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Sherlock Holmes. Il verme di Fleet Street (Il Giallo Mondadori Sherlock)
Alle sette e mezzo di una domenica mattina, la sveglia suonata da un violino non è il modo migliore di cominciare la giornata per il dottor Watson, già di cattivo umore per aver perso a carte la sera prima al suo club. È purtroppo una ben nota abitudine di Sherlock Holmes, dopo una notte trascorsa a effettuare analisi chimiche, smaltire così l'energia nervosa accumulata, torturando lo strumento e l'udito dell'amico. Niente di nuovo dunque a rendere speciale questa domenica d'estate, se non la storia sconcertante che una cliente inattesa sottopone all'investigatore, richiesto di occuparsi dell'inspiegabile incidente occorso all'avvocato Robert Holcomb. Rientrato a casa da una cena con la signora in questione, dopo essersi messo improvvisamente a urlare e a rovesciare mobili, l'uomo si è precipitato fuori in uno stato di alterazione mentale per finire travolto da una carrozza, che ne ha trascinato e orrendamente straziato il corpo. Qualcosa sembra averlo fatto uscire di senno. Quando poi un secondo tragico episodio colpisce una persona molto vicina, Holmes si getta a capofitto in un'indagine per cui la ragione appare inadeguata, fra sedute spiritiche, un'avversaria implacabile e un misterioso verme di una specie sconosciuta.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 18, 2025
I was given a copy of the book by MX Publishing to review.
The book takes its inspiration from one of the many 'untold tales' that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle loved to tease his readers with. In this instance "...that of Isadora Persano, the well-known journalist and duelist, who was found stark staring mad with a march box in front of him which contained a remarkable worm said to be unknown to science."
That said, Rivera fleshes it out beautifully, with an ambitious woman who has plans to be the next Moriarty, a degenerate men's club, and a host of excellently portrayed original characters.
The story flows beautifully. Rivera has an excellent hand with description, setting scenes that are evocative of the era.
Well worth a read.
The book takes its inspiration from one of the many 'untold tales' that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle loved to tease his readers with. In this instance "...that of Isadora Persano, the well-known journalist and duelist, who was found stark staring mad with a march box in front of him which contained a remarkable worm said to be unknown to science."
That said, Rivera fleshes it out beautifully, with an ambitious woman who has plans to be the next Moriarty, a degenerate men's club, and a host of excellently portrayed original characters.
The story flows beautifully. Rivera has an excellent hand with description, setting scenes that are evocative of the era.
Well worth a read.
September 13, 2026
Senza dubbio uno dei migliori apocrifi Holmsiani che abbia letto.
Miguel Rivera, che ha scritto prima un altro apocrifo Holmsiano, quel Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Green Dragon non ancora tradotto, di cui riprende alcuni personaggi, è decisamente uno scrittore da tenere d'occhio.
In questo romanzo è stato in grado, partendo da una breve frase introduttiva al caso di Thor Bridge, di costruire un'avventura complessa, intricata, ma nel complesso molto fedele al personaggio, con forse l'unica pecca del "verme ibrido" per come viene definito. Tuttavia comprendo come, sia per rimanere nell'ambito delle conoscenze biologiche di quel 1895, sia perché scendere nei dettagli avrebbe affossato il ritmo della narrazione, la sua scelta sia stata probabilmente la migliore.
Tra l'altro ho apprezzato sia la profonda caratterizzazione degli antagonisti sia l'aderenza al canone dei protagonisti, tra cui l'ispettore McDonald e Mycroft Holmes, nonché di uno Watson attivo e non solo brontolone.
Infine la scrittura: decisamente avvincente, tanto che ho faticato a lascire sul comodino il romanzo tra ieri e l'altro ieri, nonostante altri impegni. Pertanto le 5 stelle sono assicurate.
Miguel Rivera, che ha scritto prima un altro apocrifo Holmsiano, quel Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Green Dragon non ancora tradotto, di cui riprende alcuni personaggi, è decisamente uno scrittore da tenere d'occhio.
In questo romanzo è stato in grado, partendo da una breve frase introduttiva al caso di Thor Bridge, di costruire un'avventura complessa, intricata, ma nel complesso molto fedele al personaggio, con forse l'unica pecca del "verme ibrido" per come viene definito. Tuttavia comprendo come, sia per rimanere nell'ambito delle conoscenze biologiche di quel 1895, sia perché scendere nei dettagli avrebbe affossato il ritmo della narrazione, la sua scelta sia stata probabilmente la migliore.
Tra l'altro ho apprezzato sia la profonda caratterizzazione degli antagonisti sia l'aderenza al canone dei protagonisti, tra cui l'ispettore McDonald e Mycroft Holmes, nonché di uno Watson attivo e non solo brontolone.
Infine la scrittura: decisamente avvincente, tanto che ho faticato a lascire sul comodino il romanzo tra ieri e l'altro ieri, nonostante altri impegni. Pertanto le 5 stelle sono assicurate.
March 17, 2025
I felt this story was drawn out overly long and that though a fair Story, does not come up to what I personally expect of a Sherlock Holmes Story. Narrator does a very good job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.
July 18, 2024
quite the problem, great adventure...loved it!
June 26, 2025
I was provided a copy of this audiobook at no cost for review purposes courtesy of MX Publishing.
The Abominable Worm of Fleet Street is an excellent Holmsian tale based on one of the strangest case descriptions Doyle ever wrote.
My one caveat to the glowing review to follow is that I ran out of steam near the end once the bad guys were rounded up. Yes, the big fish escaped the net and had to be gone after, but the momentum was gone for me. I enjoyed seeing how things played out in the end, but the two or three chapters in between dragged.
Onto the positives. Every scene was carefully set, plot-relevant and aesthetic details alike described in rich prose. Truly a treat for the reader’s visual imagination!
Additionally, I loved the scene where Holmes is essentially asked out on a date. His discomfort had me cracking up! Poor man.
This story was unusual in that it is written in the third person, and offers scenes and chapters from the perspectives of a variety of characters on both sides of the conflict. This helped to flesh out the fascinating array of antagonists in the story.
The weird and wacky science is truly the stuff of Doyle, and called to mind for me some of the bizarre moments in the canon. The worms were horrible! I loved them.
And lastly, on a personal note, I appreciate the queer representation. In particular, it meant a lot as a queer and trans Holmes fan to see Holmes have compassion for a young gay man at a time when that was not the prevailing attitude. I was glad to see a prominent lesbian relationship as well, deeply toxic though it was.
The Abominable Worm of Fleet Street is an excellent Holmsian tale based on one of the strangest case descriptions Doyle ever wrote.
My one caveat to the glowing review to follow is that I ran out of steam near the end once the bad guys were rounded up. Yes, the big fish escaped the net and had to be gone after, but the momentum was gone for me. I enjoyed seeing how things played out in the end, but the two or three chapters in between dragged.
Onto the positives. Every scene was carefully set, plot-relevant and aesthetic details alike described in rich prose. Truly a treat for the reader’s visual imagination!
Additionally, I loved the scene where Holmes is essentially asked out on a date. His discomfort had me cracking up! Poor man.
This story was unusual in that it is written in the third person, and offers scenes and chapters from the perspectives of a variety of characters on both sides of the conflict. This helped to flesh out the fascinating array of antagonists in the story.
The weird and wacky science is truly the stuff of Doyle, and called to mind for me some of the bizarre moments in the canon. The worms were horrible! I loved them.
And lastly, on a personal note, I appreciate the queer representation. In particular, it meant a lot as a queer and trans Holmes fan to see Holmes have compassion for a young gay man at a time when that was not the prevailing attitude. I was glad to see a prominent lesbian relationship as well, deeply toxic though it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2025
An entertaining and unusual Holmes and Watson story. The strange death of a lawyer involves Holmes in a macabre case of espionage and pits him against a ruthless adversary. Well written with excellent strong well described characters. Narration is excellent although Michael allows his accents to slip occasionally. Overall I really enjoyed this one, and will be happy to read more by this author and narrator. Highly recommended. I received a complimentary copy of the audio and an leaving a honest voluntary review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews