The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr

This is a good story and an okay pastiche. There is a mildly worrying spiritualism about Holmes that is satisfactorily resolved. Watson is pleasantly sharper on the uptake (the possible result of tea brewed in one of Holmes' beakers?). Mycroft has most troublingly lost his aura of omnipotence; despite mentions of his genius, he is not much quicker than Watson and certainly no match for his brother. However the most telling point besides language nuances is the author's modern willingness to detail violence and perversity in Watson's voice. If you don't expect Doyle you'll enjoy the read.