List of 7 &
The 6 Messiahs

Written by Mark Frost
Published by Avon (Mass Market Paperback)

When I was just a little Doctor, I became obsessed with mystery novels. Subjected to the standard fare of the Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown, I found that these tales often lacked a certain something...MYSTERY.  These things, while entertaining enough mindcandy for the average six-year-old, weren't enough.  I turned then, quite naturally, to something a bit more dense - Sherlock.  The supersleuth of Baker Street and his outrageous intellect was exactly what I wanted out of a detective, never mind the sheer scientific impossibility of some of his supposed logic (try identifying a cigar brand by its ashes some time if you think I exaggerate).

So, imagine my delight when I discover The List of 7 and The 6 Messiahs. Having long ago devoured the Holmes corpus, a historical fiction about Doyle
himself had great promise.  Add to this the vaguely occult overtones of the back-cover blurb, and the author himself.  If Frost's name isn't familiar, don't feel bad.  It's easy to miss it when it appears underneath the name David Lynch in the credits of the only TV mystery show worth watching, Twin Peaks.  Suffice it to say, I was intrigued.

Perhaps the most astounding thing about these books is Frost's ability to inject such intelligence into his lead characters.  As creator of Sherlock Holmes, it stands to reason Doyle's intellect was pretty sharp.  As portrayer of Doyle, Frost's intellect has to be that much sharper.  When Doyle meets Jack Sparks, dashing adventurer, renaissance man, and inspiration of Doyle's trademark detective, the deductive stakes are raised yet again, and Frost's portrayal of these rapier minds fencing one another is often dizzying and always wondrous to behold.

I must also confess to being a fan of "alternate history" fiction.  I think genre work is more interesting when it operates within the world of the familiar (it's only an opinion).  Frost's portrait of Victorian England and the latter years of America's Manifest Destiny expansion adds a level of depth and believability to his characters that few "mainstream" writers of historical fiction can manage.  He never allows the backdrop to intrude on the play between characters, though, which is perhaps the true accomplishment in writing historical fiction.  He does, however, find it hard to resist a few literary "in-jokes," such as Doyle's encounter with Irish theatreman Bram Stoker in the chapel and graveyard of Whitby, and the subsequent showdown with the forces of darkness. (And for those of you that don't get that one - get out.  Come back when you understand.  Consider it a pop quiz.)

What we are ultimately presented with in these books is not merely a piece of historical fantasy built around a recognizable author, but a pair of tales that very palpably extend the legacy of Sherlock Holmes.  These books read like Doyle's work, with a slightly up-tempo, edgier feel.  After all, we always trusted Sherlock to figure everything out, but in Frost's world, much less is certain.  There are moments, especially in the first book, that are certifiable goosebumpers, and I found myself turning pages frantically to find out if everyone would survive the latest encounter with the occult.

Diagnosis:  If you are a fan of mystery, horror, historical fiction, or the Victorian age, these books will make your day.  If you're not a fan of any of those things, you will be when you're done with Frost's pair of page-turners.

Grade:  The List of 7:  A
              The 6 Messiahs: A-