John Gardner

THE RETURN OF

MORIARTY

Berkley Medallion edition:  APRIL 1976

CONDITION:  GOOD paperback with some shelfwear primarily at edges and corners; slightly cocked; pages tanned with age but well bound.  No markings.

Suppose Sherlock Holmes' version of the final, fateful moments above Richenbach Falls were a fabrication established to save his own life and enact a truce between him and his intellectual equal, that Napoleon of the London underworld, Professor Moriarty? What would happen

Commentaries on line:

The Return of Moriarty is a fascinating flip-side to the familiar Sherlock Holmes mythos of gaslight, late 19th century England. This book has both Holmes and his archnemesis Moriarty in this story taking place a few years after the famous confrontation at Reichenbach Falls. The “reality” of the meeting where both men were believed killed was surprising and intriguing. I really liked that portion, but The Return of Moriarty, first of a trilogy, has much more to offer than that surprise.

The atmosphere and period feel are excellent, and the story, which covers only about a three-week stretch after Moriarty returns to London (three years after departure) after his Reichenbach Falls confrontation with Holmes. Plenty happens during that time, though, and it makes for a solidly enjoyable read.

John Gardner takes over from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and breathes new life into the infamous Professor Moriarty in this book. Holmes arch nemesis seemingly survived the Reichenbach Falls and returns to London to find his organized crime empire in some disarray, left in the not so capable hands of Colonel Moran, with rival gangs encroaching on his territory. Set during the month of April 1894 this as you would expect of this Author is a clever descriptive witty well written story, atmospheric with a real sense of time and place. Holmes barely features Moriarty is the villainous star of the show, whilst there is a similar feel to the original there is a more violent gritty side to the story, but nonetheless entertaining all the same.

Recommended.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to another in the series. I thought the characters were well developed and the plot well thought out. The book held my interest throughout and it was not difficult to keep track of all of the various characters involved

an enjoyable book that was essentially true to the tone and spirit of the Holmes' tales by Arthur Conan Doyle. A worthwhile read in that it fleshes out the villainous Moriarty and members of his gang.

Moriarty may be evil but be is a truly interesting villain. The author does well. The book is well worth reading.

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