The Giant Rat of Sumatra

One of the better Holmes pastiches I've read

I was so excited to see what adventure would be behind the infamous “giant rat,” and overall, this book did not disappoint. The author clearly put thought into it, and the solving of the mystery was quite daring.

The atmosphere is very reminiscent of Hound of the Baskervilles, that is, suspenseful and a bit eerie. I definitely was on the edge of my seat at times. That said–the end, I thought, was just a trifle overdone; but I can see why, since the affair of the giant rat has such a mystique about it. And of course like many Holmes adventures, both original and pastiche, the women's roles are very limited. It's no surprise, just something that as a female reader I can't help but notice.

All things considered, I do love the “Further Adventures” series; it contains my favorite “modern” Holmes novels, for sure. And this adventure lived up to its name!