This is the second book in Andrew Lane's "Young Sherlock Holmes" series.This one just didn't appeal to me quite as much as the first book in the series, "Death Cloud". There were points in the book where Holmes and the antagonists appeared to be on a stage of their own, invisible to those who surround them and who could have, and most likely would have, intervened. A shootout on top of a moving train full of passengers and staff doesn't often go completely unacknowledged.When reading this series, one has to remember that the series is meant to depict Holmes as a teen. As such, the logic and cold detachment that one would expect from Holmes is not yet developed. I feel that what Lane is consciously depicting here are some of the early steps that led to the more familiar Holmes. I did find that hard to keep in mind at times when Lane's Holmes showed a bit more compassion than I felt was beyond the Doyle character.All-in-all, the story was worth the read. I do like the educational aspect of both of the books so far as Lane attempts to paint a fair but informative view of various historical events.3 STARS I'm re-rerating my review on this book and basically the entire series. I just realized that both "Red Leech" and the "Paradol Chamber" are two of the 61 untold cases mentioned in Holmes canon. So these cases are canon. This new information has seriously upped this series for me. Rated 3.5-4. The thing that got me through this was continuing hints to how Sherlock Holmes will become Sherlock Holmes. This book introduces the violin, suppressing emotions for logic, the mind palace, opium, and the problem of life and death (who decides, and is it right or wrong). The plot itself was okay. I was hoping for more with John Wilkes Booth, but he is a figurehead anyways so I guess it makes sense. The writing was choppy and the dialogue didn't seem believable at times. Mycroft annoys me because he is being very emotional and un-Mycroft-y. But again Sherlock is only fourteen. A lot can happen to make Sherlock and Mycroft the way they are when we meet them in the original books. I foresee bad times for Sherlock. Especially for Sherlock and Virginia. What happens to make this sweet kid into the cold logical thinker we all know and love? I wonder how soon Lane is going to crank up the angst machine.
What do You think about Das Leben Ist Tödlich (2010)?
MARAVILHOSO, os mistérios e suspenses quase me mataram KK
—akramer
Fast paced, exciting, and based solidly in the original.
—Aneenaj
Wish the American version had kept the British title!
—deniiseeswaggiegirl
