inkandplasma's review against another edition
3.0
Character - 7
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Rating: 5.86 / 3 stars
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 6
Rating: 5.86 / 3 stars
wasptobias's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thomcat's review against another edition
3.0
The last of Doyle's Sherlock novels, this one is a bit thin on the ground. Holmes and Watson display some deductive prowess in the first half of the book; the second half is a complete story without Holmes. Wrapping it all together is a bit about Moriarty which feels forced to me - Holmes neither gains nor loses ground on his archenemy here.
Continuing the tradition of Holmes in Europe to it's ultimate end, I have the two following Doyle collections left to read, and another week to read them. The game is afoot!
Continuing the tradition of Holmes in Europe to it's ultimate end, I have the two following Doyle collections left to read, and another week to read them. The game is afoot!
syren96's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favourite Sherlock, but does set up some Moriarty storylines
khristy's review against another edition
3.0
I loved parts of this .... but not most.
Writing:
I like Doyle's writing. I usually get a good feel for characters and period. That holds true here.
I do like this quote:
I don't take much stock in detectives in novels--chaps that do things and never let you see how they do them. That's just inspiration: not business. (said by a local policeman that Holmes works with)
Characters & Plot:
That's part of the problem. A huge chunk of the story is about Douglas. I liked him. I liked him a lot, but he's not Holmes. Or even in England for that matter. The plot was fine--again excepting that the majority of it wasn't about Holmes. and I found the ending VERY unsatisfactory. It was thin and not well explained. V annoying.
Profundity:
Ummm. No, though I do like the recurring themes of justice, personal responsibility, and doing one's best that occur in all of Doyle's work.
Overall, between the ending and the non-Holmes focus, I can't give it more than a 2.5/3.
Writing:
I like Doyle's writing. I usually get a good feel for characters and period. That holds true here.
I do like this quote:
I don't take much stock in detectives in novels--chaps that do things and never let you see how they do them. That's just inspiration: not business. (said by a local policeman that Holmes works with)
Characters & Plot:
That's part of the problem. A huge chunk of the story is about Douglas. I liked him. I liked him a lot, but he's not Holmes. Or even in England for that matter. The plot was fine--again excepting that the majority of it wasn't about Holmes. and I found the ending VERY unsatisfactory. It was thin and not well explained. V annoying.
Profundity:
Ummm. No, though I do like the recurring themes of justice, personal responsibility, and doing one's best that occur in all of Doyle's work.
Overall, between the ending and the non-Holmes focus, I can't give it more than a 2.5/3.
eggcellent_reads's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
bellatora's review against another edition
4.0
Sherlock, my darling, it is good to have you back, with more fisticuffs than ever.
Valley of Fear confirms my feelings that you are best in short bursts. Your often saracastic bon mots are delightful, but the passages full of description that a novella encourages can be rather dull. Plus, the entire second half is all back-story and your wonderful self is not a part of it. It's a decent little stand-alone adventure story in and of itself, and a way for Doyle to satisfy Holmes lovers while stretching his wings a bit, but I prefer my Holmes stories chock full of Holmes.
As for the short stories from The Return of Sherlock Holmes and His Las Bow there are some real gems but also quite a few not quite up to snuff. Still, the awesomeness that is Sherlock shines through.
"Be frank with me, and we may do some good. Play tricks with me, and I'll crush you." --from "The Abbey Grange"
"I play the game for the game's own sake." --from "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plan"
When you say things like that, how can I not love you?
Valley of Fear confirms my feelings that you are best in short bursts. Your often saracastic bon mots are delightful, but the passages full of description that a novella encourages can be rather dull. Plus, the entire second half is all back-story and your wonderful self is not a part of it. It's a decent little stand-alone adventure story in and of itself, and a way for Doyle to satisfy Holmes lovers while stretching his wings a bit, but I prefer my Holmes stories chock full of Holmes.
As for the short stories from The Return of Sherlock Holmes and His Las Bow there are some real gems but also quite a few not quite up to snuff. Still, the awesomeness that is Sherlock shines through.
"Be frank with me, and we may do some good. Play tricks with me, and I'll crush you." --from "The Abbey Grange"
"I play the game for the game's own sake." --from "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plan"
When you say things like that, how can I not love you?
jayhall's review against another edition
5.0
A great tie-in to my fandom of Holmes and my home region in the coal country, right near where the Molly Maguires were tried!