The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols: Adapted from the Journals of John H. Watson, M.D. is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel by Nicholas Meyer, published in 2019. It takes place after Meyer's other Holmes pastiches, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, The West End Horror, and The Canary Trainer. It is Meyer's first Holmes pastiche in 26 years.[1]
Author | Nicholas Meyer |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | Mystery novels |
Publisher | Minotaur Books |
Publication date | October 2019 |
Media type | Print (Hardback |
ISBN | 9781250228956 (first edition, hardback) |
Preceded by | The Canary Trainer |
Followed by | The Return of the Pharaoh |
The story has Holmes debunk The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.[2][3] As with Meyer's other pastiches, the novel features Holmes meeting real-life historical personages such as Constance Garnett,[2] Israel Zangwill[4] and Chaim Weizmann.[5]
The book made the bestseller list of The Los Angeles Times in November 2019.[6][7]
Reception
Kirkus Reviews found the mystery "slight" and said of the purportedly previously undiscovered adventure "that [it] might just as well have stayed hidden."[5] Publishers Weekly said that "Meyer cleverly plays with his audience’s expectations" and posited that Sherlockians would want a shorter wait for Meyer's next adventure.[8] Joseph Goodrich of Mystery Scene positively reviewed the novel calling it a "a masterful concoction" and "an effective thriller, rich in atmosphere and period detail"[9] The Washington Post reviewer Michael Dirda felt that the book has some "fine Sherlockian flourishes" but ultimately "the novel often feels talky and perhaps unavoidably somber and portentous."[4]
References
- Wright, Molly (October 16, 2019). "Writer Nicholas Meyer on the Inspiration Behind His Latest Sherlock Holmes Tale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Britt, Ryan (October 29, 2019). "Nicholas Meyer on Sherlock Holmes Tackling Real-Life Hoaxes in The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols". Tor.com. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Picker, Lenny (August 30, 2019). "Nicholas Meyer Puts Sherlock Holmes on the Couch". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Dirda, Michael (November 27, 2019). "Sherlock Holmes can never die. New books about the great sleuth are making sure of it". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- "The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols: Kirkus review". Kirkus Reviews. July 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Vignola, Michael (November 26, 2019). "Fiona Hill Unintentionally Plugged a New Book During Her Impeachment Testimony". Lamag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles. Los Angeles. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- "Nov. 17, 2019". The Los Angeles Times. November 17, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- "The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols: Adapted from the Journals of John H. Watson, M.D." Publishers Weekly. June 21, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- Goodrich, Joseph. "The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols". Mystery Scene. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
External links
- Nicholas Meyer discusses his book on the I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere podcast
- Interview with Nicholas Meyer at CrimeReads