Book Review #4 - The Final Problem

I received this advance copy of The Final Problem from NetGalley with the expectation by them that I would provide my honest review.

What a delightful story! An aging actor known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes finds himself the center of a real-life mystery while stranded by a storm on a Greek island.  

With elements of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None sprinkled throughout the setting, Ormond Basil finds himself reprising his role as Sherlock Holmes, with a fellow strandee crime fiction author serving as Watson, to solve not one but two locked room murders, with third murder tossed in for good measure.  The cast consisted of twelve - the hotel proprietress and three staff members; Mr. Basil; two female traveling companions; a German couple; Mr. Basil's television producer friend and his opera diva companion; and the crime fiction author Mr. Foxa.  

A massive storm preventing the authorities from being able to reach the island after the first death, the group looks to Mr. Basil to determine what had happened.  Knowing he is, as he continually reminds the group, only an actor, he tries to retreat into the background but his life's work of embodying the great detective has given him a certain overlay, art imitating life, and they all look to his "expertise" to answer the questions.  

As other deaths occur, Mr. Basil is forced into the position of having to solve the crimes, which he ultimately does.  And even though I marked every clue, I was still wrong in my determination of the murderer and was surprised by the ending.  

Each scene is set with references to certain real Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and the dialogue between the characters is often filled with quotes from the books.  Books I wish to check into now to round out my knowledge.  

Overall, an excellent short book, highly enjoyable with a "can't put it down" quality to it, and a 4-star review from me.