Dark Arts, Dark Acts

The Redacted Sherlock Holmes Novels, Book 1

By: Orlando Pearson

Narrated by: Keith Spilsbury

It has taken over 80 years, but at long last, the British government’s embargo on reporting this slice of diplomatic history has been lifted.

It was in November 1940 that a senior minister at the British foreign office in blacked-out London commissioned Holmes and Watson to go to Berlin to negotiate a prisoner of war swap with the German high command.

And the price demanded by Nazi Propaganda Minister, Joseph Göbbels, for any prisoner's release? That the two work with the Berlin police to capture a serial killer who is stalking the city’s railway network.

But is Holmes being entirely honest with Watson about why the foreign office wants the pair to conduct an investigation which can only help the Nazi war effort? And what else might Holmes’ investigation of the German railway network uncover? And how can the United States be persuaded to join the war on the British side?

An account of real events in London, Berlin, and Moscow in the years 1940 and 1941 which still shape the present, the listener may feel hand of both Mycroft Holmes and Niccolò Machiavelli behind the statecraft on display.

©2022 Orlando Pearson (P)2022 MX Publishing

Entertaining

Dark Arts, Dark Acts is an unusual Sherlock Holmes story. It takes place when Holmes and Watson are elderly and they are called to government service in WW2. Their missions take them to confront Nazis in Germany and Stalin in Russia. Much of their strategies are recalled from previous adventures. The narration was very good. I received a copy of the audiobook for my unbiased review.

What a horrible narrator.

Every sentence ends like a question. Sounds like a nervous 12 year old reading for his class. Unreal how is this a professional??

Needless to say this got very old very fast.

Behind the Scenes

Enjoyable read...loved it. The real dark side that one must travel during war time to seek peace.

not much sleuthing

This is not the typical who done it that I'm used to reading. This was more political intrigue, but did have serial killer murders solved. I prefer to see Sherlock sleuthing crimes. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing it to life.

Holmes, Watson & History

Interesting re-telling of WWII incidents with Holmes and Watson playing major roles (in fact Watson playing a more major role in part of it). Very good performance.