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The Italian Secretary Audiobook
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(3.00) - 2,696 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The bestselling author of the Alienist series returns with a chilling elaboration on the Sherlock Holmes canon, as the famed detective investigates a pair of gruesome murders, which cast an otherworldly shadow as far as Queen Victoria herself.
It all begins familiarly enough: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are summoned to the aid of Queen Victoria in Scotland by an encrypted telegram from Holmes' brother, Mycroft, a royal advisor. Rushed northward on a royal train they soon learn of the brutal killings of two of the Queen's servants who had been working on the renovation of the famous and forbidding Royal Palace of Holyrood.
Mycroft has enlisted his brother to help solve the murders that may be key elements of a much more elaborate and pernicious plot on the Queen's life. But the circumstances of the two victims' deaths also call to Holmes' mind the terrible murder of "The Italian Secretary," David Rizzio. Only Rizzio was murdered three centuries ago.
Told with his unique feel for historical detail and the architecture of human evil, Caleb Carr's brilliant new offering takes the Conan Doyle tradition to remarkable new heights.
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"One of my favorite books is the Alienist by Caleb Carr. When I found out he'd written a Sherlock Holmes novel I was estatic. Sherlock Holmes was one of the original mysteries that got me hooked on the genre. This was a brillant book that stayed true to the amazing characters created by Doyle a century ago. What a delight."
— Burton (4 out of 5 stars)
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“[A] superb novel. Carr has caught Doyle’s style and added a few wonderful...twists of his own.”
— Forbes -
“[A] fleet-footed, atmospherically gothic, and often amusing Holmes tale.”
— Amazon.com editorial review -
“In a precise narration, [Simon] Prebble paints all the atmospherics of the Scots settings and lends credibility to Carr’s climax...[His] crisp narration helps integrate the historical murder of the Italian secretary and the further adventures of Holmes and Watson.”
— AudioFile -
“Simon Prebble, one of the best readers of mysteries, employs a variety of voices and accents to heighten the Victorian verisimilitude. Recommended.”
— Library Journal (audio review)
The Italian Secretary Listener Reviews
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" I am not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, but I do enjoy the stories and caleb carr's writing. I think the book was good, not great. It held the story and read like a coonan doyle authored entry, but over all wasnt as good as the recent movies. "
— Du, 2/13/2014 -
" I have no memory of ever reading an original Sherlock Holmes mystery before, but it was fun to read this right after watching the new Holmes movie. This was a quick and entertaining read. I loved the plot tie-in with Mary Queen of Scots and the historical tidbits. I found the long explanatory discussions between Holmes and Watson to be an annoying literary device - always seemed like "while you were asleep or clueless Watson, I figured out all this stuff (plus some stuff I'm not gonna tell you about yet)". "
— Jessie, 2/6/2014 -
" Best way to enjoy it : Don't think too much !!! If you do, you will see elements of stupidity & carelessness starting to poke through & if you don't it's a fair pastiche of sorts. "
— Arun, 2/4/2014 -
" Really enjoyed this book. Intriguing, extraordinary and suspenseful "
— L.J., 2/3/2014 -
" Caleb Carr should stick to Otto Kreizler and leave Sherlock to Arthur Conan Doyle. "
— Kristine, 1/28/2014 -
" Had expectations of something like The Alienist...this wasn't it. A good book, but not as good as his other stuff. "
— Jodi, 1/23/2014 -
" Not quite as enjoyable as The Alienist but a good read. "
— Mallory, 1/20/2014 -
" Not breezy enough for a beach read "
— Alex, 1/6/2014 -
" Football is on - what else would I be doing? I love a good Sherlock Holmes and if it can't be by Conan Doyle, then Caleb Carr is an excellent substitute. Besides, I've always had a bit of a crush on Mycroft. . . "
— Sue, 1/4/2014 -
" An evocative and enjoyable Holmesian romp. "
— Tony, 12/24/2013 -
" I actually stopped reading this horrible book "
— Brett, 12/16/2013 -
" Slow read. Sounded authentically Holmesian, as I suppose it should, having been commissioned by the US rep for Doyle's estate. Least favorite Carr book so far. If you're looking for Laszlo Kreizler, he ain't here. "
— Joshy, 12/14/2013 -
" Excellent Pastiche. Carr captured the voice of Watson. "
— Taustinclark, 12/5/2013 -
" Does a good turn to 'Sherlock Holmes'. "
— Nathan, 11/19/2013 -
" So promising... Scottish castle, Elizabethian mystery, Sherlock Holmes, Caleb Carr (who is a favorite of mine). The plot was overdeveloped and a little boring. "
— Kristinwesta, 11/13/2013 -
" The story had a strong start with a very plausible tale, it fell apart in a rush of misunderstood and too rushed plot twists. "
— Joe, 11/12/2013 -
" Afair read, not as good as his others. "
— Tim, 9/19/2013 -
" Just not as good as The Alienist or Angel of Darkness. "
— Rene, 5/25/2013 -
" Starts out passably. Degenerates into pool, puddle, and beach of fail. "
— Rhod, 5/2/2013 -
" Not as good as his other books. I wasn't riveted from the first moment. But, overall a "nice" book. Of course, I don't know if I would seek out another of his books in this series, if there ever is one. "
— Debbie, 12/26/2012 -
" It was OK. Did feel like a real Sherlock Holmes but the story was just kind of eh. "
— Jennifer, 6/20/2012 -
" Caleb Carr has the language down and the twists in the story are great. May be better Conan Doyle but do not tell the good doctor. "
— Diane, 5/29/2012 -
" Latter-day Sherlock Holmes. wrtten in faux Victorian prose, whereby Sherlock and Watson, accompanied by Sherlock's brother, journey to Barmoral Palace in Scotland to solve some murders for the Queen, who is in residence there. Nice but no cigar. "
— Jemera, 7/24/2011 -
" A very good Holmes story. It was atmospheric story. "
— Mary, 6/28/2011 -
" Had expectations of something like The Alienist...this wasn't it. A good book, but not as good as his other stuff. "
— Jodi, 6/24/2011 -
" a nice mystery steeped in both Victorian espionage and Elizabethan crimes! A worthy case for Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. Carr does a nice job tapping into Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's narrative style, while still making it a bit of his own. If you're a Holmes fan, you should read! "
— Ryan, 6/14/2011 -
" It was okay for a wannabe Sherlock Holmes story, although the characterizations seemed flawed. A really disappointing follow-up to The Alienist and Angel of Darkness, I had expected better of Carr. "
— Kelsey, 5/22/2011 -
" Wonderful Holmes and Watson tale. Great late-night read. "
— Angie, 5/18/2011 -
" Not sure how a real Sherlock Holmes fanatic will feel about it, but I liked the story. Be sure and read the Afterword. "
— Glennie, 4/25/2011 -
" There are lots of good-to-great 'modern day' Sherlock Holmes tales. This is not one of them. "
— Tara, 3/11/2011 -
" This was an audio edition for me, and sad to say, but the mystery was flat. It started off well; however.. (sigh). I enjoy Sherlock Holmes and his "brighter" brother, Mycroft's bantering - I just wish the mystery rose to that level. "
— Lollyletsgo, 2/18/2011 -
" Caleb Carr should stick to Otto Kreizler and leave Sherlock to Arthur Conan Doyle. "
— Kristine, 2/16/2011 -
" In my opinion, he doesn't seem to know Sherlock Holmes and Watson at all. To me its practically a waste of money "
— Don, 2/11/2011 -
" ehhh. a sherlock holmes adventure. Not so impressed. "
— Paul, 2/7/2011 -
" Best way to enjoy it : Don't think too much !!! If you do, you will see elements of stupidity & carelessness starting to poke through & if you don't it's a fair pastiche of sorts. "
— Arun, 1/29/2011
About Caleb Carr
Caleb Carr is the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of The Alienist, The Angel of Darkness, The Lessons of Terror, and Surrender, New York, among numerous other novels. His journalism has been published in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He holds a degree in military and diplomatic history and has taught at Bard College.
About Simon Prebble
Simon Prebble, a British-born performer, is a stage and television actor and veteran narrator of some three hundred audiobooks. As one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he has received thirty-seven Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie in 2010. He lives in New York.