Brilliant dialog, profound yet light, excellent murder mystery plot
Oscar Wilde and the candlelight murders by Gyles Brandreth
Book on Amazon | My review on Amazon
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed August 15, 2010
For a large portion of the book, it seemed as if I was reading Oscar Wilde’s own writing.. Gyles Brandreth has projected Wilde’s writing so well into the character of Oscar Wilde in this book. Narrated in the first person of Robert Sherard, Oscar’s friend, this book draws from Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes as well. Sherard plays Dr. Watson to Oscar’s Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle is introduced as Oscar’s newly met friend, and his presence is woven into the plot as only a skillful story-teller can do.
The plot is around a young boy called Billy Woods who is found by Oscar, murdered in a candle-lit room, apparently in some sort of ritualistic sacrifice. As Oscar and Robert go about London unraveling the mystery, we are treated to some scintillating dialog – not just about the murder, but of life and love. The author naturally and effortlessly spins the threads of his story in and out of Oscar’s real life – juxtaposing the murder plot which involves homosexuality, against Oscar Wilde’s eventual conviction for “gross indecency with other men” [which though not part of this story, is mentioned in Robert Sherard’s narrative]. The murder plot is revealed in the end by Oscar holding center stage (a la Hercule Poirot), in a room where he has invited all parties concerned – the police, the murderer, his friends who have helped his investigations along knowingly or otherwise. And what a twist to the tale in the end!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will surely read the others in the series. In one word “un-put-down-able”!
