Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance

Brandreth has created a respectable little mystery that combines Oscar Wilde's wit with Sherlock Holmes' eye for detail and seemingly prescient knowledge. It's fun, though at times the author seems to be so entertained by the personality of his characters that the story lacks focus. Not much really happens, and when the solution is finally presented it seems a little too neat and tidy, requiring several characters to know the motives of others seemingly before any crime had even been committed.

Still, it was enjoyable. Wilde's witty banter and charisma is nicely captured, and his character presents a nice twist on the Holmes and Watson formula--purposefully, I might add; Arthur Conan Doyle is a key player in the drama and seems to model his character on Wilde.

I'd recommend it for mystery fans or historical fiction fans, but as a brief and entertaining diversion, not as an essential text. Click on the cover to order the novel from Amazon.