Murder in the Vatican:
The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes - Review
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Publisher's Summary:
Lewis, Ann Margaret. (2010) Murder in the Vatican:
The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes.
Indianapolis, IN: Gasogene Books. ISBN
978-0-938501-52-7. Author recommended age: Teen.
Litland.com recommends 13+ (appropriate for younger
gifted readers)
Publisher's Description:
Follow the great detective as he investigates three
baffling cases at the "express desire of his Holiness,
the Pope." Stories include "The Death of Cardinal
Tosca," "The Vatican Cameos," and "The Second Coptic
Patriarch." You'll encounter baffling crimes, rich,
historical settings, and a fateful encounter with Father
Brown! These thrilling tales of murder and intrigue
vividly bring to life three of Watson's "untold tales!"
Respect for self and others: This
includes integrity (adherence to a code of
conduct or value system), honesty vs. manipulation or
lying, compassion, caring for others (characters not
focused on getting their way no matter what) self
respect--main character does not let others
denigrate him or her; use of self control and
self-discipline ; taking charge of own behaviour;
fairness to others (such as taking turns and
avoiding the blame game). Reader should ask themselves
“How does the protagonist depict their peers?” “Would
you want others to treat you this way? Should everyone
act this way?” This includes true friendships
that do not involve regular lying, deceit or
manipulation; considering consequences of actions
prior to acting; owning up to responsibility once
an action has been taken.
What do we see in the
classic characters of Holmes and Watson? Respect for the
approach taken by Holmes, permitting him to conduct the
investigation his own way. Concern for the health and
safety of the Pope. Respect to the purpose and position
of the Pope’s guards. Our characters also demonstrate
and demand courtesy and honesty and, thus,
integrity which breeds its own strength. This is well
demonstrated in story #2... we see the confident
Sherlock Holmes capable of taking on an apologetic
posture. Meanwhile, the Pope (cognizant of his own human
faults) also demonstrates self-monitoring and how to
lovingly dealing with error.
And how easy it would be
to put blame on others. Yet when the Pope has an angina
attack after attempting to keep up with the brisk stride
of Holmes, he does not blame Holmes but, rather, blames
himself; acknowledging his responsibility for, and
failure of, using good sense. Thus in a world of teen
lit cluttered with narcissistic characters, this book
is a refreshing reminder of dignified intelligence.
Portrayal of Authority
figures: The positive portrayal of parents, teachers, police officers and other “good” authority figures common in a child’s life is a positive influence upon the child’s own moral development. This includes
actively-parenting mother and father figures. Minimization of parental involvement in the character’s activities or the portrayal of authority figures as
inferior present poor role models. Also to be avoided are main characters that
deceive parents and teachers to accomplish goals, and overuse
sarcasm towards authority figures. Ask yourself “Are parents seen as positive or negative influence in the character's life?”
In
all three stories, Pope Leo XIII is treated with respect
both to historical accuracy of this real person and to
the position of Pope itself. The behaviour of those
around him is realistic.
In
story 2, the view changes to one of political diplomacy
and ruling the best interests of constituents: England’s
citizens whose honor is guarded by Queen Victoria, and
the faithful Catholic Christians shepherded by the
Pope. The author provides a clear, honest view of each
without animosity. Equally important is the explanation
given of tactics used by the Pope for the greater good
of all.
Citizenship and
Patriotism: Loyalty to family, team or group, school, community and world; caring for and being considerate of these
groups. Pride to be part of that group or nationality.
We
certainly see the continued loyalty between friends with
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The majesty and
pageantry of the Vatican state internally as well as its
affairs in the world demonstrate more than pride and
affiliation, but a love that is to the core of the human
existence. Similarly, the importance of heritage for
Queen Victoria’s England is strong and a foundation to
the plot itself. Interestingly, for both we see the
loyalty of the leaders to those for whom they are
responsible.
Justice and Balance: A just distribution between good and evil (with
good outweighing evil in the presence of the storyline);
demonstration of right and wrong; making decisions to enact the above values rather than simply choosing from two bad possibilities; Ask yourself “Is the emphasis on the positive elements or negative?”
It would not be true to
Sherlockian fiction if the story did not sharply
contrast good and evil, creating a strong presence of
evil for the purpose of a more valorous conquest. After
engaging this in the first story, our second story gives
a twist: former members of an evil brotherhood who wish
to escape the group yet still abide by its traditions.
Thus the characters are put to decide what action to
take between two choices that are focused on honor and
loyalty...difficult at first glance to see where true
good lies. This is a bit more clear, and important, in
the third story in which the Pope’s seemingly deceptive
tactics are shown as necessary to prevent a greater
evil, that of his guard killing a murderer in fulfilling
his duties to protect the Pope.
Aesthetic aspects Of
life ExperienceLook for a storyline portrayal of
beauty, health, and selfless love vs. hedonistic behaviours (sexuality, selfishness, obsessiveness, materialism),
profanity, gore and violence. Are nature and environment respected or exploited? Look for
dark elements; watch out for humor that is negative, denigrates others excessively, uses metaphors to
denigrate the sacred.
In
story 1, a reference is made to the murderer “touching”
his kidnap victim “improperly” as well as lusting after
her. However, it puts the situation into context rather
than being the focus itself. Thus all three stories
provide rich detail on the historical setting, written
in Doyle style and so authentic to the period. The
beauty of the surroundings is adequately described; the
action scenes never digress to unnecessary gore or
violence.
Other things to
Consider:Other aspects of this book of interest or importance. For example, does it portray Wiccan practices and accurate use of tools of which some parents might object, does it contain
hidden meanings in metaphors that may prove offensive to some families; does it address
personal issues such as puberty or pregnancy.
In
the first story, the murderer is a Freemason whose
motive is to destroy the Catholic church. Thus, once
caught, he exudes a tyrant of fallacies against the
Church. The reader should be of sufficient age to
understand these are fallacies.
This is a very enjoyable set of mysteries, rich in
historical “feel”, and appropriate for younger advanced
readers. Those interested in Sherlockian fiction might
want to look into the following websites:
Official Doyle literary estate
http://www.conandoyleestate.co.uk/ , The Baker
Street Irregulars, who provided feedback on this book,
suggests The Arthur Conan Doyle Society
http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/acdsocy.html and another
group
http://www.the-conan-doyle-crowborough-establishment.com/
.
So what do YOU think? Read our thoughts on the book and join in the discussion:
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