#TheWriteReads #BlogTour Book Review: 5 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Maurice Barkley

This book is my beyond doubt one of the highlights of my year so far! It’s so well written, when I started it I had to double-check to see if this is not some unpublished manuscript of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Yes, it’s THAT good!! Before I start telling you exactly what I loved so much about it, I want to express a huge thank you to the author, Maurice Barkley, and Dave from TheWriteReads for sending this book my way!

First, the blurb

5 STORIES
1-Extreme danger. Children’s lives are at risk.
2-Holmes prevents an injustice and triumphs over a greedy family.
3-A train arrives 3 years late. Only Holmes can solve this one.
4-Holmes battles blundering politicians and a master criminal.
5-An elaborate crime with a strange motive.

And now My thoughts!

My dear bookish friends, I have to tell you of this absolute gem – it’s not to be missed! I opened the first page, and thought to myself… “Wait, is this an actual Sherlock Holmes story – one that I have missed?” There are endless stories of people who tried to copy the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but how many are there who have actually succeeded in this great endeavour? Not many, I’m guessing. But the special thing here is this is not a mere copy. This feels unique. You are transported right into the setting of Victorian London, and find yourself at 221b Baker Street. As in the originals, Holmes’ assistant, Dr. Watson, is giving a captivating account of what mysteries and riddles the great detective is solving.

I was hooked from the first chapter. I don’t usually go for mysteries very often, but the Sherlock Holmes stories have always captivated me. I love the friendship between Watson and Holmes, two very different characters, and maybe that is why they are perfect for each other. Holmes doesn’t look for the spotlight, yet always ends up in it; whereas his assistant, Watson, stands back and watches. He is a great observer – though probably not as great as the famous detective, as nothing escapes him ever, and he needs that trait for his cases. However, sometimes Watson gets active in the stories too, and I love these moments.

I’m not sure I can pick a favourite out of these five stories. Maybe the first one? Maybe the second? It’s impossible to say. What I can say though is that I loved them all. Maurice Barkley’s writing is delightfully entertaining and expertly carried-out – once picked up, you won’t want to put this book down!

I recommend this to everyone who loves the greatest sleuth of all time and missed his adventures. This is a quick and refreshing read, and you will find yourself guessing along with Watson how the mysteries could be solved.

Obviously 5 stars from me – more if that was possible! I loved every single sentence.

Thank you all for reading!
xoxo
Noly

And last – but definitely not least! –  the author

Maurice Barkley lives with his wife Marie in a suburb of Rochester, New York. Retired from a career as a commercial artist and builder of tree houses, he is WRITING and busy reinforcing the stereotype of a pesky househusband. Favorite relaxation is  throwing peanuts to squirrels, blue jays, cardinals and chipmunks from his porch. Once he built a doll hair-making machine using an old sewing machine. It worked, but his wife got tired of making Raggedy Ann dolls, so it sits in the garage.