Title: The Count of Monte Cristo as Retold by Sherlock Holmes
Author: Holy Ghost Writer
Publisher: Illuminated Publications
ISBN: 1490927301
Pages: 564
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Tania Staley, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Fans of classic adventure and mystery literature have a new treat to read: The Count of Monte Cristo as Retold by Sherlock Holmes, Book I of the Count of Monte Cristo, by the elusively named Holy Ghost Writer. The Count of Monte Cristo is a beloved story that has been told and retold many times. There have been numerous translations and retellings of Alexandre Dumas’s exciting tale in a variety of forms including books, plays, and movies, but Holy Ghost Writer’s book is a unique slant that has never been done before. For those not familiar with the story, The Count of Monte Cristo tells the story of Edmond Dantes, a young sailor who his wrongfully accused of treason. While in prison, a fellow inmate befriends him and tells him about a secret treasure that he wants him to have. With his newfound wealth, Dantes vows to get revenge on the men who framed him. Holy Ghost Writer’s book tells this same story, but readers get to sit with Watson and hear the grand adventure from Sherlock Holmes.The entire premise of this book and the series to follow is unique, and the “About the Author” section hints at much excitement to come. Along with enjoying a new rendition of this classic story, readers are also asked to become a part of the mystery and take on the traits of Holmes himself to discover the mysterious identity of Holy Ghost Writer. In his/her statement about themselves, the author promises to place clues to their identity in the several books that are to follow in this series. The first to discover his/her identity will be rewarded $2500. Is this simply an incentive to read the next books? The answer is probably yes, but it is also an intriguing hook to allow readers to become active participants in the tale.
While all of this is quite intriguing and fun, and honestly a bit amusing, there are concerns about this first book that should be addressed. The question that I asked myself while reading was, “Is this retelling different enough to be classified as a different tale, or is it simply an abridged version of the original tale?” Unfortunately, for this first volume in the series, I lean towards the latter. I do think that the unique voice the author has chosen should be commended. For the most part, he/she stays true to the voice set at the beginning and it does contain Holmes’s sharp wit. At 564 pages, while this story is much longer than many novels that are popular at the moment, it is much less daunting than the original that often fills 1200+ pages. Holmes’s to-the-point storytelling also makes this story a much easier read for those who have had trouble reading the original. The conversations between Watson and Holmes at the beginning of the story and throughout the first half of the book are welcome breaks in the story and help readers feel almost as if it is being read to them. However, towards the end of the book these sections are too sparse, and almost felt forced. It would have been nice to see the author use these sections to truly allow Holmes to come to life and place his insight on the story he was telling.
So in the end, my opinion is mixed about Holy Ghost Writer’s book. I certainly enjoyed the retelling, but since I am also a fan of the original tale and don’t feel as if this book deviated from the original, I feel that most of my enjoyment is owed to Alexandre Dumas. However, I certainly admire Holy Ghost Writer for creating a translation that should successfully bring this story to readers in an entertaining and easy to read style. I am also quite excited to see what the rest of the series will entail, because I feel as though that is where readers will truly get to see Holy Ghost Writer shine. I look forward to seeing what fate Holy Ghost Writer has in store for Edmond Dantes. I do recommend this book for fans looking for a lighter version of the original story and those who are curious about this series as a whole.
