The Italian Secretary [Audiobook] (Audio Cassette)

by Caleb Carr (Author), Robbie MacNab (Narrator)

2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Audio Cassette
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0753134837
ISBN-13: 978-0753134832

Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Writing a Sherlock Holmes tale is, for popular writers, equivalent to playing Hamlet for male actors: a challenge that few refuse and many regret. Bestselling author Carr (The Angel of Darkness, etc.) acquits himself with honor, though not high honors, in this short novel that pits Holmes, Watson and Mycroft Holmes against conspirators at Queen Victoria's Royal Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh, Scotland. When the men are killed at Holyrood in a fashion similar to the slaying centuries before of David Rizzio, an Italian confidant of Mary, Queen of Scots, Mycroft, who is Victoria's head of intelligence, calls upon his brother and Watson to help solve the mystery. Are the killings the work of Scottish nationalists? Or perhaps the sign of a restless ghost? From the latter question, and the novel's primary setting of the dank castle, emanates a well-drawn atmosphere of gloom that makes this story a nice companion to The Hound of the Baskervilles. Holmes fans and scholars should be pleased with this novel, which generally hews to "the Canon" (unlike, say, Nicholas Meyer's Seven-Per-Cent Solution) and reflects a deep knowledge and understanding of Holmesiana, but the primary base for this novel will be, of course, Carr fans, who won't be quite as thrilled—for while the novel captivates, it matches neither of Carr's previous megasellers in plot invention or depth of character. Still, this should hit bestsellers lists, though not in a major way. (May 10).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

Both Sherlockians and fans of Carr's Alienist series will enjoy this re-creation, commissioned by Conan Doyle's estate and a strong addition to the Holmes oeuvres. Simon Prebble delivers the sweetness and native intelligence of Holmes's documentarian, Dr. Watson, and the laser-like genius of the Great Detective himself as the two travel to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh to investigate a grisly murder and the possibility of a ghost. In a precise narration, Prebble paints all the atmospherics of the Scots settings and lends credibility to Carr's climax, which, while putting to good use his expertise in military history, is a bit over the top. Prebble's crisp narration helps integrate the historical murder of the Italian secretary and the further adventures of Holmes and Watson. E.K.D. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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2.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

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2.0 out of 5 stars Hugely disappointing, Aug 10 2006

By	Rob Nicol (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Italian Secretary (Paperback)

I read and enjoyed Carr's The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness, so I had been looking forward to reading this for some time. Unfortunately, it was quite disappointing. Boring plot, weak character development and a terrible ending. The outstanding character development, pacing and plotline that you find in The Alienist just aren't present.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Not Carr's strongest work, Jan 4 2006

By	Travis Weir (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Italian Secretary (Hardcover)

I have to admit, Caleb Car is one of my favourite authors, without a doubt. His work in The Alienist is amazing and unparalled in the genre of historical mysteries.
Carr does an excellent job of sticking to a late 1800s style of prose, much like what the original Doyle stories are written in. But, where Carr falls short is the depth of the plot. Its thin, and although there are the makings of a good ghost story within it, any reader can guess who the culprit is well before the climax.

I do however still have faith in Carr, and I hope he continues with another installmant of "The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes".

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