In 1960, twelve people are stuck in a resort on a small Mediterranean island due to a storm. One of them commits suicide, or is it murder? A retired actor famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on screen and his Spanish sidekick, a writer of detective novels, have been tasked by the other guests to solve the case before another person dies in The Final Problem.
This book has widely varying reviews. I personally loved it. However, it does require quite a specific knowledge of both Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie stories, or at least their tropes. If you have watched a lot of 1930s and 40s movies, you will also see a bunch of Easter eggs that I found entertaining too. For those without those reference points, the pacing of The Final Problem will seem too slow. It has a Victorian or golden age of mysteries rather plodding reveal speed. I actually enjoyed the deliberate, and spoken, challenge of figuring out the killer before the book’s conclusion. 5 stars and a favorite! But again, The Final Problem has a very specific audience so beware.
Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.