Mycroft and Sherlock is a mystery novel by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse. It is the second novel in their "Mycroft Holmes" series utilizing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes.[1] Having focused solely on Mycroft in the first novel, Abdul-Jabbar and Waterhouse were curious about the relationship between Mycroft and his brother and recognized that the sequel would need the introduction of Sherlock.[2]

Mycroft and Sherlock
First edition
AuthorKareem Abdul-Jabbar
Anna Waterhouse
LanguageEnglish
GenreMystery novels
PublisherTitan Books
Publication date
2018
Media typePrint (hardback)
ISBN978-1785659256 (first U.S. edition, hardback)
Preceded byMycroft Holmes 
Followed byMycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage 

In an interview with Lyndsay Faye, Abdul-Jabbar described the writing process noting that he is a "history aficionado" while Waterhouse is more interested in research.[3] Abdul-Jabbar also stated that plot was more of interest to him while Waterhouse was more drawn to dialogue.[3]

Plot

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Mycroft Holmes and Cyrus Douglas, of whom the latter now runs a school for boys, are joined by Mycroft's younger brother Sherlock to investigate a series of killings dubbed "the Savage Gardens murders."

Reception

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Kirkus Reviews was positive about the novel while conceding "The mystery, as so often in Conan Doyle, is less interesting than the Holmes-ian byplay."[4] Michael Dirda of The Washington Post praised the book saying the story moves "briskly" and calling it "diverting, light entertainment" while noting "Enjoyable as the book is, a purist will nonetheless fault its loose construction."[5] Both BookPage[6] and New York Journal of Books[7] gave positive notices of the book.

References

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  1. ^ McMillan, Graeme (April 9, 2018). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Details Sherlock Holmes' First Case in 'Mycroft and Sherlock' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  2. ^ Vitcavage, Adam (November 14, 2018). "How Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Is Reinventing the Sherlock Holmes Story". Electric Literature. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Faye, Lyndsay (October 17, 2018). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Evolving Sherlock Canon". CrimeReads. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mycroft and Sherlock". Kirkus Reviews. August 21, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Dirda, Michael (October 3, 2018). "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar returns to his other passion: Sherlock Holmes". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Frazier, G. Robert (October 9, 2018). "Mycroft and Sherlock". BookPage. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Reveal, Judith. "Mycroft and Sherlock". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
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