suitably dramatic plot basis and international sleuthing in London, Rome and Egypt, I didn't think it hung together well and the motivations of the villains didn't convince me. Some of Holmes's more negative characteristics, for example, his arrogance and disdain for those he considers lesser intellectuals, show more seemed overdone here. I prefer this author's short stories. show less

Holmes is requested by Cardinal Pietro, the Pope's confident to investigate the death of Cardinal Tosca, in Rome. At the time of his death he was translating some ancient scrolls. But where will the evidence lead.
An enjoyable Holmes thriller