Sherlock Holmes Missing Years: Japan

Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years #1

by Vasudev Murthy

It s 1893. King Kamehameha III of Hawaii declares Sovereignty Restoration Day ... Tension grows between China and Japan over Korea ... The Bengal Famine worsens ... A brilliant scientist in Calcutta challenges the system The senior priest at Kyoto s Kinkaku-ji temple is found dead in mysterious circumstances. Dr John H. Watson receives a strange letter from Yokohama. Then the quiet, distinguished Mr. Hashimoto is murdered inside a closed room on a voyage from Liverpool to Bombay. In the opium dens of Shanghai and in the back alleys of Tokyo, sinister men hatch evil plots. Professor Moriarty stalks the world, drawing up a map for worldwide dominion. Only one man can outwit the diabolical Professor Moriarty. Only one man can save the world. Has Sherlock Holmes survived the Reichenbach Falls? In a seriocomic novel that radically ups the ante, Sherlock Holmes and Watson find their match in more than one man (or indeed, woman) as a clock inexorably ticks. History, mystery, romance, conspiracies, knife-edge tension; a train in Russia, roadside crime in Alexandria, an upset stomach in Bombay, careening through Cambodia, nasty people in China, monks in Japan here s a thrilling global chase that will leave you breathless (occasionally with laughter) as the Sherlock Holmes: The Missing Years series begins."

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Japan, Crime, Adventure, Historical Mystery

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I write on music, humour, management, crime and yoga.

I have been published by Bloomsbury, HarperCollins, Jaico, Editora Vestigio (Brazil) Poisoned Pen Press, Sage, Rupa, LiFi, Gamesman (Korea) and Kokushu (Japan).

You are welcome to write to me at v m u r t h y @ h o t m a i l . c o m

Reviews

[Tocotin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars for the somewhat charming language, but this book is a mess. The author is obviously fascinated with music, so all of a sudden Sherlock and Watson, who are traveling to Japan, are stuck in India, studying and enjoying local music and cuisine. Which would be interesting if something came out of it, alas, nothing does.

Sherlock and Watson are prostrate in face of total nobility and depth of Japanese culture, and generally all people who come in contact with said culture, to say nothing about the Japanese themselves, behave as if they swallowed a stick. Except for the Emperor – he is an extremely relaxed specimen. He doesn’t give a crap, lets people run around his palace, lets them speak when not spoken to, the whole nine yards. (What do you expect from a guy who basically goes by his posthumous name.)

“Emperor Meiji showed us his bonsai collection and also took us inside rooms that contained the greatest treasures of ancient Japan, not accessible to the general public. He was clearly a connoisseur of the arts; paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, music – he was interested in everything and had an opinion on it all. He showed us his private collection of the paintings of the great artist Hokusai […]. In another room were fascinating examples of the ukiyo-e art from the Edo era.”

Apart from the fact that Hokusai was an ukiyo-e artist, in that time woodblock prints were an extremely cheap form of art. So the problem with Japan in this book is basically the same as in other books – fetishization, lack of familiarity with the culture, anachronisms aplenty. The author has some knowledge of Japanese music, but for some reason he has everyone lugging koto around (even on a sea voyage), and doesn’t mention the ubiquitous shamisen at all.

On the origins of yakuza, pardon, the Yakuza:

“Going back to the seventeenth century, a certain group of the ceremonial warrior clans, the Samurai, previously entrusted with the job of public security, moved into crime and banditry.”

What are “ceremonial warrior clans”? But the Yakuza are everywhere, in monasteries, in embassies, even in the Imperial Palace. Sherlock Holmes knows it – because apparently your knowledge of Japan MUST involve knowledge of the mafia. It is vital.

“Holmes was soon on very friendly terms with the two Japanese monks. He did not feel it prudent to reveal just then that he was familiar with Japan and knew a great deal about the Yakuza.”

What of you are tired of the Yakuza lifestyle and want to try something new? Easy-peasy. You only need to ask. (It does not specify whom.)

“He took to writing haikus and philosophical essays and spent time at Kinkaku-ji, an extremely revered Buddhist temple, learning how to meditate. He sought retirement from the Yakuza and was granted his wish.”

Please observe how haiku, a common and light poetic form, is yet again a symbol of ultimate depth and spiritual development.

But! The Yakuza, you know, are actually idealists, if utterly historically confused.

“Do you think Japanese diplomats acting in concert with the Yakuza are driven solely by moment? No! Many strongly oppose the Restoration and are prepared to do whatever is necessary to subvert it and restore Japan to its pure state. I, like many other diplomats, belong to an ancient Samurai family and cannot tolerate the slow erosion of Japan’s position of preeminence!”

The question is, what would be the “pure state” of Japan – surely not the return of the military junta and imprisoning the Emperor in Kyoto again, when Japan was about to gain a position among the world powers?

Of course, Sherlock Holmes will uncover all the machinations of the Y, no matter that he spent more time in India than in Japan. Somehow it turns out that he taught himself “almost unaccented” Japanese, and basically saw through everyone and everything. Arrests are made, someone “was persuaded to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge near Salami Bay near the Buddha of Kamakura”, and some even “committed suicide through the complex ritual of disembowelment called seppuku”…

…So much for the Meiji period. MUST DO SAMURAI SHIT. Eh.

[Raphael Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sombra de Moriarty no Japão

Definitivamente uma leitura muito boa. Um dos meus personagens mais fascinantes da literatura inglesa, Sherlock Holmes em um bata episódio no Japão.

A priori o enredo parece lento e despretensioso com Watson, porém com a chegada de Sherlock, tudo faz sentido. O livro dá sequência aos acontecimentos pós embate na cachoeira com Moriarty, um momento da história de Sherlock que sempre quis conhecer.

Belíssima viagem pelo oriente, parte do mundo que mais me encanto. Altamente recomendado aos fãs do personagem e da cultura asiática de modo geral.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the title says it all.

After the Fall at the Falls but before the Return, this is a story where Holmes and Watson go to Japan to foil a scheme of Moriarty's.

The author tried to interject modern sensibilities, and a Mary Sue into the story, which reduced the authenticity and enjoyability.

[Shree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note : This Review was originally posted at Readers' Muse

Sherlock Holmes! What I can say more? It’s the “it” book for me, the timeless piece of classic that I have loved reading since I was a child. That one book apart from Harry Potter series that won’t bore me no matter how many times I re-read.

I was happily enjoying my vacation in Mysore when my co-blogger excitedly rang me up and told me I had won this book as a part of the #RCHCGiveAway. I couldn’t wait to get back home and start reading it. Though I was a bit unsure if this writer could create the same magic as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did.To my complete surprise I felt like I was reading Doyle’s work. Though, in my opinion if I were the writer I wouldn’t want my readers to feel that they are reading the original writer’s work for very obvious reasons. Nevertheless, the writer’s effort is thoroughly laudable.

The story picks off from “The Final Problem” where Holmes is believed to be dead after the tussle with Professor Moriarty. The writer has managed to give a really logical explaination for Holme’s survival. Having never read “His last Bow” ( I didn’t really want to read it that soon! Never managed to complete the entire set of stories. ) this book seemed perfectly chronological to me.

The writer really sounded like Sir Doyle in major parts of the book, though at times it sort of deviated. The writing was simply beautiful.

The plot line was cohesive without any logical blunders. The book managed to keep me totally hooked and left me wanting for more. One thing that was a wee bit amiss was that the writer made Moriarty sound a little less evil. Come on! Moriarty is “the” perfect and logical villain for me before Voldy came along!

The writer obviously knows (or has studied) Japanese culture. I loved the way Japanese characters were used in the beginning of each chapter.

The foreword certainly deserves a mention. The foreword has been written by Calvert Markham, treasurer, Sherlock Holmes Society of London. The foreword has been written with such a passion that it amazed me that such a society even exists. Wish I would complete reading Sir Doyle’s entire works soon and relocate to London.(For those who are struggling to pick me a gift, you might as well take a pointer from the previous line)

Overall it’s a fabulous piece of work that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Thank you Mr.Murthy for writing such a brilliant book.

VERDICT: It’s Sherlock Holmes! Come on! You have to read it!

RATING: 5 on 5

P.S: The Review might be biased as I am die hard fan of Sherlock Holmes Series.

[Ken B · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Sherlock Holmes in Japan" starts off fair enough, a cryptic letter from Holmes who was assumed dead after his plunge into the fast-moving waters beneath Reichenbach Falls at the hands of Moriarty, a journey on a ship in which a traveler goes missing and another is murdered and Holmes' sudden appearance when he is most needed all set the table for what surely will be a fine Holmes pastiche.

Beyond that, things just kind of fell apart.

First, for Holmes being on such a secretive mission and having to look over his shoulder at every turn for fear of falling into the vast web spun by Moriarty, Holmes takes quite a few questionable characters into his confidence. Holmes is doing his best to travel incognito. But, he easily strikes up conversations with seemingly random people and after but a short acquaintance, drops his shields and proclaims his and Watson's true identities to little consequence. Hardly incognito.

Also, the mention of Holmes many monographs on subjects far and wide is a standard in Holmesian works. However, the mention of countless monographs already written or planned takes it too far. Yes, Mr. Murthy, we get it. Holmes writes monographs.

Additionally, the author makes a misogynistic remark that his editor has asked him to slim down certain aspects of his story but he states that he declined. I'm not sure if this mention of the editor was made in jest or if it was just an attempt to add a degree of legitimacy to the story. Either way, the author should have heeded his editor's advice. While I enjoy educational "fillers" in a story, added for flavor, or an occasional literary sidebar just for the fun of it, chapter after useless chapter that is not advancing the author's thesis is absolutely annoying.

All-in-all, I have to say that this novel did not make the favorites list and doubtful will warrant any positive mention at all.


2 STARS

[Vivek Mohile · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a case in 1937 of a hitherto unknown painting by the Dutch Master Vermeer turning up suddenly on the market. It was widely acknowledged by leading art historians to be clearly the work of the master, and it was sold for a princely sum of course. More than 10 years passed before the creator acknowledged it to be a masterful forgery. While reading this book, it occurred to me that had Vasudev Murthy tried to carry out something similar, conspiring with some old estate owner in the UK to announce the discovery of a lost manuscript by Conan Doyle he very likely would have succeeded; so true to form are his depictions of Holmes and Watson. The book, set in the lost years is a wonderful re-creation of the ambience and writing of a bygone era. The story is thrilling and the pace, in keeping with the style of the times, yet never relaxing it's grip on you. As any good crime thriller should be, its 'unputdownable' till you reach the final denouement. I would have loved to point out specifics of the style and story that appealed to me, but then I risk becoming a spoiler. So let me just summarize that to me, this was not a book written by Akira Yamashita, or Vasudev Murthy, or even ACD. It was a faithful recounting by Watson and others of a momentous period in world history and I was with them as it happened.
Highly recommended for fans of crime / mystery who appreciate well written prose and wit in addition to a gripping story.

[Peter Ackerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though well written, and engaging at the get go it just did not hold up for me, as a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I cannot speak too highly of this one. My interest would have been kept if this was about anyone else, but it takes just enough liberty with the Holmes canon to be both a bit implausible and annoying.
Apparently this novel is the first in a series of books where the author will take the same situation (the death of Holmes and Moriarty at the Falls) and create a story around what happens in the few years that Holmes is thought to be dead. My hope is that the author will cease with this.
That is, for me, where the book got tiring as it became yet another "what really happened in those intervening years" with exhaustive written reports by Moriarty and Holmes for the reader to peruse over, including such revelations as Holmes was not only lucky to not die in the fall but to find himself on the Swiss farm of a Japanese ambassador....it almost gets laughably ridiculous.
Frustrating to me also was the inane plot point (minor early spoiler the remainder of this paragraph) where Holmes could be so well disguised, not as a street person whom the doctor passes by, but so enveloped in character that Watson could not recognize Holmes, though he was with him for days.
No, give me a Holmes story any day that takes the characters and lets them play in their element. Yet another "what really happened," even one well written just does not work for me.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Ted Riccardi, Donald Thomas and my favourite Anthony Horowitz’s adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, Vasudev Murthy is the fourth author whose version of Sherlock Holmes I have picked up. I have been disappointed before and have even enjoyed the other versions of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. But still I did not know what to expect from this book when I picked it up… Should I have expected something close to the original or something totally different? Well, now that I have read this book, I can hopefully give you some ideas about what to expect from Vasudev Murthy’s version.

The book, as the title suggests, picks up from after the incident at the Reichenbach Falls and goes on to recount the stories from the time when Sherlock Holmes was deemed to be dead. The setting of the book is mainly based in the handful countries of the Asian subcontinent. It spans over a number of countries and a number of mysteries. While the author has stuck real close to A.C.D with his characterization of Holmes and Watson, the mystery part felt a bit below par there. Don’t get me wrong, they are just fine, and we do get to see Sherlock use his considerable skills and deductive prowess. It is just that they were nothing as grand as one would expect, especially since Moriarty is involved.

The author seems to have great knowledge of, or has at least done considerable amount of research into, the Japanese culture. He has infused a great deal of Asian culture into the story that we have not yet seen from any version of Sherlock Holmes. Also, Vasudev Murty has presented the novel is a very easy to get into narrative style with the exact right amount of details. His descriptions help the reader picturise each setting. The best part of the book still remains the fact that the character of Holmes and Watson and their voices remain uncannily close to the original.

A good, entertaining book that has ensured the fact that I will be looking out for more from this author.

[Harvee Lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5. Loved the interaction between Murthy's Watson and his Holmes in this mystery novel. The author seems to have gotten the characters and their relationship down pat. Good travel documentation through India and Southeast Asia, but I think the narrative fell short in Japan, where it seemed the people and culture of that time were so hard to portray well. Overall, an enjoyable Holmes novel of what the detective could he been doing during the "missing years, when Holmes was wrongly thought to have died in a fight with archenemy Moriarty.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book much at all. I can't even keep count of the many times I start to fall asleep while reading it, so for me it was pretty boring. If it wasn't that the book worked for a challenge I was doing I wouldn't have finished it.

The one thing I did like was the way the author captured the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. I thought it was well done and very authentic.

I won't be recommending this book.

1 1/2 stars

[Melisende · Rating 2 out of 5]

They mystery of what happened after the Reichenback Falls, the form of this story keeps true to the style of Conan Doyle. Called a "seriocomic" - this is adventure with humour, with the call of the East seeing Holmes and Watson in Japan, with Moriarty skulking in the shadows.

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlockian intrigue enters a new era!

What is it about Sherlock Holmes--the pull of Sherlockian or Holmesian interpretations? We can't seem to get enough of him. And he appears everywhere, in print, in film, in television, all with differing perceptions of the man, the myth--and now we have the 'Missing Years'
It's 1893, approximately two years since Reichenbach Falls and Sherlock's death. Watson receives a note ostensibly from Sherlock asking him to go to Japan. Does he think twice? No, he goes!
On Board ship he meets a number of interesting people including the quiet and gentle Mr. Kazushi Hashimoto with whom he shares a cabin. The morning the ship docks in Alexandria, Watson awakes to find the small cabin window open and Mr. Hoshimoto dead. With another passenger, Mr. Shamsher Singh, Watson investigates how access might have been gained to the cabin. Watson himself appears to have slept through the incident, a restless sleep accompanied by strange dreams.
This is just the beginning of a diabolical plot that leads straight to Moriarty! The plot moves from Bombay to Vladivostok, across Asia to Japan. Three criminal gangs--Yakuza, the opium trade and economic domination are all part of the twist. Add to that the spectre of Moriaty and the cup is more than full--it doth overflow! As Watson observes when Sherlock is recounting his time post the Falls, 'the whole thing was bewildering in its complexity.'
(Having just read a Laurie King novel about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes partly set in Japan I was fascinated. Particularly as on their journey someone was killed in a locked cabin--and some other occurrences that whilst very different draw similar lines of arraignment. Fascinating!)
Watson's chronicles, and the inclusion of comments by other players, adds an interpretive account post the case, further illuminating events for us. Initially I didn't warm to this artifice but as time went on I appreciated Watson's little asides. The story took on its own reality. And those endless monographs! I do appreciate author Watson's humour with his running commentaries about Poisoned Pen Press.
Holmes and Watson's seemingly mad scramble across the southern asian continent is a wonderful mixture of pure Sherlockian intrigue that combines the heady excitement of new discoveries, be it the landscape and it's flora and fauna, cultural, architectural, scientific enquiries that Holmes is so focused on and delighted by, or escaping Moriaty's seekers in a variety of astonishing and heart stopping ways. It's here that I thought Sherlock Holmes--a precursor to Indiana Jones perhaps?
The culmination in Japan is bursting with possibilities, indeed the whole expanse of Holmes and Watson's journey is hectic, rapid and astonishing.
The forward by certainly Vasudev Murthy helps to focus attention upon the story telling possibilities inherent in Sherlock's missing years. The further I delved into missing years chronicle by Watson, the more I was drawn into its dynamics.

A NetGalley ARC

[Sriramana Muliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work. I have read almost all the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, though might I dare confess, I haven't been obsessed to the point of getting involved with the Sherlock Holmes Society. Nonetheless, I have greatly admired the piped detective's deductive powers and his countless mannerisms, not to mention the 'brotherly' attachment he and Watson had, despite him having a real brother.

But enough about that. When I learnt about this book, the foremost thought, apprehension, so to say, was 'would this book do justice to the aura of the eccentric violinist I had in mind?' Much like how we cringe and discard remakes of movies before we even watch them, I too had half an idea of letting it go. 'Somebody else writing about Sherlock Holmes? Naah.' I didn't want to let go of that image in my mind.

But by then I had befriended Vasudev, and influenced by the sheer force of his dynamic persona, I thought 'heck, there must be something in this book worth taking away.'

I admit I took a long time to finish the book. But let it be known that once I picked it up from where I had left it, I just could not put it down. I had to finish it in one reading. So, that's what I did.

And boy, am I glad I read the book! I don't really belong to the old school of thought that once a character gets moulded in a certain way, the character should stay that way. No sir. I believe if someone can add a different dimension to the character than already known, why not! After all, variety is the essence of life, isn't it?

And oh, what a brilliant chink Vasudev found in the wall of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous Reichenbach incident, to conjure up this story. And what a breathless adventure the book has been!

Right from Watson's incensed letter to the publishers to the Epilogue of the book, it has been one hell of a ride.

But aside from the fantastic story, the in-depth research, and vivid coloring of Japan in its myriad hues, what struck me was the writing style. I want to (rather guiltily) confess, for those two days, I totally forgot about Doyle's rather conservative language that painted the famous detective, and got hooked to Vasudev's Sherlock Holmes in a way that had me biting my nails, and also chuckling in delight. And never once did he waver from the original characterization of Holmes and Watson, or for that matter Moriarty. It was like all of a sudden, the three central characters were in the middle of a delightful party, and decided to let their hair loose! Oh, what imagination.

I think this book should be kept alongside Conan Doyle's original works, simply as a silent tribute to the great Wordsmith. I couldn't think of a better one.

Doyle, I'm sure, would agree from up above. I can already see him smiling his approval.

[Janka H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two years after tragical Reichenbach Fall story, Sherlock Holmes unexpectedly contacts Dr. Watson with a plea to travel to Japan with his beloved violin. The journey is dramatical, full of mishaps and even killings, and, of course, with the presence of Sherlock Holmes in disguise. Both friends are travelling across Asia with a secret mission to help Japan, but also Europa, to fight the evil plan to rule Europe with the extensive opium enlargement.

I love everything Sherlock Homes-related, so I was eager to read this new addition to the Sherlock Holmes collection. But my impressions are quite embarrassing.
On the plus side, when Holmes and Watson are travelling together, the story is quite catchy and readable. I understand that Mr Murthy resides in India and his description of Indian people, nature and traditions is engaging. Our heroes even meet some interesting historical figures, namely my favourite Rabindranath Tagore.
On the minus side - the whole plot is, I am sorry to say, quite naive. Without any attempt to spoiling, we Europeans are children of alcohol, not drugs, and the latter will never replace the former as for the extent of usage.
Holmes behaves un-Holmes-y from time to time, but this is the privilege of fiction and I'm not a purist. But what I truly miss is his brilliant intellect. Here is no mystery to solve, just action to do - and even when there is mystery presented, the solution feels like made just by chance, there is no intellectual joy of finding the complicated truth, which then seems elementary.
The book is also full of unnecessary and prolonged descriptions about what happened, where and why. It can get draggy and quite boring.
The Japanese realities are also very unrealistic. Meiji restoration era was very progressive, but not THAT progressive and the Japanese diplomatic relations were certainly not at the level described at that time.

I hope for more intellect enjoying installment for the next time!

[Ales Kolodrubec · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sherlock Holmes in Japan"
by Vasudev Murthy writing as Akira Yamashita

The “Great Hiatus” – as the period after “The Final Problem” with the famous Reichenbach Fall until “The Empty House” is called by Sherlock Holmes aficionados – covering three years of the Great Detective alleged death between May 1891 and April 1894 is a time span inviting all apocrypha writers.
It represents a challenge for them. Some handle it in less successfully, others better. However, Vasudev Murthy made a perfect performance and succeeded in rising to the occasion. Like a virtuoso playing his Stradivarius.
Every writer brings into his narration both his canonical as well as personal knowledge, experience, liking... The same is valid for Vasudev Murthy. As an Indian classical violinist he involved India and music into the story. And working for a Japanese company helped him to incorporate Japan and its tradition and culture there, too. All that he shares with his readers in an imaginatively woven story told in a flawless diction using an abundant and poetic vocabulary.
‘Shri’ Murthy thus composed a brilliant and fascinating story about the struggle of Professor Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes ongoing after their presumed death in the roaring waters of the Swiss falls, in which the later escapes all baits and dangers and save the Japanese Empire as well as whole Europe.
Exciting and gripping reading full of dramatic situations as well as imaginative moments. A novel I liked very much, even despite my not being a big admirer of Holmesian pastiches. Very recommendable book for all fans of the Great Detective.
The book has an engaging cover design by Tanaya Vyas and is accompanied by a map of Sherlock Holmes’s two travels to Japan created by Mohan Raj. Nice pieces of artwork.

by © Aleš Kolodrubec, president of the Czech Society of Sherlock Holmes
28 October 2013

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan” was published in 2015 (March) and was written by Vasudev Murthy (http://vmurthy.blogspot.com). Mr. Murthy has published 5 books.

I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘G’. This Mystery novel is set in the late 1890s in the time after Sherlock Holmes was thought to have died at the Reichenbach Falls.

Dr. John Watson receives a message from Holmes, who he thought was dead, asking him to come immediately to Japan. Watson sets off and encounters death and intrigue along the long way from London to Japan. Reuniting with Holmes, they evade Moriarty’s minions and fight to make their way to Tokyo. Watson learns that Holmes has undertaken a mission for the Japanese government to thwart plans by the Yakuza and Moriarty to dominate Europe.

Now, they must avoid capture and get the vital information to the Japanese government. If they fail, not only will Japan fall, but so will the governments of Europe.

The story was written much in the same voice as the original Sherlock Holmes tales. Several ‘letters’ were included in the story attempting to add background information, but I often found them distracting and confusing. While a classified as a mystery, there was really little mystery in the story, but more of an adventure. I did enjoy the 6 or so hours I spent reading the story, though it was not as good as the originals. I give this novel a 3.5 (rounded up to 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

[Ipshita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is definitely engaging, right from the beginning. It usually takes me at least 50 pages to get involved, but I think this one caught my attention in the first 10, after which there was no turning back.

What I like:
- The language, esp. the conversation parts. I can totally imagine Sherlock speaking.
- His multiple disguises
- The sarcasm in the footnotes and in the letter to the editor (is it the letter to the editor? I can't remember; the one in the beginning?).
- The description of events makes my mind conjure a movie in bits and pieces.
- The plot of the monk's death. It was like having extra almonds in my favorite ice-cream.
- The suspense built in the last few pages
- The narratives from more than one perspective.

No major complaints as such, but I expected Sherlock to do what he does best- show off more of his analytical skills, esp. with his habit of drawing Watson's attention to every minute detail in any situation. Sometimes, it felt more like a travel chronicle. If it was intended to be so, maybe it could have used a different title, as Sherlock didn't seem to have spent a lot of time in Japan (content-wise).

Most importantly, I think this book has the capability of making a reader out of someone who is not. And that's saying something!

[Jaydeep · Rating 3 out of 5]

One can appreciate the impulse to add to the Holmesian corpus, but the absence of any real mystery-solving of ingenuity leaves the reader feeling a little unsatisfied. Mr Murthy has seasoned the book with a significant amount of diplomatic intrigue, quite like A.C.D. himself used to do on occasion; but imho the book would have been served better if the covert cloak & dagger stuff had been left to add flavour to a conundrum, rather than letting it take over the narrative as it does. There is also a meta-narrative in the novel involving its editor, which starts out being a curiosity, but soon becomes something of an intrusion. Perhaps keeping the stereotype of a habitually misogynist 19th century narrator in mind, the author makes much of his editor's youth and femininity... and feels the need to drum this instance of self-conscious attention to historicity on his part so often into the reader's head that after a point it becomes quite exasperating. Makes one wonder why the lady in question editing the book tolerated it frankly. She should have gone snip-snip with far more assertiveness. Imo, Jamyang Norbu's The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes remains a rather more engaging contribution to Holmesiana far as reports of the Lost Years from India go.

[Abhinav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite my apprehension that the author would not do justice to Doyle as Watson, my suspicions were lifted credibly after reading the initial few pages of the book. Murthy's complete involvement as Watson and his infallible language skills makes the reader even suspect if the book was even written by Doyle or Murthy himself! Watson's storytelling skills and his nonchalance are all reflected in the book.

Murthy's thorough research on various historical events and his ability to weave them into the story with no heavy distractions to the actual plot is appreciable. To an Asian and most importantly an Indian reader of this work, this book is sure to satisfy the long held desire of Holmes and Watson working together in the sub-continent. (No wonder this final point may have made me inclined to write a positive review!)

The plot is thrilling and ensures the common reader to not put the book down without any credible reason. A recommended must-read for all those interested in the Holmesian literature.

I thank NetGalley for a review ecopy of this book.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage Holmes... but attempts a little too much - any one of the facets outlined here would have been enough for a readable account but the broad sweep approach is not very beneficial (now the part in Kolkata was a little superfluous not to mention long-winded, the journey from Saigon to Macau to Nagasaki is too abbreviated, and so was the Kyoto interlude). And then one fallacy is that in those days when immigration control was a concept no one ever knew or customs very efficient, such a subterfuge would hardly be necessary... But despite all that a most readable account and capturing the Holmesian world and ethos quite well...

[Mili Sethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Sherlock Holmes ever since I saw the Jeremy Brett series in the early 80s. I went on to read more of Conan Doyle but kept returning to the Sherlock series. Akira Yamashita's book encapsulates all that is Sherlock - class, mystery, intrigue and drama. The storyline is riveting and the book is 'unputdownable'. I love the use of Haiku given the Japanese setting. The facts and the description of the events and locations and characterisations are simply brilliant. A must read for Sherlock fans and others too.

[Balaji Koushik · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an ardent fan of Sherlock Holmes I found this one to be a captivating read. I was hesitant to buy the book at first but the caption drew my attention. Portrayal of the characters...the plot of the story itself was very well handled that it never slackened anywhere. I really loved the letter Watson wrote about the editor. Though it was predictable in few parts, i got to hand it to Vasudevmurthy for giving us such a wonderful story and bringing Sherlock Holmes back again in our lives :)

[wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle does not have anything to worry about with this book. The novel takes place during a period when Holmes apparently is Killed by Moriarty and his reappearance three years later. The case here involves Moriarty's attempt to link with the Japanese underworld with the goal of smuggling opium to the European market. Most of the book occurs on their trip by land and boat to Japan. I thought it moved very slowly with too much side information offered that added little.

[Nabanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

History , travel, adventure , intrigue ,love , passion, revenge and ultimately a spectacular display of Holme's wit and analysis.Grand come back ! Enjoyed reading it .

[Aarti]

Good language
Love the sections with the conversations
As always the famous disguises
The letters laced with sarcasm

Overall- decent read, not WOWed, but did not abandon the book! :)

[Salil Lavgankar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pastiche- literary work written in style of known author is a very tough act to balance, with expectations to keep the same atmosphere, nuances while still bringing something new to the table. Add to that a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle the most famous detective in the world and a fan base which has just increased over years and years, and we can get a fair idea of the benchmark that is set.

This book makes a brave but middling attempt to tackle an extremely interesting part of the Sherlock Holmes folklore- the missing years between his supposed death in 1891 and his resurrection in 1894. The premise is very interesting involving a complex mix of characters and tracks Holmes’s journey to Japan and his role in breaking and protecting Japan and the European world from a tangled web of criminals including his old foe- Professor Moriarty, Yakuza gang in Japan, Shanghai Traid.

Of course, the tale is told from Dr.Watson’s perspective but he adds some third person narratives collated from notes and accounts of different people involved in the tale. They definitely help to provide more perspective and a different angle to the account.

The journey travelled by Holmes and Watson (in disguises) from England to Japan involves travels through Alexandria, Aden, Bombay, Calcutta, Angkor Wat, Kyoto and finally Tokyo. While the author does well to create the atmosphere and nuances of the particular era and style of the Arthur Doyle as the true form of pastiche, however the development of the premise itself falls flat. The back end story of Masako Nohara covered in one full chapter while interesting doesn’t fit in the narrative. Additionally, the interactions of Holmes with Jagdish Chandra Bose in Calcutta which is an exciting idea but doesn’t move the story forward. The only part which fits well is Holmes’ investigation of the death of senior Priest in Kyoto. The narrative fits in Holmes’s interest in classical music of India well but again sometimes it drags, and you often get frustrated similarly with Holmes as Dr.Watson is shown in a few instances. A character- Shyam Chunder Mookerjee which seems to be Hurree Chunder Mookerjee- the ‘Babu’ in Kim is left curiously untouched (do see The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes by Jamyang Norbu for Babu’s adventure with Holmes- the best Holmes pastiche)

The climax however redeems the account to some extent especially with the unmasking of the chief traitor within the close circle within Japan’s top secret group tracking the mission.

All in all, the author makes a fair attempt at pastiche and succeeds to a middling extent. I look forward to reading the 2nd book in the series by the author which hopefully will cover up some lost ground of the 1st book and make the journey more exciting.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Years: Japan pays all due homage to its source material, taking care not to disturb any canonical timelines, and putting forth a reasonable enough account of what Holmes might have been up to during his presumed death. From the title, I really wasn't expecting much Watson, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that he was the primary narrator. His voice is nearly pitch-perfect, and he and Holmes stay reasonably in character (Holmes struck me as a tad overly open-minded towards the various Asian cultures featured, but then, Watson was a stodgy enough Englishman for both of them).

The title and cover would lead most readers to assume that most of the book takes place in Japan, but while the plot does center around that country, it's more of a road trip through South Asian countries, with India receiving just as much focus as Japan. There are several small mysteries that are solved along the way, but the main plot isn't so much a mystery (even though Holmes uses the classic, "round up the suspects and reveal what happened" trope) as a crime/espionage caper. That's all perfectly in-line with the canon, of course, but not what I as a reader prefer to read.

Unfortunately, a lot of the book reminded me of the reasons why, though the character of Sherlock Holmes interests me a lot, I haven't cared for the books since I was young. They're not "fair play whodunnits"; clues are freely withheld from the readers, contrived coincidences abound, and there's altogether too much disguises, assassins, etc. Dyed-in-the-wool fans will probably appreciate this addition, but I think I'll stick to exercising the little grey cells.

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "missing years" following the purported loss to the world of Sherlock Holmes at Reichenbach Falls, Switzerland, at the hands of the villainous Moriarty, until the seemingly inexplicable reappearance of Holmes in "The Adventure of the Empty House" are ripe territory for contemporary authors to imagine all-new Holmes adventures. Indian author Vasudev Murthy has taken up this quest, and his first in the Series is SHERLOCK HOLMES THE MISSING YEARS JAPAN. The grieving Dr. Watson, amanuensis and sidekick, receives a request to accompany Holmes' violin to Yokohama! On the voyage, Watson is confronted with an "impossible" locked room murder on shipboard, intensifying the story's complexity. An imaginative look into a previously unforeseen possibility and a new adventure for Holmes and for Watson.

[Catty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Holmes pastiche (there are so many of them!) but this one is quite well written and does remind you of the canon stories as well as being a fascinating travelogue and a rollicking good yarn! My only issue is that I feel the author made Holmes a little crueller and Watson a little less intelligent and tolerant than they actually are in the Doyle canon, which spoiled the effect for me somewhat, but other than that it is certainly worth a look for the Japanese quotes and end story alone. 3.5 stars.

[Gus Scholtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out really good. I liked the layout of the book. The chapters broken down nicely. Then as Holmes and Watson traveled all over Asia to avoid Moriarty it turned into a travel log of the late 1800 s. You learn everything about the Japanese Yakuza to Angor Wat to JC Boses experiments on flowers. All many more that take up pages and pages and have no connection to the plot or mystery. The main mystery takes a hiatus for 150 pages and hard to get back to . The last 50 pages were a struggle.