Jim Foreman

This collection of stories is well within the vein of ACD's writings. I must point out clearly that it was a sheer delight to listen to Benedict Cumberbatch's narration. Cumberbatch is the latest and among the best actors to portray Holmes in the current modern-day series 'Sherlock'. His knowledge of the character, his subtleties and tonal inflection come through brilliantly.
The stories are well though out, entertaining and fun. Watson takes on a more three-dimensional role rather than dumb tag-along as many stories relegate him.
I look forward to more from John Taylor and especially Benedict Cumberbatch.

The author reads this book. In this case it becomes much more intimate. While it is based on a journey on a motorcycle, the focus of this book is the humanity and experiences of Africa and the people he meets, both native and visiting along the way.

The easy and non-embellished style of telling the accounts without a political or preachy perspective.

When he is haggling over the price of a mango at the fruit stall with in the market.

I felt like I was a part of this journey. It was richly described and experienced. I felt sad at the conclusion as I felt a great journey had just concluded.

Though this journey takes place mostly on a motorbike, it is NOT focused on the motorbike. It a journey of humanity and the experiences of the author in Africa over a year.

Yes! It is capable of reaching listeners/readers at multiple depths and levels. It may be seen as simply comic and filled with one odd episode after another or as an interesting transformation of one caught in the rat race into one who actually can break out and be useful.

Clearly the author as he is writing in first person.

Toward the end, when they return to the US and realize that all the daily minutiae we think of as life is not living at all.

I laughed, audibly, quite often.

Don't let the title fool you. This is a funny yet deep book that does NOT exploit the inhabitants of the islands.

I took to 'House of Silk' with great eagerness. Horowitz is a good writer and he captures the essence of Holmes and Watson quite well.
The performance is top notch and makes up for some of the story's mild shortcomings.

While I felt guided through a series of events through London in the late 19th century, I felt the story offered little chance for the reader/listener to deduce anything on their own. What clues that Horowitz does leave are obvious and offer no red herrings.

We're left with the last minute revelations of wires to Dublin, Belfast and Boston to have Holmes magically come to the conclusion giving the listener no opportunity to work it out them selves.

That said, I did enjoy this story and do recommend it to those who enjoy Holmes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was riveted to Simon Vance's reading of this excellent story.

You can easily believe you are there alongside Watson as he follows Holmes and tries to stop the Whitechapel Murders.

While an brilliant and well thought out story, this one is even better for Holmes fans as it combines two famous and richly covered phenomenon.

John Douglas' book 'The Cases That Haunt Us' is an excellent companion for the Whitechapel murders.

This one is bound to please!

A new Bond book. Who could resist? I wish I resisted.

It is clear from the get-go that Jeffery Deaver must have become bored with the characters and story early on. Though, from the length, he must have been charging per word.

This 'Modern Interpretation' of Bond is hollow, shallow and uninteresting. Nothing daring, clever or even thought provoking.

The most interesting and dynamic character is 'Q' Sanu Hirani and Bheka Jordaan's grandmother. Everyone else is is just filler including Bond.

This story is sadly lacking in intrigue, excitement, fun, wit, believability and pleasure for the reader. Instead the reader/listener is dragged, by a leash, from one plot point to the next. Mr. Deaver could have benefited by actually reading a Fleming novel to see why they were actually so compelling and interesting.

The Benson novels and even Faulks' 'Devil May Care' are light-years ahead of this yawn. Even 'Man With A Golden Gun' is infinitely more interesting. You actually get to know Scaramanga and even find out what makes him tick. Dunne is rejected lover desperate to regain the affections of his desire. How brilliant?

None of the plot points even make any sense when put together as a whole. It simply leaves one feeling like they just watched Star Wars Episode One. Strike That.... The Phantom Menace was actually more desirable.

While the story suffers (a Lot) the Narration is quite good. It's the one redeeming factor that allowed me to finish this yarn to the end.

Don't waste your, considerable, time with this bore. Re-listen to a Fleming or Benson novel and enjoy an engaging and fun story.

Both of these stories suffer from being way too long. Both are quite simple, yet entertaining stories. They suffer from being three times longer than they should be and a tag-along interpretation of Watson that leaves much to be desired. Intricate wit, actual mystery or even dramatic tension are all missing from these stories. One knows the result of both stories about a third of the way in. ACD was keen to capitalize on keeping the reader engaged.
All this said, if going on a long road trip by one's self, one could do far worse than this collection of stories.

With a title, 'Sherlock Holmes Was Wrong', one must take a pause to let the concept sink in.
How can the Great Detective be wrong? But in many of the stories penned by AC Doyle, Sherlock was often wrong, both in side stories mentioned and actual titled stories.
Bayard breaks this book up into three parts.
Part one is a synopsis of the story in question.
Part two is the oft maligned but remarkable study of how fictional characters can become 'real'. Perhaps, in some cases, such as in Holmes, more real than living persons. It's truly brilliant and will leave you thinking and pondering the conclusions he makes. I, for one, agree with his conclusions and find his insight refreshing. For Example, when 'fictitious' characters are presented, warts and all, in a well written, well crafted story, they DO take on a life of their own. Bond, Poirot, Marple, Pyne, Bosch, Brown, Langdon, Ryan, Marlowe, Spade, etc., are all living entities to millions of people throughout the world. Bayard cleverly explains and illustrates this phenomenon.
Part three is the reason you were interested in this title to begin with. Bayard goes piece by piece through the evidence strictly adhering to the story. The conclusion is masterful and even validated by Holmes own expression of doubt at the conclusion of the story.
This book does crossover from narrative, non-fiction, to fiction. It's well segued and isn't a distraction.
I believe, sincerely, that Holmes fans and appreciators of fiction will enjoy, ponder, and perhaps agree with the conclusions made by Bayard long after the story is concluded.