What if Sherlock Holmes' greatest enemy wasn't a criminal mastermind - but his own creator?
Having abandoned retirement, Sherlock Holmes is drawn into a battle of intellects where, this time, the stakes are deeply personal. Lurking behind the shadows of his past is the true architect of his near-fatal encounter at Reichenbach Falls: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - a flawed genius whose beliefs threaten everything Holmes stands for.
When two young girls claim to have captured photographic proof of fairies, Doyle eagerly champions their impossible claims with unwavering conviction. To Holmes, this is an affront to reason itself. Logic clashes with belief, evidence with imagination - and neither man is willing to yield.
The conflict turns public when a biting cartoon in Punch binds Holmes and Doyle together in ridicule, igniting Holmes' determination to expose the truth and dismantle a fantasy that has captured the world's attention.
Inspired by the infamous Cottingley fairy photographs, “Sherlock Holmes and The Man Who Believed in Fairies” is a gripping tale of rivalry, pride, and the fine line between genius and delusion. In a clash between cold logic and fervent belief, only one truth can prevail. - Amazon
F. R. Maher’s “Sherlock Holmes and The Man Who Believed in Fairies” is a clever fantasy that pits Doyle’s real-life belief in spiritualism against Holmes’s unyielding belief in logic. Maher has cleverly woven an interesting story around an actual event.
The novel is an inspired study in how Holmes and Doyle might view each other if they actually met. I don’t want to give too much away but there were times when I found the book to be both humorous and insightful.
The Holmes and Watson characters compare well to the originals. We also meet Mrs. Hudson’s niece, Miss Hudson, who soon experiences the antics her aunt had to tolerate.
I liked this novel very much both for its unique premise and for its thoughtful portrayal of the two main characters as they interact with each other. I look forward to seeing future novels by Ms. Maher.
You can get a copy of Ms. Maher’s novel here.
While you’re there, you can take a look at my books here and here.