Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Dust by James Lovegrove ~ a Review

by MK French

How it begins

Mrs. Hudson's friend and fellow landlady is suspected of murder when one of her lodgers is found dead. He had been a civil servant returned from India and had scrawled a mysterious message prior to his death. Allan Quartermain is spotted near the scene of the crime so Holmes and Watson will team up with him to uncover the truth behind the death.

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July 2018; Titan Books; 978-1785653612
ebook, print (304 pages); thriller

This novel is meant to be a case file from early in Sherlock's career, long before his fame had really taken off. It's a great way to explain the differences in Lovegrove's style vs. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's, but they are very similar. Allan can actually best Sherlock in hand to hand despite his age and does put down his deductive skills. That part is rather obnoxious, though I don't know enough about Allan's character to know if that's what he is normally like. Sherlock gives it right back later on in the novel, so they're probably evenly matched in ego and intellect.

The story progresses in the same manner as Sherlock Holmes stories, where there is a lot of detail being told to us after the fact. The story does unfold faster once Allan and Sherlock's posturing is put to bed. Not to say that they don't still jockey for attention, but they seem more content to keep their mastery in their respective fields and work together. There's the scientific explanations that Sherlock gives, coupled with the magic of Allan's world, and plenty of action sequences. This is a Holmes mystery in keeping with the originals, and a credit to Lovegrove's skill.

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Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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