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braendy's review against another edition
4.0
I adored this, don't think I've ever read anything like it. Honestly such a cool concept, too? The genre-juggling worked so well, the writing style (mostly) fit the time period, and I learned something new about an obscure bit of history that feels very current.
kassiani's review against another edition
3.5
Well written and the historical case was interesting but overall I struggled to really get into it (very analytical and descriptive at the default of emotional depth).
The author writes George as quite clueless and naive, as if not realizing for a while that he’s the victim of racism, and white people have to explain it to him.
The novel is told from the points of view of both Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji, the half-Indian solicitor who was wrongfully convicted of the "Great Wyrley Outrages", a series of animal mutilations in a rural area & on judicial structural issues needing reforms.
The author writes George as quite clueless and naive, as if not realizing for a while that he’s the victim of racism, and white people have to explain it to him.
The novel is told from the points of view of both Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji, the half-Indian solicitor who was wrongfully convicted of the "Great Wyrley Outrages", a series of animal mutilations in a rural area & on judicial structural issues needing reforms.
rdaisygal's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 really. Very interesting story. Drags along at times, but overall a well written piece.
fionaburford's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Took a long time to get to the main point of the story.
glennab28's review against another edition
4.0
i'd been meaning to read something by barnes and so was happy to rediscover this in one of my stacks of books. the back cover didn't have a synopsis (for the record- unacceptable, publishers) but i figured what the heck. only later did i read the plot summary to discover the titular arthur was actually arthur conan doyle, at which point my curiosity was piqued. though the true meat of the story doesn't begin until nearly 2/3 through the book, some might say, barnes manages to make the plot nevertheless compelling throughout. or maybe i'm just a sucker for legal dramas (guilty!) along with righteous indignation and wanting to see people get their comeuppance. at any rate, barnes so thoroughly develops the characters you feel you know them, which makes this already fascinating (true) story all the more page-turning.
i look forward to reading more from him!
i look forward to reading more from him!
creekhiker's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, entertaining read about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I take it that it is based on true history. A lot of fun for a childhood devotee of Sherlock Holmes.
jernejl71's review against another edition
3.0
As a big fan of Julian Sanders I rate this book as average since narrative is not so compelling and grasping. There are some well written parts, but they are interruped by longer parts. There are some parts which discuss cultural and identity ideas. I like them. I'm moving on with his opus to find more gems.
jmannion's review against another edition
4.0
This subtly subverts Holmesian methodology by placing Sherlock Holmes's inventor in a real world case. It also examines themes of racism and police prejudice in the Edwardian period. Personally I could have done with a great deal less about Conan Doyle's spititualism.
chrissieml's review against another edition
2.0
Eminently put-down-able. Really not grabbing me at all.
Merged review:
Eminently put-down-able. Really not grabbing me at all.
Merged review:
Eminently put-down-able. Really not grabbing me at all.