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The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
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Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
Author: Caleb Carr
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $4.99
You Save: $ 18.96 ( 79% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
Author: Caleb Carr
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Average Customer Rating:
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The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Carroll & Graf
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2005-03-18
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Studio: Carroll & Graf
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Carroll & Graf
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 256
Publication Date: 2005-03-18
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Studio: Carroll & Graf
Editorial Review of The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are summoned to the aid of Queen Victoria in Scotland by a telegram from Holmes' brother, Mycroft, a royal advisor. Rushed northward on a royal train—and nearly murdered themselves en route—the pair are soon joined by Mycroft, and learn of the brutal killings of two of the Queen's servants, a renowned architect and his foreman, both of whom had been working on the renovation of the famous and forbidding Royal Palace of Holyrood, in Edinburgh. Mycroft has enlisted his brother to help solve the murders that may be key elements of a much more elaborate and pernicious plot on the Queen's life. But the circumstances of the two victims' deaths also call to Holmes' mind the terrible murder—in Holyrood—of "The Italian Secretary," David Rizzio. Only Rizzio, a music teacher and confidante of Mary, Queen of Scots, was murdered three centuries ago. Holmes proceeds to alarm Watson with the announcement that the Italian Secretary's vengeful spirit may have taken the lives of the two men as punishment for disturbing the scene of his assassination. Critically acclaimed, bestselling author Caleb Carr's brilliant new offering takes the Conan Doyle tradition to remarkable new heights with this spellbinding tale.
Customer Reviews of The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Come Watson - The Games Afoot
Review: "Come Watson, the games afoot" - Holmes and Watson are off to Scotland at the behest of Holmes's brother Mycroff to save the Queen.
Caleb Carr's The Italian Secretary is a fun read that those who love period mysteries and the Sherlock Holmes stories will find hard to put down. While parts of Carr's uniqueness come through, he has mastered the rhythm and style of Arthur Conan Doyle enough to take one back to the old masterpieces.
Take it in hand for a time of enjoyment escaping from the pace of modern life and pressure of the moment. But a warning - it does keep one on the edge of their seat.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Secrets of Holyroodhouse
Review: Caleb Carr initially captured my attention with his historical mystery novels, The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness....both thrilling and engaging works of fiction....which gave way to the deplorable Killing Time, and seemingly the disappearance of Mr. Carr from popular fiction.
However, the author himself returns to life as does one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time, Sherlock Holmes, in Carr's 'The Italian Secretary'.
Holmes and Watson, Baker Streets most famed residents, are called to duty by Holmes' brother, Mycroft, in an effort to solve a mystery involving two recent murders that have brought a dark cloud over the Royal Palace Holyroodhouse in Scotland, one-time home of Mary Queen of Scots.
The detective and the doctor accept the challenge to join Mycroft in this latest adventure, doubly intrigued by the famed centuries old murder of David Rizzio, 'The Italian Secretary', who befriended Mary long ago, and was murdered for his troubles at Holyroodhouse as well, and whose spirit is still rumoured to wander the halls of the palace.
The two Holmes brothers and Watson set off to decipher the obvious and not so obvious clues to unravel the murders...and as is always the case with Sherlock Holmes, nothing is quite what it seems.
An entertaining follow up to the Sherlock Holmes legend created by Arthur Conan Doyle, this is a light, easy read, but nonetheless entertaining from beginning to end.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A good effort at a difficult task
Review: Caleb Carr makes a good effort here at a very difficult task. Not only does Carr take on the daunting job of resurrecting one of literature's most identifiable figures, he also goes against his own strengths as a writer to do so. Carr's forte always has been his in-depth characterizations, where as in a Holmes' book, the plot is the main thing. Also, this book is much shorter than Carr's regular work. I read, however, that this was to be a short story but it grew to a novel length and thus had to be published as a free standing piece. Overall, Carr has done a good job of providing a Sherlockian story. It was worth the time to read this credible effort.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not in League for the Extraordinary Gentleman
Review: As a longtime fan of Sherlock Holmes, I was excited about the prospects of reading this novel. Though I have yet to read any of Caleb carr's other work, I had noted the critical acclaim for his other novels, especially The Alienist: A Novel and The Angel of Darkness. I was also intrigued about the story as it took place in Scotland. With all these things to look forward to, I must admit I was disappointed with The Italian Secretary. There were some very fine parts, in particular the last two chapters, even though they may not have rung totally true to form for Sir A. Conan Doyle. Mycroft Holmes and Dr. Watson are present and deeply involved in this mystery. The story fell flat in several places, yet overall, I think the book was a worthy diversion. I place it somewhere between 2 and 3 stars.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Elementary, my dear Watson!
Review: I am a big fan of Carr's and I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. Carr's earlier works - The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness were true masterpieces. But The Italian Secretary is boring, has little plot and I must say, has a very dull climax unlike his earlier works. Sherlock Holmes powers are under utilized and Mycroft's intelligence is not employed at all. It is impossible to believe that an average Scotland Yard officer could not have solved this mystery. Moreover, the role of David Rizzio, the Italian secretary is over emphasized. The book could have been smaller by a hundred pages but for the unnecessary long sentences.
I am being very harsh in the review but I expected a lot from Carr being a great fan of his works.
Review Summary: Come Watson - The Games Afoot
Review: "Come Watson, the games afoot" - Holmes and Watson are off to Scotland at the behest of Holmes's brother Mycroff to save the Queen.
Caleb Carr's The Italian Secretary is a fun read that those who love period mysteries and the Sherlock Holmes stories will find hard to put down. While parts of Carr's uniqueness come through, he has mastered the rhythm and style of Arthur Conan Doyle enough to take one back to the old masterpieces.
Take it in hand for a time of enjoyment escaping from the pace of modern life and pressure of the moment. But a warning - it does keep one on the edge of their seat.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The Secrets of Holyroodhouse
Review: Caleb Carr initially captured my attention with his historical mystery novels, The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness....both thrilling and engaging works of fiction....which gave way to the deplorable Killing Time, and seemingly the disappearance of Mr. Carr from popular fiction.
However, the author himself returns to life as does one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time, Sherlock Holmes, in Carr's 'The Italian Secretary'.
Holmes and Watson, Baker Streets most famed residents, are called to duty by Holmes' brother, Mycroft, in an effort to solve a mystery involving two recent murders that have brought a dark cloud over the Royal Palace Holyroodhouse in Scotland, one-time home of Mary Queen of Scots.
The detective and the doctor accept the challenge to join Mycroft in this latest adventure, doubly intrigued by the famed centuries old murder of David Rizzio, 'The Italian Secretary', who befriended Mary long ago, and was murdered for his troubles at Holyroodhouse as well, and whose spirit is still rumoured to wander the halls of the palace.
The two Holmes brothers and Watson set off to decipher the obvious and not so obvious clues to unravel the murders...and as is always the case with Sherlock Holmes, nothing is quite what it seems.
An entertaining follow up to the Sherlock Holmes legend created by Arthur Conan Doyle, this is a light, easy read, but nonetheless entertaining from beginning to end.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A good effort at a difficult task
Review: Caleb Carr makes a good effort here at a very difficult task. Not only does Carr take on the daunting job of resurrecting one of literature's most identifiable figures, he also goes against his own strengths as a writer to do so. Carr's forte always has been his in-depth characterizations, where as in a Holmes' book, the plot is the main thing. Also, this book is much shorter than Carr's regular work. I read, however, that this was to be a short story but it grew to a novel length and thus had to be published as a free standing piece. Overall, Carr has done a good job of providing a Sherlockian story. It was worth the time to read this credible effort.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not in League for the Extraordinary Gentleman
Review: As a longtime fan of Sherlock Holmes, I was excited about the prospects of reading this novel. Though I have yet to read any of Caleb carr's other work, I had noted the critical acclaim for his other novels, especially The Alienist: A Novel and The Angel of Darkness. I was also intrigued about the story as it took place in Scotland. With all these things to look forward to, I must admit I was disappointed with The Italian Secretary. There were some very fine parts, in particular the last two chapters, even though they may not have rung totally true to form for Sir A. Conan Doyle. Mycroft Holmes and Dr. Watson are present and deeply involved in this mystery. The story fell flat in several places, yet overall, I think the book was a worthy diversion. I place it somewhere between 2 and 3 stars.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Elementary, my dear Watson!
Review: I am a big fan of Carr's and I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. Carr's earlier works - The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness were true masterpieces. But The Italian Secretary is boring, has little plot and I must say, has a very dull climax unlike his earlier works. Sherlock Holmes powers are under utilized and Mycroft's intelligence is not employed at all. It is impossible to believe that an average Scotland Yard officer could not have solved this mystery. Moreover, the role of David Rizzio, the Italian secretary is over emphasized. The book could have been smaller by a hundred pages but for the unnecessary long sentences.
I am being very harsh in the review but I expected a lot from Carr being a great fan of his works.