Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol (The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes 3)

I would like to thank Netgalley and Sapere Books for a review copy of Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol, the third novel to feature the early career of the great detective, set in 1876.Holmes and his friend, Mr Stamford are attending a boxing exhibition when one of the boxers dies. They are interested in the cause of death, which turns out to be natural causes, but while investigating this death a second boxer dies, clutching a wooden statue, the eponymous ebony idol. When they hear about a third boxer’s death they are firmly on the case.I thoroughly enjoyed Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol, which is the usual fiendish brain teaser that contains all the clues needed to solve it. There’s no point in beating about the bush, I might have had some small inkling about one of the deaths, but not enough to get anywhere near the full story, so basically I was in the dark until the denouement.The plot is clever and ingenious in its solution. The author drops all sorts of hints and clues, but the reader, or perhaps just this particular reader, has no way of knowing what is important and what is simply either window dressing or misdirection. On reflection, most of it is important in one way or another, but where or how it fits in is a puzzle. It is also a novel of twists with missing people turning up in the most unexpected places and under the most unexpected guises. I liked the explanation of how these men died, which somehow seems to fit the overall narrative where nothing is quite as it seems and I loved that Holmes managed to unearth another murder that had passed as natural.The novel is told in the first person by Mr Stamford, no first name given, and is related years after the events described, so it has both the benefit of hindsight and the ability to comment on Holmes’s later life and cases. It is very effective.Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is the first book I have read by this author and found it very close in style to the original books by ACD which I appreciate as I have always loved the originals. The plot was a great twisty mystery although boxing isn't a favourite subject of mine I still enjoyed the mystery. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sherlock Holmes and the Ebony Idol by Linda Stratmann.Sherlock Holmes dons his boxing gloves to catch a killer…London, 1876When a pugilist dies at a local boxing demonstration attended by medical student Mr Stamford and his acquaintance Sherlock Holmes, a post-mortem reveals the death is due to natural causes.I really enjoyed this book. I love sherlock Holmes. I've never read this author though. I will be looking forward to more from her though. 5*.