Sherlock Holmes' Nemesis Lives Again
The novel that reintroduced the Napoleon of crime to the Victorian underworld
Once again, the game is afoot ...
What really happened in Switzerland between Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes in 1891? And why is Holmes, now in London at 221B Baker Street, curiously uncooperative with Scotland Yard's inquiries? Furthermore, why has Moriarty planned a grand meeting with the international crime syndicate? These are the questions that make up the larger mystery of the sinister Professor Moriarty's return.
December 1, 2012
This 1974 title is a heretical take on the Sherlock Holmes canon. The world's first consulting detective scarcely appears, having made a deal with that Napoleon of crime, Professor James Moriarty, at Reichenbach Falls (this Moriarty is a brother of the original). Like Holmes, Moriarty resurfaces in London after three years of wandering and immediately begins to reestablish control of his criminal empire, with an eye to international expansion. Narrator Robin Sachs is tolerable but not compelling as he wades through the tale, underplaying throughout; Moriarty has little character development except for being presented as evil. Not a bad performance, but uninspiring. VERDICT Holmes fundamentalists and those who enjoy Victorian mysteries are this audiobook's best bet.--Don Wismer, Cary Memorial Lib., Wayne, ME
Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 29, 2012
Unfortunately for this audio edition of Gardner’s intriguing take on the prototypical master criminal, narrator Robin Sachs turns in an uninspired performance. He reads the book’s introduction by Otto Penzler in a matter-of-fact manner, which proves appropriate for this less-is-more analysis of why Professor Moriarty’s role as a shadowy background figure enhances his stature as a villain. However, Sachs uses the same tone and pacing throughout the book—a choice that often falls flat. For example, his rendition of the Napoleon of Crime’s recollection of the 1888 Autumn of Terror—when Whitechapel was plagued by Jack the Ripper—with its description of the killer’s savageries and the confrontation between the Ripper and Moriarty, is languid and devoid of emotion. A Pegasus hardcover.