Fic Rec: The Iceman Cometh
Title: The Iceman Cometh
Author:
Polyphony
Pairing: John/Sherlock, past Sherlock/Victor
Length: 59,894 words
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Character death
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: An intriguing puzzle tempts Sherlock to accept Victor Trevor's invitation to the French Riviera, but all is not what it seems. Frustrated by the case and increasingly concerned about an absent John, Sherlock uncovers far more than he was meant to and is forced to become a fugitive, pursued by those on both sides of the law, as he fights for his freedom and the lives of all those around him.
Reccer's comments: This is one of those brilliantly done casefics that takes elements from various ACD stories and not only updates them and makes them original, but weaves them together into a larger plot that is eminently suited to the BBC verse, with its intrinsic use of computers, electronics, and intrigues within intrigues.
Excerpt:
“Mrs Hudson, I’ll be in and out for the next few days. It’s likely to be a bit of a rough ride, unfortunately.”
Mrs Hudson looked anxious and Sherlock reached out to touch her shoulder.
“I’m very sorry,” he said, uncharacteristically serious, “Life is about to get extremely complicated for me and for anyone associated with me and I’m afraid that for the moment, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. Mrs Hudson, I would consider it a personal favour if you could see your way to getting out of London for a week or so. Perhaps you could stay with your sister?”
“Sherlock!” Mrs Hudson stared at him in shock then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What have you done?”
Sherlock shook his head. “I wish I knew,” he replied; the words burned like acid.
Sherlock is in full online mode in this fic, pulling out all the stops in his bag of tricks. From hacking into computer systems, donning various disguises, pulling in favours, and working his network of contacts, to racing through clues and deductions as he tries to work his way through the twisted web of blinds between him and the heart of the intrigue, Sherlock is somehow always able to keep pace and meet whatever challenge arises. It's a thrilling display of plotting, and a tour de force implementation of the characters.
Although Sherlock is the undisputed star, this is an ensemble piece, with the inclusion both of some OCs and several characters from the original ACD verse in addition to Victor (I feel like mentioning which ones would be spoilery), who are both kept true to their original characterizations and given more depth.
There is a secondary arc involving the relationship between John and Sherlock; it's well done and fulfilling, but it's not the focus of the fic and doesn't even really get involved until the second half.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the brilliant twist and reveal at the end, which while only tangentially related to the main plot, I found to be worth reading the first 58,000 words just to get there.
Author:
Polyphony
Pairing: John/Sherlock, past Sherlock/Victor
Length: 59,894 words
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Character death
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: An intriguing puzzle tempts Sherlock to accept Victor Trevor's invitation to the French Riviera, but all is not what it seems. Frustrated by the case and increasingly concerned about an absent John, Sherlock uncovers far more than he was meant to and is forced to become a fugitive, pursued by those on both sides of the law, as he fights for his freedom and the lives of all those around him.
Reccer's comments: This is one of those brilliantly done casefics that takes elements from various ACD stories and not only updates them and makes them original, but weaves them together into a larger plot that is eminently suited to the BBC verse, with its intrinsic use of computers, electronics, and intrigues within intrigues.
Excerpt:
“Mrs Hudson, I’ll be in and out for the next few days. It’s likely to be a bit of a rough ride, unfortunately.”
Mrs Hudson looked anxious and Sherlock reached out to touch her shoulder.
“I’m very sorry,” he said, uncharacteristically serious, “Life is about to get extremely complicated for me and for anyone associated with me and I’m afraid that for the moment, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it. Mrs Hudson, I would consider it a personal favour if you could see your way to getting out of London for a week or so. Perhaps you could stay with your sister?”
“Sherlock!” Mrs Hudson stared at him in shock then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What have you done?”
Sherlock shook his head. “I wish I knew,” he replied; the words burned like acid.
Sherlock is in full online mode in this fic, pulling out all the stops in his bag of tricks. From hacking into computer systems, donning various disguises, pulling in favours, and working his network of contacts, to racing through clues and deductions as he tries to work his way through the twisted web of blinds between him and the heart of the intrigue, Sherlock is somehow always able to keep pace and meet whatever challenge arises. It's a thrilling display of plotting, and a tour de force implementation of the characters.
Although Sherlock is the undisputed star, this is an ensemble piece, with the inclusion both of some OCs and several characters from the original ACD verse in addition to Victor (I feel like mentioning which ones would be spoilery), who are both kept true to their original characterizations and given more depth.
There is a secondary arc involving the relationship between John and Sherlock; it's well done and fulfilling, but it's not the focus of the fic and doesn't even really get involved until the second half.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the brilliant twist and reveal at the end, which while only tangentially related to the main plot, I found to be worth reading the first 58,000 words just to get there.