The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes by
Caleb Carr
pbk out December 06
(Time Warner)
at £6.99
The move from the use of Watson's references as inspiration for adventures to cases which are
completely new is an immediate threat to the purist reader. Not only is there a greater scope for
moving away from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's formula, but in this particular instance, the format used is
that of a novel. Even Sir Arthur was only ever able to stretch Holmes' adventures as far as novella
length, and most who have tried to extend beyond that have failed dismally. Not so for Mr Carr in this
short novel, however. This is a worthy recreation of Holmes, Watson, and Mycroft set in a Victorian
Britain so atmospheric that one almost feels suffocated by the fog.
Like so much of the Canon, the novel begins and ends in the Baker Street rooms. It is
narrated by a Watson who is obviously very similar – if not the very same – as the man with whom
readers are already familiar. Mycroft Holmes is the catalyst for the adventure when he summons
Holmes to the palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Two gruesome and mysterious deaths have
occurred while the aged Queen Victoria was in residence and there is a possible connection to recent
attempts on Her Majesty's life. On arrival, Holmes and Watson discover another royal connection: the
legend of the ghost of the Italian Secretary, friend to the luckless Mary Queen of Scots centuries
before. The inclusion of a possible supernatural explanation at this early stage fits in well with the
almost gothic portrayal of Victorian Edinburgh.
Mr Carr's expertise as a historical novelist is evident in the ease with which he creates an
authentic Victorian milieu, and blends political thriller, murder mystery, and period ghost story. But
his portrayal of Mycroft is where he merits the most praise. Sherlock Holmes' older brother has
suffered at the hands of pastiche writers, but he appears here as if he'd just stepped out of the originals,
The Greek Interpreter and The Bruce-Partington Plans.
The only part deserving criticism of is the conclusion. While Sir Arthur often presented readers
with the possibility that supernatural agents had been at work, all of Holmes' cases ended with a clear,
rational explanation of events – no matter how fantastic they had initially appeared. Without revealing
the denouement, a concise, logical ending is sacrificed in order to maintain the mystery and ambiguity
used to heighten the tension of the earlier parts of the novel. In this case the mystery does not end with
the return of Holmes and Watson to Baker Street, and Holmes' summary of the events at
Holyroodhouse does not rule out the supernatural completely.
This was disappointing, but shouldn't detract from the fact that this is one of the better
pastiches available – especially when one considers the other novel-length cases. It is to be hoped that
Mr Carr will regale us with further Further Adventures some time in the near future.
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The Italian Secretary: A Further Adventure of Sherlock Holmes by
Caleb Carr
