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The Patient's Eyes: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Patient's Eyes: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes




St. Martin's, May 2002, 22.95, 252 pp.
ISBN: 0312290950

In 1878, a bored Arthur Conan Doyle is a second year medical student in Edinburgh when the brilliant but unbearable megalomaniac Dr. Joseph Bell becomes his mentor (or perhaps tormentor). Though no one likes Dr. Bell everyone agrees he is a genius. His pioneering work in forensic medicine has fascinated law enforcement and academia alike and has led to a success criminal investigation career.
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Arthur actually surprises himself when he realizes he relishes solving mystery puzzles and even more shocking at least to him working with' or perhaps better put, for the frustrating Dr. Bell. Arthur solves several mysteries and soon needs to protect Heather Grace, a victim of nightmares following the mass murder of her family. An obsessed Arthur believes that Heather remains in jeopardy from a killer who plans to finish the job unless he can protect the woman he cherishes.

This reviewer's first reaction to this novel was oy vey not another Holmes/Doyle novel. However, that quickly changed from the beginning to thoughts of how entertainingly brilliant is the one sitting read THE PATIENT'S EYES. Holmes fans and historical mystery readers will enjoy the plot that also enables the audience to solve a puzzler. However, the key to what makes this a wonderfully refreshing novel is Doyle, whom David Pirie depicts as a clever intermixing of the ingenious Holmes with the awed Watson.

Harriet Klausner

The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner



Chapter Analysis of The Patient's Eyes: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 10%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 60%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 20%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 10% Tone of story    -   suspenseful (sophisticated fear) How difficult to spot villain?    -   Difficult, but some clues given Time/era of story:    -   1600-1899 What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot?    -   70% Special suspect?    -   chronically deranged person Misc. Murder Plotlets    -   Big focus on forensic evidence Kind of investigator    -   skilled citizen investigator Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot?    -   feelings towards family/friends Crime Thriller    -   Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown)    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   doctor Age:    -   40's-50's Ethnicity/Race    -   White/American

Setting

Europe    -   Yes European country:    -   England/UK

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like The Patient's Eyes: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

David Pirie Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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