PositiveThe Seattle Times...a worthy addition to any scholarly Conan Doyle/Holmes bookshelf. Many Holmes fans know the bones of the origin story, but Sims dives deep into Conan Doyle’s biography to put flesh on it. The physician-turned-writer becomes much more human to the reader in the process ... At times, the book reads a little like an overstuffed suitcase, with facts spilling out the sides; it makes for heavy going ... Fans of Holmes and his creator, however, will find the journey is worth the tiny bumps.
John Preston
PositiveThe Seattle Times[Preston's] laserlike focus, while admirable in its no-stone-unturned way, does bog things down about halfway through; a reader wonders, when is the rubber going to really hit the road? This isn’t a book that you can digest in fits and starts. The long cast of characters and the intricacies of the British Parliament require some serious sitting-down time ... Preston, like any good journalist, has quite an ear for quotes and character sketches, and Scandal is sprinkled with gems that reflect an England long gone.
Amor Towles
PositiveThe Seattle Times...[an] enjoyable, elegant new novel ... There are two surprises at the end of the novel; you’ll nod at one, and raise your eyebrows at the other. Even greater delights, though, are found in Towles’ glorious turns of phrase.
