Dust and Shadow

An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

By: Lyndsay Faye

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Breathless and painstakingly researched, this is a stunning debut mystery in which Sherlock Holmes unmasks Jack the Ripper. Lyndsay Faye perfectly captures all the color and syntax of Conan Doyle’s distinctive 19th-century London.

In Dust and Shadow, Sherlock Holmes hunts down Jack the Ripper—the world’s first serial killer—with impeccably accurate historical detail and without the advantage of modern forensics or profiling. Sherlock’s desire to stop the killer who is terrifying the East End of London is unwavering from the start, and in an effort to do so he hires an “unfortunate” known as Mary Ann Monk, the friend of a fellow streetwalker who was one of the Ripper’s earliest victims. However, when Holmes himself is wounded in Whitechapel attempting to catch the villain and a series of articles in the popular press question his role in the crimes, he must use all his resources in a desperate race to find the man known as “The Knife” before it is too late.

Penned as a pastiche by the loyal and courageous Dr. Watson, this debut signals the arrival of a tremendous talent in the mystery and historical fiction genres.

©2009 Lyndsay Faye (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Impressive…Sherlockians will hope to see further pastiches of this quality from Faye.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“An exciting and grimly vivid tale that confronts the murderous Jack the Ripper with A. Conan Doyle’s immortal detective better than ever before.” (Conan Doyle Estate)

“At long last, an author of rare talent combines a thorough, enthusiastic knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes canon with truly rigorous research into, and respect for, the Jack the Ripper killings.” (Caleb Carr, New York Times best-selling author)

Well Done!

Lovely job of intertwining the details of what is known about Jack the Ripper with the fictional world and characters of Sherlock Holmes. I went to Wikipedia to read about the Ripper. Lyndsay Faye did an excellent job with research. It is quite believable.

Good book but could have been great

I think that the book was really good but I think the author could have taken a lot more creative license to make the book even better. I love the idea of Jack the Ripper being chased by Sherlock Holmes.

Well done

Dust and Shadows pits Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper. Clever concept with the greatest fictional sleuth of that era tracking one of histories worst villains of that time. Simon Vance is one of the premier narrators and he does an exceptional job in this fast paced thriller. The book appears to be well researched both from the historical facts of the actual case and also in the persona of the fictional characters. Strongly recommend this one.

A great homage to the Great detective.

I have loved the Holmes mysteries all my life. Lyndsay Faye does a great job catching the flavor of the original stories. Simon Vance is an excellent narrator. The story and narration combine in a gripping, suspenseful story of Holmes matching wits with Jack the Ripper. This book is well worth the investment of time. I hope the author re-visits the genre.

Slow start, but great suspense overall

I listened to this with no more knowledge of the Ripper story than the high-level information most adults have. I almost gave up on the book in the first quarter as I find Sherlock's personality so off-putting, but I liked the other leading characters (especially Ms. Monk) and it picked up speed and intrigue. I loved the suspense created by having the Ripper trying to turn the tables on Sherlock, although there was little doubt as to who would be the victor in this game of wit. It keeps you guessing until the end as to who the Ripper is.

Immerse yourself in Sherlock's world

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Defnitely, especially if they are Sherlock Holmes fans. This rendition feels true to the A. Conan Doyle writing style, and feels sincere and un-selfconscious.

What does Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I've become quite a fan of Simon Vance. He's a great narrator, who successfully adds to the listening experience by injecting personality into the characters. He's nailed the various London accents and their manner-of-voice and this really helps you to feel connected to the time and place of the story.

Any additional comments?

The story itself is pretty engaging - I finished it in a few days and was sorry to have come to the end. Unexpectedly I got the occasional giggle from the witty dialogue too. A very clever book.

Okay for a new Sherlock Holmes story

The narrator was very good at giving the different characters different voices, a couple of areas that seem to be slips in voices but good overall. Story was okay but didn't have quite the ah-ha moments of a good Holmes story.

True to the original, excellent performance

If you enjoyed the original SH stories, you'll surely enjoy this story. The reading was exquisite.

This Book Is AMAZING!

Where does Dust and Shadow rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Just about my favorite! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be very proud of Lindsay Faye's work in regard to her treatment of his beloved character.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

YES! Amazing twists and revelations, the main characters are very well portrayed and new introductions well developed.

Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He is just about my favorite!

A Masterpiece

One of my favorite Holmes and Watson tales. Great writing and plot. Expert narration by Simon Vance, who is my favorite Sherlock Holmes narrator. The author should be commended.