Arsène Lupin 2: Arsène Lupin Vs. Herlock Sholmes

Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmès is the second collection of Arsène Lupin stories by Maurice Leblanc, featuring two adventures that showcase a match of wits between Lupin and Herlock Sholmès (an obvious riff on Sherlock Holmes after the Doyle estate stopped the use of the Homes name).

The purchase of an antique desk , its theft, a lottery ticket, an impossible escape, the Blue Diamond heist  and move and counter move between the two adversaries makes the first story ‘The Blond Lady’  gripping reading. ‘The Jewish Lamp’ continues the battle of wits between the two with Lupin warning Sholmès not to intervene. That spurs Sholmès on and he proceeds to investigate the crime and finds out the true reason for Lupin’s appeal not to intervene.