View source for No Police Like Holmes by Dan Andriacco

{{infobox1
|title=No Police Like Holmes
|author=Dan Andriacco
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Crime
|summary=A satirical look at Sherlock Holmes which works well as satire and as crime.
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=242
|publisher=MX Publishing
|date=November 2011
|isbn=978-1780922065
|website=http://www.mxpublishing.co.uk/engine/shop/brand/Dan+Andriacco
|cover=178092206X
|aznuk=178092206X
|aznus=178092206X
}}

At the 'Investigating Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes' Colloquium (in the UK it would probably be a conference) the St Benignus College in Erin, Ohio is due to receive a donation of the third largest collection of Sherlockiana in the world – including some rare pieces of substantial value.  The plan is that there should be good publicity for the college and that the attendees have a good time – deerstalker hats not being compulsory. But even the best-laid plans are derailed by theft and murder. Jeff Cody is the public relations director at the college and he's determined to solve the crimes before his eccentric brother in law, Professor Sebastian McCabe.

It's a satirical look at Holmes and the industry he's spawned, but it's affectionate and neatly constructed, with Jeff Cody playing Watson to McCabe's Holmes, whilst still trying to work out how he stands with his ex-girlfriend, reporter Lynda Teal.  Does she still have some feelings for him or is she just after a good story?  There are plenty of twists, a good few red herrings and an ending which surprised me as I had someone entirely different chalked in as the murderer.  There's a good selection of possible suspects – with plenty of reason to wonder about a good few of them.

I'm not a particular fan of Sherlock Holmes (yes – heresy – I know) but I do enjoy a good mystery and this book could be enjoyed even if you had no knowledge of Holmes.  It works neatly on two levels.The story has pace and is only slightly let down by some sloppy editing which pulls you out of the story every time that you have to go back and reread a sentence.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

If this book appeals then you might also enjoy [[Rendezvous at the Populaire : A Novel of Sherlock Holmes by Kate Workman]].

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