Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Thefts of Christmas by Tim Major

Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Thefts of Christmas Reviews

• 
  Ingrid

  I loved the BBC series 'Sherlock' with Benedict Cumberbatch and this book was in the same style. I enjoyed it.
• 
  Stephen Robert Collins

  This is set at Christmas 1890 around that 'woman' the one person Holmes was beaten by. But the print stinks was really difficult to get read. It is bit slow and once again like his last Holmes has famous real person in in it. Too much waffles and not enough red herrings
• 
  Court

  While I deeply adore the idea of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler being friends challenging each other with fun puzzles, Mary Morstan Watson as a perceptive potential detective, and a lonely Mrs. Hudson enjoying Christmas with Toby, the execution of this story fell flat. Watson is extremely unpleasant and ill-tempered, Holmes feels childish and overwrought, and Mrs Hudson is basically hysterical the entire time. Tedious and a bit of a chore to get through.
  
• 
  Naomi

  3.5 ⭐️
• 
  Lisa

  This book took you on a winding path of intrigue. It had multiple mysteries that kept you reading. The characters did not display generous amounts of development, but their character was continuous. I recommend it as a great intellectual read.
• 
  Milla Vesting

  i feel like this tried very hard to be like the bbc adaptation but failed at coherence and wit
• 
  Joe

  For me, this story was just a bit hard for me to follow. Out of necessity for the story line. And after getting deeper into the book, I grew tired of Holmes’ level of obsession with the antagonist. Won’t name the person so it’s not a spoiler.
• 
  Krista

  It’s a good causal read for the holidays. The middle did get a little boring, but it was still entertaining to see Watson and Holmes work together.
• 
  Lee Allen

  Join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they are set a perplexing puzzle.
  
  Morose and uninspired as Christmas approaches, Holmes receives an unexpected invitation to a theatrical performance, thus beginning a challenge set by a face from the past and an investigation into a series of baffling thefts.
  
  Meanwhile, a new client requests Holmes investigate a series of bloody gifts left in the form of dissected meat and animal carcasses, referencing events when he was lost during an expedition in Greenland.
  
  As the mystery deepens, sending Holmes and Watson in dizzying directions, the mysteries grow evermore complex and the endgame more obscure, Watson fearing Holmes is far too distracted to find this solution.
  
  'Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Thefts of Christmas' sees Holmes reacquainted with Irene Adler as he pursues clues left as part of a game of her creation, beginning with a visit to the theatre and the variations in a haunting melody. In this intellectual contest, with more than a little teasing that hints at flirtation, Holmes obsesses over the maze through which 'the woman' leads him - a crossword puzzle sketched over the map of London and its environs.
  
  Tim Major has moulded a fun and enthralling novel; Holmes' wits challenged by an equal, with entertaining diversions into folklore, mythology and skullduggery, alongside hints of the gothic in the case of a series of macabre deliveries, which may be gifts or threats, presenting a mystery with suggestions of the supernatural. Impeccably written with a sprinkling of Christmas magic added to Holmes' masterful detection, this is a fast-paced tale complete with vivid scenes and themes and motifs you'll recognise from Conan Doyle's Holmes stories.
  
  It is testament to Arthur Conan Doyle's writing that characters who made relatively minor appearances have gone on to become so popular and so entwined within the Holmes mythology - Irene Adler being perhaps the second most notable of these. Despite only appearing in one of Conan Doyle's short stories, 'A Scandal in Bohemia', she has gone on to appear in multiple continuation and spin-off stories in print and several screen adaptations. It is Holmes' fascination and respect for her which has earned her the reputation as being the closest to a 'romantic' interest for Holmes, though their attraction is far more intellectual than physical (Holmes remaining closer to asexual than sapiosexual). Major does a superb job at recreating and continuing this relationship.
  
  In addition to Holmes, Watson and Adler, Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson play significant roles. All the lead and supporting characters are marvellously realised, driving the plot as much as the challenge itself. The novel also features real historical characters in Holmes' client and Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen and his wife, Major taking poetic licence with their real lives intertwined into the narrative and a mystery surrounding Nansen's most recent exploration.
  
  A thoroughly entertaining Yuletide story, 'Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Thefts of Christmas' is a sublime piece of historical mystery which satisfies like an after-dinner Christmas puzzle.
• 
  David Dunlap

  The inimitable Dr. John Watson narrates this tale of Sherlock Holmes, who is posed a puzzle by his longtime nemesis (love interest?) Irene Adler: a series of 'thefts' that are not thefts, since nothing is permanently missing or lost. (Since the story takes place during December, there are actually twelve parts to the puzzle -- hence, the book's title.) -- Meanwhile, Norwegian explorer Fridjof Nansen, his wife Eva, and his right-hand man Henrik Gylling are in London, so that Nansen can address a society of learned men and explorers. But he has a puzzle of his own for Holmes: a series of dead animals are being left on his doorstep by person or persons unknown. Eva Nansen is understandably upset by these deposits (which have followed them from Norway to their London lodgings) and sees them as a possible threat to her husband, who is hoping to return to Greenland in short order and would like to see Eva have complete peace of mind before his departure. -- The story continues along these two narrative paths: Holmes is completely obsessed with the Adler puzzle, while Watson ends up investigating a third case in tandem with his smart-as-a-whip wife Mary. -- As an ardent Sherlockian, I desperately wanted to like this book, but found it rather dull going. (YMMV, of course!)
• 
  WordSmith

  Albeit set in Victorian London, this "new adventure" of Sherlock Holmes clearly takes its character inspiration primarily from the BBC's Sherlock series rather than Conan Doyle's stories and novels. This could actually provide an interesting perspective, but unfortunately this book is a complete disappointment. It starts out very promising but then runs out of steam after a mere 30 pages and turns into a painfully sluggish read. The hope that there will be some grand and imaginative reveal at the end is in vain, leaving a highly contrived plot with far too many solutions left to what is essentially happenstance and not deduction.
  Ultimately I find it both amazing and infuriating how anyone would dare to slap the name of Sherlock Holmes onto a feeble book like this one. I guess we have Titan Books to blame for this more than the author.
  On the up side, this book really makes me want to revisit the original material, so thank you for that.
• 
  John

  It was OK. I didn't particularly like the narrator, which may have colored my overall feelings about the book. The voice chosen for Sherlock Holmes didn't fit in my head, he sounded overweight and out of breath all the time. I think I'd have bought it for Mycroft, but it just didn't sound like Sherlock.
  
  Any way, while the typical Holmes parts were good, but it seemed to spend a lot of time Watson's feelings and insecurities. Just not what I'm reading a Sherlock Holmes book for.
• 
  Ron Badgerow III

  Splendid! Playful and suspenseful. Although I am not well accustomed to the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this book portrays the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson quite exceptionally and keeps true to the style written from the perspective of Watson. Full of wit and mystery, the reader is brought along on a layers deep game with several story lines intertwining, making it hard to put down.
• 
  Annarella

  3.5* upped to 4
  It's very fast paced at the beginning and promises to be a very exciting story.
  I drags in the middle and I found the Adler part a bit slow.
  It's entertaining but not my favorite.
  Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
• 
  LeVanM

  Audiobook was terrible! The voice for Sherlock was so annoying I could barely keep listening. I just wanted Sherlock to stop having anything to say! It detracted from being able to enjoy what could have been interesting mysteries and cases to be solved. Wish I’d just read the book instead.
• 
  Yorky Caz

  Excellent read -always good to see some familiar characters pop up and there isnt enough written featuring Irene Adler, Mrs Hudson present as ever and the Watsons uniting to play their part made this feel a very family event :-)
• 
  Calvin Daniels

  Totally fun and enjoyable take and ideal for the season :)
• 
  R.J.

  The game is afoot and it’s a worthy addition to Sherlockian canon,
• 
  Martine

  2.5/5
• 
  Deanna Miller

  While Tim Major did a great job of writing this book, I don’t think I was prepared to read Sherlock Holmes authored by anyone other than Arthur Conan Doyle. A cozy Christmas read though!
• 
  GERRY Hermans

  Irene Adler sends Holmes chasing clues to find the answer to the "theft without theft"