- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Century (6 May 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 071267148X
- ISBN-13: 978-0712671484
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,408,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Imprisoned in a dank cottage deep in the English countryside Arthur Doyle lies half-unconscious and at the mercy of his nemesis - Cream. Gathering all his dwindling strength he smashes a window and crawls to safety. With a sharp piece of broken glass he awaits his torturer's return, but the man has eluded him once more, leaving behind the rotting body of a local miser and thwarted in his attempt to obtain money for his 'deadly' cause. Securing the help of the remarkable pioneering criminal investigator Dr Joseph Bell the two men return to the scene of the crime but find few clues. London reveals little more except the possibility that their archenemy has gone to the Suffolk coast under the name of Dr Mere. Full of legend the local community fear the 'Dunwich witch' has returned with her evil curse. A man has died in suspicious circumstances and it seems many are unwilling to talk about it. More hideous crimes are yet to come as Dr Bell and Doyle move closer and closer to confronting Cream: Bell to capture a notorious villain, Doyle to avenge himself for a crime which robbed him of his future happiness. Dr Bell and Arthur Doyle are reunited once again in their quest to hunt down a criminal mastermind in a sinister tale of intrigue and violence, which reaches a terrifying and dramatic climax -
From the Publisher
THE THIRD NOVEL IN PIRIE'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CONAN DOYLE CYCLE
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the third in the "Murder Rooms" series (although readers will search in vain for that phrase appearing anywhere in the book's title/jacket or text) concerning the adventures of a young Arthur Conan Doyle and his mentor/Sherlock Holmes model Dr. Joseph Bell, and it is every bit as mesmerizing as the first two (The Patient's Eyes, The Night Calls), perhaps even more so. This new work, however, goes beyond being simply (simply?) a fascinating murder yarn, as it begins to more closely develop the character of Doyle into the real-life Doyle who could, and would, of course, write the Holmes stories. For here we finally pin-point Doyle & Bell's arch-nemesis the (real-life) serial killer Thomas Neill Cream as the template for Professor Moriarty.
Of course, there is no real basis of fact in the battle between Doyle, Bell, and Cream (whom some believe-inaccurately-to have potential as "Jack the Ripper"), but they WERE contemporaries. There paths COULD have crossed. And, anyway, when the story is this damn' good; the characters so gripping; and the atmosphere so haunting, who cares?
A word of caution: Although the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone, enjoyment will be multiplied 10 fold if you read the others in the series, in order, first. And why on earth wouldn't you? They're great! (pace Tony)
Of course, there is no real basis of fact in the battle between Doyle, Bell, and Cream (whom some believe-inaccurately-to have potential as "Jack the Ripper"), but they WERE contemporaries. There paths COULD have crossed. And, anyway, when the story is this damn' good; the characters so gripping; and the atmosphere so haunting, who cares?
A word of caution: Although the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone, enjoyment will be multiplied 10 fold if you read the others in the series, in order, first. And why on earth wouldn't you? They're great! (pace Tony)
Format:Paperback
This picks up right where 'The Night Calls' ends, so it's not easy to elaborate on the plot without spoiling the story.
Better than 'The Night Calls' this maintains the undeniably creepy atmosphere of the previous novels and the introduction of the Dunwich curse is interesting enough to keep the pages turning. Unfortunately where the book falls down is in its story arc. A lot of things are left unresolved and in the lack so far, six years after this was published, of another volume, this ends up being a frustrating read. Perhaps Pirie should have ditched the ongoing story and concentrated on the cases investigated by Bell and Doyle. I don't have a problem with open endings but throughout the three books, there is a sense that Pirie is leading the reader somewhere. Sadly it seems to be nowhere.
Readable but frustrating.
Better than 'The Night Calls' this maintains the undeniably creepy atmosphere of the previous novels and the introduction of the Dunwich curse is interesting enough to keep the pages turning. Unfortunately where the book falls down is in its story arc. A lot of things are left unresolved and in the lack so far, six years after this was published, of another volume, this ends up being a frustrating read. Perhaps Pirie should have ditched the ongoing story and concentrated on the cases investigated by Bell and Doyle. I don't have a problem with open endings but throughout the three books, there is a sense that Pirie is leading the reader somewhere. Sadly it seems to be nowhere.
Readable but frustrating.
Format:Paperback
The end of game, or was it merely the end-game? This third volume of "Murder Rooms" trilogy keeps the reader as well the protagonists (Dr. Joseph Bell, and Arthur Conan Doyle) on a tight leash till the end, with the shadow of Doyle's nemesis lurking at every unseen corner and unknown angle. I have to admit that towards the end of the book, the author had succeeded in making me rather paranoid and that had revealed a few things before their 'official' exposure caused by Dr. Bell, (e.g. the asylum-proprietor's role, the identity of Charlotte Jephord's lover, etc.). The book does not echo many other Sherlockian adventures (still hidden in the mist of future), except "The Final Problem". It is obviously well-written, slightly superior to The Night Calls (Murder Rooms 2), and yet somewhat lesser than The Patient's Eyes: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (Murder Rooms).
The biggest point of regret is that the series had suddenly ended with this volume, and the matter of the 'Dead Time' (tantalisingly mentioned by the author) was never revealed.
Read this book, only after exhausting the two previous volumes, and preferably in a stormy night, since the book is indeed very dark, and very gothic!
The biggest point of regret is that the series had suddenly ended with this volume, and the matter of the 'Dead Time' (tantalisingly mentioned by the author) was never revealed.
Read this book, only after exhausting the two previous volumes, and preferably in a stormy night, since the book is indeed very dark, and very gothic!
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