A Samba for Sherlock: A Novel
Books / Paperback
Books › Fiction › Mystery & Detective › General
ISBN: 0375700668 / Publisher: Vintage, October 1998
Embarrassed by the theft of a special gift to his mistress, the Emperor of Brazil sends for Sherlock Holmes, but by the time Holmes has arrived a simple theft has escalated into a series of brutal murders
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"Full of suspense and humor. . . . If Soares is remarkably strong in the crime scenes, he's also deliciously agreeable in his reconstruction of places and people." --Folha de São Paulo (Brazil)Set in Rio de Janeiro in 1886, this internationally acclaimed literary thriller opens with the theft of a priceless Stradivarius violin that has been presented by Dom Pedro, emperor of Brazil, to his favorite mistress. At the same time a hideously inventive killer is prowling the boulevards and back alleys of Rio, leaving a violin string entangled in the intimate parts of his beautiful victims. Only one man possesses the genius, the valor, and the discretion that both cases demand: Sherlock Holmes. In this witty, charming, and highly original novel, the Brazilian author Jô Soares boldly reimagines Conan Doyle's legendary sleuth, introducing a very distracted and debauched Sherlock Holmes, one who trades cocaine for "Indian cigarettes" and falls head over heels for a sultry actress. Overflowing with suspense and historical erudition, A Samba for Sherlock is a novel that combines the authenticity of The Alienist with the exuberant fantasy of carnaval. "Written with irresistible humor and remarkable control." --L'Espresso (Italy)"One of the most charming and entertaining books of the year." --Le Point (France)
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