Percolations

I tried. I really tired. But just 10 days into the new year and I caved. I had planned, and believe me, with all good intention, to make this year one of re-read and read-what-I-already-have, including of course, the books that had already been pre-ordered in 2010. But then I wandered upon Horatio Lyle. Crap! And one thing led to another and before you know it there are 3 books in my cart and an itchy- twitchy fore-finger suspended just above the ‘Enter’ key. I know. I’m weak. What can I say?

The Young Adult books, chosen to be my accomplices in crime, are,

drum-roll please:

This story takes place in Victorian London. Horatio Lyle is a former Special Constable with a penchant for science and invention who dabbles, albeit reluctantly, as a sleuth. Thrown together with a reformed pickpocket called Tess, and a rebellious young gentleman called Thomas, Lyle and his faithful hound, Tate, find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of polite society;

In the ... Further

Extraordinary Adventures of Horatio Lyle, this sequel  finds Horatio, along with his young protégés Tess (the thief); Thomas (the rich kid); and his faithful hound Tate (the smart one), up to their necks in events of a singularly unscientific nature.

I like reading Young Adult novels and, it goes without saying that I love a good mystery. So when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle showed up on my computer screen with A Study in Scarlet, well, up went the hands and out the window went all my good intentions.

This is the first Sherlock Holmes story, and it is also where Holmes and Watson first meet. It‘s the story that initially appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887, and was published in book form in 1888. My book copy, sadly, is a reprint dated February 16, 2010.



Magazine edition cover, 1887