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Title:
The Finality Problem
Series: Warlock Holmes
#5
Author: Gabriel Denning
Rating: 5
of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy Parody
Pages:
248
Words: 96K
This
book is analogous to Arthur Conan Doyle’s The
Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, as
that was the book where Doyle “killed” off Holmes, only to bring
him back years later and write three more books worth of stories
about him. In this book Warlock takes the plunge over Reichenbach
Falls with Moriarty, who has possessed Watson’s wife Mary.
I knew going into this that this was how things ended AND that this was written back in late 2020. With no new published Warlock Holmes book since. I thought I might be upset about that. I wasn’t, not one tiny bit. It fit perfectly as the parody that this series is and if we don’t get any more Warlock Holmes books, I will be disappointed, but not devastated; nor will it set me off on a rant and make me castigate myself for ever reading the first book. I already plan on re-reading this series at some point; I had that much fun with it.
I had two little niggles with this book, which I think need airing. First, the relationship between John and Mary. I know that Denning really mocks everything in this series, but I found it extremely hard to stomach his mocking marriage that way. They HATE each other but because of “magic” have to be with each other. It’s the very definition of a toxic relationship and I hated it. The second was Watson’s continued blathering about the end of the world due to a demon invasion/apocalypse. He’s gone on about that ever since the first book, but I’ve seen zero evidence of it. Just because demons exist doesn’t mean that without Warlock our dimension will be invaded. The world survived until Warlock was born after all. So there you go, two niggles. And I won’t even charge you a nickle!
Once again, being familiar with the Sherlock Holmes canon will help your enjoyment of these stories tremendously. Each story IS amusing on its own, but if you know the original, you can see how Denning has twisted things and that makes it just that much more amusing. I suspect you have to have a particular kind of humor to appreciate it though. I definitely have that.
Finally, I’d like to thank Mogsy (again) for introducing me to this series. If it weren’t for her, I’d never have heard of this nor would I have had the inclination to try these. I had so much fun that I am extremely thankful for that intersection on the bookish highway. Here is her review of The Finality Problem. At the end of her review she has links to all her reviews of the previous books, if you are interested. I too have included links to my previous reviews down below.
★★★★★
From the Publisher
The
famous duo has been split! Watson has been banished from Holmes's
company. Despite the interference of his horrible wife, Mary, Watson
tirelessly insinuates himself into every magical adventure he can.
Together, he and Holmes face a man with a twisted... everything, some
very questionable juice-drinking Germans, Garrideb the Devourer and
the estimable Irene Adler. Yet, nothing can prepare them for
Moriarty's new form and the terrible moment they must face their
Finality Problem at the edge of the Reichenbach Falls.
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