Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance

Yes, some critics here are right in claiming that Sherlock and the good doctor do not really play a decisive role in this very entertaining historical yarn! Still the local characters and their detection skills are a nice added feature! We have some troublesome anarchists, saloon proprietors, mill magnates, a gay attorney with sympathies for the little guy, a colorful mayor who can outmaneuver about anyone, and rough and tumble Pinkertons woven in and out with Watson's notes on the situation. A gruesome naked body is hanging from the tree of an aging flour mill owner's rundown property. The sleuths and their companions must determine not only whodunnit, but also who exactly was the dead man, and who was he loyal to. More than enough action and humor here, not to mention interesting historical footnotes on the the origins and history of the Twin City area..The game may take a while to get afoot, but this tale is easily worth a few yours of your valuable time!

Bring us more Shadwell Rafferty and George Washington Thomas. This dynamic duo has captured my imagination. I found myself torn between reading the footnotes and reading the story. I finally gave up and read all the footnotes through from beginning to end, even when I didn't know what they related to in the story. The history in this book is fascinating and I admire Millett's ability to turn his in-depth factual knowledge of the Twin Cities into a highly entertaining and deftly plotted mystery. There are surprising twists that I never saw coming, thorough characterizations, and--pleasingly--the emotional quality of the characters shines through without the restraints of Holmes' and Watson's prescripted personalities. Their minor involvement felt just right--enough to thread this book in with the series, but also enough to bring in the worldly knowledge that Rafferty wouldn't have. Highly entertaining. Millett has found the perfect heroes for the Gilded Age. Please give us more!

Despite a typo in the first sentence of the book, a definite turnoff, this is an interesting and entertaining tale in the usual Millett Minneapolis setting. I like Millett's style of writing. The use of historical figures such as James McPharland and the Molly Macguires lends an added perspective to his tales, as do the references to long forgotten places in Minneapolis and St. Paul. I am almost tempted to read Lost Twin Cities which, I suspect, is one of his works.I have read all four of his Sherlock Holmes novels and look forward to the next.

Larry Millett has developed a character who not only rivals Sherlock Holmes, but exceeds him. Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Alliance is the best of an excellent series.

In 1899, to the excitement of many of the Twin City residents, President McKinley is coming to Minneapolis. Apparently not every one is filled with good feelings with the pending visit from the country's leader. Majesty Burke calls fellow saloon owner Shadwell Rafferty to sobbingly inform him that assailants killed and strung up her barman, union activist Michael O'Donnell. The culprits left Michael naked except for an ominous sign stating that "THE SECRET ALLIANCE HAS SPOKEN". The police chief says that Michael was killed because he was "taking liberties" with a young girl. Maj denies that her barman was not a pediophile and persuades Shad to investigate though he knows how dangerous the Secret Alliance is with its antiunion busting. With the help from his two visiting friends from London, Holmes and Watson, Shad follows a meandering trail filled with danger. The fourth book centering on Sherlock Holmes' Twin City cases is an engaging tale that fans of the great detective will enjoy. SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET ALLIANCE brings Holmes' American host more to the forefront of the investigation than in the previous three novels, which adds an original spry twist to the a tale loaded with copious twists and turns. Even while bringing Shad in more of a lead role, Larry Millet continues his ability to capture the essence of Holmes and Watson while providing a vivid look at America at the turn of the previous century.Harriet Klausner