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There are many novels where the writer seems disorganized, the presentation is disjointed and items of information are seemingly tossed in almost at random. As you read, coherence begins to emerge, plots and themes become clearer and you start seeing how seemingly random elements were important to what is being presented. Further reading takes you where the information is coming together and you are anxious to get to the next pages until you find yourself reading as fast as you can because the story has turned out to be that good. I place James Michener's 'Hawaii' in that category. Early on it appears to be vague ramblings but it soon becomes a barn burner.

Any who consider 'The Iron Mausoleum' to be in the 'Hawaii' category are in for huge disappointments. Readers will find themselves well into the book before wondering if either the plot will coalesce or, more likely, if the book will ever end. This reader began appreciative of the map of London provided and when notified various items in architectural realms would be included thought said items would lend color and depth to the story. Talk about swinging and missing. Much information was tossed in seemingly at random. You learn the author is a fan of Mahler. That is included with other items of information seemingly sailing in from nowhere along with descriptions of architecture that the author apparently believes readers are already familiar with. What that does is make for large chunks of text that are text that range somewhere between bewildering and incomprehensible.

If like this reviewer, readers may begin to wonder if the author was being paid by the word. Others, if they invest in this book which this reviewer would caution against, would note there is one chapter that could have been deleted completely without any harm being done. When the word 'Disjointed' is used in this review, take it to the bank. Make that two chapters that could have been deleted without harm. In fiction, among the ranks of deadly criminal masterminds ranging from Fu Manchu to Ming the Merciless, Professor James Moriarity is in the top ranks. Wasting a chapter on a genius like Moriarity's constructing a trap where with a little swashbuckling Holmes and Watson could escape boggles the imagination. This places the professor firmly in the ranks of a group of common street thugs which would horrify A. Conan Doyle.

One realm where this reviewer confesses to being flabbergasted beyond belief. First, in due deference to the author, a loud disclaimer. His background includes 36 years of junior high/middle school teaching. Better than half of those years were teaching English. He also has taught statistics and research design on the university level and consulted on a large number of masters' theses and doctoral dissertations. Some may believe that this reviewers belongs in the realm of the stereotypical English teacher wearing the half glasses and brandishing a red pen.

Although this reviewer certainly can swing a red pen, when ordering up this book and the next one in the series, the plan was to read them for enjoyment certainly not to be spending time making their pages look like someone had smashed an overripe pomegranate on them. Yet, immediately into the book errors in grammar kept popping up that made reading difficult. Not difficult for those of us with English credentials but difficult for anyone. Pardon my shouting but,

'It's' DOES NOT MEAN THE SAME THING AS 'Its'

This is totally bewildering. Looking at Mr Lees's academic qualifications they are most impressive. However, someone with legal training and a practicing barrister at law makes scores of errors like this? Maybe Mr Lees deserves to be cut some slack. It could be a language thing. As Mr Lees's bio points out, he is from the US but attended school in England. Possibly he and this reviewer speak different languages as Mr Lees studied English while this reviewer reads, writes and speaks American.

Providing some additional examples may underscore points being made.

Page 271: "...Holmes took the candelabra from me and waived (sic) it..."

Page 289: "...I read the article out allowed (sic) to Holmes..."

Page 290: "...I mumbled whist (sic) pushing more rashers of the smoked bacon into my mouth..."

What's unique about the last example cited, down the same page the author did not confuse 'whist' with whilst'. Go figure. One more while remembering that this reviewer did not read the book intending to do the red-pen shuffle on it. That would rank up there with a labor of Heracles.

Page 306: "...We have to bare (sic) in mind Moriarty's wealth..."

If one of this reviewer's seventh-grade English students would have turned in something of this nature, the appropriate method of dealing with the circumstances would be to quietly pull the student to the side and whisper, "You can tell me. Who REALLY wrote this?" To conclude, in all kindness, this novel is appalling. Although a few things were done pretty nicely, having to wait until the last few pages to finally encounter coherent narratives and adherence to a plot, it is not worth the money spent unless you pick it up at a garage sale for a quarter.

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I am very annoyed in buying all three books by Mr. Lees. Mr. Lees has a very rambling style mainly about architecture with a little Sherlock Holmes mixed in. If you took out the parts about buildings and concerts and where and what they ate and drank in the three books I doubt if you could come up with 1 complete book. They say on the back that it is in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is nowhere near his style and totally changes events that happened in Doyle's stories. It is also upsetting that Mrs. Hudson does not like Sherlock Holmes and Holmes treats Dr. Watson very badly. It is absurd. I do give it 1 star because some of the parts about Sherlock Holmes are interesting when you can wade through the verbage and rambling to get to them. I can not in good conscience tell anyone to get these books.

I read at least two or three Sherlock Holmes books a month and therefore have read some bad ones but this is the worst. It rambles, it jumps and insults both Holmes,Watson and Mrs. Hudson. I'm thankful I only bought this book intending to buy the others the following month. I can't find anything positive to say on this. With so many other excellent, good, ok or poor Sherlock Holmes books out there I suggest you skip this one.

Not terrible, but there's nothing really new here. It will be enjoyable to Holmes afficianados, and Titanic fans, but they've seen this Titanic sinking theory before.

Stephen Lees is a wonderful author! Great Book!

Not so much as a waist of time but there are so many other better ones to read.