Rasputin's Revenge

Auguste Lupa, Book 2

By: John Lescroart

Narrated by: Tim Baltz

In Son of Holmes, John Lescroart introduced Auguste Lupa, reputed son of the greatest detective of all time... and possessor of a brilliant deductive mind in his own right. Now, in Rasputin’s Revenge, Lupa is summoned to the court of the Russian Czar - where, with a bit of unexpected assistance from none other than Holmes and Watson, he untangles a chilling plot that holds the Winter Palace in a lethal grip....

©1987 John Lescroart (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Amusing and intriguing.” ( Los Angeles Herald-Examiner)

“Raymond Chandler once wrote that the test of a first-rate murder mystery is whether you would keep reading it if the last chapter - and the revelation of whodunit - were missing. In the matter of John Lescroart, I would keep reading any of his books, even without that last chapter.” ( Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

“Detective fans will lap up the details ofLupa’s [Holmesian] heritage.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Turn of the Last Century St. Petersberg

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The historical setting is compelling and the characters are superb. In the spirit of Holmes' novels, it is written in the POV of the less able detective and there is an undercurrent of mildly unreliable narrator that definitely echos the Watson / Holmes relationship.

I didn't give it five stars for a few reasons. To begin with, I did find some of the actions on the part of the Tzar's family a little unexplained and convenient to the plot. I also found the ending somewhat rushed and a bit too neat.

That being said, it is a very amusing listen for anyone who likes historical mysteries or Sherlock fans. And, barring a few dodgy slips in accents from French to Germanic, Tim Baltz did an excellent job with the narration.