Sherlock Holmes: The Spider’s Web

“Sherlock Holmes: The Spider’s Web” is the latest offering from author Philip Purser-Hallard. In this book Sherlock Holmes and John Watson investigate a murder at a society party – but the host and his family and friends are more concerned with the inconvenience than finding the killer. As Holmes and Watson delve deeper they begin to uncover secrets that people would far rather were forgotten.

The joy of this book is the fact that the author has seamlessly woven Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters into the world of Oscar Wilde. The society family is that of Moncrieff: the family from “The Importance of Being Earnest”. Other Oscar Wilde characters flow in and out of the story.

Philip Purser-Hallard has a deliciously Wildean turn of phrase. I found myself laughing out loud more than once during the course of my reading.

“The Spider’s Web” is a delectable concoction of a book. Light and fizzy on the tongue, but so very satisfying.

A fabulous, fun, 5-Star read. Highly recommended.

Jack the Ripper: Case Closed

In ‘Jack the Ripper: Case Closed’ by Gyles Brandreth, Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle set out to examine the suspects in the Ripper case and solve the crimes once and for all.

The book is narrated in the first person by Arthur Conan Doyle. This was a weird experience for me reading a book where one of my favourite authors is actually a character.

Gyles Brandreth gets right inside the skin of Oscar Wilde. His Wilde is thoroughly believable and syncs well with what we know of Wilde’s actual character.

The ending, not to give away any spoilers, is both satisfying and unsatisfying on a number of levels. I could get behind the idea of the killer, but not the motive. The politics of the situation I could accept quite easily.

A delicious Victorian romp.