Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

Holmes fans will welcome Lyndsay Faye to Baker St

In 1888 London is shocked by the brutal murders of two prostitutes in the East End. Inspector Lestrade knows this is no run of the mill killer and he will need help. He asks renowned private sleuth Sherlock Holmes to investigate the homicides. Already fascinated by the accounts Holmes welcomes the case.

As Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson investigate, more vicious murders occur by the same killer the media dubs Ripper for his brutality. In an ironic twist one reporter claims Holmes is the Ripper, which is why he insists the famous detective has failed to end the reign of terror.

Holmes fans will welcome Lyndsay Faye to Baker St as her Watson comes across as a winner telling readers the tale of Holmes and Ripper. Fans will enjoy the great detective¿s efforts even as the press badgers him to solve the case; which ironically readers do earlier than the sleuth does. Although Homes and Ripper co-starring has been used before by Carole Nelson Douglas (in her Irene Adler series) and Michael Dibdin in THE LAST SHERLOCK HOLMES STORY, etc. Ms. Faye provides a fresh entry.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A must read for any true Sherlock Holmes fan

Lyndsay Faye has accomplished three things with her first novel that many authors do not after many attempts. 1) She has written an excellent book that is truly a page turner. 2) She has combinded fact and fiction so well, that it seems real and 3) She has written a fresh story about Jack The Ripper, that could be real. With so many bad Sherlock Holmes books about, Ms Faye has managed to recreate the style of Doyle, yet pick a subject that Doyle never touched, and at the same time make Holmes appear more human. I hope this is not the last we hear from this author as I feel her next book will be ever better.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Holmes and Watson and Jack are back!

New novelist Lyndsay Faye has done what few have managed before. She has resurrected Sherlock Holmes and company. Faye succeeds admirably in creating the ambience of the original novels, and by pitting Holmes against Jack the Ripper, presents him with a challenge worthy of his talents. The world's greatest detective emerges true to form, with arrogance and foibles intact. Dr. Watson, dear as ever, remains at his side, but in this tale, he takes a more active role than was his wont. The usual lovely woman, in this case a fallen but by no means helpless one, assists with some hitherto hidden investigative skills, and may just find a life off Whitechapel's streets. And off course Lestrade and Mycroft have their days under this new sun.
Faye has also created a theory about what might have happened to Jack, who in real life seems to just have up and vanished. And Faye's scenario is more than elementary, it's plausible. Dust and Shadow is a genuine page turner, rich in foggy Victorian atmosphere and a delight in which to lose yourself for a few suspense filled hours.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

"Watson, the game's afoot"....

Alright, so that was trite; but this book was really quite fun and suspensful and a very interesting plot. I have often wondered where Sherlock was when "Jack" was around and this is a unique story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must read for all Sherlock Holmes fans.

This is a can't put down book. The best characterazation of Holmes I have read in years. Hopefully Lyndsay Faye (author) has more Sherlock Holmes books in mind.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Moody, atmospheric, places you right in the middle of things.

First, a confession: while I have never been a huge fan of Conan Doyle's S. Holmes novels, my husband and I have watched and loved all of the BBC's televised versions, esp. the Basil Rathbone series, and have rarely been disappointed. They translate so well to the screen, where you can almost feel the dense fog, hear the cockney accents, experience the anxiety and terror of being amongst the horrific slums of Whitechapel, worry along with Watson during his friend's morphine "binges" and feel the comfort of the parlour as the two friends eat their dinners, have a smoke and a brandy and dissect the latest case.
This novel was all this and more and I couldn't wait to read it every night to see where it would take me. It would make a terrific movie and the whole time I was reading the novel I could imagine the GREAT British actor Hugh Laurie as Holmes. BBC/Hollywood please take note.
TRIVIA: Hugh Laurie's television series "House" was loosely based on the Holmes novels. e.g: Holmes/House---Watson/Wilson---Holmes/House/Baker St. abodes---H/H drug addictions---H/H best in their fields at solving complex mysteries---H/H both musicians, etc. etc. Brilliant.
Buy the book, read, enjoy immensely. ( as well as Gods of Gotham, same wonderful author).

Sherlock does it again!

This is an enjoyable book pitting the brains of "Jack the Ripper" against Sherlock Holmes" narrated by Watson

Wonderful!!!!

Great book by a great author, hope to see more from her! Couldn't put it down!

A "Ripping" Good Tale!

Ms. Faye has done what few authors have - mimicked just about perfectly Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes! Here the great detective takes on the most horrendous serial murderer of the 19th Century - Jack the Ripper - a villain whom Doyle never tangled with his sleuth. Though the voice of Dr. Watson, Faye matches wits between "Jack" and Holmes in perfect order....a true page turner! I hope to see more from this author!

superb

In 1939, Dr. John Watson recalls the gruesome events in 1888 in Whitechapel that terrorized the residents of London. The terror began with a violent murder followed rather quickly with an equally brutal killing. London was shaken by the viciousness of the violence in a part of town used to cruelty.

Sherlock Holmes joins the Scotland Yard investigation into the two homicides to the elation of beleaguered Inspector Lestrade. As Holmes begins to interrogate family members, more murders occur and the media calls the killer "Jack the Ripper". When Jack learns of Holmes' interest in the murder spree, he sends the great sleuth taunting notes. Holmes follows clues that lead to confrontation with Ripper who severely slashes the detective. When Sherlock vanishes to heal and the exorbitant murder spree stops, investigative reporter Dunlevy proclaims Holmes is probably the Ripper.

The Ripper serial murders are used more as a means to provide the audience with a deep look at Holmes and late Victorian England through the aging memory of what Watson recalls of late ninetieth century London. Who Ripper is proves not important as the audience will figure out early on his identity, but his reign of terror leads to a deep look at Holmes and a very competent Lestrade struggling to not lose it as he begins to suffer from PTSD with the case dragging on and the murder count rising. Holmes fans will enjoy this fresh take on the great detective although he has battled Ripper before (see Michael Didbin's The Last Sherlock Holmes Story).

Harriet Klausner

If you enjoy the origional Sherlock Holmes novels than....

you will enjoy this one. Written in a style very much like the original Doyle novels and stories, this one does satisfy. Also Watson is treated as a partner in the investigation with the intelligence you would expect a Doctor to possess, not a lackey. Rich in historical references and subplots, this one is not to be missed. To anyone that has an interest in the Ripper murders this book would not fail to capture their attention either. This story shows the horror of the crimes with historic detail but without the unnecessary gratuitous violence and gore.

It's not exactly Conan Doyle, but...

it's a good story with characters familiar to Holmes fans like myself. Topic of the Ripper has been covered many times and in many ways and this is not exceptional in originality, but a good read. Something every Holmes fan should add to their collection.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good for the Sherlock enthusiasts.

I read all the Sherlock Holmes stories and loved this one. It was a very good read. If you have read and like the Laurie King Sherlock stories - you will also like this one. Excellent read especially considering this one is a first novel by Faye. I look forward to reading her future ones. It is good that authors are keeping Sherlock alive.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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