THE WHOLE ART OF DETECTION
Lyndsay Faye
Mysterious Press
March 7, 2017
The Whole Art of Detection is an anthology of "lost mysteries" penned by Lyndsay Faye and previously published, primarily in Strand Magazine. The stories cover the early years of the association of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson until 1902.
It has been years since I first read the original mysteries, decades actually. I am far from a purist and have read many Sherlock Holmes pastiches and enjoyed almost all of the movie and television versions available, particularly his most recent incarnation in the BBC version. The Sherlock Holmes who remains in my mind's eye, however, is Basil Rathbone, followed closely by Jeremy Brett. Faye's stories and language are very close to the original stories as I remember them. The same is true for Faye's first book, Dust and Shadow, also a Holmes and Watson novel.
I am a huge fan of Lyndsay Faye's work. It is imaginative, daring, and extremely well-written. Anyone who can pull off a re-imagining of Jane Eyre as a serial killer has me as a fan for life (Jane Steele). I loved all of the stories in the collection, but most particularly those of the earliest years when Sherlock is establishing himself as a "consulting detective". The stories also portray the admiration and camaraderie that existed between Holmes and Dr. Watson that comes across as real and believable. The Whole Art of Detection is a collection that is perfect for bedtime reading and that is how I read it, savoring them one by one.
Thanks to NetGalley.com and Mysterious Press for early digital access in return for an honest review.
RATING- 5 Stars
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