Mycroft and Sherlock

Mycroft and Sherlock
First edition
AuthorKareem Abdul-Jabbar
Anna Waterhouse
LanguageEnglish
GenreMystery novels
PublisherTitan Books
Publication date
2018
Media typePrint (hardback)
ISBN978-1785659256 (first U.S. edition, hardback)
Preceded byMycroft Holmes 
Followed byMycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage 

Mycroft and Sherlock is a mystery novel by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse. It is the second novel in their "Mycroft Holmes" series utilizing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes.[1] Having focused solely on Mycroft in the first novel, Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse were curious about the relationship between Mycroft and his brother and recognized that the sequel would need the introduction of Sherlock.[2]

In an interview with Lyndsay Faye, Abdul-Jabbar described the writing process noting that he is a "history aficionado" while Waterhouse is more interested in research.[3] Abdul-Jabbar also stated that plot was more of interest to him while Waterhouse was more drawn to dialogue.[3]

Plot

Mycroft Holmes and Cyrus Douglas, of whom the latter now runs a school for boys, are joined by Mycroft's younger brother Sherlock to investigate a series of killings dubbed "the Savage Gardens murders."

Reception

Kirkus Reviews was positive about the novel while conceding "The mystery, as so often in Conan Doyle, is less interesting than the Holmes-ian byplay."[4] Michael Dirda of The Washington Post praised the book saying the story moves "briskly" and calling it "diverting, light entertainment" while noting "Enjoyable as the book is, a purist will nonetheless fault its loose construction."[5] Both BookPage[6] and New York Journal of Books[7] gave positive notices of the book.

References

  1. ^ McMillan, Graeme (April 9, 2018). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Details Sherlock Holmes' First Case in 'Mycroft and Sherlock' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ^ Vitcavage, Adam (November 14, 2018). "How Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Is Reinventing the Sherlock Holmes Story". Electric Literature. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Faye, Lyndsay (October 17, 2018). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Evolving Sherlock Canon". CrimeReads. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mycroft and Sherlock". Kirkus Reviews. August 21, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Dirda, Michael (October 3, 2018). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar returns to his other passion: Sherlock Holmes". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Frazier, G. Robert (October 9, 2018). "Mycroft and Sherlock". BookPage. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Reveal, Judith. "Mycroft and Sherlock". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved December 12, 2019.