Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol | Linda Stratmann | Mystery & Thriller | Netgalley DRC Book Review

 

How's your week going ? Mine is going fine as I have been reading some long awaited books in my TBR.

Name of Book: Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol

Author: Linda Stratmann

Publisher: Sapere Books

Publication Date: Sep 2, 2022

No. of Pages: 250

Format: Netgalley DRC

Sherlock Holmes dons his boxing gloves to catch a killer…

London, 1876

When a pugilist dies at a local boxing demonstration attended by medical student Mr Stamford and his acquaintance Sherlock Holmes, a post-mortem reveals the death is due to natural causes.

But when the corpse of another boxer is discovered clutching a small wooden carving – the ebony idol – Holmes begins to suspect that sinister forces are at work.

His suspicions seem confirmed when the companions hear about a previous death in the ring.

Tasked by the man’s widow to bring his killer to justice, Holmes and Stamford are swiftly drawn into their most curious case to date.

Are the deaths connected? Is there a murderer at work?

Holmes must employ all his powers of deduction if he is to discover the truth of the mystery.

My Opinion

Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol by Linda Stratmann is a mystery thriller that presents a slightly different shade of the legendary detective. Instead of the fast-paced deductions readers usually expect, this story takes a more detailed and character-driven approach. Nearly every character is introduced with care, which helps build the Victorian atmosphere but also makes the narrative feel somewhat slow in the beginning. As the investigation unfolds, multiple threads start running at once, and at times the plot feels muddled rather than tightly controlled. However, the author’s intention to explore a more human, conflicted side of Sherlock Holmes is clear and adds depth to his character. The final stretch of the novel is where the story truly finds its footing. The tension rises, secrets are revealed, and the climax becomes far more engaging than what came before. While not a classic high-octane Holmes mystery, this book offers an interesting reinterpretation for readers who enjoy layered characters and atmospheric storytelling.

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