Sherlock Holmes: The Army of Dr Moreau follows the eccentric genius and his loyal companion, Watson, as they investigate a series of mysterious deaths seemingly caused by ferocious beasts exotic and wholly unknown to London. After a visit by Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft, Holmes and Watson are informed that the deaths are possibly linked to Dr Moreau, who at one time was under Mycroft’s employ. Though Dr Moreau was presumed dead by all accounts, his experiments have apparently continued and resulted in the mutilated remains recently attributed to gang violence which lead Holmes and Watson on an adventure into the underbelly of the city to discover the culprit and stop him from his experimentations before more deaths occur.
While Adams incorporates characters and ideas outside the realm of typical Sherlock Holmes mysteries, he does it well. He presents an interesting twist to an age-old tale, seamlessly intertwining a fascinating mix of science fiction and logical deduction that was hard to put down.
As a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, I was a bit skeptical about what to expect from the pastiche perspective about some of the most beloved characters known and I was pleasantly surprised. Guy Adams has been able to capture the essence of Doyle’s characters in this new adventure as well as incorporate the imagination and wonder from the works of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Though true Holemsians may find fault within the investigation and conclusions presented, Sherlock Holmes: The Army of Dr Moreau is well written and pays great homage to the characters borrowed from literature’s past. Guy Adams clearly shows his respect and appreciation of those characters and the writers that inspire his work.
Sherlock Holmes: The Army of Dr Moreau is definitely a book I would recommend and is well worth reading.
Guy Adams’ Sherlock Holmes: The Army of Dr Moreau
