Learn more about The Great Detective Sherlock Holmes in The West End Horror. Illustration by David K. Stone.
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"I'm consistently impressed by Nicholas Meyer's Holmes pastiches. I was only aware of Seven Percent Solution which I read last year. When I found out about this one I immediately ordered it. Great book. The charactetizations (which to be fair, I usually only read mysteries for the characters - almost never for the detective aspect of the story) are spot on, and the inclusion of several real life personages including Oscar Wilde, and Gilbert & Sullivan were welcome, and a very amusing scene in which Holmes and Watson break into Bram Stoker's apartment and are appalled by his manuscript for Dracula had me smiling. The culprits' motivations were quite original. Didn't see them coming."
— Edward (4 out of 5 stars)
“As authentically, irresistibly gripping as anything Conan Doyle ever wrote…Don’t miss it.”
— Cosmopolitan“Beguiling and convincing entertainment, an audacious novelty that should set members of the Baker Street Irregulars and even less fanatical collectors of Holmes to dancing.”
— San Francisco Chronicle“I hope Nicholas Meyer never stops writing Sherlock Holmes pastiches because he does it so much better than anyone else.”
— New Republic" love this guy's books. "
— Melanie, 2/18/2014" Meyer's three Holmes novels were all over the place upon publication and I picked up cloth editions of each for a buck or less at used bookstores. Although I'm no great fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories, only having read them for fun as a kid, the books were entertaining imitations. A real Baker Street Irregular, however, would get more out of them. "
— Erik, 2/11/2014" In the middle of what had promised to be a very dull day at 221B Baker St., Dr. Watson makes the startling discovery that Sherlock Holmes is friends with George Bernard Shaw. This unexpected dramatic connection brings the celebrated pair into contact with all the leading lights of the London theater scene as they investigate the murder of a detested critic. The frequent references to the canon and solid period detail make this an excellent pastiche, while the lighter characterization of Holmes (pranking Watson, having a second friend) make it a fun read. "
— Sarah, 2/5/2014" It didn't live up to my hopes. "
— Robert, 2/5/2014" In comparison to Meyer's other S.H. stories, I find Holmes's characterization severely lacking. He has Holmes laughing frequently, where the original Holmes is less demonstrative. He also has Holmes eating healthily through the duration of the case, when it is commonly accepted that Holmes abstains from eating, at least in large, leisurely quantities, when working. Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw, and Bram Stoker appear as name-dropped characters whose existence fails to serve any real purpose in connection with the case and in fact, detract from the focus. Holmes comes off as a much more foolish, carefree detective and when compared to The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, this story is both disappointing and highly inaccurate. I find it surprising how Meyer shifts Holmes's character. "
— Kristina, 1/25/2014" Dude, seriously. Why is this a subgenre? Still, a fun, short read. "
— Tammy, 1/25/2014" A bit melodramatic for a Sherlock Holmes novel, nevertheless an enjoyable read. "
— Cora, 1/19/2014" Fairly accurate portrayal of Holmes and Watson characters. Fast pace. Short chapter sections made this more like a short story read than a literature novel. Real mystery to be solved with side character development and misleading turns. "
— Joe, 11/7/2013" Reading this for the third time! It's just a terrific story. "
— Marianne, 10/14/2013" Not quite as strong as the 7 Percent Solution, but still enjoyable -- especially with its depiction of George Bernard Shaw and London's theatre life. "
— Srochat, 8/3/2013" Despite the title it's more mystery than horror, I think. It captures some of the neat stuff about the original Sherlock Holmes stories. It's a fun read. "
— Charles, 5/18/2013" Not as good as Doyle but enjoyable none the less. Another book with a long winded explanation. "
— William, 4/14/2013" A nice homage to Arthur Conan Doyle's creations, although the cameos of Oscar Wilde, Gilbert & Sullivan, etc. were distracting. I liked the that the motive for the murders was outside the box. "
— Jen, 7/17/2012" 8/25/2012: I remember enjoying this book; particularly the focus on Holmes' addiction. I have the "Sherlockian" on my to read list. "
— Lee, 6/25/2012" Nicholas Meyer's pastiche is very much in the spirit of Conan Doyle's Sherlock. A fun read. "
— Brenton, 3/23/2012" This book is good plane reading. Not especially taxing or brilliant but interesting and humorous. If you've an interest in late victorian literature then this book may be more to you than a simple whodunit. Some of the supporting characters include George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. "
— Eaycrigg, 2/26/2012" Well, I read it a lot of years ago and I do not remember it... "
— Nadia, 8/29/2011" Quite enjoyable for Holmes enthusiasts; and a tidy little sleuthing story for mystery-loving audiences, though perhaps less entertaining for such (Meyer's nods and winks to the canon being lost on the average reader). "
— Zigforas, 8/22/2011" Meyer rebooted Holmes for me as no one has since. A terrific little Holmesian thriller that steampunk enthusiasts would enjoy too I think. "
— Pete, 3/20/2011" First of all: this is no <em>The Seven-Per-Cent-Solution</em>. <br/> <br/>However, it's still a good story. Meyer's takes on Holmes and Watson feel familiar, the story is fast-paced and exciting and the iconic figures that pop up actually work in the piece, rather than distracting it. <br/> "
— Lisa, 12/15/2010" A bit melodramatic for a Sherlock Holmes novel, nevertheless an enjoyable read. "
— Cora, 9/30/2010" Not as good as Doyle but enjoyable none the less. Another book with a long winded explanation. "
— William, 6/29/2010" Fairly accurate portrayal of Holmes and Watson characters. Fast pace. Short chapter sections made this more like a short story read than a literature novel. Real mystery to be solved with side character development and misleading turns. <br/> "
— Joe, 11/5/2009" Despite the title it's more mystery than horror, I think. It captures some of the neat stuff about the original Sherlock Holmes stories. It's a fun read. "
— Charles, 6/6/2009" Well, I read it a lot of years ago and I do not remember it... "
— Nadia, 1/17/2009" It didn't live up to my hopes. "
— Robert, 12/22/2008" Quite enjoyable for Holmes enthusiasts; and a tidy little sleuthing story for mystery-loving audiences, though perhaps less entertaining for such (Meyer's nods and winks to the canon being lost on the average reader). "
— Zigforas, 7/27/2008" Not quite as strong as the 7 Percent Solution, but still enjoyable -- especially with its depiction of George Bernard Shaw and London's theatre life. "
— Srochat, 7/10/2008Nicholas Meyer is an American screenwriter, producer, author, and director, most known for his bestselling novel The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, and for directing the films Time After Time, two of the Star Trek feature film series, and the 1983 television movie The Day After. For adapting a screenplay from his own novel for The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976), Meyer was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has also been nominated for a Satellite Award, three Emmy Awards, and has won four Saturn Awards.
David Case was a distinguished narrator who recorded over 700 audiobooks, was nominated for a Grammy Award, and received numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narrations. AudioFile magazine named him a Golden Voice.