Professor James Moriarty has but one desire left in his shattered life: to stop the man who ruined him from harming anyone else. Then he meets Angelina Gould and his world turns upside down.At the International Exhibition, an exploding steam engine kills a man. When Moriarty tries to figure out what happened, he comes up against Sherlock Holmes, sent to investigate by Moriarty’s old enemy. Holmes … enemy. Holmes collects evidence that points at Moriarty, who realizes he must either solve the crime or swing it for it himself. He soon uncovers trouble among the board members of the engine company and its unscrupulous promoter. Moriarty tries to untangle those relationships, but everywhere he turns, he meets the alluring Angelina. She’s playing some game, but what’s her goal? And whose side is she on?
Between them, Holmes and Angelina push Moriarty to his limits — and beyond. He’ll have to lose himself to save his life and win the woman he loves.
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I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.
Interesting twist – making Moriarty into a good guy. I found it started a bit slow, but once it got going I really enjoyed this. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
The narrator, Jill Smith, did a nice job.
Different approach for a Sherlock Holmes read.
This book is well written and presents a very colorful world—probably a really good book—but I won’t be finishing it. The characters were over the top and not believable as real people, though very distinctly rich as individuals, but I just couldn’t buy into their world or actions. I know there is an audience for it—those who like stepping back in time to a navigate a lavish and romanticized class system should love it. I have only seen Murder on the Orient Express as a movie, and seen a few Agatha Christie murder mysteries, but I think that if you rolled them together, this book book would fit right in there. If you are that audience, I do recommend the book, because the writing us rich and buzzing.
This is not the Moriarity we’ve known. This one is sentimental and vulnerable to a beautiful woman, without realizing she’s a con-woman. He is extremely intelligent, but that’s where the resemblance stops. All that said, it’s rather a well written novel and does take you in, but it’s not the Moriarity we’ve all known and hated all this time.
Excellent first meeting of Sherlock and Moriarty. Explains a lot about their history together.
Great twist on Sherlock Holmes’ books.
Lost interest after the first 2 pages.
This is my first time reading a different look on the Sherlock Holmes characters. It was so refreshing to see it from the “villain’s” point of view. The characters were so delightful! I enjoyed every minute of the book and I can’t wait to read the next in the series!
I really enjoyed reading this book. Lots of
Mystery and info about inventions and fun romance mixed in. Add Sherlock Holmes and Watson to the mix and you will be ready for the next book in the series
Quick easy read nice twist on Holmes and Moriaty
Good story line involving different take on Sherlock Holmes on the side. Engaging characters.
Anna Castle shows us a Professor Moriarty who is not the evil villain and avid for revenge that we know. Here we have a James Moriarty diametrically opposed to the character of Conan Doyle, capable of doing good and applying justice in a somewhat unexpected way.
Enjoyed the different characterization of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarity: a complete turnaround! Nice characterization and excellent plot. Would like to read more of this author and series.
İn the wonderful tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, Moriarty is instrumental to solve a case and a lovable character. There is also romance, lots of misunderstanding and of course couple of murders and robberies. İt was a fun read.
Easy read, known characters, good guy gets the girl story
I enjoyed reading this story. Looking forward to the next one in the series.
This first in a series imagines when Moriarty first meets Sherlock Holmes. Holmes suspects Moriarty of a crime, but the latter is innocent and he goes head to head with Holmes as a worthy opponent in trying to solve the case first. This is a rather different Professor Moriarty than the Conan-Doyle character, and I like him. The professor meets the love of his life, who is crafty herself. After he rescues and marries her, she proposes their joint mission in life: “’Persons who have been wronged,’ she’d explained. ‘If the law can’t give them justice, where are they to turn? With our combined talents, we can help them. We can establish a sort of consulting agency for victims of injustice. If we earn a comfortable living from it, that seems only fair to me.’”
I found this book entertaining and I cheered for the underdogs and booed the rich villains!
At first, the story was engaging. But, then what seemed like the main female character began to be described as a scared swooning male-dependent person. I somewhat understand that there is a tendency to see male and female relations during this time period as men being strong and masculine and women as being “damsels in distress”, but the characterization of the woman that latched onto Professor Moriarty in a moment of crisis, was just too cringeworthy. Too melodramatic for me. Not worth it to read what seemed to be a romanticized view of that time period.
Couldn’t put the book down. The twists and turns of the story made it unpredictable and very entertaining.