Thank Goodness, The Game is Not Afoot!

The question arises of whether one needs to read a book in its entirety to recommend it.  If I am at the gym, slogging away I either need to read, watch something on my ipod, or talk to a friend to make it tolerable.  When I am reading a real* book, the question is always "Oh, what are you reading?  Do you like it?"  Would I then say, well, I haven't finished it yet so I can't tell you." No, I would say something about whether I was enjoying it or "giving it a chance," or hating it but it was necessary that I read it because there would be a quiz later.   So, can I recommend a book to you then that I am enjoying? No?  Okay.....


No, really, I was pleased to be asked, of course one is always pleased to be asked (except for money), to review via ARC from Titan Publishing a "New" Sherlock Holmes book The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Seance for a Vampire by Fred Saberhagen. It is being published by Titan, known for film//TV tie ins and graphic novels but is breaking into the "regular" (is there a term for a a non-graphic novel other than "novel"?) book world.  The new book,   Saberhagen has published quite a lot, and is having a banner year with quite a few books coming out.

I was hesitant because I have never been a big fan of the Holmesian mystery.  But, I began reading it and have been instantly captivated. I am about two-thirds of the way through and while I am a bit confused by one of the characters referring to himself in both the first and third person at the moment, I am still quite engaged, and unsure of the ending (a good thing).


I would recommend it on the basis that I am currently enjoying it. It is somewhat unique in that for quite a bit of the book so far Holmes has been absent and Watson and a distant relative of Holmes have been handling the action. One thing I like is the language, Holmesian/Edwardian, but not in a way that I feel mired in it.  Another positive is that the phrase, "the game is afoot," has not yet been used.  Its US Price of $9.99 (UK 7.99 Euro and Canada, $11.95) is pretty reasonable these days.


If you like to mix Vampires and mystery; enjoy well-known and established characters involved in new ways, don't mind a little sadness and a bit of danger, by all means give this new Holmes a try. I will let you know if anything changes in the next 100 pages and I come to hate it!
 

This book was an ARC from the publisher without guarantee of review and with assurance to publisher of complete impartiality. I did not receive compensation for the review.

In between reading I am still doing two blogger hops.  I plan to share with you the some of my favorite blogs each week - my blog roll is on a separate page; my favorite weekly choice(s) will be a post.  It is great that bloggers follow each other, but I want even non-bloggers to see some of these other dedicated readers and reviewers.


And, my contest for two books to read with your middle grader, Zan-Gah and Zan-Gah and The Beautiful Country can still be won  by you! CLICK HERE


* When I am reading from my Kindle the question is usually, "Is that a Kindle? Do you like it?" My response is always that  I love, LOVE my Kindle.