The Sherlockian

Moore spins engaging parallel detective stories.

Thrilling...a ripping good story that's packed with loads of Doyle and Holmes trivia.

"It must be said of Graham Moore that he has his methods. Ingenious and amusing ones, too. You will enjoy their elucidation even if you are not a committed Sherlockian. The game's afoot!"

"What irresistible fun! As the literary intrigue deepens, with Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, and some brainy Sherlock Holmes buffs as partners in crime, you don't have to be Holmes to deduce that The Sherlockian is a serpentine delight for anyone who loves mystery and historical suspense."

"Sly self-awareness keeps THE SHERLOCKIAN smart and agile, [and] it's possible to enjoy this book's laughable affectations and still be seduced by them... it is anchored by Mr. Moore's self-evident love of the rules that shape good mystery fiction and the promises on which it must deliver."

"A truly terrific mystery ... Witty and breezy, yet [it]manages to explore the toll taken on Doyle by having created a character so beloved that the creation obscures the creator ... For a first book - actually, for any book - this is impressive. Among its virtues is a feel for the gas-lamp Victorian world. As we read, we understand Doyle's impatience with his world as well as [Harold] White's yearning to return to it ... The Escher like patterning of real life on fictional reconstruction, complete with murder, related rissoles and tentative love story all come off without a hitch. For mystery lovers, this book is a treat. For Sherlock Holmes lovers, it is indispensible."

"The tales of Conan Doyle and White, told in alternating chapters, make up "The Sherlockian," Graham Moore's entertaining debut novel. Both mysteries are well crafted, with gratifying and amusing nods toward the conflation of Conan Doyle and his most famous literary creation ... exemplary weaving of historical fact and fiction ... This is a novel clearly written with great affection, not just for Conan Doyle and Holmes, but their 21st-century fans as well."

"The problem with Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories is that there aren't enough of them. Fans try to fill the gap with spin-offs, some of which work better than others. This engaging riff on the familiar themes by first-novelist Moore is one of the best . . . Moore spins his tale in prose that shifts easily from exposition to pathos to sly comedy . . . Mystery fans should love the mix of historical fiction and contemporary puzzle-solving. And Sherlockians? Try keeping them away."

"Moore's fiction provides a shrewd take on the noted author and his legendary scion."

The tales merge in a grand finale that, looking back, seems inevitable. The Sherlockian on your Christmas list will love this book. So will any mystery lover, even one who has never read a Sherlock Holmes story, if there be such an unfortunate creature.

Clever...insightful...ingenious...a testament to the power of storytelling.

The mystery is gripping, and Moore has a feel for the transitional nature of Conan Doyle's era.

Moore is well-steeped in Holmes lore but savvy enough as a writer to keep the reader's interest with the parallel, and eventually intersecting, plots.

Required reading.

Brilliantly executed: a must-read for admirers of historical fiction, Sherlock Holmes, and intellectual mysteries...This debut manages to be both highly original as well as deeply reverential to its literary sources. It's difficult to find a new spin on Sherlock Holmes, but Graham Moore has pulled it off with flying colors.

Combines good pacing with an engaging plot, and its ample dose of Holmes quotes, errata, and flair for humor have enough to keep anyone from an initiate to a dedicated Sherlockian on the hook...the kin of everyman adventure that one can't help but enjoy.

Suspenseful...a first-time novelist fictionalizes real-life events to write a compelling mystery.

Moore spins a tale full of characters that make his first book a fun read...I found myself getting pulled into each story simultaneously since Moore deftly parallels the action taking places in both stories.

Moore does an excellent job of making his characters and settings feel real, using his thorough knowledge of the Holmes stories to good effect...Any reader curious about Sherlock Holmes won't be able to resist following up with the originals.

Fun and games with Sherlock Holmes is a never-ending pursuit, as THE SHERLOCKIAN proves.

Exciting, clever, and convoluted (as all mysteries are)...This is a book for Sherlock Holmes fans, Conan Doyle fans, Stoke fans, and anyone who likes a good mystery/detective story.