I'm always ready to read a closed circle mystery, especially one on an island cut off by a storm when it's historical to boot. So it was a no-brainer for me to ask for an ARC of The Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte.
It's 1960, and we meet actor Ormond Basil whose most famous role was playing Sherlock Holmes for a number of years at the movies. Now with very few roles on offer, he accepts an invitation to join a producer and his opera-singer mistress on their yacht to discuss a part. When they are standed on a small Greek island at an inn due to a storm, they wake up to find one of their fellow guests has been murdered. Basil's experience playing Sherlock is expected to have rubbed off on him, making him the most qualified to investigate until the police can arrive.
Perez-Reverte does a masterful job creating a cast of well-developed characters and a sea full of red herrings for Basil to sort out. The setting at the inn is atmospheric and elegant yet creepy. I gave this 4.5 stars and would highly reocmmend to Christie fans looking for an homage to And Then There Were None.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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