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)

Best Sherlock Holmes outside of Doyle hands down.

I really enjoyed this mystery. Modern writing but in the spirit of the originals. Steady pace that keeps you interested until the end. If you like Holmes at all this book is worth your time.

Great!

If you love Sherlock Holmes and the tale of Jack the Ripper, this is a great story! I love the BBC series Ripper St and this book led me down so many of those streets! The reader was great, too!

A delightful read

This book is very well written; the story keeps one engaged and interested. I especially enjoyed the narration by Simon Vance. His characterization of the different voices was excellent.

Dust and Shadow

A truly fantastic story by Lyndsay Faye, Conan Doyle would be so proud. Nobody better than Simon Vance period. Many Many thanks.

Top marks

Wonderful book. The author has struck upon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s very phrasing and language in a most impressive work.

Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack the Ripper = Brilliant

What made the experience of listening to Dust and Shadow the most enjoyable?

I've always been interested in the Ripper killings, ever since seeing "From Hell". Knowing these atrocities happened in real life all those years ago makes for a gruesomely eerie premise. Being a fan of Sherlock Holmes's escapades, the joining of these two things made for a brilliant read. I expected to be presented with a different version of Holmes and Watson, with this being a far more ghastly adventure than Doyle ever wrote. Imagine my surprise when I started listening to the book and discovered that Faye has practically cloned the mannerisms and personalities of both characters and placed them in her story as if they were simply plucked from Doyle's head. The characters are exactly the same as we remember them from Doyle's books, and it's fantastic. Seeing these two put in this situation is a refreshing change and the toll it exerts on both men is very realistic and far from what we are used to seeing them deal with. Holmes is stretched to his absolute limits by the Ripper and it ends up making the killer possibly Holmes greatest nemesis yet, even perhaps surpassing Moriarty.

What other book might you compare Dust and Shadow to and why?

I can't think of any other book quite like this one. It most closely resembles a Conan Doyle classic Holmes novel, since it is told from the POV of Dr Watson. The violent nature of the novel sets it apart from those books, but the structure is very much the same.

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

Vance brings the characters to life in a great way. His voice for John Watson reminds so very much of Davies' narration on the Conan Doyle Holmes audiobooks, which was fantastic. Because of this, I wish his Holmes voice sounded the same as well, but we can't everything. Even so, his Holmes is the cooly spoken man we would expect. Even minor characters are given a life of their own as each is as different as the last. Great job from Vance all round.

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

It didn't make me laugh or cry, but I was both intrigued and unsettled a bit by how far Holmes is pushed to his mental limits in this novel. It's a fantastic change to see him brought low by this enigmatic killer who is always one step ahead.

Any additional comments?

I hope Faye brings us another meticulously researched tale starring Holmes and Watson, but I fear there is nothing in history that will be able to blend itself and Holmes so completely and fantastically together as this book. One can only hope...

Couldn't turn it off

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

Dust and Shadow is very entertaining, the narration fits the story, and the portrayal of 19th Century London is vivid. It had been many years since I read or listened to any Sherlock Holmes fiction--I've been doing a lot more Elizabeth Peters and Agatha Christie recently. I didn't want this story to end and when I did I immediately got back on Audible to see if there were any other Sherlock Holmes books by Lyndsay Faye available.

For Sherlock Holmes fans, I great read!

What made the experience of listening to Dust and Shadow the most enjoyable?

Intelligent

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ms Monk

What about Simon Vance???s performance did you like?

All the characters had their own voice; well paced; restrained drama, what you would expect.

Fabulous!

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

Absolutely! I thoroughly enjoyed this book...well worth the time and money spent. The writer's way with words was so good that I could almost travel down the dark winding alleys with Dr. Watson and Holmes, seeing it through their eyes. I especially liked Simon Vance's narration...I hated for it to end!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dust and Shadow?

Very hard to decide...when Holmes goes into the room and does not come out...Dr. Watson follows him in after calling his name and Holmes does not answer.

Which scene was your favorite?

the above, or I really don't know...too many, I think

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

not really...just couldn't stop listening...listened all the way through in a couple of days!

Any additional comments?

If you are a Sherlock Holmes, or mystery fan...you won't be disappointed!

Different and enjoyable.

What did you love best about Dust and Shadow?

It moved quickly, but had a lot of detail. Not too narrative. Felt like an original Sherlock.

Any additional comments?

Fun historical mystery.