Sherlock Holmes Book Reviews - Sherlock Holmes and The Man Who Believed in Fairies
Publié par Steve Emecz le
"An exciting story carrying the true essence of a mystery with Sherlock Holmes."
5/5 Stars Reedsy.
"A fun and fabulous book about a period of Doyle’s life that continues to puzzle people today. Highly recommended." Margaret Walsh
"Sherlock Holmes is a character recognised world-wide as an outstandingly rational thinker. His creator, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote many remarkable books and essays which demonstrate his own rational nature, and he applied his logical reasoning to matters that most of us believe to be impossible, such as communication with the dead, which he firmly believed to be not merely possible but demonstrably true. So, is it any wonder that he accepted as fact the claim of two young girls to have seen and actually photographed fairies?
F.R. Maher’s novel began as a play, first staged at the Edinburgh Festival in 2024. She had already researched the case and published her findings in The Secret of the Cottingley Fairies, published in 2017; the play gave her the chance to pit the great detective’s scepticism against his creator’s – well, shall we call it gullibility? If you get the chance to see the play then do so. I’d welcome the opportunity to see it again. Meanwhile the story is well told in Ms Maher’s novel.
Holmes and Watson are living characters, contemporary with Conan Doyle – whom they nevertheless recognise as the person to whom they owe their existence. Neither the author nor the detective will give way. On the back of the dust-jacket we’re told that Sherlock Holmes and the Man Who Believed in Fairies “is a gripping tale of rivalry, pride, and the fine line between genius and delusion.” It’s also thought-provoking and very entertaining!
Roger Johnson, Sherlock Holmes Society of London
Sherlock Holmes and The Man Who Believed In Fairies is available from this site with a meal going to someone in need through the ShareTheMeal program - but also from:
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About The Book
What if Sherlock Holmes’ greatest enemy wasn’t a criminal mastermind - but his own creator?
Having abandoned retirement, Sherlock Holmes is drawn into a battle of intellects where, this time, the stakes are deeply personal. Lurking behind the shadows of his past is the true architect of his near-fatal encounter at Reichenbach Falls: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - a flawed genius whose beliefs threaten everything Holmes stands for.
When two young girls claim to have captured photographic proof of fairies, Doyle eagerly champions their impossible claims with unwavering conviction. To Holmes, this is an affront to reason itself. Logic clashes with belief, evidence with imagination - and neither man is willing to yield.
The conflict turns public when a biting cartoon in Punch binds Holmes and Doyle together in ridicule, igniting Holmes’ determination to expose the truth and dismantle a fantasy that has captured the world’s attention.
Inspired by the infamous Cottingley fairy photographs, Sherlock Holmes and The Man Who Believed in Fairies is a gripping tale of rivalry, pride, and the fine line between genius and delusion. In a clash between cold logic and fervent belief, only one truth can prevail.