Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage

By: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anna Waterhouse

Narrated by: Damian Lynch

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The new novel by NBA All-Star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, starring brothers Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes.

It is 1873, and as the economies of Europe threaten to crumble, Mycroft Holmes finds himself in service to the Crown once again. A distant relative of Queen Victoria has been slain by the Fire Four Eleven killer, a serial murderer who leaves no mark upon his victims, only a mysterious calling card. Meanwhile, Sherlock has already taken it upon himself to solve the case as his interest in the criminal mind grows into an obsession.

Mycroft begrudgingly allows Sherlock to investigate, as Ai Lin--the woman he is still in love with--needs his aid. Her fiancé has been kidnapped, and the only man who might know his fate is a ruthless arms dealer with a reputation for killing those who cross him. Mycroft persuades his friend Cyrus Douglas to help find the young man, but Douglas himself is put in harm's way.

As Sherlock travels the country on the hunt for the Fire Four Eleven murderer, both he and Mycroft will discover that the greed of others is at the root of the evil they are trying to unearth....

©2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Writing

Impressed with character development, story, moral character and relationships of the major players: Mycroft, Douglas and Sherlock as well as significant supporting characters. Abdul Jabbar is kind of a Renaissance figure : athlete, author, researcher, architect and humanitarian. Plus, he was great in Airplane.

Wonderful Read Until the Very End!

Book number 2 was very entertaining. Nice to see ethnic characters fully developed in their own right not just the main character's side kick. Well written & read.

AWESOME!!

Brilliant prologue to Sherlock stories and gives another dimension to Mycroft.
The stories are entertaining and grasp your attention until the very end.
I hope the authors continue their collaboration and write more books.

Love this reimagining of Sherlock Holmes!

KAJ is a master storyteller and intellectual. I am chagrined every time I have to stop listening. Sherlock, Mycroft, Cyrus and all the characters are well drawn, engaging, and fun as they pay tribute to Conan Doyle’s creations while expanding the reader’s understanding of the characters. If you love Sherlock Holmes stories, this is a series for you!

A solid entry in an excellent series

Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse’s previous works in this series have been very satisfying mysteries in the Conan Doyle style but with little tolerance for the prejudices of the Victorians.

Their characters are so interesting and layered that it’s always a pleasure to read the next adventure.

Story not as tight & interesting as earlier in series but still good Sherlock reading

Not as interesting and tight a plot as the first books in the series. Still a decent listen but I’d read other authors or other books in this series first.

Wonderfully developed characters

I hate all the new woke stories, where they just change the color of previously well known characters. This series has added new characters in a more historically accurate way, which actually expands the readers understanding of the times and, perhaps the injustice of accepted culture. Mycroft and Sherlock are well known the addition of new characters helps to develop their characters. I hope this series continues ❤️

smooth transition from book 2

Great story
love to see the character development
excellent narration
when is book 4? Will the story continue?

Another stellar performance!

This is one of the best original audible series, Abdul-Jabbar is a true Holmesian and the reading by Damian Lynch is the icing on the cake.

Brilliant set of books

As a big Sherlock fan I was not left disappointed. Brilliant prologue to Sherlock stories and gives another dimension to Mycroft