The Breath of God I am pleased to report is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche and not a parody. Adams introduces the supernatural into the story and although this could have looked out of place I feel that in the light of Conan Doyle's later adherance to Spiritualism this is not so.
The story opens with young man-about-town Hilary de Montfort running for his life through the streets of Mayfair until being found dead in Grosvenor Square. Sherlock Holmes is brought into the case by "psychic doctor" Dr John Silence (a creation of Algernon Blackwood) who pursuades Holmes to travel with him to Scotland to meet Aleister Crowley. On the train they are joined by supernatural investigator Thomas Carnacki (a creation of William Hope Hodgson) who, with Dr John Watson, fights off a supernatural attack. At Crowley's manor of Boleskine they are joined by Julian Karswell (a creation of M.R.James) and together they fight off a massive supernatural attack in a scene reminiscent of Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out. Crowley, by the way, actualy existed. He was a member of a group called The Golden Dawn who fancied themselves as Magicians and indulged in all kinds of fancy rituals. Crowley was also a dedicated self-publicist and was no doubt delighted when the Daily Express called him "The Wickedest Man in the World".
Altogether I found this an excellent addition to the "New Sherlock Holmes" genre, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
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