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Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries #5
Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders
. John Murray, bright clean copy, SIGNED AUTHOR, no markings, with dustjacket, Professional booksellers since 1981
1000 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
71 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Gyles Brandreth
464 books400 followersFull name: Gyles Daubeney Brandreth.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ (The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ (Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.
As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).
He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.
Gyles Brandreth’s forebears include George R. Sims (the highest-paid journalist of his day, who wrote the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse) and Jeremiah Brandreth (the last man in England to be beheaded for treason). His great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Brandreth, promoted ‘Brandreth’s Pills’ (a medicine that cured everything!) and was a pioneer of modern advertising and a New York state senator. Today, Gyles Brandreth has family living in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and California. He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex and, most recently, Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.
A former Oxford Scholar, President of the Oxford Union and MP for the City of Chester, Gyles Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End. A prolific broadcaster (in programmes ranging from Just a Minute to Have I Got News for You), an acclaimed interviewer (principally for the Sunday Telegraph), a novelist, children’s author and biographer, his best-selling diary, Breaking the Code, was described as ‘By far the best political diary of recent years, far more perceptive and revealing than Alan Clark’s’ (The Times) and ‘Searingly honest, wildly indiscreet, and incredibly funny’ (Daily Mail). He is the author of two acclaimed royal biographies: Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage and Charles Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. In 2007/2008, John Murray in the UK and Simon & Schuster in the US began publishing The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries, his series of Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.
As a performer, Gyles Brandreth has been seen most recently in ZIPP! ONE HUNDRED MUSICALS FOR LESS THAN THE PRICE OF ONE at the Duchess Theatre and on tour throughout the UK, and as Malvolio and the Sea Captain in TWELFTH NIGHT THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Gyles Brandreth is one of Britain’s busiest after-dinner speakers and award ceremony hosts. He has won awards himself, and been nominated for awards, as a public speaker, novelist, children’s writer, broadcaster (Sony), political diarist (Channel Four), journalist (British Press Awards), theatre producer (Olivier), and businessman (British Tourist Authority Come to Britain Trophy).
He is married to writer and publisher Michèle Brown, with whom he co-curated the exhibition of twentieth century children’s authors at the National Portrait Gallery and founded the award-winning Teddy Bear Museum now based at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. He is a trustee of the British Forces Foundation, and a former chairman and now vice-president of the National Playing Fields Association.
Gyles Brandreth’s forebears include George R. Sims (the highest-paid journalist of his day, who wrote the ballad Christmas Day in the Workhouse) and Jeremiah Brandreth (the last man in England to be beheaded for treason). His great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Brandreth, promoted ‘Brandreth’s Pills’ (a medicine that cured everything!) and was a pioneer of modern advertising and a New York state senator. Today, Gyles Brandreth has family living in New York, Maryland, South Carolina and California. He has been London correspondent for “Up to the Minute” on CBS News and his books published in the United States include the New York Times best-seller, The Joy of Lex and, most recently, Philip Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 5, 2013
Do I put this one on my "Sherlock Holmes" Goodreads bookshelf? The Holmes-Watson duo of this literary mystery are not Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson themselves, but rather real historical figures Oscar Wilde and Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, standing in place.
I found this at the bookshop and picked it up solely because of the silhouette of Sherlock Holmes on the front cover. I dimly remembered that Wilde and Conan Doyle had met when they were both up-and-coming authors. (They shared a lunch together in London with the publisher of an American magazine. The publisher solicited mystery stories from both of them, and the meeting led to Conan Doyle producing "A Study in Scarlet" and Wilde producing "The Picture of Dorian Grey.")
The two men both spoke highly of that meeting as their lives continued, but I have no idea if they ever met again. This book series posits that the two did exactly that, however (along with some other historical notables), and the result is one of the most enjoyable books I've picked up in some time.
I don't know enough about Wilde to really speak to his portrayal there -- although I will say that the fun, exuberant, poetic, melodramatic, kindly character I read about here made me want to learn more. Conan Doyle (who serves as our narrator in this particular volume of the series), about whom I know considerably more, read to me in a spot-on tone of voice; Brandreth's successful capture of his character seems uncanny. Of course, there's no way to know for sure the "accuracy" of such historical fiction character portrayals, but based on what we know, it seemed to be good stuff.
The mystery itself firmly captured my attention, but I confess that my inability to put the book down had more to do with my heart's interest in the characters, and my enjoyment of the setting (the book takes place primarily in Rome, where the author traveled to do first-hand research). The plot was still well-written, however -- the clues well-laid, and the suspects brilliantly laid out, considered, rejected, proven innocent, made suspicious, and otherwise turned every which way until the final solution came as a complete surprise.
Recommended highly to fans of Sherlock Holmes, historical mysteries, or would-be authors looking for an idea of how to craft a mystery plotline! I'll definitely be exploring more of the series.
I found this at the bookshop and picked it up solely because of the silhouette of Sherlock Holmes on the front cover. I dimly remembered that Wilde and Conan Doyle had met when they were both up-and-coming authors. (They shared a lunch together in London with the publisher of an American magazine. The publisher solicited mystery stories from both of them, and the meeting led to Conan Doyle producing "A Study in Scarlet" and Wilde producing "The Picture of Dorian Grey.")
The two men both spoke highly of that meeting as their lives continued, but I have no idea if they ever met again. This book series posits that the two did exactly that, however (along with some other historical notables), and the result is one of the most enjoyable books I've picked up in some time.
I don't know enough about Wilde to really speak to his portrayal there -- although I will say that the fun, exuberant, poetic, melodramatic, kindly character I read about here made me want to learn more. Conan Doyle (who serves as our narrator in this particular volume of the series), about whom I know considerably more, read to me in a spot-on tone of voice; Brandreth's successful capture of his character seems uncanny. Of course, there's no way to know for sure the "accuracy" of such historical fiction character portrayals, but based on what we know, it seemed to be good stuff.
The mystery itself firmly captured my attention, but I confess that my inability to put the book down had more to do with my heart's interest in the characters, and my enjoyment of the setting (the book takes place primarily in Rome, where the author traveled to do first-hand research). The plot was still well-written, however -- the clues well-laid, and the suspects brilliantly laid out, considered, rejected, proven innocent, made suspicious, and otherwise turned every which way until the final solution came as a complete surprise.
Recommended highly to fans of Sherlock Holmes, historical mysteries, or would-be authors looking for an idea of how to craft a mystery plotline! I'll definitely be exploring more of the series.
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April 28, 2018I feel like there were too many characters for them all to be developed properly, so the ending seemed to come from nowhere. I did like that it was from Conan Doyle's perspective, to give it a different feel than the other books.
December 6, 2015
Coś dla miłośników Oskara: https://lolantaczyta.wordpress.com/20...
November 28, 2017
The mystery is not the thing, but the dialogue, especially Oscar Wilde's praise of Keats and his wit. The setting is very vivid, the warmth, smells and taste of food and wine, it's all very easy to imagine.
Wilde is the star here, but Arthur Conan Doyle is his sounding board, the logical skeptical voice of reason that keeps Wilde steady, more or less. Some of the other characters are also real people and the author handles the balance between fiction and facts well. Irene Sadler appears here too.
The mystery takes awhile to build and meanders a little. There's red herrings, surprises, and an incomplete conclusion. But the descriptions of Rome and the Vatican are like a guidebook.
Wilde is the star here, but Arthur Conan Doyle is his sounding board, the logical skeptical voice of reason that keeps Wilde steady, more or less. Some of the other characters are also real people and the author handles the balance between fiction and facts well. Irene Sadler appears here too.
The mystery takes awhile to build and meanders a little. There's red herrings, surprises, and an incomplete conclusion. But the descriptions of Rome and the Vatican are like a guidebook.
February 24, 2019
It was okay. Not as good as others in the series. Oscar Wilde felt like a caricature, rather than a well rounded character.
June 24, 2019
Holmes by another name. Good book.
January 28, 2018
Magnífico. Y las constantes referencias a Keats han hecho que sea aún más magnífico.
May 17, 2012
Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders
By Gyles Brandreth
I always look forward to the Oscar Wilde detective series by Gyles Brandreth. The author takes the reader to Rome in July 1892 for Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders. Although some will miss the London of previous mysteries, Rome and its beauty stands up to the scrutiny of its wonders. Wilde and Conan Doyle must penetrate the innermost circle of the Catholic Church and expose the deadly secrets of the six men closest to the Pope.
Arthur Conan Doyle encounters Oscar Wilde at a spa in Germany. Doyle has picked this getaway to catch up on his fan mail. With Oscar’s help they go through the mail and
make a series of ghoulish discoveries among the letters - a finger with a rose gold ring on it; a lock of hair; and, finally, an entire severed hand all mailed from Rome. Oscar Wilde, always the amateur sleuth persuades Doyle that they must answer this cry for help.
Fortuitous meetings with characters in Rome, among them Dr. Death, who attends some of the Chaplains-in-residence to His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, helps them achieve their objectives. Securing an invitation to tea in the sacristy of the Vatican, leads to an additional mystery. There they learn of the mysterious disappearance of a young angelic teenage girl whom all declare was loved and cherished deeply. Her disappearance from the Vatican coincides with the death of Pope Pious IX on February 7th 1878.
This is a whimsical tale of murder and mayhem in the sacristy of the Vatican itself with complex plotting that will keep the reader turning pages. Brantreth takes a large stretch of poetic license, with his super heroes as the reader is happily guided through events of strange coincidences. The intricacies of the plot are as wild as Wilde’s fashions, with
loads of trails and red herrings to follow.
As usual we come across many interesting characters and seen through the eyes of Arthur we are mislead along twisted turns in the plot. There is even a dabbling of romance for Doyle. However, the name of the lady is Irene Sadler, enough to warn the readers of Holmes to beware. There are other characters we are made to strongly dislike because of their bad treatment of our heroes in the past.
I strongly recommend this quick get away from the present with its uncertainties to the tamer and more resolved world of Oscar Wilde.
By Gyles Brandreth
I always look forward to the Oscar Wilde detective series by Gyles Brandreth. The author takes the reader to Rome in July 1892 for Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders. Although some will miss the London of previous mysteries, Rome and its beauty stands up to the scrutiny of its wonders. Wilde and Conan Doyle must penetrate the innermost circle of the Catholic Church and expose the deadly secrets of the six men closest to the Pope.
Arthur Conan Doyle encounters Oscar Wilde at a spa in Germany. Doyle has picked this getaway to catch up on his fan mail. With Oscar’s help they go through the mail and
make a series of ghoulish discoveries among the letters - a finger with a rose gold ring on it; a lock of hair; and, finally, an entire severed hand all mailed from Rome. Oscar Wilde, always the amateur sleuth persuades Doyle that they must answer this cry for help.
Fortuitous meetings with characters in Rome, among them Dr. Death, who attends some of the Chaplains-in-residence to His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, helps them achieve their objectives. Securing an invitation to tea in the sacristy of the Vatican, leads to an additional mystery. There they learn of the mysterious disappearance of a young angelic teenage girl whom all declare was loved and cherished deeply. Her disappearance from the Vatican coincides with the death of Pope Pious IX on February 7th 1878.
This is a whimsical tale of murder and mayhem in the sacristy of the Vatican itself with complex plotting that will keep the reader turning pages. Brantreth takes a large stretch of poetic license, with his super heroes as the reader is happily guided through events of strange coincidences. The intricacies of the plot are as wild as Wilde’s fashions, with
loads of trails and red herrings to follow.
As usual we come across many interesting characters and seen through the eyes of Arthur we are mislead along twisted turns in the plot. There is even a dabbling of romance for Doyle. However, the name of the lady is Irene Sadler, enough to warn the readers of Holmes to beware. There are other characters we are made to strongly dislike because of their bad treatment of our heroes in the past.
I strongly recommend this quick get away from the present with its uncertainties to the tamer and more resolved world of Oscar Wilde.
January 9, 2017
[5- if I could have given it more, I would've done]
I found this novel by pure chance in the local library and being an avid fan of Sherlock Holmes, decided it would be a fairly tame detective tale based upon the renowned poet and playwright Oscar Wilde and the author and doctor Arthur Conan Doyle.
It was far more than I anticipated, a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm left feeling slightly bereft that it ended so soon.
The basis of the series uniting two such famous individuals, is based upon a real meeting where the two met and warmed to each other. Brandreth takes us beyond this as readers to ask the pertinent question 'what if they had remained friends after this?'
With 'the Vatican Murders', we meet AC Doyle taking rest in Germany, as he struggles to deal with the never ending bundles of correspondence, most of it written to the fictional detective living at 221B Baker Street. There, he bumps into Oscar Wilde also staying at the same hotel who offers to help with the correspondence. It's this suggestion (and a rather gruesome package) that sets the story on to the tracks of a Victorian-era detective novel, and hurtles us right into the heart of the Vatican itself. I love a book that makes me feel like an investigator myself, giving me tantalising clues and red herrings, and boy, it doesn't fail. I felt like AC Doyle at times, questioning the logic to Wilde's theories and suspicions.
Would this chance finding at the library persuade me to delve into more of Brandreth's 'Murder Mysteries'?
Absolutely.
And for anyone who loves anything remotely related to AC Doyle's Holmes, I am almost certain, they'll derive as much- if not more- pleasure than I.
I found this novel by pure chance in the local library and being an avid fan of Sherlock Holmes, decided it would be a fairly tame detective tale based upon the renowned poet and playwright Oscar Wilde and the author and doctor Arthur Conan Doyle.
It was far more than I anticipated, a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm left feeling slightly bereft that it ended so soon.
The basis of the series uniting two such famous individuals, is based upon a real meeting where the two met and warmed to each other. Brandreth takes us beyond this as readers to ask the pertinent question 'what if they had remained friends after this?'
With 'the Vatican Murders', we meet AC Doyle taking rest in Germany, as he struggles to deal with the never ending bundles of correspondence, most of it written to the fictional detective living at 221B Baker Street. There, he bumps into Oscar Wilde also staying at the same hotel who offers to help with the correspondence. It's this suggestion (and a rather gruesome package) that sets the story on to the tracks of a Victorian-era detective novel, and hurtles us right into the heart of the Vatican itself. I love a book that makes me feel like an investigator myself, giving me tantalising clues and red herrings, and boy, it doesn't fail. I felt like AC Doyle at times, questioning the logic to Wilde's theories and suspicions.
Would this chance finding at the library persuade me to delve into more of Brandreth's 'Murder Mysteries'?
Absolutely.
And for anyone who loves anything remotely related to AC Doyle's Holmes, I am almost certain, they'll derive as much- if not more- pleasure than I.
not-going-to-finish
December 19, 2014I suppose problem number one is that this is book 5. I haven't had 4 books to build up an appreciation for the character Wilde. At any rate, I've made it half way through but am giving up. I don't like Wilde, I don't like Doyle, I'm not at all interested in what happened, I find the writing pedantic, and frankly either the writing is full of innuendos or I'm being overly sensitive about nothing. In either case I find no reason to continue.
September 8, 2013
I am, as ever, envious of the ready wit of Oscar Wilde, or the wit I imagine he must have been. Brandreth embodies this easy elegance in his version of Wilde, and they do slip effortlessly through my fingers. Too quick and clever, always. They never last long enough.
October 20, 2017
This is the fourth book of the series I've read and I have enjoyed it as much as the others.
Arthur Conan Doyle has gone to Germany taking a suitcase of fan mail, for Sherlock Holmes, to sort through and catch up on. It has been a number of months and the mail has piled up. There he meets up with his old friend Oscar Wilde. While the two of them are sorting through the mail they find three small packets, from various months, addressed to Sherlock Holmes. There are no notes, only the writing on the wrappings and postmarks showing they come from Rome. The contents are quite disturbing: a severed hand, a lock of blonde hair and a finger with a rose-gold ring on it. The body parts appear to have been embalmed. What is the meaning of these items?
Oscar Wilde, a fan of Sherlock Holmes who sees himself as an amateur detective, convinces Doyle they need to go to Rome and solve the mystery behind the items. On the train ride there, they meet the Reverend Martin Sadler, an Anglican chaplain assigned to Rome, and Irene Sadler. Brother and sister, or ?? She is gentle and feminine and seems to have developed a fondness for Doyle. Reverend Sadler is reserved and distant.
Other characters are Dr. Axel Munthe, doctor to a number of the Vatican staff; James Rennell Rodd, who has a history with Wilde that isn't a fond memory; Monsignor Felici, Father Bechetti, Monsignor Breadspear, Brother Gentili and Monsignor Tuminello and Cesare Verdi, all in service of the Pope at the Vatican. All men with secrets behind their honourable façades.
At this time, Pope Pius IX has just died and things are in flux. There are also secrets that need to be unraveled to find the thread that will lead them to the solution of who sent the items and why.
Brandreth does his research well and paints a believable backdrop for his story to unfold. With Doyle as the storyteller in this book, the reader gets narration from observations and from involvement of the writer. Brandreth gives life to these characters and allows them to behave in a life-like manner. The feeling is one of being there while the the tale spins out.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more.
Arthur Conan Doyle has gone to Germany taking a suitcase of fan mail, for Sherlock Holmes, to sort through and catch up on. It has been a number of months and the mail has piled up. There he meets up with his old friend Oscar Wilde. While the two of them are sorting through the mail they find three small packets, from various months, addressed to Sherlock Holmes. There are no notes, only the writing on the wrappings and postmarks showing they come from Rome. The contents are quite disturbing: a severed hand, a lock of blonde hair and a finger with a rose-gold ring on it. The body parts appear to have been embalmed. What is the meaning of these items?
Oscar Wilde, a fan of Sherlock Holmes who sees himself as an amateur detective, convinces Doyle they need to go to Rome and solve the mystery behind the items. On the train ride there, they meet the Reverend Martin Sadler, an Anglican chaplain assigned to Rome, and Irene Sadler. Brother and sister, or ?? She is gentle and feminine and seems to have developed a fondness for Doyle. Reverend Sadler is reserved and distant.
Other characters are Dr. Axel Munthe, doctor to a number of the Vatican staff; James Rennell Rodd, who has a history with Wilde that isn't a fond memory; Monsignor Felici, Father Bechetti, Monsignor Breadspear, Brother Gentili and Monsignor Tuminello and Cesare Verdi, all in service of the Pope at the Vatican. All men with secrets behind their honourable façades.
At this time, Pope Pius IX has just died and things are in flux. There are also secrets that need to be unraveled to find the thread that will lead them to the solution of who sent the items and why.
Brandreth does his research well and paints a believable backdrop for his story to unfold. With Doyle as the storyteller in this book, the reader gets narration from observations and from involvement of the writer. Brandreth gives life to these characters and allows them to behave in a life-like manner. The feeling is one of being there while the the tale spins out.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more.
November 23, 2023
I'm probably too generous with my five star reviews but if I can't think of a thing about it that I didn't like, what's the harm? I have to admit, I prefer the books in this series in which the narrator is Arthur Conan Doyle, and this is one of those books (not that I dislike those with Robert Sherard; I am just not as familiar with him). The action starts when Sherlock Holmes (by way of ACD) receives a series of parcels that contain morbid yet intriguing clues, which leads the pair of Conan Doyle and Wilde to leave their depressing resort abode in Germany to investigate in Rome. It was a fascinating tale with an interesting insight into the workings of the Vatican. Always appreciate when fact and fiction are so seamlessly blended that I can't tell, and I love when I don't see an ending/denouement coming. (Minor aside: I adore the idea of Wilde being the inspiration for Mycroft Holmes, whether it's totally based in reality or not.)
June 5, 2019
A nice coupling of two writers from the mid to late 1800s in a mystery and historical romp through Rome. Oscar Wilde was an over the top character of his time. Very intelligent, very flamboyant, very outgoing and very very controversial. Conan Doyle has always been portrayed to me as a bit more conservative in his early public life and here we see a much more outgoing personality. Both characters are of course shown in a more outgoing way for the book but many agree that with Doyle, his reputation is either centered on Sherlock Holmes or his later fixation with supernatural/paranormal topics.
July 4, 2018
When Arthur Conan Doyle gets a severed hand, a lock of hair and a severed finger addressed to Sherlock Holmes from Rome he and Oscar set off to investigate.
Along the way they learn of the supposed death of an innocent young girl who mysteriously disappeared and it seems all those in Rome are hiding something and saying less than they should and with a whole Vatican of suspects Oscar and Arthur have their work cut out for them!
An exciting period murder mystery with even a little basis in fact blended with fiction.
Along the way they learn of the supposed death of an innocent young girl who mysteriously disappeared and it seems all those in Rome are hiding something and saying less than they should and with a whole Vatican of suspects Oscar and Arthur have their work cut out for them!
An exciting period murder mystery with even a little basis in fact blended with fiction.
June 30, 2021
In this mystery, Oscar Wilde talks with Arthur Conan Doyle as they work out what is behind a disturbing series of fan mailed packages--and the two actually did meet. What Brandreth does well is to structure his plots around the framework of actual biographies, and provide chronologies to prove it. We meet both famous and lesser known people in his works. This one has as characters the historical figures of James Rennell Rodd and Dr. Axel Munthe.
May 22, 2022
I read the first few of these mysteries without great enjoyment, but I had this one in my TBR pile, and I figured I would finish what I had, and then call it quits on this series.
Oh dear. This book rambled, had rather obvious references, and a plot that I could not bring myself to care about.
I don't think I have any more of these lurking in the pile, but even if I do, its time to call it quits on this series.
Oh dear. This book rambled, had rather obvious references, and a plot that I could not bring myself to care about.
I don't think I have any more of these lurking in the pile, but even if I do, its time to call it quits on this series.
June 1, 2023
I like the idea of these novels - that Oscar Wilde is a template for Sherlock / Mycroft Holmes - a bit more than the execution of all parts of the plot.
However this one is atmospheric enough and feels like Rome pity that it is so obvious that the female who has Arthur in her tentacles is a bad one (repeating part of the plotline of the first novel in the series) and that it involves good twin / bad twin which is such an over worked trope.
However this one is atmospheric enough and feels like Rome pity that it is so obvious that the female who has Arthur in her tentacles is a bad one (repeating part of the plotline of the first novel in the series) and that it involves good twin / bad twin which is such an over worked trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2019
Creative mystery around the real life friendship of Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde in a most unlikely setting. The Rome of 19th century comes alive with a better understanding of the Vatican than I have ever known. If you like either author, you will find lines from their works woven into the mystery.
September 30, 2019
Oscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders
After Arthur Conan Doyle discovers three letters sent to him from Rome which contain body parts the writer and Oscar Wilde travel to Rome in order to solve the mystery.
Another great book by Gyles Brandreth which I found easy to read and moved along at a nice pace.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
After Arthur Conan Doyle discovers three letters sent to him from Rome which contain body parts the writer and Oscar Wilde travel to Rome in order to solve the mystery.
Another great book by Gyles Brandreth which I found easy to read and moved along at a nice pace.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
June 23, 2022
Fabulous. Gripping mystery with delightful turns, beautiful and enriching setting, and well drawn characters. I suppose someone who likes to solve mysteries on their own would have guessed whodunit, but I'm just here for the ride. I'll be seeking out others in the series.
January 13, 2019
Plot was not engaging and Oscar grew tiresome in this one.
September 24, 2019
Amazing book that keeps interest every minute
October 6, 2019
Entertaining and somewhat interesting. Not complex but interesting writing style. I was engaged to the end. I found it a good travel book. Not too easy and not too complex.
August 12, 2020
Quite liked it
April 15, 2021
THIS BOOK WAS A MESS
however the three stars that I do give are only and solely for the plot.
Oscar Wilde and the Vatican’ Murders’ ending was IMMACULATE.
however the three stars that I do give are only and solely for the plot.
Oscar Wilde and the Vatican’ Murders’ ending was IMMACULATE.
December 26, 2021
A confusing but fun little romp with Wilde and Conan Doyle. A bit long on the Wildean quips, a bit short on plot.
May 8, 2022
This was a great mystery in Victorian era love Arthur Conan Doyle
February 28, 2024
Very good read.
Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle make this story very real especially with the historical content, well worth the read.
Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle make this story very real especially with the historical content, well worth the read.
May 1, 2024
What's not to like? You have Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conon Doyle solving crimes and enjoying each other's company! Very entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews