The Illumination of Sherlock Holmes

by Paul D. Gilbert

A BRAND NEW SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY

If you love Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original, then you’ll love this gripping new tale.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson reunite after a long and hazardous journey through the icy mountains of Bavaria.

They face a dramatic encounter within the walls of a secluded castle. Sherlock Holmes and his brother, Mycroft, give chase, only for their quarry to escape. The three men, in the company of a new and mysterious ally, return to London knowing that an old adversary will be seeking a deadly revenge.

Almost at once Holmes and Watson are presented with an intriguing case, one that brings back disquieting memories.

However, this only serves as a temporary diversion. Before long, Holmes is challenged by a deadly but beautiful stranger. In a spectacular final showdown, their vengeful enemy proves just how far they’re willing to go.

In this beautifully written rendering of the Holmes universe, and the highly anticipated finale of the Odyssey of Sherlock Holmes Trilogy, Paul D. Gilbert continues the legacy of Conan Doyle.

DISCOVER THESE NEW ADVENTURES OF HOLMES AND WATSON. PERFECT FOR FANS OF THE ORIGINAL AND LOVERS OF CLASSIC MYSTERIES.

ALSO BY PAUL D. GILBERT

THE ODYSSEY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES TRILOGY
Book 1: SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE UNHOLY TRINITY
Book 2: SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FOUR HANDED GAME
Book 3: THE ILLUMINATION OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

THE LOST FILES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES SERIES
Book 1: THE LOST FILES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Book 2: THE CHRONICLES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES
Book 3: THE ANNALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE GIANT RAT OF SUMATRA

178 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2019

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating

An excellent conclusion to the Odyssey of Shrrlock Holmes trilogy. Even though all the books can be read on their own I would recomend reading this book read the first two books of this series before this one. The reason being is this book contains a summary of the other two book and people like me who once I have gotten a summary I would not really go back an to read the books for more details. However the summary was greatly appreciated as I could not remember all the threads that got story to this point.

This is one of the biggest cases/tasks Holmes and Watson have under taken,over the trilogy the case has been an international and far reaching affair. This book takes place more in Europe. This is slightly more action in this book especially the assault. This book give Mycroft a much larger role in the book. The is more planning and execution in this book yhen actual deduction. Again this is what was need for this conclusion.

Also kn this book we see a more human side of Holmes especially when his friends and loved ones are in danger. As well as his physical combat skills.

The mark is a great conclusion is collecting all the threads and weaving them into tapestry. This is done perfectly here collecting threads from PDG and Sir ACD's stories and using them to create and enhance this one in to a great book and series as a whole.

[Jennifer Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s taken me a few months after finishing it to get round to reviewing Paul Gilbert’s The Illumination of Sherlock Holmes, and I think that’s because I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. I love the original Conan Doyle stories and this mimicked them in a very clever way; but there was something missing and I don’t know what it was.

The publisher’s blurb is as follows: “Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson reunite after a long and hazardous journey through the icy mountains of Bavaria. They face a dramatic encounter within the walls of a secluded castle. Sherlock Holmes and his brother, Mycroft, give chase, only for their quarry to escape. The three men, in the company of a new and mysterious ally, return to London knowing that an old adversary will be seeking a deadly revenge. Almost at once Holmes and Watson are presented with an intriguing case, one that brings back disquieting memories. However, this only serves as a temporary diversion. Before long, Holmes is challenged by a deadly but beautiful stranger. In a spectacular final showdown, their vengeful enemy proves just how far they’re willing to go.”

It has all the ingredients of a Holmes story… and yet, and yet. It didn’t grip me. I got a little confused in the middle and stopped reading for a while, and when I went back it took me a while before I realised my Kindle had somehow flipped back andI was reading a chapter I’d already read. And now, the acid test for any book — after a few months I can’t really remember much about the plot.

I think a lot of people will love this book. It’s true to the Conan Doyle originals in many ways. But in the back of my mind I seem to hear Elvis singing She’s Not You. It’s everything a Holmes fan could want, but it’s not Conan Doyle. For me, the magic ingredient is missing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Alexa Gi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent story and the end of an adventure that I have been reading and enjoying along of three books. It was an exciting journey, full of suspense a a little of romance too, beautiful landscape descriptions, that makes you feel like you are there, feeling the weather and taking the thrill as your own. I am not a impartial reviewer, I love Paul Gilbert Books and it is not a lie. Paul hooked me up with his marvelous 'Sherlock Holmes and The Giant Rat of Sumatra' and became my favorite author of Sherlock Holmes homage novels. It is hard for me, sometimes, to remember that I am not reading something from the original canon; so alike with Sir Conan Doyle's style I find them. Not because he is repeating Conan Doyle's work in any stage but understanding the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in their very core, adding more adventures, leading us throughout the same path we know so well, and never missing or misleading a single part of the story. His researches about Victorian Era are so accurate that makes me feel that Conan Doyle himself is whispering those details to Paul Gilbert's ears as he writes about them.
For avid readers of Sherlock Holmes original canon and mystery novels in general, I highly recommend you to take a look at this author, and his exquisite writing. You won't be disappointed.

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Paul D. Gilbert published the novel “The Illumination of Sherlock Holmes” in 2019. This is the third of his "Odyssey of Sherlock Holmes" series. Mr. Gilbert has published ten Sherlock Holmes novels.

I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as “PG” because it contains some scenes of Violence. The story is set in Europe.

Holmes and Watson, along with Holmes' brother Mycroft, travel to Bavaria, then back to England. They are on the trail of a conspiracy to control the world.

While there are aspects of mystery, this is more of a 19th-century thriller. At times I felt like it was more a story about a story than a book on its own. If you like Sherlock Holmes you will most likely enjoy this novel.

I enjoyed the 5+ hours I spent reading this 168-page mystery/thriller novel. The cover art is OK and consistent with other works by Gilbert, but I think it is a little simple. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Illumination of Sherlock Holmes completes the trilogy, The Odyssey of Sherlock Holmes. My only complaint is that this third book lacks the inventive plotting and expansive storytelling of the previous two installments. It is very much an endcap on the story arc and suffers from a common ailment of endings, just not as exciting as the buildup. This book is shorter than the previous too as well.

I did enjoy it anyway and would still highly recommend this set of Sherlock Holmes stories. I intend to read Paul D. Gilbert's other Holmes books as well. Gilbert convincingly breathes life into Doyle's characters and plays fairly with the canon.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool end to a good trilogy.

Gilbert captures the era and Doyle's style, and brings life to an intense trilogy that draws Holmes and Watson into a vast Illumanati-esque conspiracy. Racing about Europe and North Africa the pair fight for their lives and the freedom of the regular folk. Good stuff, I hope Gilbert does more.Check it out.

[Maria Beltrami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the best Sherlock Holmes fan fiction I've read, and with the aggravating circumstance of being part of a trilogy. The tone of the narrative is a bit too emphatic and in some places the relationship between cause and effect is not clear, nevertheless the characters' characters are quite faithful to the originals, and this makes the reading quite pleasant.

[Mr Sherlockian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to the conclusion, of this wonderful trilogy, with so much anticipation that I could have set myself for disappointment. I am happy to report that it is not the case. Mr Gilbert raises the tension & excitement with each page & the conclusion is as thrilling & surprising as anyone could hope for. Recommended for all fans of Sherlock Holmes & great thrillers!!

[Jackie Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading the last of the trilogy, this book did not disappoint. I think it helps if you have read the first two and they all link brilliantly together.
The writing skills of PD Gilbert surpass most Holmes' pastiches

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now finished all of Gilbert’s novels and a sadness settles over my heart. A lovely series!

[Charles L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery with wit and charn

An occasional read of a Sherlock tale provides an enjoyable break from more contemporary mysteries, and this one came through well. We are reminded of how insufferable Sherlock can be at times while Watson is patient and tolerant with his friend - a relationship that is always fun. This book started out developing a story in the first chapter, but for some reason the following one or two chapters had parts of other tales and characters thrown in that were distracting. Eventually things settled down and the expected tale of drama and intrigue, surprises and twists, strange characters and impossible situations came through well. The Glossary of English Slang found at the end would have been appreciated more if placed after the title page.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr Watson, while travelling on a train to Bavaria, assesses the past six months of the exploits of Holmes and himself, as they have travelled to Rome and Egypt. Also the cases that have occupied them n Britain. He hopes that he is on the right track in discovering the whereabouts of the Holmes brothers. But what is the connection to the Bavarian Brotherhood.
It unfortunately took me a long time to get into the story, and what was actually happening. Though I did like the portrayal of Watson and Holmes.
A NetGalley Book

[Krissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third of a trilogy of books, and I haven’t read the first two. Because of this, I had no idea what was going on for much of the time. I did enjoy how Holmes, Watson, and Mycroft were written.

Received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.