Against the Brotherhood

I've always wondered about Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock Holmes's mysterious sibling. He appeared only in a few of Conan Doyle's stories and (if I remember correctly) made an appearance in Nicholas Meyer's "The Seven Percent Solution". However, until now, Mycroft has remained largely in the background, a figure on the periphery of Sherlock's better-documented exploits. Fortunately for us, author Quinn Fawcett, with endorsement by none other than Dame Jean Conan Doyle herself, has fashioned a new crime series which pulls Mycroft from the shadows and into his rightful place in detective fiction. "Against The Brotherhood", the first novel in Fawcett's series, also introduces the reader to Mycroft's capable secretary Paterson Guthrie, his worthy houseman Philip Tyers and a stimulating new cast of characters and villains that is worthy both of the Conan Doyle family endorsement and the regard and enjoyment of the millions of faithful Sherlock devotees.In "Against The Brotherhood", Mycroft and Guthrie find themselves pitted against a mysterious, blood-thirsty organization of ruthless men, set on destroying the world's great governments through various underhanded, clandestine and (quite often) murderous and bloody methods. The novel contains many hair-raising moments, as Mycroft sends Guthrie undercover to penetrate the mysterious "Brotherhood" and, in so doing, puts his secretary's life at stake for, if Guthrie's real identity is discovered by the very group he is trying to infiltrate, they will stop at nothing to silence him - forever, and in VERY nasty ways.In fashioning Mycroft Holmes (who has sometimes been called "Sherlock's smarter brother"), Fawcett gives us not so much a smarter sibling (for to be sure, brains run in that family in spades) but a "kinder, gentler" sibling. He is brilliant without his brother's arrogance, and more human. There is far less of Sherlock's chilly remoteness, and one senses that Mycroft is psychologically better-adjusted than his brother, who has many inner demons driving him. The two, when compared together, make a stimulating contrast.Likewise, Guthrie is no Watson, although he, like Watson, faithfully records the exploits of his employer. Each of Guthrie's chapters is capped by an entry from Tyers's private diary, which provides extra information about the main plot while spinning a side plot concerning the approaching death of Tyers's elderly mother. Guthrie is a courageous character, willing to do more than what's required of him and able to stand his ground in a tight spot. And there are plenty of those in "Against The Brotherhood".I've just started the second Mycroft Holmes novel, "Embassy Row", fast on the heels of completing this one, and I'm finding that situations, characters and references carry over from one novel to the next. Therefore, I believe it would be best to begin this series at the beginning, with "Against The Brotherhood", in order to follow the references to past exploits that will be m

I was not expecting to enjoy this book very much, since it lacks the younger Holmes brother, Sherlock, but I found I loved it. Guthrie, and Mycroft through Guthrie's eyes, proved to be interesting characters, and the plot kept me entertained. The only fault I can find with this book is that Mycroft was not in it as much as I would have expected, this being his series and all. But that will not keep me from reading the next book in the series, which I am looking forward to doing!

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Thank you Dame Jean Conan Doyle for allowing these wonderful stories to continue.

Like another reader below me i did not know what to expect from a novel that featured Holmes's older, smarter brother. I enjoyed reading this book very much and read it again while i still had it from the library. I reccommend this book to anyone, you'll be plesently surprised.

Did not know what to expect in view of having not read anything other than Sir Doyle himself. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the suspense, the method of prose, and moving back to the past and all that it entails. Count me in for Mycroft and any future books. Go for it Quinn!