The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – The Devil and the Four

Sherlock Holmes’s latest charge? A woman who believes that the devil himself is tormenting her. As Holmes and his cousin Henry venture to France in order to assuage their client’s fears and investigate the villains behind her torment, they cross paths with Violet Wheelwright—one of the rare women to forge a connection with Holmes. With Violet on the team, can this formidable group thwart these sinister plans, or is the devil truly at work in Paris?

The Devil and the Four isn’t your usual Sherlock story as it relies less on brilliant deductions and more on the day-to-day investigation.

The cast of characters gives the book a freshness and style missing from so many entries that adhere too closely to the Doyle formula. However, Siciliano’s inventions and diversions never feel like they betray the spirit or style of the original Holmes stories.

Seeing Holmes both smitten and wrong-footed by an intellectual equal adds spice to the standard fare, and his relationship with the gregarious Henry gives us a more verbose and expressive detective than we’re used to. These characters enrich the world of Holmes—rather than detracting from it—allowing for new narratives (and perspectives) to unfold.