Sherlock Holmes & Count Dracula – by Christian Klaver.
This book title popped up with the usual feed - “you liked that so maybe you’ll like this…”. I rolled my eyes and dismissed it.
Of course, it popped up again. This time I took a little longer to click away, catching the words “The Classified Dossier Volume 1” on the cover. Volume 1…interesting.
The third time, I read the description in full. I don’t know what I expected but the comment “An exuberant, reverent mashup” caught me and I bought it.
We want more. We always want more. But sadly, Conan Doyle cannot supply us with more of the duo that we love. I had come to terms with this; I accepted that the adaptation of the stories with the perfection that is Jeremy Brett on television watched when I was a child would be the end of it. Then I was startled at the other re-incarnations of Sherlock and Watson and how much I enjoyed them. They weren’t Mr Brett but then he, also, is sadly unable to produce more for us. The title gives away that this is no ordinary foray into crime but into the classified, paranormal and taboo. I have to also confess to being a lover of the 007 series as re-imagined by Anthony Horowitz – Forever and a Day, Trigger Mortis and With a Mind To Kill, all of which perfectly satisfy the reader’s need for more. Horowitz’s novels on Sherlock and Watson delighted me, so why did I resist quite so much?
I had to admit to myself it was the inclusion of Dracula in the title - it put me off – he’s fictional! But of course, so is Holmes and Watson…
From the very first page I could hear Watsons voice. For me, that is it and I am hooked. You can feel the soot on your clothes, the damp cobbles underfoot and hear the cups and saucers on Mrs Hudson’s tray as she ascends the stairs. The mannerisms are positively “Brettian” from Sherlock and every response from Watson is him.
The descriptions of London are lyrical and immersive; the use of the supernatural characters measured and so balanced to make them as believable as Sherlock. There is complexity of feeling, clash of Family loyalty and the plot line overflows with mystery. Nothing jarred. Nothing felt out of place or out of character. This felt like a classified dossier that had just come to light and could be argued over by experts.
Two-thirds of the way through I stopped reading. This lasted for seven days. It was not because the plot lost momentum or I lost interest; it’s something that happens (rarely with a new author) when I don’t want the book to end. I am enjoying running about in the world they have created or recreated and the end of the book is too near.
For this and for all the reasons above I will be eagerly
awaiting the next Classified Dossier. A great romp, an adventure worthy of Holmes, Watson and Doyle.
