Andrew Lane is an author, journalist and lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. This is his first series for young adults. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and son. Andrew's passion for the original novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his determination to create an authentic teenage Sherlock Holmes made him the perfect choice to work with the Conan Doyle Estate to reinvent the world's most famous detective in this new series.
Lane (The Bond Files, for adults) doesn't quite hit the mark in this British novel (authorized by the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle) that launches the Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins series, about the detective's life as a teenager. Staying with his aunt and uncle while on his school's break, Sherlock has little to entertain or enlighten himself besides his American tutor, Amyus Crowe. When a runaway named Matthew witnesses a bizarre murder and Sherlock discovers another dead body in the woods, the teens seek out the truth. On their adventures, they encounter a mysteriously evil housekeeper, beekeepers, and a ludicrously crippled criminal mastermind. Younger readers will appreciate the constant action and danger, but those already familiar with Holmes may find it hard to reconcile Lane's portrayal of an uncertain if perceptive teenager with the trademark inscrutability of the man he will become. (That said, early references to beekeeping and Sherlock's future drug addiction are nice touches, and Lane clearly did his research.) However, the inanity of the over-the-top villain (and his plan) undercuts the thrill of the adventure. Ages 12-up. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Gr 6-9-It's the summer of 1868 and 14-year-old Sherlock Holmes is on a break from school. Since his father is away in the army and his older brother is busy in London, Sherlock lands at the estate of some relatives he doesn't know and is soon embroiled in a mystery that has far-reaching consequences in this title (Farrar Straus, 2011) written by Andrew Lane and endorsed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate. Two men have died from what at first appears to be the plague, but turns out to be something far more sinister. And what is the Death Cloud? Dan Weyman does an amazing job of giving life to all of the characters, from Sherlock's delectable British accent to his tutor, American-born Amyus Crowe, to Baron Maupertuis, the menacing villain from the European continent. The language of Lane's story sounds like Doyle's original work. The only quibble from a production perspective is that each CD ends abruptly with no indication that it has to be changed. A great introduction to the Victorian mystery genre for young people who will eagerly await the next title in the series.-Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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