Moriarty: The Silent Order

Moriarty #2

by Charles Kindinger

The latest installment of Audible’s blockbuster addition to the Sherlock Holmes universe, now featuring Helen Mirren in a deliciously villainous performance, with Dominic Monaghan and Phil LaMarr returning to their leading roles.

Professor James Moriarty (Monaghan) is back for a gripping new adventure that finds him joining forces with his bitter rival, Sherlock Holmes (LaMarr). Moriarty tracks down the woman he loves, but discovers that she is trapped in the web of a shadowy cabal of evil that’s growing stronger every day. To fight it, Moriarty must face Lady Milverton (Mirren), a ruthless mastermind whose blackmail poisons the highest levels of power. When he learns that his nemesis Sherlock Holmes is also in Milverton’s grip, the two must set their animosity aside to stop an escalating threat of world war.

The all-star cast’s performances, paired with a meticulously crafted sound design, make Moriarty: The Silent Order a truly electrifying audio experience. Come for the heart-pounding thrills, and stay for the biting wit and shocking twists. You’ve been warned: The game is once again afoot.

©2023 Treefort Media LLC (P)2023 Audible Originals LLC

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Historical, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published November 9, 2023

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lunchtime Listen February 2024

Released towards the end of 2023 this is the second instalment of Charles Kindinger's Sherlock and Moriarty adventures. The first being Moriarty: The Devil's Game.
Only released as Audible dramatisations, they are both really good, the second (this one) even more so.

Starring, like the first instalment, Dominic Monaghan as Moriarty and Phil LaMarr as Sherlock, this is an excellent story in its own right, but also a brilliant continuation.

With both Sherlock and Moriarty killed after the Reichenbach fall, Colonel Moran is making his own way in the world, and Irene Adler is trying to lie low , but also trying to sell Moriarty's valued book of equations, and so the game is afoot.

Very atmospheric, especially the sinister Porlock (Helen Mirren) and the despicable "Bodyman" Boss Duffy, this 5hr dramatisation is wonderfully recorded and well acted by all in the cast. In fact having added it to my favourites bookshelf, I can see it being a contender for my book of the year.

I heartily recommend to all mystery, Sherlock or audible fans.

[Bart Verdeyen (cafeaulivre on Youtube) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hesitant at first, seeing this second installment clearly leaves the strict boundaries of the Holmes canon, as well as some changes in voice actors (I miss Billy Boyd as Moran).

Halfway the series however, the story clearly shifted into the next gear and from there on, it was an absolute joyride. Perhaps a bit more action-packed and 'cinematic' than the more atmospherical first series, it still is a story I enjoyed.

The ending still leaves quite a lot of room for a third series, so one can only hope!
As always, the game's afoot!

[Dawn F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable sequel to the first book. This one was released as one audiofile instead of ten separate chapters, which made it easier to listen continuously. In this, the inverted characters of Holmes and Moriarty are forced to work together, with lots of fun bickering and banter as a result. It only just came out at the end of 2023 I believe, so we'll probably have to wait some time for a third installment, though it is clear the author has much more up his sleeve for these people. I'll look forward to it!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, I wanted to enjoy this so badly. The production was so awesome, and it's clear there was a lot of work put into this audio. The voice actors were great and whoever wrote the music is very talented. However, the storyline fell really short for me. I have also decided I do not want any more renditions of Sherlock v Moriarty.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable series if anything because of the different take on both Moriarty & Holmes. This particular instalment suffered from too much story crammed into too little space. Other than that the dramatization of this series is excellent and as mentioned the story arc is a good one. Hopefully future episodes won't suffer from the pacing issue The Silent Order suffers from.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love a little Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. Bonus with Helen Mirren.

[Tracy ✌ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one went on a bit too long for me, but overall I enjoyed the premise & the story. Looking forward to the next installment!!

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately the first half of this was extremely boring to me. It did pick up later on, after Irene was gone and Sherlock and Moriarty started working together but the pacing was kinda off and it felt like listening to two different stories.

[Daryna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great production and acting, ok story. The first one was better I think.

[Mary Ann Olsztyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting twist on the Sherlock Holmes vs Moriarty stories.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wieder ein toll erstelltes Hörspiel mit vielen guten Sprechern und guten Effekten.

- Spoiler -

Eine Reihe in dem Sherlock der Böse und Moriarty der Held ist. Es von Außen jedoch genau andersrum aussieht.

Moriarty möchte einfach nur ein entspanntes Leben mit seiner Verlobten leben. Es kommt jedoch anders.

Er muss im Dunkeln abtauchen und versuchen im geheimen zu kämpfen.

Später müssen Sherlock und Moriarty gezwungenermaßen zusammen arbeiten, gegen einen gemeinsamen Feind.
Dadurch erkennt man wieder die großen Unterschiede der zwei Charaktere. Moriarty kämpft für das Wohl der Menschen und des Landes. Sherlock, um sein gutes Image weiterhin aufrecht zu erhalten. Dafür würde (bzw. geht er) über Leichen.


Auf jeden Fall sehr unterhaltsam und spannende Reihe.
Es kommt oft zu verschiedene Herangehensweisen und diesbezüglich auch kleine Streitereien ;)
Moriarty möchte die Feinde nicht töten, während seine Verlobte (Irene Adler), sein bester Freund (Sebastian Moran) und Sherlock Holmes genau das Gegenteil tun möchten.

Nur John Watson fehlt mir in diesem Teil.
Im 1. Teil wurde ja bereits sein Hass gegenüber Sherlock beschrieben. Als Moriarty Anhänger könnte ich ihn mir aber vorstellen :D

Und auf jeden Fall bis zum Schluss hören. Nach dem Abspann kommt nochmal eine sehr wichtige Szene

[Jelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm totally digging this twist on classic Sherlock Holmes. Actors did a wonderful job, the music is awesome. My only regret is the change of actor that played Moran. Can't wait for more!

[Hpnyknits · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one as much as the first series. I do miss Billy Boyd as Colonel Moran. The new actor does an excellent job, but I do miss Billy.

I find this Sherlockian spinoff very original. Well written. Well acted. No complaints. Will re-listen in the future years for sure.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

*****************SPOILERS*****************

This review is from both The Devil's Game & The Silent Order

It was a great production. The voices were just right. It is the actual story that ruined it.

The Devil's Game starts out building the back story of Morarity; how a Math Professor tuned into a Criminal Mastermind, which I thought was a nice direction.
It was implied that Sherlock Holmes, as part of the setup of Moriarty, brutal beat a woman to death. OK, I was sure that was speculation, but could not be truth.
Later on, Holmes suffocates his brother quite proudly, which again I thought was a ruse to allow Mycroft to work in the background.
Irene Adler turned out to be part of the play to get Moriarty but turns out to have fallen for him.
Throughout Morarity is the "no one must die" person, and Holmes is "killing is fine" nutter.
Watson hates Holmes, and begrudgingly helps him just so he will leave him be.
Both Holmes and Moriarty survive the falls? Which I could buy if it did imply that it was Moriarty that set the hole thing in motion.
Who thought this fit in the canon of Sherlock Holmes.
I did finish, though.

But then The Silent Order just kept the absurdity going.
Irene Adler works with Moriarty to escape the Silent Order, and then they run off to the islands together.
While beaching it up with James, Irene is killed by something (it was not clear to me. It sounded like a missile, which of course totally fits into time period.)
Holmes states that he is helpless and is being blackmailed by the Order.
Also, all of Holmes stories were written by him and made up; that he is a hack which he never refutes.
Then Holmes and Moriarty team up. What?
Now, after being set up for murder, almost hung, his life's work is stolen, the love of his life is killed by the Order and is being hunted, Morarity is still spouting "no one must die", and Holmes is happy to kill anyone.
The last straw was the virtual signaling, when someone suggests Holmes and Moriarty were gay lovers.

I could no longer be a part of the insult to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legacy.

[Hilal Tunçkol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good-hearted Professor Moriarty and the murderer Sherlock Holmes are back.

The previous book ended as Moriarty decided he was going to find Irene Adler, no matter what happens. It isn't a difficult task with his brilliant mind, he finds her in the middle of yet another task from the Order.

Meanwhile, the head of the Order Lady Milverton has Sherlock Holmes who is as alive as Moriarty, but his memory isn't intact. Milverton forces him to remember and make a poison for her, as if she owns Sherlock, which doesn't sit right with Holmes, at all.

So, when Irene is no longer useful to the Order and they get her killed, in a surprising turn out event, Moriarty and Sherlock combine forces to win the battle against The Order, which get stronger every day, especially after Lady Milverton becomes the Prime Minister.

This book wasn't as good as the first one, in my opinion, but it was still really good. Especially the scenes where Moriarty and Sherlock were working together, their banter was priceless. It was the battle of exceptional minds at its finest.

Despite Moriarty and Sherlock managed to win the battle against Milverton, they also learned that the Order is bigger and stronger than either of them could have imagined. Moriarty wishes to expose all members of the Order, but Sherlock has plans of his own, and for those plans to work, he needs to show Moriarty as the villian.

I am pretty sure that this series will continue, as it should, but since my Audible free trial is ending, I don't know when I will be able to listen to following volumes.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shadow Mastermind: A Riveting Dive into the Mind of Moriarty

Charles Kindinger’s Moriarty: The Silent Order is nothing short of a masterpiece. From the first page to the last, I was captivated by the intricate plotting, the chillingly intelligent antagonist, and the seamless weaving of mystery and moral ambiguity. Kindinger’s portrayal of Moriarty—famously Sherlock Holmes’s archenemy—is nothing like the caricature villain often seen in adaptations. Here, Moriarty is layered, calculating, and strangely human.

The narrative explores the shadowy underworld of Victorian London, immersing readers in a labyrinth of secrets, betrayals, and power struggles. Kindinger’s attention to detail is impeccable; the foggy alleys and opulent drawing rooms come alive, almost as characters themselves. What sets this book apart is the exploration of Moriarty’s psyche—his motives, fears, and ultimate objectives. As a reader, I found myself torn between admiration for his brilliance and horror at his cold, calculated decisions.

The pacing is pitch-perfect, with enough twists to keep you guessing but not so many as to feel contrived. By the time the final reveal came, I was both shocked and utterly satisfied. This is not just a book; it’s an experience. If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes or simply love a good psychological thriller, *Moriarty: The Silent Order* is a must-read. Kindinger’s Moriarty is a shadowy genius I won’t soon forget.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor James is back. He's determined to find the woman he loves, and to seek revenge for the troubles he has been put through. When he tracks down his wife however, he finds that she is trapped in a shadowy world full of evil, and to rescue her he must face the ruthless Lady Milverton. Moriarty's nemesis Sherlock Holmes is also trapped by Milverton, and for once the two must set aside their differences and work together in order to stop things from escalating any further.

I really enjoyed the previous Moriarty book, and this one was definitely in the same vein. I did find it a little harder to follow though, I think in part because of certain characters masquerading as others. I also feel like there is a lot going on in this book. the story became a little convoluted and because I was struggling to keep track of things I got quite lost in places.

I did enjoy this as far as I understood what was going on, but honestly if there is a third book I'm not sure I will listen to it because I don't feel I have enough of a handle on this one.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring back Billy Boyd as Col. Moran! That is my one fault with this wonderful story and narration.


*************************Spoiler alert********************************************

Our story continues, as both Moriarty and Holmes both survive the plunge off the cliff. Sherlock has lost his memory and is being held captive by the new Porlock aka Lady Milverton, the estimable Helen Mirren.

Moriarty discovers Rose is alive and double crossed him, stealing his precious life's work, yet he still loves her and travels the globe to find her. He also finds out she is a infamous spy/evil agent also known as Irene.

Moriarty and Holmes must join forces if they are to stop the new Porlock. How can they defeat a villain that always seems to be one step ahead of two of the greatest minds?

Here's hoping this series continues, would love to hear more.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in Charles Kindinger's 'Moriarty' series of Sherlock Holmes re-imaginings, positing what if Sherlock was an imposter and Moriarty an innocent man driven to a life of crime by the former, which - I have to say - I did not find *quite* as enjoyable as the first.

It also took me a wee while to get used to the recasting of the role of Colonel Sebastian Moran - not to say that the actor was bad, by any means, just that he sounded different.

Anyway, this time round, the story starts in the United States, following both Moriarty and Sherlocks death at the Reichenbach Falls, before - in the latter half - moving back to Merrie Olde Englande - with a new nemesis in the form of Helen Mirren's blackmailer Lady Milverton.

[Danielle Robertson Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out as a decent follow up to Moriarty 1 but halfway through I was not sure I wanted to keep reading. It was becoming too many things:
A love story
An unlikely team-up
An undercover infiltration
A heist
Another love story
A whodunnit
What the heck is going on?

The villain is clear from the outset but there felt like too many string-of-pearls unnecessary hurdles to clear. Furthermore, whereas the first book was a whodunnit of matching wits, it was perfect for audio format. On the contrary, this book was more about physical altercations so there were several scenes of strange scuffling and fake fighting to listen to. I might give this another chance in the future but I couldn't really root for Moriarty nor Sherlock in this one. And with no one to root for, what's the point?

[Thalia Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⬇️

I love how you can see the influence of other Sherlock interpretations, but that the root of it is still Conan Doyle’s. It certainly creative and the plot in this season I found to be better.

The idea of morality was explored in a really interesting way, especially with Moriarty, who, as is raised by Holmes, is prepared to venture to the darker side for things like love or revenge, but not for life, as opposed to Holmes who does not seem to be restrained by such concerns.

My one criticism would be that despite reflecting on the plot itself, which would have Moriarty and Holmes seem as intelligent as originally portrayed, somehow that didn’t feel reflected in the actual audiobook. Sometimes I found myself questioning that and feeling disappointed by their failings.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first installment, the story followed some of the basic outlines of Holmes canon, Holmes, Moriarty, Irene and the Reichenbach Falls. In this installment we move on to more uncharted territory, and in at least story-wise, have us go off the rails. For at least some of the way, we begin to see an inversion to the inversion of the roles, where Moriarty begins to become the villain he was made out to be and villainous Holmes has an inkling of heroism. If it had played out that way completely, that might have been an interesting way to leave it, but that was not where we wound up. Sad that Billy Boyd wasn't back to reprise his role as Moran, but Monaghan and LaMarr put in fine performances. Their back and forth banter was a highlight. Helen Mirren puts in a fine performance as well, but her role was a bit one-note. Still an overall enjoyable experience, but maybe not up to the high standard of the first installment.

[Sonya Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent performance by Mirren. Compelling sound design. Storyline was hard to believe at times, but I think that's often the nature of Sherlock Holmes style mysteries - if we want something perfectly political or perfectly scientific, we'd read non-fiction - so I'd say it was true to form. Suspend your disbelief; the hair-raising moments and smoothly building plot will satisfy. 

It's a respectable art to be able to tell a story where the narrative is entirely sound effects and the dialogue does the rest of the lifting. I was really happy with how much I liked this format of storytelling.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sequel is no better than the original and in some ways weaker. The initial quirky surprise is gone and they undo the one interesting character development they give to Sherlock. The highlight is Helen Mirram as the new Porlock. The ultimate frustration is Kindinger's insistance of a have your cake and eat it approach to Moriarty who somehow remains a good guy even well running a global criminal empire. Still for all its flaws and they are myriad I will still listen to the likely 3rd book Im hooked on the characters and period. Again though to be listened to with distraction!

[Lynn Poppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Audible Originals. I really love the flip on Moriarty and Holmes in these stories. Sure. Holmes has always been a jerk. That's kind of the point. But this time around, he's a real a$$hole. And that's saying something. Great anarchist\evil cabal plotline here, with lots of twists and turns as to who's pulling the strings. Awesome narration by a full cast, including Helen Mirren as the baddie! Overall great listen. Make sure to listen through the credits for a bonus scene.

[Virginia Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the Moriarty series so far - definitely a different twist on the role of Sherlock Holmes that what I'm familiar with! I'm loving the "Audible Audio" of the story with all of the sounds that the studio puts in along with story telling - just like old fashioned radio. If I was just reading the book (of which there isn't one), I don't know that I would give it four stars. It is a great Audible Listen.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining installment of Audible's "Moriarity" audio original series, led by Professor James Moriarty (Monaghan), Sherlock Holmes (LaMarr), and Lady Milverton (Mirren). They create characters that you love and/or loathe, and add dimensions to classic characters that blur the lines on who the villains and who the heroes really are. Fantastic sound design completes the immersive listening experience.

[Ray Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book and the podcast that preceded it and I couldn't be happier that I did. The voice acting is stellar. The music and soundscape are phenomenal. The story is engaging and delightful. There is a fine line walked to keep the tone suitable for a story in a world of Holmes and mystery while keeping the beats from going into noir territory and this is handled superbly. I am thoroughly looking forward to (hopefully) a third installment!

[Tasia Siegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the twists from both Moriarty stories. The actors portraying the characters really brought this to life. I would give them 5 stars if they were a bit more traditional, but that’s my personal bias. I do enjoy how they incorporate aspect of the stories I love, but in a different way.