The Fifth Heart

by Dan Simmons

In 1893, Sherlock Holmes and Henry James come to America together to investigate the suicide of Clover Adams, wife of the esteemed historian Henry Adams - a member of the family that has given the United States two Presidents. Quickly, the investigators deduce that there's more to Clover's death than meets the eye - with issues of national importance at stake.

Holmes is currently on his Great Hiatus - his three-year absence after Reichenbach Falls during which time the people of London believe him to be deceased. The disturbed Holmes has faked his own death and now, as he meets James, is questioning what is real and what is not.

Holmes' theories shake James to the core. What can this master storyteller do to fight against the sinister power - possibly Moriarty - that may or may not be controlling them from the shadows? And what was Holmes' role in Moriarty's rise?

Conspiracy, action and mystery meet in this superb literary hall of mirrors from the author of Drood.

• ISBN10: 031619879X
• ISBN13: 9780316198790
• Publish Date: 8 December 2015 (first published 1 January 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
• Imprint: Back Bay Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 624
• Language: English

Reviews

[jnkay01]

"The Terror" and "A Winter Haunting" were so good. "Black Hills" and "The Fifth Heart" were so boring. There is no middle ground with Simmons.

Also, "The Fifth Heart" is further proof of my belief that Sherlock Holmes is, like James Bond, one of those characters who is boring in books and way more interesting in film or TV form. There, I've said it, and I'm not taking it back.