Friday 27 September 2013

URBAN FANTASY CRIME REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes: The Stuff of Nightmares - James Lovegrove

Release Date: 30/08/13
Publisher:  Titan

SYNOPSIS:

It's the autumn of 1890, and a spate of bombings has hit London. Sherlock Holmes believes Professor Moriarty is behind the campaign of terror, but to what end? At the same time, a bizarrely garbed figure has been spotted on the rooftops of the capital. Known only by the name Baron Cauchemar, he appears to be a scourge of crime and villainy. But is he truly the force for good that he seems?


REVIEW:

Whilst the Holmes novels from Titan are a step in the fantastical, I love the way that they allow others to play in the world bringing it not only to life but adding a touch of Urban Fantasy so that the reader is in for a real treat, in this case the Steampunk character of Baron Cauchemar who is not only delightfully dark but with a mysteriousness that really does deserve the world’s greatest detectives mental acumen. It’s a joy to read as James takes you not only a journey of this alternate Victorian London but brings all the components to life that works so well for me as a reader.

The pace is wonderful constantly leaving the reader on the back foot as the case is unravelled and when added to the authors usual style of twisting the readers perceptions alongside a great way of delivering a story all round makes this something that you just can’t ignore.

Back that up with some wonderful background characters as well as a constant feel for Holmes and Watson, all round makes this a pure joy. I deduce that this was a title of great fun.



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