The Return of Moriarty

This is one of the best written books I have read in a long time. I had a very hard time putting this down. The funny thing is that I almost didn't buy it, because I wasn't sure about [a:John Gardner|481146|John Gardner|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1342714293p2/481146.jpg]. Now I'd like to read more by him. I thought the premise was excellent and I found that adding the footnotes about discrepancies and explanations was very helpful. I felt some sympathy for Professor Moriarty, but by the end of the book the listener doesn't anymore. It is a great story about how everything is not as simple as it may seem.

An novel concept where neither Holmes nor Moriaarty die at the falls. This book is all about the day to day workings of Moriarty's crimanal organization, which seems to run, surprisingly, for the most part, in a very mundane way, just as many we picture many other mobs running. Gardner's explanation makes this work by telling us that there are really two James Moriartys and the James described here has killed the genius mathematician/professor that grapples with Holmes. This decidedly dumber James, but with street smarts, experience and loads of determination to overcome the physical differences, now assumes the his genius brother's life. We see the Moran episodes with Adair's murder and the attempt at Holmes' life purely from the show more perspective of Moriarty. The whole concept has plenty of originality b,ut does maike a lot of the action of day to day gangsterism a bit mundune and often, I must say, a little boring. show less

1809s London underworld: is there a better setting? Another great one from Gardner. I don't usually care for the "other side of the story" novel, but this one is unusually good. Note, however, that it is quite like its sequel. Not really sure why Gardner made two books with such striking plot similarities. Not quick Doyle, but it's not supposed to be, is it?

I thought the author of "The Wreckage of Agathon" had taken a flyer into the world of Sherlock Holmes. It's another man entirely, and the work is pretty standard.

1894 It would seem that Professor Moriarty like Sherlock Holmes has returned from the dead. Ready to take over his organisation again, an organisation he had left to Colonel Moran to run. But will it be easy to take power back, what obstacles will occur and what plans does he have for the future.
An interesting and enjoyable well-written historical mystery

I have just one thing to say about this book. Holmes would not have taken the deal regardless of the odds.

Ian Fleming's successor -- the author of a multitude of James Bond sequels -- tries his hand at a subversive novel from Moriarty's point of view -- the antihero.