The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr
This is by far one of my absolute favorite Sherlock Holmes' stories outside of the canon. Carr is a masterful author (of another of my favorite books, The Alienist), so I could not have been more excited when I found out he would be writing a Sherlock Holmes novel.
This book also holds a special place on my favorites list because, after reading the book, I was able to visit the room in Scotland where the slaying of David Rizzio took place. This really made the book come alive for me, to be able to stand in a place where so much of the story takes place.
Carr does an excellent job of weaving together true crime, history, and the famous Sherlock Holmes. The dual mysteries of present murders and past horrors are gripping and full of twists and turns. The past resonates deeply in this story, and Carr explores just how much Rizzio's murder (and the possible supernatural effects, a notion Holmes scoffs at) could possibly influence a very-much alive Victorian murderer.
I've had this on my TBR pile for ages! The Alienist too; I keep hearing great things about Carr, but I still haven't taken the dive in.
ReplyDeleteCarr is definitely worth reading-I keep meaning to re read The Alienist someday. I definitely highly recommend The Alienist and The Italian Secretary! :)
DeleteOoh, that looks good. I was just thinking that the only Sherlock Holmes story I've ever really read was The Hounds of Baskervilles. I'm definitely going to have to remedy this.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! The Hound of the Baskervilles is my favorite Sherlock Holmes story, but really all of them are so great.
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