Paul Cornell

The ghost of Sherlock Holmes is dead, but who will solve his murder? The Great Detective's ghost has walked London's streets for an age, given shape by people's memories. Now someone's put a ceremonial dagger through his chest. But what's the motive? And who – or what – could kill a ghost? When policing London's supernatural underworld, eliminating the impossible is not an option. DI James Quill and his detectives have learnt this the hard way. Gifted with the Sight, they'll pursue a criminal genius – who'll lure them into a Sherlockian maze of clues and evidence. The team also have their own demons to fight. They've been to Hell and back (literally) but now the unit is falling apart . . . Paul Cornell's Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? is the third book in the urban gothic Shadow Police series.

Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?

Didi Chanoch

It took me a while to finish this one. Partially because there's no audible version, and those are easier for me, and partially because, well, I like these character and Cornell was really putting them through the ringer. Following the events of book 2 in the series, our police unit started this book in a nasty, nasty state. Taking on Jack the Ripper will do that to you, as will some of the things I won't spoil. This book was about putting the pieces back together, emotionally and otherwise, and trying to move ahead while dealing with a series of murders that reproduce murders from Sherlock Holmes stories. Including, yes, the murder of Holmes himself. Or, rather, his ghost. 

This was one of those books where it's a bit of an uphill climb, until it becomes a swift descent all the way to the end. It's a beautiful, loving homage to the works of Conan Doyle, by a man who recently penned an Elementary script, and also commentary about shows like Elementary and well... quite a bit else. 

I love this series, and it seems very clear that Cornell is playing a long game here. I hope he gets to play it out, because I can't wait to see where it goes.

Stefan Ladstätter-Thaa

Grace Piper

The third book in the Shadow Police series continuing from London Falling and The Severed StreetsSomeone has murdered the ghost of Sherlock Holmes. As a fictional character remembered by the people of London, Holmes' ghost walked the city, and now someone has put a ceremonial dagger through his chest. What could be the motive? The small team of Metropolitan Police detectives who have The Sight find themselves pursuing a criminal genius who soon lures them into a Sherlockian maze of too many clues and too much evidence. Ross finds herself drawn to an actor who may or may not be a deity, and goes on a quest to win back her happiness. Lofhouse seeks the answers, finally, about why she brought the team together. Quill battles for his sanity. Costain battles for his soul. And Sefton just wants to bring his team back together, even if that takes him to the edge of death.

Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?

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