My Tin Dispatch Box

When I was recommended this book I was at first somewhat sceptical. A story without Dr Watson and instead focuses on Sherlock Holmes before he became the Great Detective? Impossible I said to myself, but despite my initial doubts I bought the book, and settled down over the next few days and began to read it. And oh my I could not put it down! I even stayed up overnight and savoured each chapter! I was hooked.

 Crack In The Lens takes the reader back to a time before the gas lit foggy streets of Baker Street and to a time of when Sherlock Holmes was simply known as the son of a local but wealthy squire in the windswept Yorkshire Dales. We are presented with Holmes not as we quite know him. His health is questionable and is recently returned from a long convalescence abroad in France. It is whilst he is abroad that the reader learns he has mastered fencing and boxing which of course will become invaluable later in his professional life! Although we are shown to see  Holmes as already possessing great deductive skills, he is unsure of himself and so when Holmes comes into contact with his tutor for further studies, he knows that his new enemy is not one to be taken lightly and has to find a way of overcoming all odds to beat a cunning but ruthless psychopath who is to become a great threat to him, his family and his future happiness.

It is often said Irene Adler was known as The Woman, but Crack in The Lens suggests why and how the future Holmes is very cold and emotionally detached from women. The young Sherlock Holmes falls in love with a country girl whom he finds shares his love of exploration and puzzles. His love and happiness is threatened by his tutor and becomes an integral part of this wonderful story.

I enjoyed reading this story immensely. It is vivid, fast paced and full of suspense and tension. You really do get a sense of the younger Holmes feeling stifled against impossible odds as he faces not only his evil tutor but finds his Father turning against him and faces a lonely battle against malevonent forces under his very own roof! The reader is richly rewarded with a memorable account of Holmes in his childhood, his love of violins and fencing and much more than that, we are presented with a caring and emotional Holmes which is rarely seen in his professional career as detective.  I would recommend any follower of Sherlock Holmes fiction/pastiches to read this. You will not be disappointed. I am left wanting to read more as there is a cliff hanger of sorts! What is the cliff hanger I hear you cry? Well it’s elementary my dear readers, you will just have to read Crack In The Lens to find out! The Game is most definitely afoot!