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In Swales’ Sherlock Holmes story, God and Holmes go hand in hand. Holmes, an atheist, is pushed to the limit when he realizes that he needs religion in his life, especially after tragedy strikes so close to him. This is a classic Holmes vs. Moriarty tale, except this time it’s in the Christian suspense genre. Swales does a good job of keeping the classic character traits of the players alive while still making it her own story. There is also the favorite and very rich brother, Mycroft, and of course, the lovable Dr. Watson, whose family life with Mary and the kids is explored.
Swales does a good job of humanizing the cunning and almost superhuman Holmes. He is shown not only as brilliant but also broken. In the first chapter alone, there is so much emotion that Holmes goes through. The ever-calculating Holmes is investigating a murder, but this time the stakes are higher and more personal. Once again, it’s Holmes’ own mortality that is questioned, and that’s where God comes to play.
The author never gets too preachy in her narrative nor compromises the plot for the sake of spirituality. She respects Sherlock Holmes fans, too. It’s hard to give something new to a character that is over 135 years old, so what can an author do? This novel does a good job of answering the question by giving Holmes a lot of family drama and pushing him to the absolute brink. He is, in a biblical sense, Job. Meanwhile, Watson is like he always has been—Holmes’ guardian angel. It’s also worth noting to readers that this is Holmes in the modern world, similar to Holmes from the Benedict Cumberbatch BBC series. Fake deaths, real murders, suspense, and Christianity make for a unique and compelling read.
