The Whole Art of Detection

Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

By: Lyndsay Faye

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Internationally best-selling author Lyndsay Faye became enamored with tales of Sherlock Holmes and his esteemed biographer, Dr. John Watson, as a child and later began spinning these quintessential characters into her own works of fiction - from her acclaimed debut novel, Dust and Shadow, which pitted the famous detective against Jack the Ripper, to a series of short stories for the Strand Magazine, whose predecessor published the very first Sherlock Holmes short story in 1891.

In "The Lowther Park Mystery", the unsociable Holmes is forced to attend a garden party at the request of his politician brother and improvises a bit of theater to foil a conspiracy against the government. "The Adventure of the Thames Tunnel" brings to Holmes' attention the baffling murder of a jewel thief in the middle of an underground railway passage. With Holmes and Watson encountering all manner of ungrateful relatives, phony psychologists, wronged wives, plaid-garbed villains, and even a peculiar species of deadly red leech, The Whole Art of Detection is a must-listen for Sherlockians and any fan of historical crime fiction with a modern sensibility.

©2017 Lyndsay Faye (P)2017 HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books

Yay! More Sherlock!

I've listened to all the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and most all of the "new" stories by other authors, and I enjoyed this one more than most. Simon Vance, as always, does an excellent job and adds to the story with his perfect narration. I really like the small glimpses into the private life of Holmes and Watson, but most of all, the mysteries are at the forefront and they are great. Thank you so much for these stories!

Faithful to the tone of Doyle's gaslight tales

If someone told me that the adventures of the renowned consulting detective and his faithful partner collected in "The Whole Art of Detection" were the lost works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle plucked from some forgotten steamer chest or antique desk, I would have no reason to doubt him. Lyndsay Faye's masterful use of the language of Victorian England lends this book a level of authenticity that serves as a firm foundation upon which to build these arresting tales of the celebrated sleuth. These stories are original but feel comfortably familiar. They are new but with the warm patina of a dog-eared Bradshaw read by gaslight. While Faye's mastery of technique and tone are impressive, what truly elevates this collection above other pastiches is that she so perfectly captures the spirit, personality, and essence of both Sherlock Holmes and his biographer and companion, Dr. John Watson. Any of a number of authors could have penned entertaining stories chronicling the cases of a clever detective. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's true genius was using these tales as a vehicle for developing a pair of characters that are so complex, nuanced, and full of quirks and eccentricities that they feel genuinely alive. There are very few authors who are capable of creating personalities that the reader will come to care about as much as Holmes and Watson. Lyndsay Faye has added depth to both characters within the template drawn by their creator and this book will transport you to an era of hansom cabs rattling down narrow cobblestone streets along the banks of the River Thames.

LOVE HER

Truly a continuation of Doyle's works. Faye has done a marvelous job at picking up where Doyle left off. Dialogue is quick, clever, and humorous at times. FANTASTIC. The fact that Simon Vance read these along with the complete works of Sherlock Holmes makes a complete continuation. Hats off to them both.

The Whole Art of Detection

Other than the descriptive language was a bit too flowery and Holmes’ character not quite as aloof as Conan Doyle’s stories the plots were excellent and I enjoyed it immensely. No one can ‘out-Sherlock’ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but Lyndsay Faye’s characters were as true as I would like and Simon Vance did a superb job. Love his narrations.
I would recommend this to a Holmes fan without reservation.

Better than the original!

Very thoroughly enjoyable! Ms Faye's prose is musical and flows flawlessly. And Simon Vance absolutely shines as all the characters.

well done

I like the old and the new Sherlock Holmes books and movies.. This author did a great job bringing back the great original author but then added some unique nuances, with the way the characters handled their diaries.
Brilliantly done.

Fantastic

written as if suddenly Arthur Conan Doyle woke from his grave with just one more collection of stories to tell us about the great master detective, this isn't Holmes glorified, glossed over, or even looked back with the moral hindsight of today, this is simply just Holmes. listening to these is like being reunited with an old friend. the worst part of these stories is that pretty soon, I will have heard them all.

Good Solid Short Entertainment

These are great for when you need some diversion but don't want to get caught up in a lengthy compelling plot, like say, in the middle of the night when you can'r sleep. The characters are well fleshed out and the mysteries are clever - I would say fun.

Simon Vance does his usual, spectacular job of narration.

Well done.

Fans of Sherlock Holmes are bound to enjoy this cleverly written, well performed, highly entertaining work.

Please keep writing, Lyndsay Faye!

I love Sherlock Holmes and about every 10 years I reread the complete works again. Every time I see that someone has written a book with the tantalizing mention of Sherlock Holmes, I grab it up and each time I have been very disappointed. Modern attempts to change the classic setting and/or the relationship with Dr. Watson, to portray him as the aging, inept husband of a woman who supposedly solves the crimes in his stead... or to use Mr. Holmes as a "sometimes mentioned" background character are an insult to Arthur Conan Doyle and to his fans. Lyndsay Faye may possibly the reincarnation of Arthur Conan Doyle, her portrayal is that perfect. The language of the time, the atmosphere that she creates, the mysteries she cleverly constructs... all done perfectly.