The Italian Secretary

By: Caleb Carr

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

The bestselling author of the Alienist series returns with a chilling elaboration on the Sherlock Holmes canon, as the famed detective investigates a pair of gruesome murders, which cast an otherworldly shadow as far as Queen Victoria herself.

It all begins familiarly enough: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are summoned to the aid of Queen Victoria in Scotland by an encrypted telegram from Holmes' brother, Mycroft, a royal advisor. Rushed northward on a royal train they soon learn of the brutal killings of two of the Queen's servants who had been working on the renovation of the famous and forbidding Royal Palace of Holyrood.
Mycroft has enlisted his brother to help solve the murders that may be key elements of a much more elaborate and pernicious plot on the Queen's life. But the circumstances of the two victims' deaths also call to Holmes' mind the terrible murder of "The Italian Secretary," David Rizzio. Only Rizzio was murdered three centuries ago.
Told with his unique feel for historical detail and the architecture of human evil, Caleb Carr's brilliant new offering takes the Conan Doyle tradition to remarkable new heights.©2005 Caleb Carr; (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Highly recomemnded

In the first thirty seconds I "knew that voice" and it only took a bit to recall my first listen with Simon Prebble (The Egyptologist). Where the only redeeming factor of that audio book was Prebble, The Italian Secretary is a wonderful new tale to add to the Holmes post-Doyle canon.

My husband and I are avid Holmes fans, and truly this tale earns a place with the best. The plot does take a while to unfold, but Carr gives plenty of time to get to know his rendition of familiar characters and even add to the Mycroft Holmes legend.

I highly recommend this story for the family car trip; little ones could do worse than doze under Simon Prebble's voice, and older children will probably find the tale's scarier scenes enough to hold their attention.

Good Not Great

I'm a huge fan of the Alienist series, but this book just missed the atmosphere that Mr Carr was able to create on 19th century New York. He tried, but wasn't nearly as successful as in his other books. This was still entertaining, but not on a par with his other books.

First-rate narration

I listened to "The Italian Secretary" and then listened to it again, for the sheer pleasure of hearing Simon Prebble read it. Prebble doesn't just read the story. He inhabits it. His Dr. Watson is pitch-perfect, his Holmes totally convincing. His Scots accents are spot on, as well. As for the tale, this book may be the first from Carr that approaches the elegance and intricacy of "The Alienist." It's a marvelous period piece that seems to capture stony old Edinburgh perfectly -- as "The Alienist" captured New York. Well done!

Sherlock Holmes narrates are always intriguin

they hold complex relationships and winding twists and turns that keeps one fixed on the narrative until the very end!

No Hit, Sherlock

Caleb Carr has written two superb mysteries, "The Alienist" and "Angel of Mercy." His take on Sherlock Holmes in "The Italian Secretary" is true to the original Conan Doyle and is read with the proper British intonations. The story is told using the murder of David Rizzi in the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots, as a background; this is the best part. The rest of the story just plods along and the bad guys are revealed too soon. The weapons used in the murders are bizarre and unbelievable. It's almost like Lucas' using too many special effects in the latest Star Wars trilogy. Just an okay read.