A good read but...
A different sort of pastiche. Instead of a mystery, this book gives the details of Sherlock Holmes' early life as reminiscences of the family butler. I was intrigued, and very pleased that the author didn't try to shock the reader with some bizarre yarn. Instead, it presents a well-considered picture of what it could be like to raise two such genius children.
The prose does get too wordy at times and, worse, too coy. But that alone is forgiveable.
More unfortunate is the incomprehensible Chapter 27, in which the author suddenly treats us to six pages of profanity. Oh, there was a bit here and there in the earlier chapters, but not like this. As if the narrator, a very proper elderly English gentleman, would actually repeat such things in telling the story. Totally out of character and totally uncalled-for. I highly recommend you skip the chapter entirely, and I have left a note in my copy reminding me to do the same on future readings.