Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes by Cyril Liéron, Benoît Dahan - Book Review

Series: Dans la tête de Sherlock Holmes (#1-2)

Publication Date: 14th Nov 2023

Genre: Graphic Novel, Mystery 

4 Stars (5 for the artwork and 3 for the story)

One Liner: Terrific illustrations but needs a better storyline 

Ever wondered how it looks inside the mind of one of the world’s greatest (fictional) detectives? This graphic novel attempts to show us the inside of Sherlock Holmes’ mind when he is on a case. Do I need any other reason to grab this book? Of course not! 

The book deals with the Case of the Scandalous Ticket which Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate. 

There are two aspects to consider when reviewing the book – the plotline and the illustrations. 

Plot: 

Well, it starts well but somewhere along the way, it gets diluted. It does align with the tropes used back then, which makes the book dated and can be unappealing to readers who want modern views. Personally, I think it works enough to give the book the old British vibes with all the racism, classicism, etc. 

At the same time, there’s a modern touch where these aspects are ‘questioned’ (sort of), which doesn’t really work. It feels more like an attempt at damage control so that readers won’t be annoyed at the book for using stereotypes that are found in the original anyway. 

The whole thing gives mixed vibes.

Illustrations:

I requested the book for the illustrations, to see the inside of Holmes’ mind. The results are wonderful. The characters have sharp lines (pointed beak noses for many) and look like well-planned caricatures which bring out their traits. The color scheme is dark, and so is the artwork. It is complex, twisty, intricate, and detailed. Sinister is the word for it. Compelling would be another apt description. The detailing is meticulous and enriches the reading experience. 

We get quite a few insights into the workings of Holmes’ mind – the way he ‘stores the clues’, connects the dots, identifies patterns, and so on. All these re-establish just how fascinating Sherlock Holmes is and why he has billions of fans. 

I totally enjoyed lingering over the illustrations by zooming in and out to see the details and also consider the bigger picture. The use of maps, a red thread of thought, a setting within a setting, etc., seem to have been carefully planned. 

I did have a few issues with reading the digital copy (had to alter between single and two-page views) but the zoom allowed me to adjust the font size as needed. Read the book on a computer or grab a physical copy. 

To summarize, Inside the Mind of Sherlock Holmes has stunning artwork even if the story is mediocre. I can see why it is an award-winning book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books (Titan Comics), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #InsideTheMindOfSherlockHolmes