Sherlock Holmes: The Death and Life

Sherlock Holmes Adventures #7

by David Stuart Davies, Roger Llewellyn (Narrator)

A fascinating drama in which Sherlock Holmes steps off the page to save his life and in doing so faces a heart-stopping revelation about his own existence.

Haunted by the tag of ‘the Sherlock Holmes man’ and tired of his catchpenny detective creation, author Arthur Conan Doyle employs the services of Professor Moriarty to bring an end to the career of the Great Detective. Aware that some dark force is bent on his destruction, Holmes rises to the challenge and not only encounters his nemesis Moriarty but also learns the terrible truth about his very being. While Doyle appears to achieve his end when Holmes supposedly falls into the terrible abyss of the Reichenbach Falls, he has not reckoned on his fictional character’s immortality. In a remarkable reversal of fortune, the detective appears to triumph.

This unusual, challenging and often highly amusing drama not only presents a fresh and intriguing insight into the Sherlock Holmes saga but also explores the nature of the strange and unnerving relationship between creator and creation.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Crime

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

David Stuart Davies was a British writer. He worked as a teacher of English before becoming a full-time editor, writer, and playwright. Davies wrote extensively about Sherlock Holmes, both fiction and non-fiction. He was the editor of Red Herrings, the monthly in-house publication of the Crime Writers' Association, and a member of The Baker Street Irregulars and the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Ted Barringer · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK, I thought I was getting a book, what i got was a one-man play. Still though, I liked what I heard, even though I have read a couple of other examples where Holmes is trying to figure out whether or not he actually exists or is a character made up by A C Doyle. I don't know if this was the first of this trope, but it is worth the couple of hours.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a word: funny, or creepy, or entertaining? Yep, okay, it is a bit more complicated that you might expect from such a short story. But, definitely interesting.

In essence, Doyle (the author) and Holmes (the character) fight it out to see who will survive. It is definitely funny at times, seriously creepy in the middle, and both satisfying and insightful at the end.

Certainly worth the time! Oh, and 3.5 stars!

[Kati · Rating 1 out of 5]

4th wall? What 4th wall? I rarely give Sherlock Holmes pastiches the lowest rating because in every book I find something interesting, or at least I try. But this one? I barely finished it. It's not really a story per se, there's no investigation, it's a one-man play, a polemic or an argument between Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, both arrogant pricks in their own way. It's... basically, it's the evolution of the Sherlock Holmes fandom, beginning with Doyle's hate towards his own creation and ending with the character's resurgence after Doyle's death in the pastiches of his avid followers. But, really, when I pick up a Holmes story, I want to read a a mystery, not a philosophical discourse on the nature of the beast. I only got it because I love Big Finish's audio dramas but it was a mistake. Not my cuppa.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s kinda funny listening to this soon after rewatching the episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation in which a hologram Moriarty becomes aware that he’s fictional. And the music in this sounds reminiscent of the beginning of the TNG theme.

The premise sounds ridiculous, so I didn’t expect this to be the greatest. That being said, I was thoroughly entertained. Arthur Conan Doyle wants to put Sherlock Holmes behind him. But of course, as we all know, the character outlives him.

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story started out as a stage play. Due to this fact, I think that it does not translate well to this audio format. The idea is a good one. The plot is based on Arthur C. Doyle's love hate relationship with his most famous creation, Sherlock Holmes. The extras are worth listening to as well.

[Elli · Rating 3 out of 5]

???!!!! .........

[Kash · Rating 2 out of 5]

I though highly of these books when I read about them but I gotta say they were a disappointment.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, technically I "listened" to this book. But it was BRILLIANT, with a unique storyline and a wonderful narrator.