This was my second L. P. Holmes' novel to read. "Night Marshall" was my first. Just like "Night Marshall", "Rustler's Moon" is a-mover-&-a-shaker. Your interest will never wane. Need several hours of entertainment? Then, try either novel.

This is a book about reading - not just casual reading, but a considered form of reading employing techniques not unlike those of Sherlock Holmes himself.

The author takes a sample of the Holmesian Canon and subjects them to careful analysis to come up with sometimes surprising results. Atkinson describes his readings as "eccentric", a view which I must support. By drawing parallels between the stories and a variety of literary, pop cultural and religious matters, some far better known than others, Atkinson reveals sidelights on well-known stories which should delight many readers.

The book would be of interest to students of literary criticism or ardent Holmesians, and especially to those who are both.

My view: a good and stimulating read that encouraged me to re-read old favouites.

I took a sexual devience course in college and this was required reading. I still own the book and love it! I thought that it was very organized and written in a straight forward style- no holds barred. Not for the weak stomach or anyone who even kinda gets the hebbie-jebbies by, say....child pornography. Holmes WILL describe hideous events involving all sexual deviences. What I liked most about this book was that there wasn't a lot of confusing deep analysis of peoples' psychosis. This is a good learning tool for anyone interested in criminology/psychology or sexual devience.

Hot in places, fun and truer to canon than I expected.

Andrews' books are not extremely deep and involved Sherlockian pastiches, but they capture the spirit of the characters and of the time period very well. The plot is clever, and once picked up, is hard to put down.

This may have had the best sales of any recent pastiche from Martin Breese--- at any rate, it is the only one I've seen that is in its 2nd printing. J. M. Gregson is a professional writer of mystery novels, at least one of which has also involved golf. He gets Holmes and Watson, and the 1896 milieu pretty much bang-on.

Alas, he uses Standard Pastiche Plot B (more recently seen in Val Andrews' HOLBOURNE EMPORIUM), but in this case it gives a plausible reason for Holmes' inaction, which serves to stretch the material to novel length (174 pages) without insulting the IQ of the reader or Holmes. Like Andrews' novel, the plot is a fairly thin excuse to give a detailed, nostalgic look at a vanished world--- in this case, the world of golfing clubs, golf tournaments and golf championships in 1896. I am no golfer, not knowing one end of a "stick" from another, but I wasn't bored.

Clues are fairly given, and the astute reader will be way ahead of Watson in identifying the villain, even if he doesn't recognize Standard Plot B early on. Recommended.

Val Andrews writes a good Sherlock Holmes pastiche, often combining it with other items of interest.

In Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright, an elderly Holmes and Watson have a further meeting with the great escapologist, Harry Houdini in one of his ghost-busting exploits. Later, they are called upon to investigate Houdini's death.

As well as showing Holmes' deductive powers, the high falutin lifestyle and odd circumstances of the death of Houdini, the novel manages to cast light on the political situation of Hungary between the two world wars.

As a bonus, Andrews throws in two encounters between Holmes and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

By combining diverse plot elements with a fine touch in characterisation and a surprise outcome, this book, like most of Val Andrews' Holmes pastiches, is a satisfying read.

This is one of the Sherlock Holmes pastiche I found I could read all the way through without TOO many groans. Despite the fact I solved the mystery long before the conclusion did not keep me from finding out HOW Holmes and Watson got there. Pleasant read for Holmes fans.

I liked this book mostly. I read it for a book report but I read very slow and this is a long book. It has 205 pages and I almost finished it. It was a very interesting book and I encourage you to read it if you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, or any mystery for that matter! I haven't got my book report returned but I think I did well! So, go read it!

For the student of Sherlock Holmes this book offers much. It is a complete guide to the people, towns, streets, estates, railway stations, objects -- in fact everthing in the 56 stories and 4 novels making up the work of Sherlock Holmes!

Everything from "Abbas Parva" (a Berkshire village from The Veiled Lodger) to "Zoo" is covered.