Review: The Final Problem: A Novel

The Final Problem: A Novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Final Problem: A Novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte from Mulholland Books via NetGalley.  This book will be published around February 10, 2026.

Arturo Perez-Reverte is one of my favorite writers.  When I was studying Spanish, I would read his books untranslated to practice.  I credit him that my Spanish reading skills are WAY BETTER than my speaking skills.  I was super excited to see he had a new book that related to Sherlock Holmes.  The title, The Final Problem, gives that much away to Sherlock fans.  I enjoyed very much that the main character is an actor who is best known for playing Sherlock Holmes.  I could not stop picturing Basil Rathbone as I read.  He is my Sherlock Holmes.  It didn't hurt that the actor also goes by Basil.  Coincidence or elementary?  I don't want to give anything away, but this is a mystery in same vein as a Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie story.   If you like those, you will want to read this.  There are locked room elements.  People stranded on an island due to a storm when someone (SPOILER) dies.  Whodunnit?  Everyone looks to the guy who played Holmes to lead them in figuring it out.  Did playing Sherlock Holmes give him enough powers of deduction to solve the case?  The ending might surprise you.

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