| Date: 10 April 2011, 02:08
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Andrew Lane's second Young Sherlock Holmes book, RED LEECH, is every bit as enjoyable as his first. This time Holmes is off to America in pursuit of dastardly Confederates who are harboring a living (but deranged) John Wilkes Booth. Not sure why the publicity doesn't play up the Booth angle (it's not mentioned in the plot blurbs, etc.), because this is a heck of a hook! This Young Sherlock book is less of a mystery and more of fast-paced chase, with many imaginative set-pieces and terrific action. Sherlock's time aboard the paddle steamer SS Scotia is my favorite part of the book. Lane has obviously done some excellent research, and his description of the ship and voyage really transports the reader. I also enjoyed Sherlock learning the violin during this section, and meeting a very famous German ballon enthusiast (I won't spoil it, but it shouldn't be too hard to guess). All the American locations are wonderfully drawn, as are the villains, and I really love that we get to see Holmes use his first disguise while in New York City.
My only (constructive) criticism is there is no puzzling mystery that anchors the book and motivates Holmes' investigation (aside from the living Booth -- which is not really treated as mystery). Yes, the villains do have a master plan, but their plan is not teased out with clues that Sherlock sniffs out along the way. As I said, it's really just a kidnap and chase, and all is revealed to Holmes (James Bond style) when he reaches the end of the line. But I guess there's nothing necessarily wrong with this. In fact, I think the core readership will love the fast pace over mind work. But one of the things I so loved about Death Cloud is that it had the mystery of the killer smoke at its heart. That made it a Holmes book. Something to think about for book 3, BLACK ICE, which cannot come soon enough for this (Young) Sherlock Holmes fan!
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