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  • The Vatican Cameos

  • A Sherlock Holmes Adventure
  • By: Richard T Ryan
  • Narrated by: Nigel Peever
  • Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (25 ratings)

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The Vatican Cameos

By: Richard T Ryan
Narrated by: Nigel Peever
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Summary

When the papal apartments are burgled in 1901, Sherlock Holmes is summoned to Rome by Pope Leo XII. After learning from the pontiff that several priceless cameos that could prove compromising to the church, and perhaps determine the future of the newly unified Italy, have been stolen, Holmes is asked to recover them.

In a parallel story, Michelangelo, the toast of Rome in 1501 after the unveiling of his Pieta, is commissioned by Pope Alexander VI, the last of the Borgia pontiffs, with creating the cameos that will bedevil Holmes and the papacy four centuries later.

For fans of Conan Doyle's immortal detective, the game is always afoot. However, the great detective has never encountered an adversary quite like the one with whom he crosses swords in The Vatican Cameos.

©2016 Richard Ryan (P)2016 MX Publishing
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What listeners say about The Vatican Cameos

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The story is pretty good, but the performance...

I've heard Holmes voiced by many people and, although they do differ, I have been able to accept each of them. That is until this recording, where Holmes is voiced by someone that seems to be affecting a Sean Connery impression. simply isn't Holmes.

Also, the Italian accents seem to have popped straight out of 'Allo, Allo'.

Not impressed, it ruined the experience for me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

SHERLOCK HOLMES MIXED WITH THE HOLY FATHER

THIS STORY TAKE TO GREAT ICONS AND SMASHES THEM TOGETHER FOR A RIGHTEOUS HISTORY LESSONWITH A BIT OF JUST WHATS GOING ON BEHIND THE VATICAN DOORS.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book

When the papal apartments are burgled in 1901, Sherlock Holmes is summoned to Rome by Pope Leo XII.
great book enjoyed it very much
Narrated by: Nigel Peever who brought everything to life

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Lovely recreation

Would you listen to The Vatican Cameos again? Why?

If you know Sherlock Holmes best from the Cumberbatch TV series, you might be surprised to learn that the Holmes in Conan Doyle's books was a much better mannered gentlemen and his friendship with Watson is much more companionable and less tortured. Robert T Ryan captures Conan Doyle's voice and style very well, making this an enjoyable adventure, which like most SH novels, is essentially a short story with a long flashback to pad it out. Cleverly he runs the SH mystery and the flashback in parallel, cutting between them, which improves the pace enormously.

If you’ve listened to books by Richard T Ryan before, how does this one compare?

This is my first encounter with this author.

Which character – as performed by Nigel Peever – was your favourite?

Nigel Peever does an excellent job with all the characters but his standout is the infamous Pope Alexander Borgia, given a rich deep voice.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A mystery which will destroy the Vatican. Holmes will need to perform a miracle.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Fantastic

Brilliant story and a really fantastic narration which brought the whole book to life. Story very much like the original Sherlock tales (Arthur Conan Doyle) . Cannot wait to hear the other Sherlock tales of which I have lots.
I received this audiobook free in return for an honest unbiased review.
Tracey Allan

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Poor audio and irritation storyline

I’ve listened to dozens of Sherlock pastiches and loved all of them. Didn’t love this. I tried. Audio went up and down volume wise. Found it all a tad trying.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Interesting but...

I have listened to all the Sherlock Holmes adventures on Audible by this author and generally enjoyed the stories. While this story was interesting, I was unprepared for the description of graphic sexual acts. The story could’ve been far more subtle and enjoyable, but instead it bordered on pornographic and completely inappropriate for a person who simply wishes to settle down with a good mystery.

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