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Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Sherlock Tale In St. Paul, Mn, USA!!!
Review: Among the very best non-Doyle Sherlock tales, this yarn has everything: great writing, scenes, characters, and even some business history, with John J Hill among the leading characters. And the ice-cold winters of St. Paul are a leading character too. Don't miss this one! Sherlock and the good doctor show their stuff in this one!.eh.
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Summary: Better Than the Red Demon Stuff
Review: I was again reluctant to read this sequel of the "Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon," and the author disappointed me by writing a better novel (exactly as what happened when I read Meyer's "The West End Horror" after "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution").But let me make this statement here: "The West End Horror" is by far much better than this "Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders." Again the same rich guy from Minnesota invited Holmes to his home town to investigate some mysterious occurrences in the Ice Palace there ... As if there are no good detectives in America. As long as we are talking nonsense here, why did not he summon Ellery Queen, who is not less intelligent than Holmes, or maybe Colombo (hohohoho). The story this time had some mystery elements. It was, as a matter of fact, a whodunit. I figured the murderer out from half of the mystery, not because I was abnormally cleaver, but because of a fallacy the murderer inserted. The strange thing is that Millett did not allude to this fallacy, maybe he did not even know that it was there, and maybe I was lucky! A new character is introduced in this novel, and Irish clever guy by the name Shadwell Rafferty. I'm not so enthusiastic about him, because he does not enrich the world of Sherlock Holmes, and people are more used to one superior detective in the story. After all, this is a pastiche to praise Sherlock Holmes, and no one else. We reach to the conclusion of the story and the villain who killed every body was apprehended, and then nothing much, the story does not give me the impression I get from Doyle's writings. And I am not going to recommend the book, because I could have done well without reading it.
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Summary: A terrific story as only Watson (Millett) can write
Review: If you are a fan of the British detective you will want to read this, and the previous Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon, as they have the American twist to a great mystery involving Holmes and Watson. If you are from Minnesota and know St. Paul this is the ultimate story involving that city. It is not a story to second guess and the best you can do is when a city location is given is to say "I know where that is !" and you'll forever drive around St. Paul with Watson's eyes. Millett should be proud that he is as accomplished as Arthur Conan Doyle in being able to propagate the Holmes and Watson mystique. This is simply a great book.
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Summary: THE Winter Carnival
Review: If you have ever heard of Sherlock Holmes, the Winter Carnival or St. Paul, MN, this is a MUST READ !! If you haven't heard of any of these, that's even MORE of a reason to read this book, its a 1 sitting book, I could hardly put it down to go to work!! What a great way to learn the history of my adopted homwtown!
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Summary: Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders
Review: Larry Millett combines his knowledge of the history of the Twin Cities with a mystery involving Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. So how does it come off? This is one of the better Sherlock Holmes pastiche I have read, and believe me, I've read a LOT of them. The history lessons I received from reading the book are a definite treat since I visit the Twin Cities several times a year and know the areas talked about. But even if you are not familiar with the Minnesota cities, a map and Millett's detailed descriptions help the reader visualize the cities at the turn of the century. The Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson characterizations are very good; there are not too many instances where the reader would say "Oh, come on. Holmes would never do that." That is how I judge pastiches. I thought this story the best of the first three Larry Millett/Sherlock Holmes endeavors.
Rating: 
Summary: Great History along with a Good Mystery
Review: Larry Millett combines his knowledge of the history of the Twin Cities with a mystery involving Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. So how does it come off? This is one of the better Sherlock Holmes pastiche I have read, and believe me, I've read a LOT of them. The history lessons I received from reading the book are a definite treat since I visit the Twin Cities several times a year and know the areas talked about. But even if you are not familiar with the Minnesota cities, a map and Millett's detailed descriptions help the reader visualize the cities at the turn of the century. The Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson characterizations are very good; there are not too many instances where the reader would say "Oh, come on. Holmes would never do that." That is how I judge pastiches. I thought this story the best of the first three Larry Millett/Sherlock Holmes endeavors.
Rating:
Summary: Good voice, bad case
Review: The second Sherlock Holmes book from the pen of Larry Millet, this one is an improvement on the first - which was quite good in any case. At the end of 'Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon', Watson makes reference to this case. Holmes and Watson are again summoned to St. Pauls in Minnesota to investigate the fact that the son of a friend of Holmes' American patron has gone missing. Shortly after Holmes' arrival, he discover gruesome proof that the missing man was murdered. What distinguishes this book from its predecessor is that there is no spectre of an impending disaster - a great fire that is hinted at from the beginning of the earlier book - we instead have no idea exactly what the climax of the story is likely to be. The cast of characters is probably stronger, and in particular the addition of St. Pauls-based former policeman, bar owner and sometime detective Shad Rafferty who is great - a hint at the end of this book suggests that Rafferty will be back in Millet's third book 'Sherlock Holmes and the Runestone Mystery'. Possibly a little slow, it is however in line with the original Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the depictions of Holmes and Watson is pleasingly in line with their originals - a task that sometimes proves elusive to other writers.
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Summary: Better than the Red Demon!
Review: This book is the follow up to Millett's first Holmes book, Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon. I liked that book, but I like this one even better. There are more characters, including Shadwell Rafferty, who is such an interesting character that a spin off series involving just him would be great. There are two crimes committed in this book, and like I said before, with all of the very interesting characters, this book is quite the page turner. Holmes and Rafferty solve the case in expert fashion, although it a tough one. You'll probably give yourself a head-ache trying to figure it out yourself! It's just over 400 pages, so it's longer than the Red Demon, but just like the Red Demon, Millett writes intelligently and is easy to read. I'm looking forward to reading the Rune Stone book, the third Holmes book by Millett.
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Summary: Great history, bad dialogue
Review: This installment kept my interest with all of the historical details that Millet threw in. As a St Paul history lesson, the book could be no better. The mystery was also very tightly woven, and it had me guessing as to the killers identity (almost) to the very end. What the book lacks is the kind of interesting dialogue that is needed to keep the drama alive. Most of the dialogue is pure exposition, and drags on for page after rambling page. Nobody talks this way! Also, many of the characters hardly develop beyond stereotypical figures of the time (the wealthy tycoon, the busy newspaper man, the spoiled society brat). While these are all important flaws, the overall story is good and will keep you interested, just like Millets previous (and better) Holmes book, The Red Demon. I am sure I will eventually pick up the next installment, but I am in no real hurry after being slightly dissapointed by this one.
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