First Review

Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this blog is for me Emily, a humble reader and writer of stories, to discuss novels and their histories. Where books come from and from whom are often just as interesting as the books themselves. 

Now on to the books!!!!


   Black Ice by Andrew Lane is a new spin on the much admired sleuth Sherlock Holmes. In this perplexing puzzle the young Sherlock and his American teacher Amyus Crowe must scramble against time to prevent Sherlock's dear brother Mycroft from being hanged for murder most foul!! The situation appears horribly bleak for Mycroft, who was found in a locked room with the victim. The knife, blood still dripping, found in his hand. If not Mycroft, then who? Why? Will these questions be answered before an innocent man is sent to the gallows?

History: Andrew Lane is an author in Britain who wrote a varity of spin off novels before considering doing the same for his favorite character Sherlock Holmes. Such novels include spins off of Doctor Who and James Bond. He also wrote T.V. plots and scripts for Sky One and Space Island One.
In 2009 his publisher, Macmillan Childrens Books, announced that Andrew Lane would do a spin off of Sherlock Holmes. While partnered with the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Estate Andrew Lane wrote five novels featuring a young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud, Red Leech, Black Ice, Fire Storm, and Snake Bite. Black Ice is the winner of the 2012 Centurian Book Award and 2013 is its first year in print here in the USA.

My thoughts:
I have always enjoyed Shelock Holmes for his intelligence. He never missed a thing in his observations. Through that thorough observation and his attention to detail he was always able to arrive at the truth.
What I like about this new telling is that it provides a better look inside the mind of the genius. In the older tellings it was mostly from the point of view of Sherlock's dear friend rather then Sherlock himself. And since his freind can't read minds, the thoughts of the mystery solver are unseen. It was refreshing to see that difference.
Another portion that interested me is how much more I saw of Sherlock's background. I saw where he was raised and who molded him into the man he became.
The story is very well written with clear details and an easy to follow plot. To readers, especially mystery lovers, you will not only savor every page, but drool for more of the young Sherlock Holmes.