The Patient's Eyes: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes Book

I have been looking for a series for quite some time now without any luck. While 'The Patient's Eyes' is the first in a trilogy rather than a series I'm happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading all three books by David Pirie.

Pirie, a longtime fan of Arthur Conan Doyle, writes the fictional memoir of Doyle's early experiences as a medical student of Joseph Bell's at the University of Edinburgh. Dr. Bell is widely believed to be the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. Doyle's position as Bell's clerk introduce him to Bell's confidential investigative work with the police and his controversial methods of deduction.

Pirie offers Doyle's reflection on his relationship with Dr. Bell and the differences between their relationship and that of Holmes and Dr. Watson.

"The honest truth is my relations with the Doctor never precisely mirrored the smooth cordiality between the two detectives in my fiction. Even there, I occasionally allowed a touch of asperity to show itself and this was but the tiniest hint of the true state of affairs: namely that for many years I could not easily reconcile myself to my mentor."

"When I first encountered him I was having to come to terms with my own family problem and, not much later, the urgent need to make a living. All this made our collaboration uneasy. But in my heart I know there is much more to it."

Pirie also alludes to a Doyle's relationship with a woman named Elsbeth and how it comes to a horrible end but never elaborates on what exactly happens.

I enjoy reading fiction set in Victorian times and expected some gritty Victorian details. However, there are less period details than I expected but I was not disappointed by this because the story is told in a very realistic way. Attention is paid to the details that are important and relevant and the ones you would expect to be remembered by someone recounting the past.

This story had all the right ingredients to satisfy my tastes. It was realistic, logical and suspenseful. The mystery was creepy and had some surprising twists, while the characters were realistic, human and emotional. The emotional relationships between Doyle and Bell as well as the mystery surrounding Elsbeth really pulled me in. I loved the whole premise of the book and the perspective that Pirie gives Doyle, I thought it was all very well done and satisfying. The only criticism I have is that the interjection of the story about The Beale cipher slowed the pace and momentum of the story when it was at its climax.

I've already started reading the second in the trilogy 'The Night Calls' while the third 'The Dark Water' is waiting on top of the pile next to the bed.
I wish David Pirie would write more fiction like this!