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A Sherlock Holmes Adventure #1
Art in the Blood
London. A snowy December, 1888.
Sherlock Holmes, 34, is languishing and back on cocaine after a disastrous Ripper investigation. Watson can neither comfort nor rouse his friend – until a strangely encoded letter arrives from Paris. Mademoiselle La Victoire, a beautiful French cabaret star writes that her illegitimate son by an English Lord has disappeared, and she has been attacked in the streets of Montmartre.
Racing to Paris with Watson at his side, Holmes discovers the missing child is only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem. The most valuable statue since the Winged Victory has been violently stolen in Marseilles, and several children from a silk mill in Lancashire have been found murdered. The clues in all three cases point to a single, untouchable man.
Will Holmes recover in time to find the missing boy and stop a rising tide of murders? To do so he must stay one step ahead of a dangerous French rival and the threatening interference of his own brother, Mycroft.
This latest adventure, in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, sends the iconic duo from London to Paris and the icy wilds of Lancashire in a case which tests Watson's friendship and the fragility and gifts of Sherlock Holmes' own artistic nature to the limits.
Sherlock Holmes, 34, is languishing and back on cocaine after a disastrous Ripper investigation. Watson can neither comfort nor rouse his friend – until a strangely encoded letter arrives from Paris. Mademoiselle La Victoire, a beautiful French cabaret star writes that her illegitimate son by an English Lord has disappeared, and she has been attacked in the streets of Montmartre.
Racing to Paris with Watson at his side, Holmes discovers the missing child is only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem. The most valuable statue since the Winged Victory has been violently stolen in Marseilles, and several children from a silk mill in Lancashire have been found murdered. The clues in all three cases point to a single, untouchable man.
Will Holmes recover in time to find the missing boy and stop a rising tide of murders? To do so he must stay one step ahead of a dangerous French rival and the threatening interference of his own brother, Mycroft.
This latest adventure, in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, sends the iconic duo from London to Paris and the icy wilds of Lancashire in a case which tests Watson's friendship and the fragility and gifts of Sherlock Holmes' own artistic nature to the limits.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2015
About the author
Bonnie MacBird
21 books343 followersBonnie MacBird has been a screenwriter (TRON), studio executive (Universal) producer (three Emmys), a playwright and a classically trained actor. She taught writing at UCLA Extension's Writers' Program, and is a regular speaker on writing, creativity, and Sherlock Holmes.
She has five Sherlock Holmes novels, out now: ART IN THE BLOOD (2015), UNQUIET SPIRITS (2017) and THE DEVIL'S DUE (2019), THE THREE LOCKS (2020) and WHAT CHILD IS THIS? (2021). A sixth is in work. All are for HarperCollins
MacBird lives in Los Angeles and London
She has five Sherlock Holmes novels, out now: ART IN THE BLOOD (2015), UNQUIET SPIRITS (2017) and THE DEVIL'S DUE (2019), THE THREE LOCKS (2020) and WHAT CHILD IS THIS? (2021). A sixth is in work. All are for HarperCollins
MacBird lives in Los Angeles and London
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 575 reviews
July 27, 2017
Sherlock Holmes is contacted by Mlle La Victorie, a French cabaret singer whose son has disappeared. But it seems that the missing child has links to the theft of a valuable statue. Now Holmes and Dr. Watson must find both the child and the statue.
I think I must stop reading Sherlock Holmes books, at least those not written by Arthur Conan Doyle or Laurie R. King. It feels like every single Sherlock Holmes book I have read lately just doesn't work for me. Often Sherlock Holmes just doesn't feel like Sherlock Holmes, some small changes to him, adjust him to fit the story that is written.
Sherlock Holmes in this book was not that bad portrayed and I'm thankful for that. But I struggled with the story, I just couldn't get interested in it. I endured it because I wanted to know the ending and because it wasn't a thick book. But I can't say I enjoyed the book that much. It just lacked something vital for me and frankly, it dragged on way too much for being that interesting to read. I did find Dr. Watson a bit less annoying than usual. Sometimes they make him out to be a bit thickheaded, but in this book, I actually found him quite OK.
But on the plus side, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson worked for me, well at least more than I'm used to lately when it comes to Sherlock Holmes pastiches. The downside; the story was not that good. But I loved the cover!
Thanks to Collins Crime Club and Edelweiss for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I think I must stop reading Sherlock Holmes books, at least those not written by Arthur Conan Doyle or Laurie R. King. It feels like every single Sherlock Holmes book I have read lately just doesn't work for me. Often Sherlock Holmes just doesn't feel like Sherlock Holmes, some small changes to him, adjust him to fit the story that is written.
Sherlock Holmes in this book was not that bad portrayed and I'm thankful for that. But I struggled with the story, I just couldn't get interested in it. I endured it because I wanted to know the ending and because it wasn't a thick book. But I can't say I enjoyed the book that much. It just lacked something vital for me and frankly, it dragged on way too much for being that interesting to read. I did find Dr. Watson a bit less annoying than usual. Sometimes they make him out to be a bit thickheaded, but in this book, I actually found him quite OK.
But on the plus side, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson worked for me, well at least more than I'm used to lately when it comes to Sherlock Holmes pastiches. The downside; the story was not that good. But I loved the cover!
Thanks to Collins Crime Club and Edelweiss for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 16, 2015
Art in the Blood: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure reads like a cross between Benedict Cumberbatch's/Robert Downey's Sherlock more than Doyle's. Overall though, brushing aside comparison to Doyle's Watson's narration,Art in the Blood: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is a good read. 3.5 stars.FRTC.
June 19, 2016
Yo soy esa persona extraña que lee y ve cuanto libro y serie inspirada en Sherlock Holmes se le atraviesa (¡hola, Cumberbatch!), pero no ha leído las historias originales de Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Lo sé, lo sé, ¡vaya vergüenza!
Arte en la Sangre se presenta a sí mismo como una historia de un Sherlock Holmes diferente y en uno de sus momentos más vulnerables. Es por eso por lo que, supuestamente, el Doctor Watson no había querido publicar este relato. Así, nos encontramos en las primeras páginas a un Sherlock recién salido de prisión, que acaba de sobrevivir a un incendio de su apartamento en Baker Street y que ha recaído en la cocaína producto de la falta de casos y de la ausencia de su recién casado compañero. Watson, al ver el estado de su amigo, decide quedarse con él y trabajar un caso para así distraer su mente y tenerlo vigilado una temporada. De esa manera, se embarcan en un misterio que los lleva desde Londres, a Lancashire e incluso París y que involucra asesinatos y escándalos de grandes figuras políticas y una actriz parisina de un incroyable renombre.
Este es un libro tremendamente entretenido, con capítulos cortos e intrigas que se van esclareciendo de la mano de la brillante mente de Sherlock Holmes. Aquí, la autora no escatima en detalles de ambientación que nos sitúan magistralmente en el Londres y la París de 1888, así que constantemente olvidamos que estamos leyendo Arte en la Sangre en pleno siglo XXI. Además, si bien nos encontramos con muchísimos personajes a lo largo del camino, todos son vitales para el desarrollo de la trama y, por lo tanto, memorables.
Fue un poco extraño leer a un Sherlock un poco descolocado y sin su frialdad y racionalidad características, pero aún así el tono de la historia y el desarrollo de la misma hacen que esto se vea como un impasse propio de un ser humano y no como un error en la construcción del personaje, si es que eso tiene algún sentido, jajaja.
Finalmente, lo que me encanta de leer libros de Sherlock Holmes es poder identificar todos los elementos característicos, y les aseguro que esta historia tiene todos esos pequeños guiños. Que, de nuevo, soy cero experta porque no he leído lo más importante que es lo original, pero aún así es sencillo identificar la preocupación de Watson, la constante ineficacia de Scotland Yard y la aparente omnipresencia de Mycroft.
Arte en la Sangre se presenta a sí mismo como una historia de un Sherlock Holmes diferente y en uno de sus momentos más vulnerables. Es por eso por lo que, supuestamente, el Doctor Watson no había querido publicar este relato. Así, nos encontramos en las primeras páginas a un Sherlock recién salido de prisión, que acaba de sobrevivir a un incendio de su apartamento en Baker Street y que ha recaído en la cocaína producto de la falta de casos y de la ausencia de su recién casado compañero. Watson, al ver el estado de su amigo, decide quedarse con él y trabajar un caso para así distraer su mente y tenerlo vigilado una temporada. De esa manera, se embarcan en un misterio que los lleva desde Londres, a Lancashire e incluso París y que involucra asesinatos y escándalos de grandes figuras políticas y una actriz parisina de un incroyable renombre.
Este es un libro tremendamente entretenido, con capítulos cortos e intrigas que se van esclareciendo de la mano de la brillante mente de Sherlock Holmes. Aquí, la autora no escatima en detalles de ambientación que nos sitúan magistralmente en el Londres y la París de 1888, así que constantemente olvidamos que estamos leyendo Arte en la Sangre en pleno siglo XXI. Además, si bien nos encontramos con muchísimos personajes a lo largo del camino, todos son vitales para el desarrollo de la trama y, por lo tanto, memorables.
Fue un poco extraño leer a un Sherlock un poco descolocado y sin su frialdad y racionalidad características, pero aún así el tono de la historia y el desarrollo de la misma hacen que esto se vea como un impasse propio de un ser humano y no como un error en la construcción del personaje, si es que eso tiene algún sentido, jajaja.
Finalmente, lo que me encanta de leer libros de Sherlock Holmes es poder identificar todos los elementos característicos, y les aseguro que esta historia tiene todos esos pequeños guiños. Que, de nuevo, soy cero experta porque no he leído lo más importante que es lo original, pero aún así es sencillo identificar la preocupación de Watson, la constante ineficacia de Scotland Yard y la aparente omnipresencia de Mycroft.
July 4, 2023
I must admit, I was pretty impressed at how well this “new” Sherlock Holmes take fits with the rest of the canon.
Accurate portrayal and although some of the ending was predicted, there was some unpredictable elements.
I personally thought she nailed Watson a touch better then Holmes, but my favorite detective is not exactly a people person… so if he came across as more of a caricature, I understand why. He often repeated similar responses, especially when impatient. I’d love to see if she shows more nuance with her Holmes in the next book.
I was disappointed that Lestrade had a minute role but as this is one of a series, I look forward to meeting up with all of my fave Conan Doyle characters again!!
How many Holmes-inspired or additional new books have I read? Few have captured my attention as easily or made me forget it wasn’t an original.
Bravo Ms McBird—my bar was high, but you easily sailed over it!!
Accurate portrayal and although some of the ending was predicted, there was some unpredictable elements.
I personally thought she nailed Watson a touch better then Holmes, but my favorite detective is not exactly a people person… so if he came across as more of a caricature, I understand why. He often repeated similar responses, especially when impatient. I’d love to see if she shows more nuance with her Holmes in the next book.
I was disappointed that Lestrade had a minute role but as this is one of a series, I look forward to meeting up with all of my fave Conan Doyle characters again!!
How many Holmes-inspired or additional new books have I read? Few have captured my attention as easily or made me forget it wasn’t an original.
Bravo Ms McBird—my bar was high, but you easily sailed over it!!
October 20, 2015
DNF at 33%
I was pretty excited about this book. I was intrigued by the premise and I'm mildly obsessed with the tv shows Sherlock and Elementary.
My main complaint is that the manic personality of Sherlock depicted so wonderfully in the shows did not translate well in the book. Same goes for the delightful banter between Sherlock and Watson. To me, Sherlock came across as mean and pedantic and that took away any enjoyment.
I found myself putting the book down after 20 minutes of starting to read it and I didn't pick it back up until over 2 weeks later. Only to lose even more interest.
I can definitely see how people will be interested in the story, ultimately it just wasn't for me.
**Huge thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I was pretty excited about this book. I was intrigued by the premise and I'm mildly obsessed with the tv shows Sherlock and Elementary.
My main complaint is that the manic personality of Sherlock depicted so wonderfully in the shows did not translate well in the book. Same goes for the delightful banter between Sherlock and Watson. To me, Sherlock came across as mean and pedantic and that took away any enjoyment.
I found myself putting the book down after 20 minutes of starting to read it and I didn't pick it back up until over 2 weeks later. Only to lose even more interest.
I can definitely see how people will be interested in the story, ultimately it just wasn't for me.
**Huge thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
Read
July 16, 2016When Toulouse-Latrec showed up about page 100, I got worried. By page 120, after Mycroft threatens Sherlock with jail and "hard labour" I gave up. What a disappointment!
This book has just about everything wrong in a Sherlock Holmes pastiche (Watson writing down curse words? Really? The client repeating her story twice in less than 100 pages? WHY?) and yet it still got published.
Lovely cover, though. Too bad it couldn't have been for a book I'd want to give a darn about.
This book has just about everything wrong in a Sherlock Holmes pastiche (Watson writing down curse words? Really? The client repeating her story twice in less than 100 pages? WHY?) and yet it still got published.
Lovely cover, though. Too bad it couldn't have been for a book I'd want to give a darn about.
December 20, 2020
Good story. Unfortunately, I did not care much for the audiobook.
If I go on with the series, it will be text, not audio.
Edited. Dec. 18, 2020. I bought the book and reread this story, prior to reading the second book in the series. I liked this story much better in print. I am upping the star count by one.
If I go on with the series, it will be text, not audio.
Edited. Dec. 18, 2020. I bought the book and reread this story, prior to reading the second book in the series. I liked this story much better in print. I am upping the star count by one.
February 17, 2016
Art in the Blood: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Bonnie MacBird tells the tale of an older and somewhat bitter Sherlock Holmes. Feeling betrayed by his brother and the country he loves after a disastrous investigation into the Jack the Ripper murders, Holmes has fallen into a back under the influence of the drug, cocaine.
In December of 1888, Watson finds his friend listless and unresponsive. Fearing Holmes is fallen into a bout of depression that is fueled by his drug use, Watson implores the great detective to rouse himself. But it is only when a letter arrives from Paris that Holmes awakens. A beautiful French cabaret singer is attacked on the streets of Montmartre and her young son has vanished. But when Holmes investigates he finds that the missing child may only be the beginning of the mystery to unfold.
Political intrigue and the theft of valuable statues cloud the disappearance of the child. Then comes the bodies of young children consigned to labor in a silk mill in Lancashire. The very silk mill owned by the father of the missing child. All clues seem to implicate an English nobleman, an art collector who seems to be beyond the reach of the law.
Sherlock Holmes must find the missing boy before he becomes the next victim of the child murderer. But can he shake his addiction in time and what of the aggressive French detective? Is he ally or foe. And there is his own brother to contend with. Mycroft, who in the name of Queen and Country will sacrifice another small child to keep any scandal quiet.
The problem with picking up such established characters that are widely known and adored as the Sherlock Holmes cast is that if you have nothing truly fresh to add to the lexicon, then you must tell the tale in the same manner as was told by its original author. Truthfully, to write as Conan Doyle is a task too great for any writer to take on. Art in the Blood is more in the realm of Nicholas Meyer's The Seven Per Cent Solution and for a good portion of the tale holds its own. But as it moves the story from the streets of Paris back to the English countryside the story changes into something that for many Baker Street Irregulars will become something less recognizable as Holmes and Watson turn from their literary selves into the caricatures that were the Robert Downey Jr. films of late. Fun perhaps. Exciting even. But not Holmes and Watson.
I wish MacBird had made more of rivalry between Holmes and the French detective Jean Vidocq. This French detective is often credited with being the first true private detective. Lambasted by Conan Doyle and Edgar Allen Poe, Vidocq actually put together the first detective agency in 1834. Decades before Scotland Yard created the Crime Squad and America had its very own Pinkerton Agency. Vidocq, it should be added, was the inspiration for Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
Instead here, he is a womanizer, who preys on the vulnerability of a distressed mother to take the glory from Holmes and solve the case himself. His intentions motivated by lust or money or fame.
A true battle of wits between the two detectives would have been far more entertaining for those who enjoy Holmes and Watson.
Over all this is a weak effort in the vast ocean that is the Sherlock Holmes universe.
In December of 1888, Watson finds his friend listless and unresponsive. Fearing Holmes is fallen into a bout of depression that is fueled by his drug use, Watson implores the great detective to rouse himself. But it is only when a letter arrives from Paris that Holmes awakens. A beautiful French cabaret singer is attacked on the streets of Montmartre and her young son has vanished. But when Holmes investigates he finds that the missing child may only be the beginning of the mystery to unfold.
Political intrigue and the theft of valuable statues cloud the disappearance of the child. Then comes the bodies of young children consigned to labor in a silk mill in Lancashire. The very silk mill owned by the father of the missing child. All clues seem to implicate an English nobleman, an art collector who seems to be beyond the reach of the law.
Sherlock Holmes must find the missing boy before he becomes the next victim of the child murderer. But can he shake his addiction in time and what of the aggressive French detective? Is he ally or foe. And there is his own brother to contend with. Mycroft, who in the name of Queen and Country will sacrifice another small child to keep any scandal quiet.
The problem with picking up such established characters that are widely known and adored as the Sherlock Holmes cast is that if you have nothing truly fresh to add to the lexicon, then you must tell the tale in the same manner as was told by its original author. Truthfully, to write as Conan Doyle is a task too great for any writer to take on. Art in the Blood is more in the realm of Nicholas Meyer's The Seven Per Cent Solution and for a good portion of the tale holds its own. But as it moves the story from the streets of Paris back to the English countryside the story changes into something that for many Baker Street Irregulars will become something less recognizable as Holmes and Watson turn from their literary selves into the caricatures that were the Robert Downey Jr. films of late. Fun perhaps. Exciting even. But not Holmes and Watson.
I wish MacBird had made more of rivalry between Holmes and the French detective Jean Vidocq. This French detective is often credited with being the first true private detective. Lambasted by Conan Doyle and Edgar Allen Poe, Vidocq actually put together the first detective agency in 1834. Decades before Scotland Yard created the Crime Squad and America had its very own Pinkerton Agency. Vidocq, it should be added, was the inspiration for Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
Instead here, he is a womanizer, who preys on the vulnerability of a distressed mother to take the glory from Holmes and solve the case himself. His intentions motivated by lust or money or fame.
A true battle of wits between the two detectives would have been far more entertaining for those who enjoy Holmes and Watson.
Over all this is a weak effort in the vast ocean that is the Sherlock Holmes universe.
October 8, 2020
I'm always on the look out for Holmesian stories and Art in the Blood (Sherlock Holmes Adventures #1) by Bonnie MacBord hit almost all the right notes. I really got a kick out of reading her version of Holmes and Watson who are very much a mash up of Jeremy Brett and Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and David Burke and Jude Law as Watson with just a dash of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman to top it off. I also really appreciated that we get to see Watson take the spotlight as the action begins to follow him directly in the final quarter of the novel. I can't wait to continue this series.
January 19, 2016
[I received a copy of this novel through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.]
Decent but nothing to write home about. While I found myself excited at first, because it was reminiscent of actual Sherlock Holmes adventures, I also ended up losing touch fairly easily, and not being really interested in what was happening. Perhaps because of the hints at a potential attraction toward the French artist (I don't know... for me, Irene Adler still remains the only woman for Sherlock). Or because the mystery itself seemed to drag, and to lack the usual “punch” I expect in a Holmes & Watson adventure.
I thought Sherlock overlooked quite a few things, and made a few too many mistakes here, mistakes that didn't ring “true” to his character. Granted, I haven't read any of the original stories in a few years; however, I don't remember him as endangering himself so because he miscalculated an enemy's move, for instance. He felt and acted as less acute than his usual self here, and all in all, he wasn't the Holmes I'm used to: making him more approachable didn't work here, and seeing his judgment sometimes impaired by tepid emotions was... strange. He was too remote from Doyle's Sherlock, yet didn't bring anything original or particularly interesting to the character.
(On the other hand, Watson wasn't introduced, nor acted, as the bumbling idiot he too often is in too many stories, which is always good in my opinion!)
The mystery itself was so-so. Not particularly interesting, a bit all over the place (France, London, art, potential love interests, kids disappearing, shifty French detective, Vidocq, a suspicious gaoler, silk trade...), beating around the bush, Mycroft's way of getting involved and making things easier for the characters—resulting in not much investigating on their part where there should've been... I suppose the themes it raised, like children treated as slaves or worse, should've been treated more seriously, only some of this was just thrown in, especially at the end, and its impact thus lowered.
The writing itself: not terrific either. Not emulating a “Victorian” style of writing, not close to Doyle's, too modern in parts... It didn't do much for me. Same with the “art” part, and the way it could've ran parallel with investigation methods: it didn't deliver.
1.5/2 stars. I can't say I hated it, but I just didn't care.
Decent but nothing to write home about. While I found myself excited at first, because it was reminiscent of actual Sherlock Holmes adventures, I also ended up losing touch fairly easily, and not being really interested in what was happening. Perhaps because of the hints at a potential attraction toward the French artist (I don't know... for me, Irene Adler still remains the only woman for Sherlock). Or because the mystery itself seemed to drag, and to lack the usual “punch” I expect in a Holmes & Watson adventure.
I thought Sherlock overlooked quite a few things, and made a few too many mistakes here, mistakes that didn't ring “true” to his character. Granted, I haven't read any of the original stories in a few years; however, I don't remember him as endangering himself so because he miscalculated an enemy's move, for instance. He felt and acted as less acute than his usual self here, and all in all, he wasn't the Holmes I'm used to: making him more approachable didn't work here, and seeing his judgment sometimes impaired by tepid emotions was... strange. He was too remote from Doyle's Sherlock, yet didn't bring anything original or particularly interesting to the character.
(On the other hand, Watson wasn't introduced, nor acted, as the bumbling idiot he too often is in too many stories, which is always good in my opinion!)
The mystery itself was so-so. Not particularly interesting, a bit all over the place (France, London, art, potential love interests, kids disappearing, shifty French detective, Vidocq, a suspicious gaoler, silk trade...), beating around the bush, Mycroft's way of getting involved and making things easier for the characters—resulting in not much investigating on their part where there should've been... I suppose the themes it raised, like children treated as slaves or worse, should've been treated more seriously, only some of this was just thrown in, especially at the end, and its impact thus lowered.
The writing itself: not terrific either. Not emulating a “Victorian” style of writing, not close to Doyle's, too modern in parts... It didn't do much for me. Same with the “art” part, and the way it could've ran parallel with investigation methods: it didn't deliver.
1.5/2 stars. I can't say I hated it, but I just didn't care.
May 10, 2019
Este libro pretende ser una mezcla entre los casos de Holmes de Conan Doyle y los personajes de la serie de Moffat y Gatiss sobre el detective (al menos es lo que afirma la escritora en sus agradecimientos) y creo que no está a la altura de ninguna de las dos cosas. Hasta la primera mitad la historia era más o menos entretenida pero a partir de ahí se alarga y se complica innecesariamente, aunque lo peor son los personajes que están absolutamente desdibujados e irreconocibles.
October 15, 2015
That cover and title are so good I almost bought a signed copy without even knowing if the book was crap or not.
3.5 Stars
This is one of the neatest things I've seen concerning a book extra. http://www.macbird.com/aitb/notes/ These are the illustrated annotations for the novel. They are spoilerific, but are broken into chapters so one won't accidentally spoil themselves. They are also written in a way that keeps with the narrative that the story is a restored copy of something Watson wrote. It's a nice touch.
This is an interesting book in that it is set back with the original tales by Doyle, but isn't as stuffy as Victorian works tend to be. Some of the original voices come through, but you also hear more modern voices as well. One of my comments while reading one of the opening chapters was that I could see Cumberbatch in the scene. If you are a strict "Doyle's style is the only style" type person... then why are you even considering reading anything else? You won't mistake this for Doyle. But Doyle can be stuffy and long-winded, so I don't consider that an automatic negative. Instead, we get more action in our story, and at least some subject matter that I am not sure Doyle would have ever written. Let's just say Victorian sensibilities may have had trouble with some of the crimes presented.
But if you're fine with that going in, this is a good ride. Holmes gets caught off-guard more than I've ever seen him, which is both concerning and really interesting at the same time. Watson is still Watson, for better or worse. One doesn't get the same "Holmes is an impossible genius" vibe from this one though. Personally, I enjoy when Holmes solves the mysteries of the universe by noticing a single cat hair, but there isn't much of that here. Oh, he still notices things no one else does, but I never got the moment of "oh wow, Holmes is omniscient" that one can get in other Sherlock stories.
There's a small bit of "stupid for the sake of plot," but it is difficult to really say that with conviction because it is mostly new characters being stupid, so it may just be character flaws. I suppose.
Overall, it's a good Holmes book with a healthy splash of BBC Sherlock in with the Doyle.
3.5 Stars
This is one of the neatest things I've seen concerning a book extra. http://www.macbird.com/aitb/notes/ These are the illustrated annotations for the novel. They are spoilerific, but are broken into chapters so one won't accidentally spoil themselves. They are also written in a way that keeps with the narrative that the story is a restored copy of something Watson wrote. It's a nice touch.
This is an interesting book in that it is set back with the original tales by Doyle, but isn't as stuffy as Victorian works tend to be. Some of the original voices come through, but you also hear more modern voices as well. One of my comments while reading one of the opening chapters was that I could see Cumberbatch in the scene. If you are a strict "Doyle's style is the only style" type person... then why are you even considering reading anything else? You won't mistake this for Doyle. But Doyle can be stuffy and long-winded, so I don't consider that an automatic negative. Instead, we get more action in our story, and at least some subject matter that I am not sure Doyle would have ever written. Let's just say Victorian sensibilities may have had trouble with some of the crimes presented.
But if you're fine with that going in, this is a good ride. Holmes gets caught off-guard more than I've ever seen him, which is both concerning and really interesting at the same time. Watson is still Watson, for better or worse. One doesn't get the same "Holmes is an impossible genius" vibe from this one though. Personally, I enjoy when Holmes solves the mysteries of the universe by noticing a single cat hair, but there isn't much of that here. Oh, he still notices things no one else does, but I never got the moment of "oh wow, Holmes is omniscient" that one can get in other Sherlock stories.
There's a small bit of "stupid for the sake of plot," but it is difficult to really say that with conviction because it is mostly new characters being stupid, so it may just be character flaws. I suppose.
Overall, it's a good Holmes book with a healthy splash of BBC Sherlock in with the Doyle.
April 18, 2016
Art in the Blood is a pastiche with one of my favorite characters, Sherlock Holmes, and is an engaging tale and a promising series that I'm looking forward to reading more of. One of the aspects of this book that is the best is the research of author Bonnie MacBird. She is genius at including all the sidebar items of history that make fiction sing for me. And, the reading of Art in the Blood isn't the end of those fascinating tidbits. It is simply a required part of this reading to visit the author's Web site and read through, listed by chapters, her illustrated annotations. I'm such a fan of authors going the extra mile to enhance the reading experience, and MacBird does that and then some.
This Sherlock tale takes place in Sherlock's rather early days, as he is 34 and is in the throes of a depression over his inability to bring closure to the Ripper investigation. Newly wedded friend Watson, having been preoccupied with his new wife and living arrangements, is distressed to find Holmes in a cocaine-induced stupor when he at last visits Baker Street. A solution to Holmes' state arrives on the heels of Watson's appearance in the form of a letter from Paris, a letter requiring the skills of Sherlock Holmes to even read it. The letter is a request for help from a beautiful French cabaret singer (is there any other kind of French cabaret singer), a Mademoiselle La Victoire, whose son is missing. To complicate matters, the son is the illegitimate child of an English Earle, who has been raising the boy as his and his wife's own.
Sherlock jumps into action with he and Watson running for the train to Paris. Of course, finding the child will be the easy part of this adventure. There is lost art, megalomaniac and ruthless men, murder most foul, long-kept secrets, more missing children and Sherlock's brother Mycroft all thrown into the danger that must be faced. Sherlock seems the only one who could possibly connect all the dots and resolve all the problems, but he himself will be tested like never before.
This Sherlock tale takes place in Sherlock's rather early days, as he is 34 and is in the throes of a depression over his inability to bring closure to the Ripper investigation. Newly wedded friend Watson, having been preoccupied with his new wife and living arrangements, is distressed to find Holmes in a cocaine-induced stupor when he at last visits Baker Street. A solution to Holmes' state arrives on the heels of Watson's appearance in the form of a letter from Paris, a letter requiring the skills of Sherlock Holmes to even read it. The letter is a request for help from a beautiful French cabaret singer (is there any other kind of French cabaret singer), a Mademoiselle La Victoire, whose son is missing. To complicate matters, the son is the illegitimate child of an English Earle, who has been raising the boy as his and his wife's own.
Sherlock jumps into action with he and Watson running for the train to Paris. Of course, finding the child will be the easy part of this adventure. There is lost art, megalomaniac and ruthless men, murder most foul, long-kept secrets, more missing children and Sherlock's brother Mycroft all thrown into the danger that must be faced. Sherlock seems the only one who could possibly connect all the dots and resolve all the problems, but he himself will be tested like never before.
February 3, 2020
I loved the characterization of Watson as a loyal, intelligent, and loving partner. My favorite scenes from the book are when Watson goes to great lengths to help his friend, including *hope this isn't too much of a spoiler* an impromptu blood transfusion. The characterization of Holmes, however, was quite problematic. It reminded me more of a drug-addled Robert Downey Jr. Holmes than the canonical Holmes, and I was never a big fan of the Guy Ritchie-directed series. Also, Holmes *more spoilers* does many things because of his addiction canon Holmes would never do, such as setting things on fire by accident and giving away his disguise when hot coffee is poured upon him (out of involuntary surprise).
Points for having a strong female client at the center of the mystery, but unlike Doyle (despite my mockery of his flashbacks) who creates very elegant, easy-to-follow mysteries (no matter how improbable) with memorable characters, I found this story's plot to be unnecessarily convoluted and the supporting characters rather poorly defined, so I didn't particularly care about the resolution. I enjoyed the bits between Holmes and Watson, though, and MacBird's style is very engaging and readable.
The cover is fantastic.
Points for having a strong female client at the center of the mystery, but unlike Doyle (despite my mockery of his flashbacks) who creates very elegant, easy-to-follow mysteries (no matter how improbable) with memorable characters, I found this story's plot to be unnecessarily convoluted and the supporting characters rather poorly defined, so I didn't particularly care about the resolution. I enjoyed the bits between Holmes and Watson, though, and MacBird's style is very engaging and readable.
The cover is fantastic.
January 31, 2018
My favorite Holmes stories are the ones I can read and they feel like Holmes, and I know little difference between the actions and reactions from the characters I first met thanks to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. "Art in the Blood" jumps quickly into an intriguing plot, introduces secondary characters who have some skin in the game, and - while it's difficult for stories like this to put our heroes into dire straits - really challenges our protagonists. Fast-paced, several intriguing subplots, Holmes at his best and regular twists and turns make "Art in the Blood" an excellent, enjoyable read for any Holmes fans.
September 11, 2020
I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan but I believe one cannot beat the Conan Doyle originals. But I am always prepared to try a Holmes' pastiche, if only to see how more modern writers portray him and Watson.
However, 'Art in the Blood' just didn't do it for me at all; try as she might Bonnie MacBird just did not get that Holmes/Watson relationship quite right and with brother Mycroft regularly muscling in - attempting to be as clever as Sherlock - and the introduction of such as Toulouse Lautre (why?) and French detective Jean Vidocq (a poor characterisation), the plot rambles along, flitting about all over the place.
There is a stolen statue, an apparent kidnapping of a child, a French woman attacked on the streets of Montmartre and bodies of young children discovered and this little lot needs putting together to get the gist of the story. It was certainly a convoluted plot, flitting about all over the place, leaving this particular reader wondering what on earth was going on and how it was all going to come together.
I did start the book with eager anticipation and in fairness there are some good ambient moments, particularly early on in the book, but my enthusiasm soon waned and the more I read the worse the book got. And when I read Watson's remark, 'I had begun to doubt our own abilities. Holmes and I had made one mistake after another', I just thought 'No, surely not Holmes and Watson?' In the end I was delighted to finish the book (how I am not sure as it tested my reading patience) but it left me with an empty feeling and a couldn't care less attitude. What a pity.
So, despite my liking for Holmes' pastiches I don't think I will be trying any others in this series. Sorry Bonnie MacBird.
However, 'Art in the Blood' just didn't do it for me at all; try as she might Bonnie MacBird just did not get that Holmes/Watson relationship quite right and with brother Mycroft regularly muscling in - attempting to be as clever as Sherlock - and the introduction of such as Toulouse Lautre (why?) and French detective Jean Vidocq (a poor characterisation), the plot rambles along, flitting about all over the place.
There is a stolen statue, an apparent kidnapping of a child, a French woman attacked on the streets of Montmartre and bodies of young children discovered and this little lot needs putting together to get the gist of the story. It was certainly a convoluted plot, flitting about all over the place, leaving this particular reader wondering what on earth was going on and how it was all going to come together.
I did start the book with eager anticipation and in fairness there are some good ambient moments, particularly early on in the book, but my enthusiasm soon waned and the more I read the worse the book got. And when I read Watson's remark, 'I had begun to doubt our own abilities. Holmes and I had made one mistake after another', I just thought 'No, surely not Holmes and Watson?' In the end I was delighted to finish the book (how I am not sure as it tested my reading patience) but it left me with an empty feeling and a couldn't care less attitude. What a pity.
So, despite my liking for Holmes' pastiches I don't think I will be trying any others in this series. Sorry Bonnie MacBird.
December 23, 2016
3.5
Imagina que mientras te encuentras en la biblioteca de casualidad te encuentras uno de los manuscritos nunca publicados por el Dr. Watson en los que narra una de las aventuras que vivo junto con su inseparable amigo Sherlock Holmes.
¿Cuál sería la razón por la que nunca vio la luz esta historia y que secretos ocultaría?
Bonnie MacBird nos presenta una emocionante narración en la trae a la vida al personaje icono creado por Arthur Conan Doyle, en una novela que sin duda dará mucho de qué hablar.
La historia es contada desde la perspectiva de Watson y se sitúa en el año 1888, por lo que él y Holmes ya se conocen y han resulto casos juntos; además Watson se ha casado y dejado el piso 221B de la calle Baker.
Sin entrar en muchos detalles, Holmes no se encuentra en su mejor momento, por lo que su amigo acude en su ayuda, pero lo que descubre al reencontrarse con él lo deja perplejo. Además de esto, como toda buena historia del famoso detective, necesitamos de un misterio que nos mantenga pegados al libro, y Arte en la sangre consigue hacerlo.
“Mi querido amigo Sherlock Holmes dijo una vez “El arte en la sangre puede tomar las formas más diversas”. Y así le pasó a él.”
Por una parte Mycroft, el hermano de Sherlock, le pide que por favor investigue el robo de una invaluable obra de arte que tiene por nombre la Nike de Marsella; este insidente no logra despertar ninguna emoción en el detective.
Por el otro, Holmes recibe una curiosa carta que despierta en el todo su interés, una mujer perteneciente al mundo del teatro le solicita su ayuda para resolver la desaparición de una persona y le revela que su propia vida se encuentra en riesgo.
Holmes no necesita pensar dos veces para aceptar este caso, por lo que convence a Watson de iniciar un nuevo viaje para ayudar a esta enigmática artista, sin imaginar que lo que su aventura les espera.
Puedes leer mi reseña completa en https://rincondelecturamx.blogspot.mx...
Imagina que mientras te encuentras en la biblioteca de casualidad te encuentras uno de los manuscritos nunca publicados por el Dr. Watson en los que narra una de las aventuras que vivo junto con su inseparable amigo Sherlock Holmes.
¿Cuál sería la razón por la que nunca vio la luz esta historia y que secretos ocultaría?
Bonnie MacBird nos presenta una emocionante narración en la trae a la vida al personaje icono creado por Arthur Conan Doyle, en una novela que sin duda dará mucho de qué hablar.
La historia es contada desde la perspectiva de Watson y se sitúa en el año 1888, por lo que él y Holmes ya se conocen y han resulto casos juntos; además Watson se ha casado y dejado el piso 221B de la calle Baker.
Sin entrar en muchos detalles, Holmes no se encuentra en su mejor momento, por lo que su amigo acude en su ayuda, pero lo que descubre al reencontrarse con él lo deja perplejo. Además de esto, como toda buena historia del famoso detective, necesitamos de un misterio que nos mantenga pegados al libro, y Arte en la sangre consigue hacerlo.
“Mi querido amigo Sherlock Holmes dijo una vez “El arte en la sangre puede tomar las formas más diversas”. Y así le pasó a él.”
Por una parte Mycroft, el hermano de Sherlock, le pide que por favor investigue el robo de una invaluable obra de arte que tiene por nombre la Nike de Marsella; este insidente no logra despertar ninguna emoción en el detective.
Por el otro, Holmes recibe una curiosa carta que despierta en el todo su interés, una mujer perteneciente al mundo del teatro le solicita su ayuda para resolver la desaparición de una persona y le revela que su propia vida se encuentra en riesgo.
Holmes no necesita pensar dos veces para aceptar este caso, por lo que convence a Watson de iniciar un nuevo viaje para ayudar a esta enigmática artista, sin imaginar que lo que su aventura les espera.
Puedes leer mi reseña completa en https://rincondelecturamx.blogspot.mx...
November 14, 2022
Interesting
April 7, 2016
Me gusto demasiado, más de lo que creí que me gustaría, fue una aventura llena de acción, misterio y demasiada diversión, es la primera vez que leo algo sobre sherlock holmes, y aunque esta novela no está escrita por sir arthur, estoy sumamente segura que la autora logró captar y plasmar la esencia de los personajes en este libro!!! Sin duda alguna me aventuraré a leer más sobre este hombre!!! ❤️
Reseña completa: http://karlajgalindo.blogspot.mx/2016...
Vídeo reseña: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXHo...
Reseña completa: http://karlajgalindo.blogspot.mx/2016...
Vídeo reseña: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPXHo...
December 17, 2017
I'm not a big fan of Holmes portrayed as omnipotent. On the other hand, I also dislike it intensely when authors dumb him down and let him make one stupid mistake after another. Like in this book. Also, in the fanfiction community, there's a word for what Holmes is in this book: a woobie. Or, that one poor, fragile, always physically hurt, always suffering, always in despair and danger character. The author went way over the top here and by the end, I couldn't help but roll my eyes a little.
October 9, 2015
The book is nothing ground breaking but its a nice read. Well written and plays nicely on the characters. Srory line was quite good and didn't deviate too much from how the characters should be.
Not as brilliant as House of Silk but still a decent read
Not as brilliant as House of Silk but still a decent read
November 3, 2021
I'm not sure what to think of it... I started reading Sherlock stories by other authors because I was having withdrawal symptoms after I finished the original the first time around. You can feel it's not the same one.
Nice effort though!
Nice effort though!
January 31, 2021
Art in the Blood is author Bonnie Macbird’s first in a series of Sherlock Holmes novels.
It is set in the traditional historical setting. Sherlock at this point is already renowned, so it’s not a retelling or an origin story. The way it is written acts as a missing case.
For the most part, the story is told from the point of view of Doctor John Watson. Sherlock’s long suffering friend and colleague. This I felt worked well as it gave us a perspective into the story.
The feel of the story is more akin to some of the modern interpretations of the character of Sherlock. Think of Robert Downey Jr. films or the Benedict Cumberbatch TV show. It is fairly fast paced and has quite a bit of action. I cannot however compare it to the original Arthur Conan Doyle works.
The characters themselves to me felt very inspired by the modern tales. Sherlock here is a combination of the Robert Downey Jr and Benedict Cumberbatch version. Watson to me came across very much like Martin Freeman’s version from the Sherlock TV show. There are other familiar faces that show up, including Mycroft.
The storyline itself starts out as a missing persons case, which soon branches out into a murder mystery.
Overall it’s a fun and enjoyable book. It just didn’t blow my mind. I would however be tempted to see what other books in the series are like. Definitely for fans of modern Sherlock Holmes.
It is set in the traditional historical setting. Sherlock at this point is already renowned, so it’s not a retelling or an origin story. The way it is written acts as a missing case.
For the most part, the story is told from the point of view of Doctor John Watson. Sherlock’s long suffering friend and colleague. This I felt worked well as it gave us a perspective into the story.
The feel of the story is more akin to some of the modern interpretations of the character of Sherlock. Think of Robert Downey Jr. films or the Benedict Cumberbatch TV show. It is fairly fast paced and has quite a bit of action. I cannot however compare it to the original Arthur Conan Doyle works.
The characters themselves to me felt very inspired by the modern tales. Sherlock here is a combination of the Robert Downey Jr and Benedict Cumberbatch version. Watson to me came across very much like Martin Freeman’s version from the Sherlock TV show. There are other familiar faces that show up, including Mycroft.
The storyline itself starts out as a missing persons case, which soon branches out into a murder mystery.
Overall it’s a fun and enjoyable book. It just didn’t blow my mind. I would however be tempted to see what other books in the series are like. Definitely for fans of modern Sherlock Holmes.
March 30, 2017
«O meu querido amigo Sherlock Holmes disse, uma vez: “A arte, no sangue, pode adotar a mais diversas formas.”» Assim tem início esta nova aventura da dupla detectivesca criada por Arthur Conan Doyle. Neste romance de estreia da argumentista Bonnie Macbird (n. 1951), a trama ambienta-se em 1888, na Londres ainda em choque com os macabros assassinatos em série de Jack, o Estripador.
(...)
http://silenciosquefalam.blogspot.pt/...
(...)
http://silenciosquefalam.blogspot.pt/...
March 5, 2023
Es dauert ein wenig, bis die Geschichte in Fahrt kommt, aber danach hat mich das Buch richtig gefesselt. Hat Spaß gemacht, mal wieder abseits von Enola Holmes sich von einem Sherlock-Abenteuer richtig gut unterhalten zu lassen :-).
August 11, 2016
QUATTRO E 1/2
Recensione sul sito LA FENICE BOOK
L'arte nel sangue è stato scritto dalla talentuosa, artista Bonnie Macbird che ha conseguito un master in Cinematografia. Durante la sua lunga carriera a Hollywood ha lavorato per la Universal, ha firmato il soggetto originale per film di successo come Tron, ha vinto tre Emmy Awards per la realizzazione di documentari, ha prodotto numerose commedie/musical e ha lavorato come attrice/regista per il teatro. Insomma un vero spirito artistico la nostra autrice.
Il libro si ispira al più grande investigatore di tutti i tempi, Sherlock Holmes e un caso mai divulgato che in questo romanzo ci viene raccontato dal suo assistente Watson (elementare Watson, ricordate? :D)!
Ci troviamo nel 1888 a Londra e il nostro Sherlock dopo aver lavorato al caso di Jack Losquartatore e aver subito ingiustizie è caduto in depressione facendo uso di cocaina. Il giallo si svolge tra Londra e Parigi dove ancora una Tour Eiffel mezza sferragliata e che sembra una scala verso la luna fa il suo ingresso.
Watson si è sposato e ha lasciato Sharlock tranquillo ma si sa il nostro investigatore non lo è mai, la sua arguzia, la sua intelligenza deve far leva su qualcosa e l'egoismo che lo contraddistingue è sempre vigile... come far sfociare la sua mente troppo elaborata in qualcosa di alternativo e non avendo casi a disposizione si rifugia nella cocaina. Qualcosa però cambia e una lettera arriva con un nuovo caso e un nuovo mistero; una giovane francese lo contatta per la scomparsa del figlio, la sua mente si mette all'opera e capisce che il caso precedente del furto di un'opera d'arte trafugata in Francia e questo caso sono collegati.
In questo giallo ritroviamo Sherlock con i suoi modi spicci e la sua mente preparata, fin troppo evasiva e pratica. Dedica tutto se stesso al caso e ai piccoli particolari che un occhio attento può scovare, da sempre ho ammirato la sua perspicacia e astuzia.
A differenza della scrittura del classico giallo di Conan Doyle qui ritroviamo una scrittura più fresca e attuale, alternativa per questo genere di gialli. Lo stile dell'autrice è uno stile pulito e dinamico, con i misteri, gli omicidi e i rapimenti, il tutto condito dalla mente evoluta del nostro Sherlock e il suo aiutante (fondamentale) per queste imprese. La natura dell'enigma è complessa ma i nostri due eroi riescono tranquillamente a sciogliere il caso.
Un giallo dinamico condito di mistero e suspense che il nostro Sherlock non avrà difficoltà a risolvere. La sua mente sagace riuscirà ancora una volta a sbrogliare il mistero...
Recensione sul sito LA FENICE BOOK
L'arte nel sangue è stato scritto dalla talentuosa, artista Bonnie Macbird che ha conseguito un master in Cinematografia. Durante la sua lunga carriera a Hollywood ha lavorato per la Universal, ha firmato il soggetto originale per film di successo come Tron, ha vinto tre Emmy Awards per la realizzazione di documentari, ha prodotto numerose commedie/musical e ha lavorato come attrice/regista per il teatro. Insomma un vero spirito artistico la nostra autrice.
Il libro si ispira al più grande investigatore di tutti i tempi, Sherlock Holmes e un caso mai divulgato che in questo romanzo ci viene raccontato dal suo assistente Watson (elementare Watson, ricordate? :D)!
Ci troviamo nel 1888 a Londra e il nostro Sherlock dopo aver lavorato al caso di Jack Losquartatore e aver subito ingiustizie è caduto in depressione facendo uso di cocaina. Il giallo si svolge tra Londra e Parigi dove ancora una Tour Eiffel mezza sferragliata e che sembra una scala verso la luna fa il suo ingresso.
Watson si è sposato e ha lasciato Sharlock tranquillo ma si sa il nostro investigatore non lo è mai, la sua arguzia, la sua intelligenza deve far leva su qualcosa e l'egoismo che lo contraddistingue è sempre vigile... come far sfociare la sua mente troppo elaborata in qualcosa di alternativo e non avendo casi a disposizione si rifugia nella cocaina. Qualcosa però cambia e una lettera arriva con un nuovo caso e un nuovo mistero; una giovane francese lo contatta per la scomparsa del figlio, la sua mente si mette all'opera e capisce che il caso precedente del furto di un'opera d'arte trafugata in Francia e questo caso sono collegati.
In questo giallo ritroviamo Sherlock con i suoi modi spicci e la sua mente preparata, fin troppo evasiva e pratica. Dedica tutto se stesso al caso e ai piccoli particolari che un occhio attento può scovare, da sempre ho ammirato la sua perspicacia e astuzia.
A differenza della scrittura del classico giallo di Conan Doyle qui ritroviamo una scrittura più fresca e attuale, alternativa per questo genere di gialli. Lo stile dell'autrice è uno stile pulito e dinamico, con i misteri, gli omicidi e i rapimenti, il tutto condito dalla mente evoluta del nostro Sherlock e il suo aiutante (fondamentale) per queste imprese. La natura dell'enigma è complessa ma i nostri due eroi riescono tranquillamente a sciogliere il caso.
Un giallo dinamico condito di mistero e suspense che il nostro Sherlock non avrà difficoltà a risolvere. La sua mente sagace riuscirà ancora una volta a sbrogliare il mistero...
March 9, 2021
Conan Doyle would approve!
This one has been on my shelves for a while and I finally got around to reading it. Bonnie MacBird creates such an extremely true-to-character Sherlock tale, you'll think Sir Author Conan Doyle penned it himself. The action is fast and descriptive, and evokes all those feelings you love the Sherlock Holmes stories for.
So, clearly I enjoyed the book, and I can recommend it to any fan of Holmes. Having said that, I must draw attention to a few differences from the original stories that you should probably be aware of. There is a degree of physical violence in this tale that I do not think would have gone over well in Doyle's time. Child Abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, and brutal sadistic physical torture, not to mention a strong theme of cocaine use/abuse by Holmes himself. Personally, I felt like these aspects simply brought the stories up to speed with generally accepted levels of violence and/or drug use in contemporary thriller novels, but be aware that these things are in the book.
It's always a good sign when, after finishing a book, I immediately google an author to see what else she has written. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Bonnie MacBird has published a series of Sherlock Holmes Adventures! I intend on putting them all on my "To Read" list, but I will not wait so long to read them this time!
To all you Sherlock fans out there, read this one without worry. It is a pleasure to experience such a well-crafted Holmes adventure again!
4 out of 5 stars
This one has been on my shelves for a while and I finally got around to reading it. Bonnie MacBird creates such an extremely true-to-character Sherlock tale, you'll think Sir Author Conan Doyle penned it himself. The action is fast and descriptive, and evokes all those feelings you love the Sherlock Holmes stories for.
So, clearly I enjoyed the book, and I can recommend it to any fan of Holmes. Having said that, I must draw attention to a few differences from the original stories that you should probably be aware of. There is a degree of physical violence in this tale that I do not think would have gone over well in Doyle's time. Child Abuse, Pedophilia, Incest, and brutal sadistic physical torture, not to mention a strong theme of cocaine use/abuse by Holmes himself. Personally, I felt like these aspects simply brought the stories up to speed with generally accepted levels of violence and/or drug use in contemporary thriller novels, but be aware that these things are in the book.
It's always a good sign when, after finishing a book, I immediately google an author to see what else she has written. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Bonnie MacBird has published a series of Sherlock Holmes Adventures! I intend on putting them all on my "To Read" list, but I will not wait so long to read them this time!
To all you Sherlock fans out there, read this one without worry. It is a pleasure to experience such a well-crafted Holmes adventure again!
4 out of 5 stars
August 8, 2015
What an absolute pleasure it was to immerse myself in Art in the Blood…a fun homage which is so very true to Conan Doyle’s style. Like the original, Holmes is brilliant, witty, annoying, fearless, and wonderfully vulnerable. And Watson remains the friend we all want to have.
What captured me most was MacBird’s ability to include factoids about the historical period that literally and figuratively transported me. She has posted annotations (http://www.aitbnotes.com) that bring every detail to life. Doyle would have loved these!
This is confident and expert storytelling. I hope for more by this creative author.
What captured me most was MacBird’s ability to include factoids about the historical period that literally and figuratively transported me. She has posted annotations (http://www.aitbnotes.com) that bring every detail to life. Doyle would have loved these!
This is confident and expert storytelling. I hope for more by this creative author.
May 8, 2016
This book shows the usual problem of pastiches -
1. It relies too much on film versions
2. Anachronisms in language and behavior
3. Not a sense of what Victorian people actually did.
4. Too many names dropped (such as Lautrec) - does Holmes really know every famous person in the 19th century?
5. Problematical use of French language, dropped in at odd places with no explanation. (I read French, know all these terms. Maybe she needs to actually study the language?)
In addition, an unconvincing story line, inconsistency in the relationship of Holmes and Watson, and Mary Watson's mother is dead! She says so in SIGN.
Research, research, research.
1. It relies too much on film versions
2. Anachronisms in language and behavior
3. Not a sense of what Victorian people actually did.
4. Too many names dropped (such as Lautrec) - does Holmes really know every famous person in the 19th century?
5. Problematical use of French language, dropped in at odd places with no explanation. (I read French, know all these terms. Maybe she needs to actually study the language?)
In addition, an unconvincing story line, inconsistency in the relationship of Holmes and Watson, and Mary Watson's mother is dead! She says so in SIGN.
Research, research, research.
August 8, 2016
Voto: 3.5
Un giallo godibile, ma che non rispetta le premesse della trama.
La prima parte è lenta e manca di mordente; recupera molto, invece, nella seconda parte che risulta sicuramente più ricca di azione. Anche se la MacBird tenta in tutti i modi di emulare lo stile di Sir Arthur Conan Doyle si percepisce fin da subito che a scrivere è una "penna" diversa!
Ed io preferisco lo Sherlock Holmes creato da Doyle! ;)
Un giallo godibile, ma che non rispetta le premesse della trama.
La prima parte è lenta e manca di mordente; recupera molto, invece, nella seconda parte che risulta sicuramente più ricca di azione. Anche se la MacBird tenta in tutti i modi di emulare lo stile di Sir Arthur Conan Doyle si percepisce fin da subito che a scrivere è una "penna" diversa!
Ed io preferisco lo Sherlock Holmes creato da Doyle! ;)
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