It is inherently difficult to blend Sherlock Holmes, who represents pure logic, and Lovecraftian horror, which involves madness and chaos. James LovegIt is inherently difficult to blend Sherlock Holmes, who represents pure logic, and Lovecraftian horror, which involves madness and chaos. James Lovegrove is one of the few who has successfully pulled it off. He has done so by re-imagining the world in which Holmes and Watson exist.
In the fourth volume of the Cthulu Casebooks, an aging Dr. Watson wants to outline the true story behind the famous cases that were previously published. There are reanimated corpses in Highgate cemetery, a variation of Irene Adler, organic machines, and madness in the frozen north. Each of the cases brings Sherlock and Watson closer to the truth of the aliens and Mi-Go.
After an introduction where the author sets up the frame for the book, we dive into the cases. The titular Highgate Horrors tale comes first, with bodies clawing their way out of the grave. Of course Sherlock discovers how it happened and brings the case to a close. From there, each section has another supernatural event to investigate, with more ties to cosmic horrors and the Mi-Go. It spans the years, building up over time until we find out what the aliens really want.
This take on Irene Adler was fun, and she continues to challenge Sherlock, slipping out of his grasp as she did in the original stories. There are various people challenging Sherlock and his detective skills; he is determined to protect Earth from the Mi-Go and whatever nefarious purpose they have. The second half of the novel especially is tense, with more danger to Sherlock and Watson. It's well put together and kept me engrossed throughout. As with the other casebooks, this is a seamless mix of the cosmic horror and the detective work we're used to seeing....more
This genre mash up of Sherlock Holmes and HP Lovecraft is terrific. It's a fun, dark, Gothic adventure that follows Holmes and Watson as they encounteThis genre mash up of Sherlock Holmes and HP Lovecraft is terrific. It's a fun, dark, Gothic adventure that follows Holmes and Watson as they encounter all sorts of supernatural beings and terrifying gods. It's a nod to both Doyle and Lovecraft, and while it definitely shows the age of its setting, it's nonetheless a good time.
The author has a clear love for both Doyle and Lovecraft, and I think he did an excellent job depicting two of fiction's oldest and greatest characters. There are definitely winks and nudges that fans of Holmes will find and appreciate, as well as little tidbits for Lovecraft's readers.
What I appreciated the most about this book is that it never strayed from getting weird. It embraces the supernatural and doesn't reason it out with logic, which is what I always worry about with mystery novels since I'm a fan of the supernatural. In embracing the weirdness, the story is elevated and all the more exciting.
Much of the plot focuses on solving the mystery, and while the end is thrilling, it does move a little quicker. I would have loved a bit more intensity in the action, but again, I'm likely not the target audience.
If you're a fan of either Sherlock Holmes or HP Lovecraft, I think you will enjoy this book. It's something that can be read in a cozy setting over a weekend, since it doesn't make too many emotional demands. Check it out if it appeals to you!...more
I think I am going to be in the minority here and say that this book just was not for me. At all.
It took everything I had in me to finish We, The JuryI think I am going to be in the minority here and say that this book just was not for me. At all.
It took everything I had in me to finish We, The Jury. I honestly considered not finishing it at all but I really wanted to give it my best possible attempt to see it through to the end.
I absolutely loved the uniqueness of this book and how well written it was. Rotstein took such an interesting approach to breaking down a criminal trial by focusing on the members of the court and the jury during the deliberation process rather than by putting the focus on the accused and the prosecution/defence itself. I thought that was a brilliant way of writing and it’s what piqued my interest in this book in the first place.
So…if I loved the idea and the writing was so well done, why was this book not for me? Well the answer’s in the question itself, isn’t it? It turns out this book just wasn’t for me. While I was immediately drawn in by the idea of a courtroom drama that largely focuses on the jury members, as it turns out, I just didn’t care. The different points of view throughout the book didn’t bother me as much as the fact that I just wasn’t interested in what their view actually was. Turns out I really am more interested in the lawyers presenting their evidence and hashing it out in the courtroom. This was pretty early on in the book for me too so there’s a reason why I struggled to finish.
While I wasn’t interested in the Judge’s late husband or the guard’s obsession with working out, I did find the Sullivan case intriguing and did enjoy parts of the deliberation process. I’ve never been in for Jury Duty so it was interesting to get that perspective.
Though this book was definitely not for me, I’m still going to rate it at 3 stars because Rotstein really did such a great job that I know so many legal junkies will absolutely fall in love with this book....more
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