annieb123's Review of The Return of the Pharaoh

by Nicholas Meyer

In Nicholas Meyer's The Return of the Pharaoh, Sherlock Holmes returns in an adventure that takes him to Egypt in search of a missing nobleman, a previously undiscovered pharaoh's tomb, and a conspiracy that threatens his very life.

With his international bestseller, The Seven Per Cent Solution, Nicholas Meyer brought to light a previously unpublished case of Sherlock Holmes that reinvigorated the world's interest in the first consulting detective. Now, many years later, Meyer is given exclusive access to Dr. Watson's unpublished journal, wherein he details a previously unknown case.

In 1910, Dr. John Watson travels to Egypt with his wife Juliet. Her tuberculosis has returned and her doctor recommends a stay at a sanitarium in a dry climate. But while his wife undergoes treatment, Dr. Watson bumps into an old friend--Sherlock Holmes, in disguise and on a case. An English Duke with a penchant for egyptology has disappeared, leading to enquiries from his wife and the Home Office.

Holmes has discovered that the missing duke has indeed vanished from his lavish rooms in Cairo and that he was on the trail of a previous undiscovered and unopened tomb. And that he's only the latest Egyptologist to die or disappear under odd circumstances. With the help of Howard Carter, Holmes and Watson are on the trail of something much bigger, more important, and more sinister than an errant lord.

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Return of the Pharaoh is the 5th Holmes & Watson pastiche by Nicholas Meyer. Released 9th Nov. 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out in Nov 2022). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written homage, done with respect and insight, by a talented author who is gifted at his craft. The characterizations, obviously, are paramount, and he does them justice. There are canonical fans who likely won't be satisfied with *anything* added to the genre, but really, this is a respectful and eminently readable book.

This installment sees Dr. Watson accompanying his wife to Egypt, to a sanatorium to try to improve her health after a recent tuberculosis diagnosis. Soon he's embroiled in a curious missing persons case with Holmes and the game is most definitely afoot. The plotting, denouement, and resolution are satisfying and complete. The author has also listed a short bibliography of source material at the back of the book which is worth a perusal.

Four stars. It's a diverting read and while it's not *actually* Conan Doyle, it could easily *have been*. One interesting thing to me is how much effort writers must expend writing in the style of another writer. I believe it craves more talent and a great deal of humility to suppress their natural voices in order to let the other writer's voice come out clearly. This one succeeds.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Return of the Pharaoh

by Nicholas Meyer

Reviewed by annieb123 on May 2, 2022

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