By Chris Wood
LBD Publishing
ISBN: 978-1906669027
Review by: Jim Cherry
Review posted 02/26/2011
“Sherlock Holmes and the Flying Zombie Death Monkeys” by Chris Wood can be a lot of things. Is it a novel with 4 chapters? Or it could be a book of short stories that are linked together by the appearance of flying zombie death monkeys? Mostly it’s a witty parody of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.
In “Sherlock Holmes and the Flying Zombie Death Monkeys” we’re taken to the London of Sherlock Holmes that is suddenly invaded by flying zombie death monkeys, it’s not only the title it’s the plot synopsis. Wood’s Holmes is an idiot that has the absolute conviction of the infallibility of his logic, and an unflappable demeanor when it doesn’t pan out. Holmes’ sidekick Dr. Watson is here too, barely able to endure Holmes and his insufferable attitude, but Holmes provides Watson with adventures and away from the little Mrs. at home. Watson keeps mistaking the zombie death monkeys for lawyers or politicians. I’m not sure if this is political commentary or not, but it’s funny. Personally, I don’t understand why flying death monkeys need to be zombies, but that’s beside the point.
Wood has down the cadences of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories but he also has the voice of Holmes and Watson down to make a sonorous double parody. Period pictures add to not only the feel of the stories as Sherlock Holmes, but offer more comic counterpoint at dramatic moments.
Against my better judgment, at times I found myself laughing out loud while reading “Sherlock Holmes and the Flying Zombie Death Monkeys.” Even if you don’t think flying zombie death monkeys are your thing, you’ll find yourself enjoying these stories.
Jim Cherry is the author of The Last Stage www.jymsbooks.com
