Meyer continues his wonderful extension of the Sherlock Holmes story with this imagination of Holmes' "Lost Years," when he was supposedly murdered by Prof. Moriarty. It offers Meyer's usual mix of fictional and historical figures, including the author of "The Phantom of the Opera," who looms large in this book. Watson is not present for much of it, and the book does suffer for that. But the mystery: who is killing those associated with the opera where Holmes has gotten himself a job as a violinist, is engrossing and worthy of Doyle.
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The review of this Book prepared by Jeffrey Cohen
For Sherlock Holmes fans, any revival of “the master's” stories at least arouse some
curiosity. In “The Canary Trainer,” Nicholas Meyer in this sequel to the popular “Seven-
Per-Cent Solution,” reveals that Holmes is currently in Paris, the capital of the world in
this year of 1891. And we are in for a set of surprises! Holmes' great love has suddenly
appeared (she is a famous opera singer from New Jersey!)! Also, there is rumor that
the “Opera Ghost” is on a rampage. This foe to Holmes is considered “more than equal to
Holmes”! The chase is on, the hounds are loose, the game is afoot! Holmes is hired to
protect a beautiful soprano and from this point on, action is a-plenty! Meyer does an
admirable job in continuing the Doyle legend (Meyer writes in the introduction that this is
a newly-found account by Dr. Watson!). Sherlock fans shouldn't be disappointed.
The review of this Book prepared by Bill Hobbs