Arsène Lupin vs. Sherlock Holmes: The Hollow Needle

In this first volume of a planned three-volume set, the reader is introduced to Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Cambrioleur: the 'Prince of Thieves' — a Gentleman-Burglar of France. Maurice Leblanc made the fictional character famous in a series of short stories and novels just after the turn of the century - approximately 100 years ago. Arsène Lupin, in a sense, was France's answer to the exploits of the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Various meetings between the men on opposite sides make up the two short stories and the novel "The Hollow Needle" found in this book. (...) Also present in this first volume is the short story "Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late." Originally written in 1906, it features the first clash between Sherlock and Lupin. The book is concluded with a short story entitled "Escape Not The Thunderbolt" which is an original story penned by Jean-marc and Randy Lofficier for this volume. In it, by following the writing style of Maurice Leblanc, they bring several story threads from "The Hollow Needle" together to provide a conclusion to the rather open ended read. (*****) Maurice Leblanc's classic 1909 thriller pits France's Gentleman Burglar against England's Great Detective in a deadly duel over the age-old secret of the Kings of France. What is the "Hollow Needle" and what frightening power does it confer? Can Sherlock Holmes and Paris' newest crime solver, young Isidore Beautrelet, wrest its secret from Arsène Lupin? This new edition has been entirely retranslated for the first time since its original 1910 English publication. The book also includes SHERLOCK HOLMES ARRIVES TOO LATE, the first 1906 Lupin-Holmes short story, and ESCAPE NOT THE THUNDERBOLT, an all-new account of the final encounter between the Gentleman-Burglar and the Great Detective (*****) The clash between Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin began in "The Blonde Phantom" [248 pages, Hollywood Comics; First Edition (March 8, 2005)]. Lupin has effectively removed Holmes from the scene by kidnapping him. Enter a new protagonist: Isidore Beautrelet, a very young reporter with an analytical mind, almost matching that of Holmes, if I may utter such blasphemy! Beautrelet manages to track down Lupin and free Holmes, whose misguided shot kills Lupin's lover, Raymonde de Saint-Véran. But years later, when Holmes has retired to the Downs to keep bees (depending on whose line of books you wish to follow, The Raven walks all paths), Arsene Lupin visits him and forgives him for the deed. In fact, it seems Lupin never really held it against The Great Detective, believeing all along the shot was accidental. Their friendship (and rivalry) remains to the end. [Escape Not The Thunderbolt], an original story by Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier included in this volume, tells the tale. Quoth the Raven. [Customer Review by Darkendale "Raven" (Blue Ridge Mountains, VA USA)