The Consulting Detective Trilogy Part I: University

This is the second of Ms. Cypser’s biographical series on Sherlock Holmes. It begins immediately following events in her earlier book, "The Crack in the Lens." This book covers Sherlock’s experiences at university, specifically at Sydney Sussex College at Cambridge University. This book does not have the dark overtones of the first volume, but it does depict Sherlock attempting to deal with the immense trauma he suffered as a teen.Looked at in retrospect, this book is remarkable. While reading it, there seems to be action proceeding all the time, but after it is finished, the reader realizes that the ‘action’ was mostly internal. Events occur, but most of the narrative is taken up with Sherlock’s reactions and adaptations to those events. Again, while reading, worlds of possibilities open up and all sorts of consequences become possible, but really, only fairly normal things actually occur. It is a truly remarkable narrative that rings with possibilities and yet makes the events described seem to be natural outcomes of the situations. This makes it difficult to review. I could say that the action is riveting, as it was, but there is really little action. I could say that the characters are fascinating, which they are, but most appear and then disappear, leaving their interactions with Sherlock as the only evidence of their existence. The relationship between Sherlock and Mycroft remains the same as it ever was, but it seems fuller and richer as we learn of how they shared experiences and learned from one another. So it is with the entire book. Sherlock learns to cope with stress and guilt, he learns to react to the world and he learns about himself.Sherlock’s relations with his parents and his brothers are looked at a bit more closely, but they remain much the same as before. Sherlock’s relations with the world, on the other hand, grow and develop. He learns to participate more and to observe without judging so deeply. He also learns how to learn. The process is painful, but so is any growth. The Sherlock who leaves Cambridge at the end of this book is far different than the one who arrived. He is not yet a ‘finished tool’ but he has the process well in hand. Most of the details have been made fascinating by the author, so the book is a very ‘good read.’Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, June 2012