Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D’Urbervilles
Review by Martsbits.
I was quite excited to get this book, I was promised a book that would show me the opposites of the great pairing of Holmes and Watson. I was not disappointed by what I was offered. From the moment I started to read this book I was hooked. I have known of the author before reading the book, as well as contributing to novels to Games Workshop and knowing he has collaborated with Neil Gaiman only heightened my anticipation of what I was reading, whilst also being comforted by a writer of good calibre.
From the opening chapter set in modern day London I was hooked. The characters were written with such depth I could imagine how they looked, dressed and what mannerisms each person had. There is a subtle but pervasive humour that made the book a joy to read. Kim Newman has a skill at inviting you into a world of his creation that doesn’t alienate you from historical fact. The way in which we are introduced to the books heroes (anti-heroes?) is clever and instils a sense of awe that such great personages existed.
So to talk about the book I cannot ignore the greatest thing in my humble opinion about it. Colonel Sebastian ‘Basher’ Moran for me makes this book the treat it is. He is rude and bigoted and many other negatives but also honest, yet that makes him all the more likeable as a character. We are introduced to Moriarty of course and his character is witty, clever and urbane and this is totally how the foil of Sherlock Holmes should be. That is the pairing for the book.
I loved this book. There, honest as I can be. I was stunned by some of the things I read, astounded at the complex plot and, yes, I enjoyed Basher Moran’s honest bluntness. One thing to note here is the use of the language. Kim Newman has crafted a book that utilises the grammar, the sayings and the slang of the time excellently and weaves it into the story to add yet another subtle nod that this is not set in the modern times. Let that be a slight warning too.
All in all this is one tremendous book that I wholeheartedly recommend. It’s difficult to put down, but easy to pick up again. So buy it now!! Go on…
Review by Martyn Elwell
Professor Moriarty: The Hound of the D’Urbervilles
By Kim Newman
Published by Titan books RRP £7.99
