Now, I'm not a fan of Sherlock Holmes. Well, that's not quite right. It's not that I dislike Holmes in any sense - far from it. It's more that the relationship I have with Holmes is similar to the relationship my fifteen year old self had with GURLS, i.e. none to speak of, but with the utter conviction that it was only a matter of time and proximity. I've remained thus utterly convinced - about Holmes, at least; I don't want to talk about GURLS lest I cry - in the decades since.

Which means that Big Finish's "Sherlock Holmes: the Last Act" was a wonderful way to break my duck, so to speak.

The Last Act is, essentially, a Holmesian primer. A monologue from Holmes to an unseen Watson, after the former has attended the latter's funeral, this story gives rise to a veritable infostamp of data about the man. Not just the succinct synopses of a number of stories, including Hound of the Baskervilles, the Final Problem and the Speckled Band; but also, and more importantly, a frank and slightly disturbing insight into the mind of what was, let's face it, one of fiction's first anti-heroes.

Because Holmes was very much a flawed man: arrogant, selfish, more than willing to use Watson to his own ends. And, of course, a cocaine addict, with the frailties brought about by that addiction very much a part of the interpretation here - as much in the self-loathing to which it led him, as the physical manifestations.

Holmes is played by Roger Llewellyn, who brings a brilliant, dark and somewhat camp angle to the role. I was immediately taken by the class with which Holmes was played - utterly believable, and inspiring sympathy and antipathy by turns without ever the transition jarring.

Indeed, I was initially slightly surprised, considering how well Holmes was played, that the other actors seemed to be doing little more than caricaturing, for example, Watson and Lestrade; and Mrs Hudson could have been a man, as far as the performance went. It was after I'd been listening for a while that I realised that Llewellyn was, in fact, playing all the roles; and more importantly, playing Holmes playing all the roles. Testament to a great performance, in fact. (I should read the sleeve notes more accurately, I suppose.)

The script, by David Stuart Davies, was tight, well balanced and gave great insight into the Detective. Nick Briggs's sound design, as to be expected from Big Finish, was subtle and lovely. Even the theme music was memorable.

I should, since this is a review, think of positive criticism as well as heaping on the praise. But, possibly because of my general ignorance of Holmes, I actually can't think of any. What I will say is that it has inspired me to read, watch and of course listen to more - so maybe next time, BF, I'll be more knowledgeable and less gushing.

Until then, the Last Act was a joy to listen to.