Dust and Shadow: a review (no spoilers)

[mightymads]

I finally read it and I loved it! Differences in style with ACD are quite obvious, but it didn’t make the book less enjoyable. Great characterisations: of Holmes, Watson, Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft, and OCs such as Mary Ann Monk. There are many wonderful moments between Holmes and Watson: taking care of each other when wounded, fighting street gangs back-to-back, running in dark alleys holding hands, bickering when either is in danger, Watson admiring Holmes’s boxing skills and Holmes saluting Watson with an ode on the violin... Mycroft’s trusting Watson completely in regards of Sherlock’s health rang just true as did Mrs. Hudson’s occasional exasperation with both of her lodgers. I really appreciated that not only Watson but Holmes also is chivalrous towards ladies. That’s true to the canon, and what’s even better than the canon, they are never condescending to Miss Monk, who helps them with the investigation of the Ripper case.

I had an impression that Holmes’s image was much influenced by Jeremy Brett’s acting: his exclamations, his moving gracefully, his vulnerability—again and again it reminded me of Jeremy. Watson reading his Holmes just as he does in the canon was a joy.

A special point of amusement for me was the eternal question of Watson’s marriage/engagement. By the time the book ends, he is supposed to know Mary, but she is never mentioned, and there is no indication that Watson is courting her or going move out from the Baker Street rooms.

Another detail which worked for me very well is Lestrade being Holmes and Watson’s staunchest friend and never doubting Holmes even when there are seemingly good reasons for that.

The way the “dramatic introduction” of Moore Agar was portrayed was also nice. While I have a different headcanon, that Agar is older and had more opportunities to study than Watson (since Watson consults him in DEVI and Agar’s word is final in convincing Holmes to take a vacation), Agar’s being a young doctor recently in practice was an interesting take in this story.

Journalists getting in the way of the investigation was one more detail I enjoyed. In the canon Holmes is on top of the game handling the press, so in this story it was quite realistic that Holmes can’t always be in control.

Mary Ann Monk is a great character, a lady on par with the male leads and not a Mary Sue. She is well-drawn and fleshed out. I enjoyed reading about her and her interaction with Holmes and Watson.

Numerous subtle nods to the canon were endearing. Some Victoriana aspects, like a point of wearing/not wearing gloves, were a special treat, a bonus.

The grand reveal and the denouement seemed a bit underwhelming to me but still very good. I’d like more insight into the Ripper’s persona and his motivations.

Anyway, now I have in mind to read a Holmes short story collection by Lyndsay Faye, so maybe another review will follow.

Comments

[sanguinity]

Mary Ann Monk was wonderful, yes. I'm not sure that I'd call her an OC, as she was a historical character, but I'd also imagine that we know about her isn't nearly as extensive as what Faye did with her.

[mightymads]

Strictly speaking, yes, she was a historical character, but perhaps apart from the name and a few facts all the rest is fiction in the book, just as it is in Ripper Street.

[recently_folded]

I agree with you that this is a fun book. You can really see that the writer is in love with canon, but it's the kind of love that lets them step aside and know canon enough to really take the characters and run with them. Plus, those sly winks to fandom where our more modern sensibilities ask questions Doyle didn't have to answer.

And yeah, the "faction" take on Monk was well done, I thought. Faye really steps delicately along the line between fiction and history and I enjoyed how nicely she made Monk fit in as a character rather than being stuck into a story about men for all of the usual reasons.

At the end, though, you're right: Faye seemed more into writing Holmesian adventures than actually working her plot through with as much love as she gave the characters. But of course she's hardly the first—or last—fanfic writer to fall victim to that. *looks around the room and coughs delicately*

[mightymads]

As you said, Faye’s love for the characters is palpable. There are lots and lots of pastiches out there, and some stink as false from the very first page, but this book is not the case. I really like that the author treats the characters with respect. Holmes is never a jerk and Watson is never stupid.

Monk’s character was very refreshing. It’s fun how “young woman with a flushed face and a haughty air” was turned into such a badass heroine who was even given a love-interest eventually.

Again, you’re right: it did feel like reading a good fanfic. And considering that this book was Faye’s debut, it was definitely well-done!

[colebaltblue]

I really enjoyed this book! I really liked how accessible Holmes and Watson are. So often Holmes and Watson are not - they're presented as these inhuman enigmas. Or worse yet, Watson as the only thing that keeps Holmes human (not that THAT isn't a fantastic story, but it's a different one, yeah?). Anyway. That combined with such fantastic women too? Just one of those things would have made this book enjoyable. But both? Oh, I'll love Lyndsey forever for writing that.

[mightymads]

One could feel that this book is a love letter to the canon, and yes, I loved the way the characters were treated, with affection and respect. Miss Monk was wonderful too!