Edward B. Hanna (1935–2008)

I picked this one up since I simply could not resist Sherlock Holmes tracking down the Ripper. I liked this novel but it was a long and involved read for a Sherlock Holmes tale. Keeping my finger in the endnotes section while I read was a bit much. However, the details did, for the most part, weave a particular spell that made it an enjoyable read all the way through although in places the overabundance of details did cause it to drag.
With a Sherlock Holmes story, novel-length or otherwise, I crave the fictionalized elements of a "world's greatest detective" and wouldn't mind if the text wasn't so hung up on the actual facts in the case of Jack the Ripper as this one so painstakingly was. Using Watson's already known proclivity for not recording dates and specific details exactly or just plain wrongly (even Arthur Conan Doyle used this diegetic excuse to cover his inconsistencies) was also another device that could've been eschewed in my opinion but was probably just easier for the author while writing. I did appreciate the themes of class struggle inherent in the historical setting and an accurate portrayal (IMHO) of Holmes' attitudes concerning them.
Overall, I would recommend this to Sherlock Holmes fans as it certainly builds a much darker, much more historically-based London around the titular detective than I'm used to in other such works. Although, the sheer length of the book and the anti-climactic ending are definite negatives. However, I cannot recommend this to anyone not looking for a lengthy involved read, Holmes fan or not.… (meer)

This is a post-Doyle Sherlock Holmes story. The prelude leads us to a 100-year-old manuscript stored and forgotten in a very prestigious London bank. The revelation of the manuscript plunges us deep into the horror that was the Jack the Ripper Case, and Mr. Holmes' involvement in the investigation.

Mr. Hanna is apparently a fairly serious student of both the Ripper crimes and the Sherlockania (is that a word? Should be.) Once again I found myself with two bookmarks; one where I was reading and one in the footnotes at the back. Nearly every step was documented with notes about the real-life people and events, as well as references to other Sherlock stories and timelines. Rather than pulling me up short and reminding me of the difference between fiction and real life, these footnotes were so fashioned that they shared and clarified information without breaking the world the author has constructed. Extremely well done.

The story may or may not solve anything. Some of the events are speculated, but fit the facts so well I wouldn't be surprised at all if they approach the truth. But the story is riveting, the characters full-formed and breathing, the atmosphere is brooding and full of portent. Loved it, can you tell? Highly recommended.… (meer)