Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

I have always enjoyed the original Sherlock Holmes stories. The pastiches not so much. Usually the author goes overboard to be faithful or makes the story ridiculous trying for laughs. I am not a Holmes purist, Basil Rathbone is still my favorite Holmes, regardless of the movie plots.

This book was excellent! The Holmes character has some of the edges smoothed yet not so one wouldn't recognize him. Watson is thoughtful and decisive. The Lestrade character is perfect, though this one might be the one least like the stories. The crime to be solved is one of the most well known in history. There is plenty of tension as Holmes comes up with a very plausible solution.

This well researched, well written story was so good that I could hardly turn it off. The narrator does an excellent job, and I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves Holmes, mysteries, or both.

I think this listen would please both Holmes traditionalists (because it honours Conan Doyle's style, characterization and voice) as well as those of us who prefer contemporary re-imaginings of the Holmes' character (her prose is more snappy; she inserts more contemporary psychology, but not in an anachronistic fashion). Like Conan Doyle, the author paints the streets of London so vividly that they almost become a character.

The dialogue is brisk and often humourous; Watson is an intelligent friend, not a buffoon. I had avoided the listen because novels using the Ripper murders can be grisly, but this, while "anatomically correct," avoids sensationalism. The story turns a bit Hollywood towards the end, however, so to me it falls short of 5 star historical detective ficiton.

I loved this audio book. It was a perfect example in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes. Certain facts of the Ripper killings were blended seamlessly in a Sherlock Holmes style novel.
Simon Vance as narrator was superb. He sounded like Sherlock, and like Dr. Watson and didn't do bad women's voices. Great regional accents.
You won't regret listening to this...you will think you are listening to Sherlock and Dr. Watson in person.

I bought this because I'm a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, I've always been curious about the Jack the Ripper murders and I really enjoy narrations by Simon Vance so I expected to really enjoy this book I found this to be rather unsatisfying - lots of Holmes clichés ("Elementary, my dear Watson!") thrown in to the point that it got annoying, but with none of the depth of the character that I love.

Without spoiling anything, I found the resolution to be unsatisfying. If you're a hardcore Sherlock Holmes fan or Ripperologist, stay clear but if you want a fast-paced mystery give this a shot.

I really enjoyed this Holmes story. Considering the timeframe of the story, its premise is quite believable (if you allow yourself to believe that Sherlock Holmes actually existed)... Narrator did a stellar job. Lyndsay, I'm a dedicated fan now. Please write many more Holmes stories. Keep them reasonbly believable.

I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan for longer than I care to remember. While not a classic Holmes yarn, the overall "feel" of this story was close enough for me. I thought the writing captured the flavor of Holmes and the England of his time. In addition to a very good story, the narration was outstanding. What a difference an excellent narrator can make.

Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye was an absorbing and entertaining (and frighteningly disturbing) listen. Faye does an excellent job of channeling Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so that I usually had the illusion that I was listening to some apocryphal actual Holmes story rather than to a 21st century pastiche. The relationship between Watson and Holmes is depicted accurately, humorously, and movingly. The case, that of the Jack the Ripper murders in 1888 London, is relentlessly horrible, ultimately making us look uncomfortably into the dark human heart. I’m no Ripperologist, but having read Alan Moore’s graphic novel From Hell, it seems to me that Faye effectively matches up the historical case with the fictional detective. Faye is also quite good at evoking the slums of London in all their foul and brutalizing misery: dingy tenements, opium dens, slaughterhouses, public houses, and poor houses; fruit sellers, cat meat men, police, prostitutes—and a serial killer.

Simon Vance is his usual effortless and professional self reading the novel, changing his voice just enough to distinguish between the various characters without distracting the listener from the story, perfectly enhancing the text.

There are a few flaws (in my mind) in the novel. The Holmes of my experience would figure out the culprit’s profession sooner than I did, wouldn’t break someone’s nose in a fit of pique, and wouldn’t say “Now get the hell out of here!” And the climax, while utterly gripping, is unconvincing after the fact. But overall I really enjoyed Dust and Shadow, and am sure it would appeal to any fan of Sherlock Holmes or Jack the Ripper.

Although nobody could write with the complexity, snap and originality of the original Conan Doyle, this book is worth a listen if you are a ripper or a Sherlock Holmes fan.

Great addition to Sherlock Holmes stories for listeners who loved traditional Holmes. This story works having Holmes solve the Jack the Ripper killings. Very traditional and interesting and typical wonderful Holmes. Excellent Narrator.