Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death by Gyles Brandreth
Before you go any further – Do the following phrases mean anything? Lady Windermere’s Fan, The Importanct of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde. No? Then do yourself a favour and go on to the next review.
Now that I have found the Oscar Wilde fans, I can begin to introduce a most amazing new series. I will admit that I commenced the book with some misgivings. The whole concept of Oscar Wilde as a detective seemed on the surface, silly. However Brandreth built up a very convincing story.
The plot is very Agatha Christie. Seven friends meet once a month for dinner, each bringing one guest. (All must bring a guest, for it would be unseemly to have 13 at dinner.) With the port and cheeses Oscar would nominate a game of his own devising. On Sunday May 1 1892, the game was for each person in attendance to write down the name of one person they would like to see dead. The challenge for the others was to identify the victim for each man in attendance. All very fine in theory.
The atmosphere at the party becomes a little strained as the names of gentlemen in attendance begin to appear on the list. And everyone becomes concerned when those on the list begin to die, one each day. Oscar, number 13, is left to figure out what is happening before it is his turn.
Brandreth’s underlying idea is that Oscar Wilde was a careful observer of humanity. His stories and plays are clear demonstration of this idea. But Brandreth goes so far as to suggest that Oscar’s skills of observation were Conan Doyle’s basis for the character of Sherlock Holmes. Unlikely, but what a wonderful concept. And it works.
I found this book absolutely delightful. More for the wonderful characterisations contained than the complexity of the mystery itself. And I immediately went out and bought book one of the series. Watch this space for more.
