Black Ice

Written by Andrew Lane

Narrated by James Langton

When Sherlock and Amyus Crowe, his American tutor, visit Sherlock's brother Mycroft in London, what they find shocks both of them to the core: a locked room, a dead body, and Mycroft holding a knife. The police are convinced Mycroft is a vicious murderer, but Sherlock is just as convinced he is innocent. Threatened with the gallows, Mycroft needs Sherlock to save him. The search for the truth necessitates an incredible journey, from a railway station for the dead in London all the way to the frozen city of Moscow—where Sherlock is entangled in a world of secrets and danger.

In Andrew Lane's Black Ice, the unstoppable teenage sleuth undertakes his third fantastic adventure, as one deadly puzzle leads only to another. Sherlock Holmes: Think you know him? Think again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Feb 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781427229625

Andrew Lane

Andrew Lane is an author, journalist and lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. He lives in Hampshire with his wife and son. Before Moriarty and before Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew's passion for the original novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his determination to create an authentic teenage Sherlock Holmes made him the perfect choice to work with the Conan Doyle Estate to reinvent the world’s most famous detective for the Young Sherlock Holmes series.

Reviews for Black Ice

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this third adventure in the Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins series, Sherlock accompanies his brother Mycroft to Russia. The story begins with a locked room mystery. Mycroft is found in a room with a knife in his hand and a dead man in a chair. Sherlock and his mentor Amyus Crane investigate in what will be Sherlock's style as an adult and discover the plot but don't know who set the trap or what their goal was. Further investigation has Sherlock fleeing from a villain and a group of feral children in underground London where he stumbles upon the Necropolis Railway which carried dead bodies from London to the country for burial. The adventures continue when Sherlock and Amyus are investigating in a nature museum and both are attacked. Sherlock is attacked by a falcon with metal blades on its feet!Mycroft doesn't know why he is being targeted. He thinks it might have something to do with the sale of Alaska by Russia to the United States. Since he also has a missing agent in Russia, he is determined to travel there to find his friend and perhaps find out why he is being targeted. He brings along Sherlock because he fears leaving him behind will just make him a potential hostage for the unknown villains. They travel under the guise of being the manager and general factotum of a theatrical troupe traveling to Russia to perform famous English plays. One of the actors teaches Sherlock how to change his appearance with theatrical make-up which is still another skill he will use as an adult detective. Once in Russia, they run afoul of the secret police and Sherlock finds himself escaping villains underground again. This time he is following the path of an underground river and is beset by feral dogs. After Mycroft is arrested by the secret police it is up to Sherlock to figure out the villains' plans and to find a way to disrupt them.Adventure lovers of all ages will be swept away by the break-neck pace of this novel. People familiar with the Sherlock Holmes mysteries will see lots of seeds of the man he will become in the fifteen-year-old boy. I really recommend this to lovers of adventure and lovers of mystery of all ages.

[sparkleponies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series which shows us the young Sherlock Holmes as he is growing up and developing all the skills and traits that we see in him as the mature detective. In this one his brother Mycroft is accused of murder and Sherlock ends up in Russia helping to sort it all out. A good ready for anyone.

[jean_sexton-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The third entry in the Young Sherlock Holmes series, this is best read in order so as to get the references and know just why Sherlock is in such danger. Mycroft has a more prominent role in this book; I like the hints that showed what he would become. This book feels somewhat like pulp fiction with outrageously over-the-top plans by the villains, but I thoroughly enjoyed it in all of its unlikely glory. This version of Sherlock is fascinating and I cannot wait to see where the author goes next with the series.Highly recommended for Sherlock Holmes fans, especially for younger fans.

[hopeevey · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's a cute idea, but the flaws in the first volume bloom into gaping plot holes and difficult to swallow coincidences. I really, really want to like this series. Unfortunately, the author seems to have a checklist of things that have to happen to turn a bright 15 year old into the canonical Sherlock Holmes. This book felt much more like an exercise in checking off boxes than an a cohesive narrative.

The narration is excellent, but doesn't hid the book's problems. It's possible I would feel differently if I had read these in order, so I'll give the second book a try.

[mysterymax_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This third book in the series of young Sherlock Holmes is at least as good as the first two, and quite possible the best of them so far.It is quite easy to see the grown-up Holmes in this young Sherlock. Here he finds, and buys on his own, his violin. We also get a much closer look at Mycroft.I know some people feel it starts too slowly - as they said about the first two - but I wonder if that is not how adventures truly start. Usually one doesn't realize they are about to begin an exciting adventure.In my opinion, it is an excellent edition to a great series.

[bookangel_a · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't normally read Young Adult books, but I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan. I really enjoyed this book!The reader gets to see Sherlock Holmes in his formative years, when he is still learning and vulnerable. It is an interesting perspective to see Holmes in a story where he is not the smartest person on the case! This tale also helps the reader to see how Holmes came to be a private detective as an adult.Holmes and his tutor visit Mycroft and find him in a locked room with a dead body, holding a knife in his hand. The police decide on his guilt, so they set out to clear his name. A fast paced adventure follows, where they face danger and adventure and double agents. There's also a bit of culture thrown in with the theater and the violin. This definitely sets the stage for the adult Sherlock Holmes we already know.I have not read the previous books in the series, and there were several references to earlier events that I did not follow. However, in spite of that I very much enjoyed this book and I would definitely read others in this series.

[karieh_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got this book for my ten year old son to read, as he’d enjoyed the first two books in this series. After two chapters, though, he put it down saying it was boring. Not one to let a book go to waste, I picked it up.The first two chapters are a little slow…but after that, this book picks up the pace and was an engaging read. I am a huge fan of the BBC series “Sherlock” and so I enjoyed this look at what people and events might have formed this fascinating and enigmatic character.After the slow start, this book is almost a non-stop adventure…and although I wasn’t a big fan of all the people (and their intensity) trying to kill a young Sherlock…I understand that it’s a part of the story and the legend.There were a couple of lines that ring particularly true. As Mycroft (who almost has more of a presence here than Sherlock) contemplates his actions on the world stage: “It is not a game, let alone a great one. Sitting here in London, in a comfortable armchair, it is possible to lose track of that. Perhaps if my time in Russia has taught me one thing, it is that the pieces we so blithely move on the chessboard are real people, with real feelings.”And in true Mycroft fashion: “That is the way international relations ought to be conducted: politely and with refreshments…”There is just something about the legend of Sherlock Holmes that is irresistible to readers of all ages. I think I might make my son now read Chapter Three…

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Good Stuff Enjoyed the fleshing out of the character of Mycroft More fast paced than the first story in series -- which I think will interest the intended audience a little more Nice light humour You can really see how this Sherlock could develop into Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Love how the author throws in some history, science etc so subtlety that kids won't pick up the fact that they are learning stuff The historical notes at the end are a fabulous addition Lots of twists and turns Need to find out what Mrs Egaltine's agenda is Not as dark as book 1 Accidentally read book #3 instead of book #2 -- but didn't feel too lost or disorientated from missing it (Now going to start book #2 to fill in the blanks)The Not So Good Stuff Still a wee bit slow - it works, but might turn off some more reluctant readersFavorite Quotes/Passages"This is all very interesting," Sherlock said cautiously, but I'm not likely to take up fishing as a hobby. It seems to consist of a whole lot of sitting around waiting for something to happen. If I'm going to sit around for a long period of time, I'd rather have a good book in my hands than a fishing rod.""Less than an hour before he had been running for his life through dark tunnels, and now he was sitting in the sunshine waiting for cake to arrive. Life could be strange, sometimes. Actually, he reflected, life could be strange a lot of the time.""The problem with life," Mycroft observed. "is that it rarely gives us what we want, or even what we need. I've heard it said that the Lord does not give us anything that we cannot cope with. In my experience this is not true, and merely serves as a mechanism for helping religious people accept the unacceptable. Life is harsh, and we cannot even hope to survive it."Who Should/Shouldn't Read Perfect for boys 10 and up who like action and mystery Might be more suited for a stronger reader rather than a reluctant reader, but that is just my uneducated guess Jake is going to love this in probably a year or two -- he's a wee bit sensitive so I am going to wait for a while Girls will enjoy this as well - especially the more "tomboy" type4.25 Dewey'sI received this from HarperCollins in Exchange for an Honest Review