Moriarty: Ein teuflisches Spiel

Moriarty #1

by Charles Kindinger

Mit dem Audible Original Hörspiel „Moriarty: Ein teuflisches Spiel“ haucht Audible dem Sherlock-Holmes-Mythos völlig neues Leben ein–und stellt eine der berühmtesten Rivalitäten der Literatur mit einer gewagten Frage auf den Kopf: Was, wenn Holmes‘ schlimmster Erzfeind in Wahrheit ein unschuldiger Mann wäre?

Während sich Professor James Moriarty auf der Spur einer mathematischen Formel befindet, die so mächtig ist, dass sie die Zukunft vorhersagen kann, wird ihm ein grausamer Mord angehängt. Und der berühmte Sherlock Holmes ist daran maßgeblich beteiligt.

Auf der Flucht vor dem Gesetzt und dunklen Mächten muss Moriarty in die Londoner Unterwelt fliehen und versuchen, seine Unschuld zu beweisen. Doch Holmes lässt nicht locker–und so entsteht ein Duell zweier genialer Intellekte, das immer mehr zu eskalieren droht. Bis Moriarty sich die Frage stellen muss, welchen Preis es haben wird, seine Unschuld zu beweisen. Sowohl für die Welt, als auch für ihn.

Bissiger Witz, mitreißende Wendungen, eine grandiose Besetzung und ein fulminantes Sounddesign erwecken diese mitreißende Hörspiel-Serie zum Leben.

Also hören Sie genau zu–und glauben Sie nichts. Das teuflische Spiel hat begonnen!

Spieldauer: 5 Stunden 34 Minuten

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Adult, Mystery Thriller

6 pages, Audible Audio

Published November 30, 2024

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lunchtime Listen
An excellent audiobook that is free as a (10 episode) podcast if one is an Audible member. It stars the two characters from LoTR Merry and Pippin as Professor Moriarty (Dominic Monaghan) and Colonel Moran (Billy Boyd).
This cleverly written (and well acted) audiobook turns all of the normal Sherlock Holmes books on its head.
Without giving too much away these excellent episodes contain elements of many Holmes stories :- Irene Adler, Reichenbach Falls, and Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson. That said all is not quite what it seems, but I leave you to find out what is the real story.

[Bart Verdeyen (cafeaulivre on Youtube) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-made radio play takes everything you know and love about the Holmes canon and turns it upside down in an impressive way: 'What if Moriarty was innocent and Holmes was a right ol' bastard?'

The all-star voice cast was an absolute treat, especially with Billy Boyd as Sebastian Moran.

The story is clearly written with a thorough knowledge of the original Holmes canon and it works ever so well. Bonus points for referencing some of the original story titles into the dialogues.

The game's afoot and I had a blast!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible's Moriarty was a really fun listen. This audio drama presents Holmes and Moriarty in a new light. Holmes is a bit more nefarious and Moriarty isn't the crazed criminal. Looking forward to listening to the next installment in this series.

[Helle Vind Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really hated how the author has turned Sherlock Holmes into a cold blooded killer and a profoundly unsympathetic man. Even Watson hates him and there's no trace of their former friendship in this version of the series.

There are in fact hardly any redeeming qualities about Holmes. Moriarty is far more likeable and somewhat decent, which is absolutely not how it ought to be.

However good the ensemble and well executed the story, I just couldn't' enjoy, nor get over, how mean and repulsive they'd made Holmes out to be.

It could have been on purpose and could be perceived as an interesting experiment for some, but it was bordering on blasphemy for me, I didn't like to see one of my all time favorite characters dragged through the mud in that way.

[Mandy Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a well performed audiobook!

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting role reversal in this one

[Swapnil Deshpande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well done audiobook! While listening to it, I had instances where I ended up thinking, “Sherlock sounds like a villain. And not just a villain but a villain with a stick up his arse. No wonder the police doesn’t like him.”

Kudos to Audible for making it such a treat to listen! Will definitely want to listen to the next book.

[Emma Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely INCREDIBLE. It twisted the entire narrative, painting both Sherlock and Moriarty as foils per tradition, but from completely opposite perspectives. I can’t wait to listen to the next one!

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
This was wonderful. The story was very intriguing and the acting was amazing.
Really excited for the next case.

[Lysandra Engstrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well performed audiobook! It felt like listening to a radio show! Loved the story!

[Erin White · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A young couple journeys to London from the quiet countryside on holiday. No… this is not a holiday, not for her. Because this woman is not who she says she is. The woman is a spy.”

SUCH a good re- interpretation of the classic Holmes’ books whilst maintaining the original plot points and characters.

This (audiobook) was also theatrically narrated with sound effects in the background so it was even more immersive.

[Jelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely dramatization, I really enjoyed myself. Loved the different perspective (Sherlock, you bad boy). It was nice to hear some familiar voices.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein verdrehtes Sherlock und Moriarty Abenteuer.
Nichts für Leute, die beim Original bleiben wollen.

Hierbei handelt es sich um ein Hörspiel (kein Hörbuch). Unfassbar gut umgesetzt mit tollen Effekten und Stimmen. Zum Beispiel spricht Christoph Maria Herbst Sherlock Holmes.

Was wäre wenn Moriarty unschuldig ist? Er soll für einen nicht begangenen Mord hingerichtet werden. Sherlock, von der Außenwelt gefeiert, möchte diese Lüge ebenfalls verbreiten.

Nach außen sieht es wie im Original aus: Sherlock, der unschlagbare Detektiv und Moriarty der Verbrecher.

Allerdings ist es genau andersrum.

Moriarty ist gezwungen zusammen mit Sebastian Moran (! 😍) in die Unterwelt zu fliehen.

Das Hörspiel hat mich positiv überrascht und ich bin auf den nächsten Teil gespannt.

[Özge Yildiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die zukünftige Ehefrau von Professor James Moriarty wird mit verstümmeltem Gesicht aufgefunden. Täter soll James Moriarty selbst gewesen sein, der sie mit einem Fonografen ermordet haben soll. Angeblich im benebelten Zustand. Der Beginn eines Spiels, bei dem zu Beginn noch nicht klar ist, wer das Zepter in Händen hält. Ein spannender Einstieg und eine interessante Handlung, die vom Autor aufgegriffen wird. Moriarty soll gut sein, in die Unterwelt flüchten und seine Unschuld beweisen. Aus dem Hintergrund zieht Sherlock Holmes seine Fäden. Das Audible Original, das heute herausgekommen ist, zeigt die Rivalitäten zwischen Holmes und Moriarty von einer anderen Seite. Besetzt sind die fünfeinhalb Stunden mit einem hochkarätigen Ensemble an Sprecherinnen und Sprechern, die das Stück lebendig machen. Christoph Maria Herbst spielt hier die Rolle von Holmes und Matthias Köberlin die des James Moriarty. Das Hörspiel konnte ich zum größten Teil nicht aus der Hand legen und hab es sogar fast ohne Pausen durchgehört. Die Story ist packend, die Figuren so beschrieben und belebt, dass ich mich sehr gut in sie hineinversetzen konnte. Dazu die passende Musik und ein stimmiges Foley-Ensemble, was die Stimmung begleitet hat. Dieses Audible Original hat mich wieder sehr begeistert und ich freue mich sehr auf Teil 2, denn das Spiel hat doch gerade erst begonnen.

[Crimson Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A well-produced retelling of Sherlock Holmes from a mildly interesting, role-reversing angle.

[Hilal Tunçkol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would happen if the gifted mathematics professor Moriarty were the hero of the story and Sherlock Holmes was just a liar and a deceiver, capable of murder among many things? Well, if you ever wondered the answer to this question, search no more, since this book gives the answer you need. (or never knew you needed, in my case).

Professor Moriarty isn't only a genius but also a man in love. His fiance gets brutally murdered and he is belived to be the killer. He tries to ask the famous detective, Sherlock Homes for help, but Holmes claims that all the evidence indicate that Moriarty is guilty. So, it is up to Moriarty himself and his new found friend, Colonel Moran to solve this mystery and clear Moriarty's name.

During his research, Moriarty discovers that his book, which he was just about to finish, and which would make coming up with rather accurate predictions much more easier, was stolen the day his fiance Rose was murdered, so he starts thinking that the reason for his fiance's death was to steal the book.

He also discovers the presense of a secret organization called "The Order"

Then he learns that his fiance isn't dead after all, and she wasn't even named Rose. No, the woman Moriarty was in love with was the infamous agent, Irene Adler.

Moriarty starts by unearthing the secrets of The Order; that they wish to control the world order, that they have autority over gifted scientist, that they wanted Moriarty to be one of those scientist, and when Moriarty didn't accept it, they thought the best couse of action for them would be to steal his book.

Moriarty also learns that the Order is bigger than anyone could anticipate, and that Sherock's older brother Mycroft works for this person. However, before Moriarty is able to extract more information from him, Sherlock, who was also unknowingly working for the Order, because of the case he took, kills his brother to take his revenge for all the times Mycroft tried to manipulate and control him.

The story ends with Sherlock and Moriarty coming face to face. Just as it happens in the original Sherlock Holmes stories, they both fall down a waterfall, but they both survive the fall, and now that Moriarty got the world to think that he died, he is prepared to do all it takes to locate and reunite with Irene.

This story kept some parts of the Sherlock Holmes saga, but added some original details, and plot lines, as well as making the hero the villian and the villian the hero. At first, I didn't think I would enjoy such a concept as an avid Sherlock Holmes fan, but this was a pleasant and equally unexpected surprise for me, and I am really happy that the second book is already out.

P.S. Do I even need to explicitly point out that I immensely enjoyed the production design? The narrations were top notch and the sound effect were a delight.

[Estrelas · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I’m not a criminal. Holmes is wrong.”

Zwei Hobbits begegnen uns in dieser Holmes-Adaption als Sprecher wieder, in der einiges ganz anders ist, als wir es erwarten würden. Macht Spaß!

[Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Please note that I have biases because I'm attached to the RDJ/Cumberbatch adaptations and it made it difficult for me to let myself fully enjoy this new spin. Okay- here we go:

They made Sherlock a straight up jerk wad! Like he's typically a jerk, especially in newer adaptations, but here he is without any redeeming or endearing qualities. He's just completely unlikeable. That seemed to be the intention- a shock value "what if" universe of Moriarty being the good guy, and Sherlock not the good guy... I just don't know how I feel about one of my favorite and nostalgic fiction characters being so sketchy... especially since he's not even very complex, he's just kind of a basic evil character and pretty much the most annoying character ever.

He's a straight up serial killer. He murdered Mycroft, tried to murder Moriarty, and threatened to kill Dr. Watson too. Why? Because he is bad.

He's Sherlock but with all his goodness and redeeming qualities stripped away. So he is still arrogant, drug addicted, and treats everyone like dirt... But now he is also *unbearably* arrogant, hateful, sinister, power hungry, and murderous.

I guess I was at least hoping- if you're going to make Sherlock a villian- that he would have some depth! Make him freaking terrifying! Sherlock Holmes could make such an interesting villain! (Kind of like Mortiarty, I suppose)

I did listen to the whole thing, so it had my attention- I was kind of hoping that Moriarty was Rose's murderer after all and that the narration was unreliable or something, but things were as they seemed in that regard. I guess I also was wanting a villain origin story where Moriarty slipped into madness and evil on his journey to proving his innocence, and Sherlock mended his ways. But that did not happen.

I did predict that Rose died by suicide or faked it since there was no way anyone else could have gotten in to where she was "murdered"- guess I was right. When we found out that we were dealing with a "her" and not a "him", I did predict that it would be Irene Adler and flirted with the idea that maybe Rose was Adler- so I felt pretty cool I guess- cool enough to share this information with anyone who actually reads this post- so maybe 2 people including myself.

The Colonel- sketchy dude, but he had an interesting philosophy on many things.

Dr. Watson was basically himself- except he hates Holmes (for good reason).

My favorite character was probably Rose (Adler) and I don't know why.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess IT is a sillier, but I was waiting for the HUGE twist. I liked the ones there were, but I always expected more.

Unless book 2 clarified things, this book, I feel, did not follow canon. It took liberties that did not need to, especially at the end.

I do hope Holmes in book 2 turns out to be like Professor Snape in book 7.

Update After experiencing book 2.

*****************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.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professor James Moriarty is one of literature's greatest villains, the egregious nemesis of Sherlock Holmes, both equally reknowned for their intelligence. What if the stories are wrong though, and Moriarty isn't a ruthless villain but a desperate man framed for murder, doing what he has to in order to secure his freedom? The Devil's Game turns the well known rivalry on its head, showing us an entirely different side of Moriarty.

I missed this when it first came out. It's an Audible original, split into episodes like a podcast, but essentially is a full cast audio novella, coming in at just over 5 hours of listening time. I stumbled across it because of adverts for the sequel, and decided to delve in from the start. I'm very glad I did!

I've read a lot of Sherlock Holmes stories, they're a rite of passage for any mystery loving reader. Whilst he can be infuriating at times (mainly because he always outsmarts you), he's always the hero of the story. It's very different reading a book where you're on the other side, and actually don't want him to track you down. I very much enjoyed coming at things from a different angle though.

Kindinger did an excellent job with his characterisations and setting for this. There is enough of the familiar to appeal to Holmes fans, both in terms of characters and also the writing and plot style. That said there is enough difference that the book stands in it's own right. I thought Kindinger clearly gave a nod to the characters that we as readers know and love, and whilst he may have made us see a different side of them, he didn't change who they were, merely showed an alternate perspective.

I'm looking forward to listening to the second installment.

[Ida Raffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5
My only qualm about this story is what happens to a beloved literary hero, Sherlock, as a consequence of making Moriarty the "good" (so to speak) guy protagonist. These two have to remain enemy rivals of course, so without spoiling things, you can imagine what Sherlock is in the story, more or less.

I don't love what Sherlock is in this story and would even potentially go as far as to say it can be deemed as character assassination, if it weren't for the thin line of this being a retelling.
But character assassination or not, it horrifies me to see what he does in a certain shocking scene, and makes me wonder what the point of this retelling is if the characters are so far off their originals in their core - Why not just make this an original story with different names? These aren't the OG Sherlock and Moriarty after all, and if you're going to completely change their motivations, personalities (this one is a big one for me) and choices, then they may as well not be named "Sherlock and Moriarty", but rather 2 completely new characters.

I liked John Watson the most, I enjoyed Rose's story, Lestrade was notable enough, and while I do like this "Moriarty" as an original character, he certainly is not Moriarty (& could've been named anything else) (the things he does to supposedly become the darker person who we all know him as are...logical? necessary maybe? Not cold mastermind. So this is not Moriarty in any means, even in retelling form - He just doesn't do the same things or think the same way, not even in the slightest).

Nevertheless, I liked certain characters a lot, especially Moran and his relationship with "Moriarty", and I liked the main plot twist revelation in this story.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein sehr gutes Thriller-Hörspiel, welches das altbekannte und legendäre Duell zwischen Meisterdetektiv Sherlock Holmes und seinem Widersacher James Moriarty auf den Kopf stellt. Hier ist nämlich letzterer nicht nur die Hauptfigur der Geschichte, sondern wenn man so will auch der “Gute” der beiden, während Holmes den genialen Professor offenbar als Opfer einer teuflischen Intrige auserkoren hat. Zwar kommt auch Moriarty (gezwungenermaßen) nicht lange darum herum, sich die Hände schmutzig zu machen, dennoch dürften die Sympathien hier klar und anders als gewohnt verteilt sein.

Dazu tragen auch die Sprecher(innen) des Hörspiels bei, denn während ein gewohnt starker Matthias Koeberlin den in ein Mordkomplott verwickelten Professor gibt, wurde die Rolle des Sherlock Holmes nicht weniger prominent mit Christoph Maria Herbst besetzt – unter normalen Umständen vielleicht keine Idealbesetzung für den “klassischen” Holmes, als hochnäsiger und selbst von seinem Partner Dr. Watson verachteter Intrigant passt Herbst jedoch gut ins (akustische) Bild.

Auch sonst bekommen Fans von Sherlock Holmes hier viele gewohnte und lieb gewonnene Charaktere und Elemente der Erzählungen von Sir Arthur Conan Doyle geboten, nur eben in zum Teil ungewohnten Arrangements. Das bringt nicht nur frischen Wind ins altbekannte Thema, sondern ist auch bis zum fesselnden Showdown durchweg spannend – auch wenn nicht alle Wendungen immer für die beabsichtigte Überraschung sorgen. Wer dieser Umkehrung der Verhältnisse offen gegenüber steht – oder ohnehin immer schon lieber mit dem Schurken Moriarty sympathisiert hat – bekommt hier ein packendes und stimmungsvolles Hörspiel geboten.

[Andy Konigsmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to see Sherlock Holmes through a dark, introspective lens. He's haunted by past actions, consumed by a relentless pursuit of justice, and teetering on the edge of his morality. Moriarty, on the other hand, emerges as a surprisingly sympathetic figure, framed for a murder and forced to play a desperate game for survival. The lines between hero and villain blur, leaving you rooting for the "criminals" who may hold the key to unraveling a larger conspiracy.

This is an audiobook that thrives on its twists and turns. Each episode keeps you guessing, with revelations that shatter your preconceptions and raise the stakes higher and higher. The masterful sound design creates a truly immersive experience, drawing you into the bustling streets of Victorian London and the claustrophobic depths of criminal underworlds.

The acting is superb, with Dominic Monaghan bringing a charismatic edge to Moriarty and the rest of the cast lending their voices to a rich tapestry of characters. Their performances breathe life into the story, making you feel every ounce of desperation, betrayal, and the thrill of the chase.

"Moriarty: The Devil's Game" is not just a Sherlock Holmes story; it's a psychological thriller, a character study, and a masterfully crafted audio drama. It's a dark ride, but one that will leave you breathless and eager for more. If you're looking for a fresh take on a classic and an audiobook that will keep you glued to your headphones, look no further. This is a game you won't want to miss.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moriarty in Arthur Conan Doyle's books is a criminal mastermind and the head of a criminal group worldwide, however, we don't really understand his motive for why he is against Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. In Kindinger's version of the classical literary characters, we understand the reasoning f0r Moriarty's turn to crime: the death of his fiancée that may have been organised by an entity named Porlock.

Moriarty is presented, at first, as a average maths professor who is extremely clever but has a unremarkable life until he is asked by a fellow academic and a link to the crown about his prediction formula for the future. When this happens, events quicken and he is left in a hotel room by Scotland Yard police officers with his fiancée's blood on his hands.

As he goes on the journey to find out who has murdered his fiancée, he finds himself discovering truths he wishes he didn't know about the scheming Holmes brothers and John Watson. Mycroft and Sherlock are not as they appear to be and Moriarty promises to get to the bottom of their sinister plan.

Towards the end of the story, James Moriarty becomes the criminal genius that Conan Doyle created in his serialised stories. However, the way the story is presented to the listener, we sympathise and empathise with Moriarty and the problems he is forced to face. He is a interesting and a excellent anti-hero you wouldn't expect to side with.

I would highly recommend this story as a alternative to Conan Doyle's story as the presentation of the characters are fascinating to listen to.

[Jason Arbuckle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 185 - Charles Kindinger & Jamie Tenenbaum - Moriarty The Devil’s Game

Have read several pastiche of Doyle’s famous Literary detective Sherlock Holmes…most try too hard…most end up with a focus on the writer’s own created characters…this story is an exception as well as exceptional. It is glorious…it is filled with twists…turns…back steps and sidesteps…it is magnificent.

Professor James Moriarty…logician and numbers mastermind…is getting married…he is happy…he is written in such a realistic way that it reads as a wonderful alternate take one of the most evil literary characters ever created.

To say too much about the story gives away the fabulous new presentation of these classic characters. Who has killed Moriarty’s fiancé? How do the wonderfully written Gregson and Lestrade fit so seamlessly into this tale?

And as for Holmes and Watson themselves…simply…wow…they hang over the tale but never remove the focus from the ‘Napoleon of Crime’.

Who is the mastermind behind the horrors being unleashed on London ?

As the tale takes you one way and then the other we slowly are enveloped by ‘evil that men do’.

Cannot wait for the next chapter…astonishing

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd together! Such wonderful narration and a thrilling story! Loved the dramatization, the sound effects were not distracting at all and only added to the story. Solid 5 stars. Thank you Audible for the free podcast.



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

What if Sherlock Holmes was the bad guy and Professor Moriarty was not as evil as we were always lead to believe? This is the premise for this Audible original starring Dominic Monaghan, Merry of the LOTR fame, Phillip LaMarr as Sherlock Holmes and Billy Boyd, Pippin of the LOTR movies, as Col. Moran. What intriguing story!

At the beginning of the podcast, Moriarty stands accused of murdering his fiance, Rose. He makes it his life's mission to find out who killed her as he knows he is innocent of this heinous crime. He only turns to a life of crime as a means to an end.

Sherlock, on the other hand, seems to have no moral compass and is being blackmailed into the evils that he perpetrates.

The ending is a cliffhanger, but not to worry, the story continues in Moriarty: The Silent Order.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 10-part full-cast audio drama, starring Dominic Monaghan as Professor Moriarty, Billy Boyd as Col. Moran (it’s a Merry and Pippin reunion!) and also with Phil LaMarr as Sherlock Holmes.

The basic premise here is that it’s Moriarty who’s the good guy, and Holmes is a black-hearted scoundrel. It’s also sort of “How Moriarty ends up the ‘Napoleon of crime.'” But you know, for good purposes.

Hearing Monaghan and Boyd play off each other isn’t as jarring as you expect, given their characters are so far removed from Merry and Pippin. But there are times when I hear it . . . and I have to remind myself . . .

Several Holmesian callbacks here and there. Mycroft, Gregson, Lestrade, . . . even Irene Adler makes an appearance before the end. So if you know your Holmes, it’s kind of fun. The story’s good, too, with some nice twists along the way.

This first series is available as a free podcast pretty much everywhere you get your podcasts. There's a second series out also, but that's only on Audible. So far.

[Aerly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely addictive and brilliantly performed!

As a longtime fan of Sherlock Holmes, I loved discovering the story from the other side. Exploring Moriarty’s perspective brings a fresh and fascinating depth to a character we usually see only as the villain. The writing is gripping and I was fully immersed from start to finish.

The performance is outstanding. A special mention for Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, the iconic duo who played Merry and Pippin in The Lord of the Rings. Hearing them together again is a real pleasure. Their chemistry is natural, warm, and perfectly balanced, bringing humor and heart to the story and making their scenes especially enjoyable.

The voices, pacing, and sound design create a truly immersive experience that feels almost cinematic. It is the kind of audiobook you want to keep listening to, episode after episode.

What makes this story special is how it expands the Sherlock Holmes universe while staying compelling on its own. A must-listen for Holmes fans and for anyone who enjoys high-quality, addictive audio storytelling 🎧✨

[Marios · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating journey through the eyes of literature's most notorious mastermind. The novel breathes new life into the Sherlock Holmes universe, presenting a refreshing narrative that is both innovative and deeply rooted in the original lore.

The author's portrayal of Moriarty is nothing short of genius. The character is fleshed out with complex motives, intellectual depth, and a charismatic villainy that makes you question your allegiance. The story weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue and suspense, leaving you hanging on every word.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to transform a well-known antagonist into a protagonist you can't help but root for. The clever plot twists and turns are a testament to the author's skill in storytelling, ensuring that the reader is constantly engaged and eager to discover what lies ahead.

A must listen for fans of the genre and newcomers alike. It's a thrilling ride that offers a unique perspective on a classic character...

[Sasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

it's sherlock holmes except his name is moriarty and he's kind of boring lol i don't like holmes being portrayed as uncaring and villainous, especially given the fact that the only black man in the cast plays him 🥴 in fact, my favorite iteration of sherlock is in the show elementary with lucy liu as watson. holmes is awkward but empathetic, kind, and a golden retriever of a character with a ton of sass. none of that was in this and it irked me. the writing would have benefited with sticking to what people know. it would have been more interesting had we gotten a benevolent holmes from moriarty's point of view. the production (sfx and music) and the cast did an incredible job. the writing needed to be given to a better, more diverse team if they want to keep things fresh while staying true to what people know of the characters. making sherlock holmes black is awesome but making him a cartoonishly evil black villain was not okay.