The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

I was immediately taken with author/filmmaker Nicholas Meyer's brilliant pairing of a flailing, cocaine-addicted Sherlock Holmes with a winningly rendered Sigmund Freud, whom a desperate Doctor Watson has recruited to save the self-destructive detective.

Freud’s efforts eventually teased out the darkest of secrets driving Holmes’ notorious substance abuse in a manner I found enthralling. I believe the best historical novels confidently ground you in a time and a place that captivates but also conjures a reality all their own in their blending of fact and fiction, which this novel does in spades.

I’ve revisited it many times over the years.… show more.

Of all the selections on this list, this is my favorite in terms of getting Doyle or Watson’s voice down perfectly. But the inclusion of Dr Sigmund Freud with Holmes, and the resulting story is pure brilliance.

The deep dive into Holmes’s psyche and the drive that makes him the best detective in the world is pure brilliance.

Nicholas Meyer is the master of Sherlock Holmes pastiche. His first book, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, is a wonderful alternate history of the events leading up to Reichenbach Falls. In it, Holmes must battle his addiction to cocaine with the help of Sigmund Freud and his trusted friend, Dr. Watson. It’s a fascinating exploration of Holmes’ psyche, and we get a terrific mystery at the same time.

I remember my dad, who introduced me to this book, was a bit worried about my reading it. He thought it might change how I felt about my hero. It only made me love… show more.