“Ryan’s series debut is a must for die-hard Sherlock Holmes fans. Crafted in Arthur Conan Doyle’s style, it opens with a Roman Catholic cardinal asking Holmes’ help in recovering cameos created by Michelangelo in the 16th century that have been stolen from the Vatican.

In Rome, Holmes’ and Watson’s sleuthing is rife with familiar ACD trappings, from their respective character traits and procedural approach to problem solving, on to the imaginative means of maneuvering around inevitable hurdles, and down to the trademark minutiae of ACD’s storytelling.

The action time-travels between 1501, when the cameos were created, and 1901, when Holmes and Watson meet with Pope Leo XII. Compatible to a fault with the arcane aspects of ACD’s Sherlock, the story offers a well-researched cultural history of the papacy.

Ryan, author of “The Official Sherlock Holmes Trivia Book (Quinlan Press), is at work on his next Holmes mystery.”

Reviewed by Fran Wood

The Vatican Cameos is available from all good bookstores including The Strand Magazine, Amazon USA, Amazon UK,  Waterstones UK and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository. In ebook format it is in Kindle, Kobo, Nook and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone). Also available on Audible.