Item - Le défi d'Irène Adler

(Review based on the English translation.)

Like other interactive comic books published by Makaka, this one makes the reader inspect the panels for hidden items and information (observation is essential in order to solve the mysteries presented). There are also a few puzzles which spice things up. The reader can choose to play either Holmes or Adler, each of whom has different advantages and disadvantages during play. The book also gives the option for two people to play (one taking the role of Holmes and the other Adler), by taking turns solving the mysteries and then comparing their scores. The book does not use dice and the rules are minimal (basically the only stat you keep track of are presentation cards, which are only used to tally your score). Overall, I liked this book quite a bit even considering it has serious flaws. On the positive side, the two mysteries are very challenging to solve (the book only gives the reader a few clues, and does not help him or her piece them together). On the negative side, the adventure feels way too brief (especially considering there are two cases); I was surprised how quickly the reader is compelled to offer a solution to the mystery in both instances. I was also disappointed that there is so little character development between Holmes and Adler, when the Holmes canon offered quite a bit of inspiration which could have been used for this purpose. There is also little replay value if you are playing solo, since (obviously) the solution to the mystery will not change depending on the character you play. All in all, the book is a fun experience despite its shortcomings. It shows that this series can be a good competitor to the classic Sherlock Holmes Solo Mysteries gamebook series.

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