Another mighty impressive doorstopper from American author Dan Simmons who seems as adept at large canvas galactic SF opera as he is in pulling the strings of abominable horror and now walking the walk of the classic crime thriller. In 1893, a post-Reichenbach Falls and anonymous Sherlock Holmes and a suicidal in mood and despairing Henry James travel to America to investigate the death of historian Henry Adams' wife by suicide. As expected Holmes soon establishes all is not what it seems and the game is afoot. Dickensian in its imaginative scope, with a gallery of highly-colourful characters and the teeming intensity of 19th century Manhattan, this is an old-fashioned read, with twists and surprises on every dark corner, and a frantic narrative rhythm that never stands still and provides an unspoken guarantee of white nights of reading until a perfect conclusion. ~ Maxim Jakubowski
In 1893, Sherlock Holmes and Henry James come to America together to investigate the suicide of Clover Adams, wife of the esteemed historian Henry Adams - a member of the family that has given the United States two Presidents. Quickly, the investigators deduce that there's more to Clover's death than meets the eye - with issues of national importance at stake. Holmes is currently on his Great Hiatus - his three-year absence after Reichenbach Falls during which time the people of London believe him to be deceased. The disturbed Holmes has faked his own death and now, as he meets James, is questioning what is real and what is not. Holmes' theories shake James to the core. What can this master storyteller do to fight against the sinister power - possibly Moriarty - that may or may not be controlling them from the shadows? And what was Holmes' role in Moriarty's rise? Conspiracy, action and mystery meet in this superb literary hall of mirrors from the author of Drood.
