Holmes and Moriarty

Title: Holmes and Moriarty

Author: Gareth Rubin

Genre: Mystery Thriller Historical Crime

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Published Date: 2024

Book Length: 352

Format Read: Hardback

Star Rating: 3*** I liked it, it’s OK

About Book: Two adversaries. One deadly alliance. Together, can they unlock the truth? Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds to help him solve a puzzle. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises. Is something sinister going on and, if so, what? Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up. But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person. With lives on the line, not just their own, they must form an uneasy alliance in order to unmask the true villain. With clues leading them to a hotel in Switzerland and a conspiracy far greater than any of them expected, who can be trusted – and will anyone of them survive?

My Thoughts: Holmes and Moriarty by Gareth Rubin is a historical crime thriller that immediately caught my attention, not only because of its intriguing title but also its classical and elegant cover design. As a fan of all things Sherlock Holmes, I was excited to read this book.

Rubin’s writing aims to capture the style of the original Holmes stories, and while it evokes some of that classic charm, I found myself unconsciously comparing it to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite reach the same standard.

One of the challenges I faced while reading was following the narrative. I often felt confused about the events and the narrator's identity, even with the pictures at the beginning of each chapter. While these illustrations were a nice touch, they didn’t always provide the clarity I needed to navigate the story.

That said, as the plot unfolded, I became increasingly intrigued. Rubin introduces a good mix of characters, blending familiar faces with new additions. The interplay between them adds richness to the story, even if the overall experience didn’t fully resonate with me.

In conclusion, Holmes and Moriarty offers an interesting take on the world of Sherlock Holmes, with a historical crime twist and a solid cast of characters. While I appreciated the effort to emulate Doyle’s style, I found it didn’t quite match the original stories’ magic. For die-hard Holmes fans, it’s worth a read, but for me, I think I’ll stick to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless works.