Lyndsay Faye, Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

Lyndsay Faye

Simon and Schuster, Dec 1 2009, $14.00

ISBN: 9781416583318

In 1939, Dr. John Watson recalls the gruesome events in 1888 in Whitechapel that terrorized the residents of London. The terror began with a violent murder followed rather quickly with an equally brutal killing. London was shaken by the viciousness of the violence in a part of town used to cruelty.

Sherlock Holmes joins the Scotland Yard investigation into the two homicides to the elation of beleaguered Inspector Lestrade. As Holmes begins to interrogate family members, more murders occur and the media calls the killer "Jack the Ripper". When Jack learns of Holmes' interest in the murder spree, he sends the great sleuth taunting notes. Holmes follows clues that lead to confrontation with Ripper who severely slashes the detective. When Sherlock vanishes to heal and the exorbitant murder spree stops, investigative reporter Dunlevy proclaims Holmes is probably the Ripper.

The Ripper serial murders are used more as a means to provide the audience with a deep look at Holmes and late Victorian England through the aging memory of what Watson recalls of late ninetieth century London. Who Ripper is proves not important as the audience will figure out early on his identity, but his reign of terror leads to a deep look at Holmes and a very competent Lestrade struggling to not lose it as he begins to suffer from PTSD with the case dragging on and the murder count rising. Holmes fans will enjoy this fresh take on the great detective although he has battled Ripper before (see Michael Didbin's The Last Sherlock Holmes Story).

Harriet Klausner

Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson

Lyndsay Faye

Simon & Schuster, Apr 2009, $25.00

ISBN: 1416583300

In 1888 London is shocked by the brutal murders of two prostitutes in the East End. Inspector Lestrade knows this is no run of the mill killer and he will need help. He asks renowned private sleuth Sherlock Holmes to investigate the homicides. Already fascinated by the accounts Holmes welcomes the case.

As Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson investigate, more vicious murders occur by the same killer the media dubs Ripper for his brutality. In an ironic twist one reporter claims Holmes is the Ripper, which is why he insists the famous detective has failed to end the reign of terror.

Holmes fans will welcome Lyndsay Faye to Baker St as her Watson comes across as a winner telling readers the tale of Holmes and Ripper. Fans will enjoy the great detective's efforts even as the press badgers him to solve the case; which ironically readers do earlier than the sleuth does. Although Homes and Ripper co-starring has been used before by Carole Nelson Douglas (in her Irene Adler series) and Michael Dibdin in THE LAST SHERLOCK HOLMES STORY, etc. Ms. Faye provides a fresh entry.