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)

Good story, but not engrossing

Would you consider the audio edition of Dust and Shadow to be better than the print version?

Yes - Simon Vance is an awesome narrator and did a good job keeping me involved with the story as well as bringing the characters and circumstances alive.

Would you recommend Dust and Shadow to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, as long as they aren't avid Holmes fans. I don't think this book is really on par with some of the other Conan Doyle follow-ups out there. The action was plodding, Holmes and Watson just a shade off, and I didn't actually find the story to be that engrossing. I love the idea of Jack the Ripper being investigated by Holmes, but in the end the story was just a touch boring.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

Simon Vance always does a great job narrating! He really brings native flavor to British books, and his voice is perfect as Watson.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction. As the book wasn't too great, I did put it down multiple times. It was still good enough to enjoy, but not good enough to read again.

Beyond clever!

This book by Lyndsay Faye is written in a most excellent Arthur Conan Doyle style and narrated by the equally superlative Simon Vance. Sherlock Holmes fans will not be disappointed with this fascinating adaptation of the Jack the Ripper mystery into the rich fictional world of Sherlock Holmes. I relished every minute of listening to the story unfold. I couldn't wait to discover the "identity" of The Ripper and the nature of his fate. Yet I was saddened when the story came to its very satisfying conclusion. It was a privilege for me to briefly inhabit the same streets as Holmes and Watson and to accompany them as they challenged one of the most notorious criminals who ever existed. I hope that the author sees fit to contribute further tales to the Holmes legend. Well done!

Excellent!

All in all Lyndsay Faye's "Dust and Shadow" is a great story featuring two most iconic British personages, one fiction and remarkably adept at observation, the other unfortunate history and diabolically monstrous. Faye has done a wonderful job amalgamating these two figures of British lore with excellent and detailed attention to the historical facts of the Whitechapel cases. Her treatment of late 19th century England, a la Holmes is remarkably believable. While the Holmes retinue seems pulled directly from the pages of Conan Doyle himself, the other characters are remarkably well developed. Faye has knitted a fascinating yarn (excuse the pun) worthy of Holmes aficionados and Ripperologists alike. While a bit predictable at points, the overall tenor of the book is one of suspense and hard to put down.

If you are a Holmes fan you will delight in Faye's presentation of him; if a Ripperologist she will intrigue you with her weaving of the details into a plausible albeit fictitious conclusion to the case. If you are a fan of historical fiction, once again, you will be delighted as Faye transports you back to London of the 1880s.

Absolutely delightful read.

This is my first book by Lyndsay Faye, but shan't be my last. Her work is well worth another go.

And the narrator? What can I say? I could listen with rapt attention to Simon Vance reading the phone-book. Excellent, as always.

a good entry in the Holmes canon

as a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle's writings, I have to say I enjoyed this book very much, it moved quickly, the tone and voice were very much like Doyle's and the denouement was satisfying... Simon Vance is a wonderful narrator, I loved his reading of Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies and he does not disappoint here. fun and satisfying for Sherlock Holmes fans.

Pitch-Perfect

The book is classic Holmes, as good a pastiche as I've ever read. If you like Holmes, you can't go wrong. Very well written.

What really makes this, though, is the narration, which is as close to perfection as human beings can get. Vance IS Holmes. But he also IS Watson, and every other character, all sharply and exquisitely delineated. His pacing is superb. One forgets that one is listening to someone read; the feeling is of actually being there. And Vance somehow manages to convey the authentic feeling of Conan Doyle's stories, and Conan Doyle's London, even though the author he's reading isn't Conan Doyle. Bravo. More, please.

Classic Sherlock Holmes. Excellent

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

Book was excellently done. Classic Sherlock Holmes.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

Excellent with voices. Great at adding attitude or emotion in each voice.

A good example of a Holmes story

I found this book to be very well I the style off a classic Holmes story. I liked the take on the Ripper murders as well. A believable premise

Great

I had some trepidation about the author using an actual case as the setting for a Holmes story. At the end I could not stop listening. All the atmosphere and qualities of the Conan Doyle characters are there. Holmes' sympathy for East End people is wonderfully developed as is his relationship with Lestrade. Great!

Perfect Illustration of Holmes’ Relationship w/ Jack the Ripper

Author really captured the pacing and patterns of a Holmes novel. Vance is a superior narrator. Highly recommend.

Lots of twists and turns

Haven't read many mysteries, so am glad to have started with this book. Lots of twists and turns. Couldn't put it down. Descriptions and narrative beautifully written.

Recommend to readers new to mysteries and to readers who are fans, already, of mysteries.