Holmes and Moriarty

Holmes and Moriarty the new Sherlock Homes mystery written by Gareth Rubin, officially authorised by the Conan Doyle estate.

I loved The Turnglass so was very excited to hear of Rubin's new novel. Homes and Watson are hired by actor George Reynolds. He wants to find out why the audience who come and see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises.

Meanwhile, Moriarty, Holmes' archenemy is implicated in the murder of a gang leader. Moriarty and Moran have no choice but to go on the run and find out who has set them up for this crime. But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it's not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person. They need to form an alliance in order to save their own lives and unmask the true villain.

This intriguing mystery triggered my arachnid phobia leaving me terrified. I won't go into detail but I wasn't expecting the fright that this novel delivered; a great read for this time of year. I loved the premise of this novel that two enemies have to come together in order to solve the mystery and save their own lives. But to put trust in someone who wants to destroy you, is an act of faith in itself.

The setting was atmospheric and I loved the hidden tunnels and the strange hotel setup. The characters all had an air of mystery sounding them and it was difficult to know who you could trust and rely on. The chapters alternated from Watson's to Moran's viewpoint which I felt added to the pace and the plot.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, especially if you are a Sherlock fan or enjoy mystery novels.