Raffles doesn’t benefit from his criminal acts to the extent he can lead a life of leisure, and he is very particular in choosing his targets. Conan-Doyle was reported to have thought very highly of Hornung’s stories, although he did not like the idea of making the protagonist a criminal. Hornung was the brother-in-law to Arthur Conan-Doyle, and his dedication in the first book to the creator of Holmes demonstrates that the similar literary style is not accidental. Raffles even displays a patriotic streak on more than one occasion, leading to fighting for the homeland in the Boer War.Į.W. Best of all, the story isn’t just informational filler … it is an involving tale that comes back to haunt Raffles and Bunny in a new setting. We do delve into Raffles’ backstory to link the events from the end of the last book to this one. In this set, (originally titled THE BLACK MASK) the relationship between the main characters is already established, so the Reader can just sit back and enjoy. The set of stories in the first book were most entertaining, although time had to be spent acquainting us with the lead characters. There are disguises, hair-breath escapes, villainous antagonists, and a sense of location that constantly seemed very comfortable.

The relationship between Raffles and Bunny is so reminiscent of Holmes and Watson. Anyone missing quiet evenings reading the exploits of Sherlock Holmes should find these tales to be a most fulfilling substitute. Raffles, the amateur cracksman, is back from a supposed watery grave to continue entertaining us with Further Adventures … and they are quite good. Without giving too much away, this is particularly harrowing in the last chapter of 'Further Adventures.'Īnyone who read and enjoyed the first Raffles book - and it definitely should be read before this one, as the ending of that one is needed to understand how this one begins - would find much to like in its follow-up. (Raffles and Bunny are sort of scofflaw versions of Holmes and Watson.) Hornung also often puts Raffles and Bunny in serious danger, something Doyle rarely seemed willing to do with his characters. In 'Further Adventures,' Hornung departs somewhat from the writing style of his brother-in-law, Arthur Conan Doyle, by making the episodic Raffles stories more interconnected than the Sherlock Holmes stories are.

Raffles and accomplice-chronicler Bunny in the first book, is freed up to have more fun with his creations and allow them to embark on adventures that aren't all strictly criminal in nature. Hornung, having already established the characters of gentleman thief A.J. 'Raffles: Further Adventures of the Amateur Cracksman' is even more enjoyable than its predecessor, 'The Amateur Cracksman.' E.W.

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