The Devil and Sherlock Holmes

The Devil and Sherlock Holmes by David Grann immerses readers in a series of twelve real-life stories, each filled with as much suspense and wonder as any fictional tale. Grann takes us on an investigative journey that delves deep into the human psyche and illuminates the contrasting forces of good and evil that shape our world. The collection opens a window to the strange, often startling, realities that lurk beneath the surface of everyday life.

By the author of the international Number One bestsellers KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE WAGER

As Sherlock Holmes once conceded to Dr. Watson, 'If we could fly out of that window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the strange coincidences, the planning, the cross-purposes, the wonderful chain of events, working through generations and leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable.'

With such a spirit for investigation and discovery, David Grann sets out in The Devil and Sherlock Holmes to unravel the truth behind twelve captivating true stories. Although Holmes is the focus of just one narrative, each tale is rife with elements of mystery and curiosity. Many protagonists of these episodes are detectives in their own right: a Polish investigator scrutinising whether an author embedded real murder clues within his post-modern novel; an arson expert racing against time to exonerate a potentially innocent man awaiting execution; a renowned French con artist pondering if he himself is being deceived; and scientists on the hunt for a mythical sea creature.

Unlike the fictional adventures of Sherlock Holmes, these accounts are grounded in reality. The protagonists are ordinary mortals whose quests often leave pieces of the puzzle unsolved. Some are driven to the brink of madness, others to drastic deception and murder. Despite the occasional descent into darkness, these stories ultimately shine a spotlight on the complexities of the human condition. They explore why certain individuals dedicate their lives to noble causes while others succumb to malevolence.

As Holmes himself mused, 'Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.' Indeed, Grann's masterful storytelling in The Devil and Sherlock Holmes confirms just that, captivating readers with its genuine, sometimes harrowing, explorations of truth and morality.