The Ill Dressed Vagabond

Review of Sherlock Holmes: The Army of Dr. Moreau from Philip K. Jones

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:09:28 -0500

This is the second novel by Mr. Adams featuring Sherlock Holmes. His earlier effort was “Sherlock Holmes: The Breath of God,” in which Aleister Crowley and several “supernatural investigators” join Holmes in fending off evil. This new book also takes its inspiration from the popular fiction of the late Nineteenth Century, this time from H. G. Wells’s “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” It seems that someone is carrying on with the animal experiments of Dr. Moreau into the beginning of the Twentieth Century. At Mycroft’s request, Sherlock turns to a team of 19^th Century fictional scientists to uncover this evil. Scientists and adventurers of all sorts pop up at the oddest moments and places.

My main problem with the book stemmed from the 19^th Century science at the bottom of it. Wells’ works, while not being exactly prophetic, have usually been based on solid advances in science of one sort or another. His “Doctor Moreau,” unfortunately, did not point to a glorious or even a practical future. Serums and extracts generally have no effect at the level of detail required for effective multi-generic crosses and mixes. The nature of the DNA control of growth and aging still remain beyond our science more than a hundred years later even though glimmers are appearing. On that basis, I found the required “willing suspension of disbelief” to be very hard-sought.

Once the science details are out of the way, the mystery becomes a good deal more interesting. Some unknown person is duplicating Dr. Moreau’s work somewhere in London’s sewers. Corpses are turning up in various states of dismemberment (mostly ‘fine’) and no-one seems exempt. Shopkeepers, gentlemen, ladies of the evening and beggars all show up in parts at odd locations. The wear on the bodies is especially upsetting as it all seems to result from claws and fangs, not the usual knives and blunt objects. Holmes enlists Professor Challenger to join him on a hunt for one of the perpetrators and they succeed.

What (or who) they capture leads only to more questions and confusion. The only sure result is that they know that more is happening than night terrors. The reasons and the criminal remain hidden, so an all-out attack on his ‘laboratory’ must be conducted. In the meantime, the perpetrator leads an expedition, in disguise, to parliament and captures the Prime Minister. At this point the Government become perturbed and Mycroft receives orders to “DO SOMETHING!”

The Government raid proceeds, with the long-foreseen double and triple-crosses and Watson and Shinwell Johnson are wounded, Holmes is captured and the Prime Minister slaughtered, but, otherwise, all turns out well(?) The questions left over provide a good deal of food for thought, while the actual slaughter and horrors are but a pale reflection of the coming “War to end all Wars.” It all just goes to show that humans can be more beastly than ANY animals when they apply themselves.

The overall quality of the book is good. If it were not for my personal issues with the main subject, I would have enjoyed it much more, but that is simply a matter of personal taste and does not reflect on the skill or invention of the author. It presents a fine adventure with Holmes being even more typically himself than in most other Sherlockian fiction. At one point, he is quoted as saying about Society Notes, “I listen, I just do not always care!”

Philip K. Jones reviews The Great Detective: His Further Adventures

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:40:54 -0500

“This book is an anthology of an even dozen short stories and novellas by a variety of authors. “The Mystery of Ogham Manor” is a novella by Stan Trybulski in which Holmes unmasks a serial killer with an international reputation. Magda Jozsa’s short story, “The Dentist,” tells of a murder brotherhood uncovered by Dr. Watson and brought to justice by Holmes. In “The Fury,” a short story by Lyn McConchie, we revisit King’s Pyland Stables and Colonel Ross, owner of Silver Blaze. A gypsy stable hand who tends a difficult horse has gone missing and is urgently needed to calm the horse before a race. In “Death and No Consequences,” a short story by Richard K. Tobin, Holmes and Watson are asked by the Royal Family to investigate a gruesome murder.

John L. French’s short story, “Murder at the Diogenes Club,” is an onion. In it, layers of truth and falsehood are stripped away, one after another, to reveal the true events behind a “smash and grab” set of murders. Ralph E. Vaughan’s short story, “The Adventure of the Night Hunter,” tells of Sherlock and (his cousin?) Professor Challenger joining forces to track a new hunter who has declared a territory in the world’s largest city. “The Adventure of the Devil’s Father,” a short story by Morris Hershman, tells the tale of “Colonel Warburton’s madness” as cited in “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb.” Inspector Lestrade introduces Holmes and Watson to “…the card scandal at the Nonpareil Club,” as cited in “The Hound of the Baskervilles” in Marvin Kaye’s short story “A Memo from Inspector Lestrade.”

“The Button Box,” a short story by Lyn McConchie, Brings Hilton Soames, from “The Adventure of the Three Students” back into Holmes and Watson’s lives. His grandmother’s button box had been stolen from her in broad daylight near a friend’s house. “Sherlock Holmes – Stymied” is a short story by Gary Lovisi in which Dr. Watson introduces Holmes to golf and to some of its odder rules. “Bad Habits” by Magda Jozsa is a novella that involves Holmes and Watson in a complex plot through a letter from a nun. “Irene and the Old Detective” is a short story by Richard L. Kellogg that tells of Holmes in retirement giving advice to a schoolgirl on studying.

These tales allowed me to revisit some old favorites and to meet several writers new to me. All were well-written and imaginative and several presented new slants on Untold Tales cited in the Canon. Surprisingly, only one writer seemed to have trouble with the contrasts between British and American English usage. I recall that World War II meetings were plagued by the opposite meanings of “tabling” an item of discussion used by the US and the UK staff. One of the authors here cites Holmes as using this term in the American sense fifty years before that difference became a problem. The Acknowledgement segment of the book gives the publishing history of the tales, telling where three were published previously. I happen to be familiar with some of the others, through personal communications and it was good to see them finally in print.”

Philip K. Jones reviews The Galactic Casebook of Sherlock Holmes

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 14:25:30 -0500

This book is part of series by the author called “The Starship UK” series. These books are set in a distant future when humanity have abandoned the Earth, due to over-pollution and depleted resources and, instead, live in a widely dispersed group of large city-starships in which they search for unoccupied planets to settle. The tales of Sherlock Holmes occur in or near to “Starship UK,” the main residence of descendants of the population of the United Kingdom.

The author specializes in science fiction, so all of the stories in this series are set in a distant future. The eight tales included in this volume reprise, in loose fashion, eight of the Canonical tales. Sherlockians will recognize the sources of these events and will find the adaptation of the original tales into this odd future to be imaginatively done.

As a long-time science fiction fan, I found the author’s approach to the scientific side of his tales somewhat less than satisfactory. I was constantly irritated by his very confusing use of galaxy and system interchangeably. Further, there was no explanation of the faster than light technology in use or of any methods to avoid light speed travel limitations. Further, the future technology in use was surprisingly limited and the society was much simpler than one would expect from the complexity required to support the history provided. There were also a number of spelling and grammar errors that need attention.

The tales included all present interesting adaptations of the elements of Canonical tales into a future setting. It goes without saying that the details of events in this collection differ widely from those originally published. Most adaptations are both amusing and ingenious.

Philip K. Jones reviews The Papers of Sherlock Holmes by David Marcum

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 01:48:21 -0500

This is the first collection of Sherlockian tales from this author. It includes eight novellas and two short stories as well as an explanation of the source of the stories.

“The Adventure of the Least Winning Woman,” is not to be confused with “…the most winning woman…” cited in The Sign of Four. It describes an interesting case of blackmail and appropriation of a business for criminal purposes. In “The Adventure of the Treacherous Tea,” Holmes is engaged by a man arrested for murder who escaped from the police simply to flee to Holmes to plead with him to look into his arrest. “The Singular Affair at Sissinghurst Castle” brings Holmes and Watson face-to-face with another local legend of historic evil. This one seems to have been used by a sharp business practitioner.

“The Adventure of the Second Chance” is a short story that describes Holmes’ dealings with the family of a man in Professor Moriarty’s employ. It begins during ”Silver Blaze” and concludes in 1901 with an execution. “The Affair of the Brother’s Request” is another tale that covers decades in time. It cites a separate tale of Holmes’ adventures in the post-Civil-War Southern USA and concludes with a trip to the area by Holmes and Watson after WW-I. “The Adventure of the Madman’s Ceremony” occurs during the same trip by Holmes and Watson after WW-I and involves some chance-met acquaintances. “The Haunting of Sutton House” tells two tales. One is yet another use of legends for profit that Holmes wrecks and the other is a tale of family wrangling that arises from insanity.

“The Adventure of the Missing Missing Link” tells of Holmes and Watson’s involvement in the Piltdown discovery. It also tells of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s involvement and of some of the principals as well. “The Adventure of the Other Brother” goes into some depth in describing the other members of the Holmes family as well as their relations and pseudonyms over the years. Two well-known detective duos are identified and related to each other in roundabout fashion. The final item is titled “Postscript: Two Letters.” It provides some continuity and explanation for the sources of these tales.

This collection is difficult to describe. This is clearly a different Holmes and Watson than the characters we see in the Canon. This Watson is sensible, curious and sensitive while this Holmes is human and caring. The explanation, we are told, is that these are not tales prepared by Watson for publication, but rather are tales prepared by the editor from notes taken by Watson, either as the events occurred or shortly thereafter. These are darker and more realistic tales than we see in the Canon. Here criminals are filled with fear and hatred and pride. Victims are afraid and confused and distracted and events often occur at random, not as part of a plan. The stories are interesting and the Holmes and Watson we meet are also interesting, if not the same as their Canonical counterparts.

Philip K. Jones reviews The Untold Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:48:35 -0500

mxpublishing:

“This collection includes seven novellas drawn from a variety of times during Holmes’ career. The letter by Dr. Watson that precedes the stories explains that these tales were not told earlier for a variety of reasons but mostly to prevent further harm to the victims. There seems to be no common thread or theme among the tales included.

‘The Adventure of the Poisoned Affair’ tells of Holmes’ involvement, at the request of the new widow, in the investigation of an apparent suicide by poison. Anomalies at the scene convince Holmes that the ‘suicide’ is actually a murder. ‘The Adventure of the Yellow Handkerchief’ leads Holmes and Watson into the world of Thuggee. Inspector Lestrade asks Holmes to help with a series of murders that are otherwise unrelated except for yellow handkerchiefs left at the scenes. The story also presents a selection of other potential clients and their problems.

‘The Adventure of the Haunted Hotel’ presents a mystery with its roots firmly placed in the past. Holmes and Watson are faced with hatreds and superstitions based on a pirate raid carried out at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century. The solution requires drastic action and careful planning. ‘The Adventure of the Acquitted Client’ details a well-organized and executed scam based on common legal practice in Victorian England. Again, the solution calls for a great deal of planning and active detective work.

‘The Adventure of St. Mary’s Murder’ has Holmes called in to help the local police on another series of murders. Attractive young women are being murdered and left in churches in the Manchester area. There seems to be no connection except the youth and attractiveness of the victims. Holmes and Watson manage to identify and trap the monster responsible, along with evidence to convict for multiple murders. ‘The Adventure of the Diamond Jubilee’ has Inspector Lestrade seeking Holmes’ help in dealing with an apparent threat by Muslim extremists against the Queen at Her Diamond Jubilee. A resurrected Moriarty seems to be at the base of this problem and Holmes must persuade the Queen to accept his advice and control of events in order to ensure Her safety.

The final story, ‘The Solved Problem’, rewrites some elements of ‘The Empty House’ and reveals the details of the death of Mary Morstan Watson. In addition, the elements of the renewed Moriarty presence mentioned in earlier stories is explained and examined. Many elements of this tale are quite personal and painful for Watson and telling it is difficult and revealing.

This book was fairly well edited. I found only a couple of spelling errors, but there were a number of homonym errors. For example, writing ‘past’ for ‘passed’ and visa-versa occurred several times, along with various, similar errors. There were also odd errors in subject/predicate agreement and a few other such problems. Another problem for Sherlockians is the difference between these tales and those from the Canon. I cannot put my finger on the stylistic details, for Watson is kept thoroughly in the dark by Holmes, but the difference is one of taste and viewpoint, so don’t look for new Canonical tales. On the other hand, these are interesting and puzzling mysteries and the author worked to recreate the world of The Canon.”

The Untold Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is available from all good bookstores including in the USA Barnes and Noble and Amazon , in the UK Amazon and Waterstones and fans outside US and UK can get free delivery from Book Depository. In ebook format it is in Kindle, iTunes, Kobo and Nook.

Philip K. Jones reviews The Pirate King by Laurie R. King

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:09:52 -0500

“This is the eleventh volume in the author’s “Mary Russell” series. It is an attempt at humor and adventure where neither Mary nor Sherlock need to save the world, nor even the British Empire. Mary is maneuvered by Sherlock, Lestrade and Mycroft into applying for a secretary/assistant position with a British film producer who is planning on making a movie about pirates. This producer is seen by His Majesty’s Government as Great Britain’s answer to the industry dominance of the American film studios, so his effort must be successful. The fact that certain nefarious transactions seem to dog the footsteps of this producer’s so-far-successful efforts is really of no consequence to his investors (Royal, noble and otherwise), but they do want an official presence to watch out for their interests.

Mary, with her Oxford degree and her multiple Language skills, is a godsend to the producer, whose current assistant has gone missing, as he is planning on filming at locations in the Mediterranean. Eventually she and the ‘cast and crew’ head off to Portugal to begin their travels. There they find an ideal pirate ship and acquire a crew of pseudo-pirates to man it. From there it is ‘off to Morocco’ to begin filming their epic.

Of course, nothing ever goes smoothly, so Mary is faced with problems ranging from Languages and seasickness to oversexed cast and crew. She keeps her knowledge of Arabic to herself and so hears more than people intend. The pirates they hired begin to seem more and more real as the ideal pirate ship looks less and less ideal. The complexities grow even faster than the budget and more and more secrets pop out of the woodwork.

As a comedy, the effort falls a bit flat. Many of the situations are amusing, but they do not sing of silliness or resound with offstage laughter. It all seems a bit strained and no one seems happy, ever. Everyone seems to be taking things very seriously and yet no one seems really interested in the people around them. It just reads like a tiresome task that Mary must perform. Nothing is fun, not even the ending, with Mary asked to star in a new picture based on Byron’s “Corsair” titled “Pirate Queen.”

As an adventure, this book is interesting. It has lots of thrills and realistic menaces. Much of the Nineteenth Century lurks in out-of-the-way corners of the world, even after The War to end all Wars. The slave trade, both white and otherwise, remains active and Piracy is still profitable if performed discretely. However, the pirates can learn as well as anyone else and the opportunities in this modern world can be dazzling if a bit of imagination is applied. Unfortunately, the author has not really applied herself to creating her trademark intriguing characters. She has produced a variety of personages, but most are not quite filled out or believable. This book is just not up to her usual standard.”

Philip K. Jones reviews Sherlock Holmes and the Dead Boer at Scotney Castle

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:06:43 -0400

mxpublishing:

“This is a first novel by an author new to Sherlockian fiction. The presentation of Holmes and Watson is a bit different than is common in such works, but it does seem more sensible than others, both in the Canon and in the many pastiches available. Holmes and Watson disagree and argue and look at the world quite differently than as we are accustomed to view them. On the other hand, the world inhabited by this Holmes and Watson is quite different from that of the Canon and most pastiches. It is a complex, gritty and more realistic world where things are seldom as they appear.

Early in the story as well as near the end, the author describes meals featuring a Turkish dish, Imam Bayildi, translated as “The Swooning Imam.” In many ways, this dish is representative of the story as a whole. Imam Bayildi is a main dish made with eggplant (aubergines) and a number of vegetables, herbs and spices. In reality, the eggplant merely serves to provide neutral bulk and texture for the dish whose taste is compounded of the many flavors of the other ingredients. In this story, the tale itself is complex and convoluted and not really believable, but it provides an excellent medium in which to present the gorgeous tapestry of places, characters, objects and opinions included by the author.

Holmes and Watson receive a peremptory summons to make presentations to a small society of wealthy Kipling fans. In arriving early for the appointment, Holmes manages to scramble some of the plans for the event and this has consequences. Plans are shifted and adjusted and complex events proceed with deviations. A naked corpse is found in a pond on a neighboring estate and, from newspaper accounts Holmes decides that murder has been committed. Watson objects and the dance begins.

The characters perform, the scenery changes and Holmes begins to realize his mistakes. Dr. Watson comes to see that murder has been done and Holmes realizes the murder cannot be proven or prosecuted. Clues contradict clues and the world shifts around as viewpoints change. The author continues to present paradoxes and the characters act out their destined roles. The modern world shifts its focus and Europe edges closer to the brink of war.

In addition to sharing my taste for complex prose and tangled events, the author also exhibits some talent in his fiction writing which does not appear in mine. The only problems I could find were a very few anachronistic terms and a possibly over-active imagination. Either the editor is quite capable or the author is most erudite or both contingencies apply. A wide range of subjects are discussed and presented in complex language without becoming boring. It was a real joy to read.”

Sherlock Holmes and the Dead Boer at Scotney Castle is available from all good bookstores including in the USA Barnes and Noble and Amazon, in the UK Waterstones, Amazon and Book Depository (free worldwide delivery) and in all electronic formats including Kindle and iPad.

Philip K Jones reviews Sherlock Holmes and the Portsmouth Mystery

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:22:00 -0400

Sherlock Holmes and the Portsmouth Mystery is the only Sherlockian book that I know of by this author, a former ‘Crusher,’ in the parlance of ‘The Andrew.’ Jack Coggan started as a ‘yard boy’ at Portsmouth in 1942 and retired in 1983 with only a term of service in the Navy at War’s end to break his career as a ‘yard dog.’ The book is interesting, colorful and lively. It smells of paint and oil and welding and it rings with the sounds of ship building and repair. It includes scenes from the dives and the chandlers, from battleships and coaling barges and the homes of workmen as well as the offices of Admirals.

Holmes and Watson are summoned to the office of the Minister of the Navy and asked to investigate the theft of the plans for a new battleship, to be called “HMS Dreadnought.” This ship marked the coming of age of the battleship as it was the first “all big gun” ship and the ancestor of all battleships to follow. It combined steam turbines for speed with heavy armour and a fearsome main battery and it changed the ‘ironclad’ Navy into the modern Navy. Only the arrival of the Aircraft Carrier replaced this type of battleship as the queen of the fleet.

Holmes and Watson are sent to Portsmouth, to ‘Pompey’ the main base of the Royal Navy, with directions to find the plans and to capture the thieves. They find much more and must look into nooks and crannies unfamiliar to the Admiralty to complete their task. As the story progresses, side issues intrude and other villains are identified and thwarted, but the main character remains elusive and his plans are intricate and well-laid.

The characters, the settings and the problems are unique. The book provides a vivid window into the world of Nineteenth Century Naval Construction and the complexity of converting the largest Navy in the World into a modern power. It also shows many of the arcane details of the naval construction world, planning, designing and testing new weapons, tactics and the procedures to use these against enemies.

There are a few editing continuity problems, far fewer than are common among new writers. Some are almost unnoticeable and none are really distracting. The writing maintains the interest level and avoids heavy jargon and specialized language wherever possible. The mystery is intriguing and well thought out and the characterizations are mostly well done. Sherlockian purists may have problems with the Holmes and Watson presented here, but the surroundings and complexity of cooperating with the naval authorities actually combine to impose serious limitations on Holmes’ usual disrespect for authority. The naval personnel are eager to deal with the problem and are easier to persuade than I would expect, while Holmes is more open and talkative than he is normally presented.

This is a fun read and a very interesting picture of a long gone place and time. The author certainly knows his subject and presents an insider’s view of the complex machine that built the greatest navy in the world.

Philip K Jones reviews Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Vampire by Dean P. Turnbloom

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:07:13 -0400

mxpublishing:

“This is a first novel by an author new to Sherlockian fiction who has undertaken to unite two of the most popular Sherlockian pastiche subjects into a single volume. The Database of Sherlockian pastiches, parodies and related fiction lists ninety five efforts to have Sherlock uncover the identity of ‘Saucy Jack.’ Further, the database also lists fifty five efforts to tell of Sherlock’s efforts to cope with Vampires. Two of the listed items combine these themes. A short story, “The Children of the Night,” and the current volume are the only combinations of these themes, in so far as I know.

This book also combines two investigations. Holmes is convinced that an Italian immigrant, accused of the murder of a young Italian lady on the ship that brought them from Italy, is innocent. Holmes’ efforts to ‘clear up’ this case lead him into the investigation that Scotland Yard are bungling in front of all the world. Prejudice, sloppy investigative techniques and an inability to look for a bloodthirsty murderer outside the lower classes have hamstrung the Yard’s investigation.

Holmes’ investigation is meticulous and revealing. It is also unwelcome to ‘the powers that be.’ The cooperation he receives is spotty at best so the final resolution of the ‘Ripper killings’ is left clouded and uncertain. Holmes solves his problems, has the Italian immigrant released and finds employment and new lives for him and his brother-in-arms. The prostitute murderer disappears from history, we hope.

The book is reasonably well-written, with only minor editing errors. The investigations are well covered and the characters are sharply drawn. The book is not to my personal taste, but it is an interesting and well conducted effort. The science aspects are imaginative and the settings are well done.”

Sherlock Holmes and The Whitechapel Vampire is available through all good bookstores including The Mysterious Bookshop in New York, Barnes and Noble and Amazon, and in all electronic formats including Kindle, Nook, Kobo and iBooks (iPad).

Philip K Jones reviews More from the Deed Box of John H. Watson MD by Hugh Ashton

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 01:58:59 -0400

This is another collection of three novellas prepared from notes left by Dr. Watson. Unlike the earlier collection by this author, all these tales were cited in the Canon as Untold Tales. As in his earlier collection, these tales are written from notes rather than from narratives already prepared for publication. In fact, it is clear that these stories were never intended to be made public. This fact presents us with a somewhat different view of the Holmes/Watson partnership and it allows readers to understand better why Holmes valued Watson’s help and insights. We are spared the self-deprecation and obvious obfuscations of the Canonical tales and, instead, see more of the working relationship of a team.

As a note for the curious, Watson quite properly called the box he deposited with his bankers a “Dispatch Box” because that is what it was. However, bankers have their own jargon and they call deposited, secure boxes “deed boxes,” because that is what such items have traditionally held, deeds that demonstrate ownership of property.

“The Case of Colonel Warburton’s Madness” dips into Dr.Watson’s past and introduces Holmes to the afflictions of the good Doctor’s former Colonel. There have been almost twenty attempts to tell this story, mentioned in passing by Watson in “The Greek Interpreter,” and this is definitely one of the best offerings I have seen. It is puzzling and confusing, but it always seems to ‘feel’ natural as one reads it. People act as individuals trying to cope with problems not apparent to the outside observer, but they are always people, not stick figures or costumed dummies. The hero and heroine are both troubled and unsure of each other. The Colonel acts strangely, but has good reasons for what he does.

“The Mystery of the Paradol Chamber” relates the Untold Tale of “…the adventure of the Paradol Chamber…” (cited in “The Five Orange Pips”). Again, there have been many attempts to tell this tale, at least fifteen are known to me and this is probably the most complicated I have seen. In addition, the motives for many of the most puzzling actions by the principals arise from completely different bases than are expected, so the outcome and motivations are obscure through most of the narrative.

The final story in this collection is that of “The Giant Rat of Sumatra,” cited as “Matilda Briggs was…a ship which is associated with the giant rat of Sumatra…“ in “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire.” This is quite possibly the most popular of the mentioned but Untold Tales with more than sixty versions known to me. It is exceeded in popularity as a subject for pastiches only by the Unmentioned Untold Tale, that of Holmes and ‘Saucy Jack.’

This telling of “The Giant Rat” associates Holmes and Watson with the Royal Navy at the request of brother Mycroft. A new Minister of the Navy must be named soon and the preferred candidate has gone missing. Holmes and Watson are needed to track him down and to clear up the mystery of his disappearance. This involves the pair in strange doings and introduces even stranger persons into the story line. The matter is resolved, but at serious cost and with disappointing results.

As in his earlier collection, the author has managed to retain the ‘sound’ of the Canonical tales but has also managed to infuse his works with more human and life-like views of Holmes and, especially, of Watson. I expect that most Sherlockians are aware that the person who ‘wrote’ most of those Canonical tales could not have been the same person who got everything wrong or misinterpreted while participating in them. The Watson presented here is a sensible and thoughtful person, well capable of arguing with Holmes and of pulling him back from error when he forgets that we are all human.

Philip K Jones reviews Sherlock Holmes and the Irish Rebels

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 13:59:00 -0400

mxpublishing:

“This is Mr. McMullen’s second book of Sherlockian fiction and his gift for catching the reality of time and place is undiminished. Since this book is about Irish History, it is a sad book. It tells of the Easter Uprising of 1916 as experienced by Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson at the request of Mycroft Holmes. The characters are mostly historic and are presented much as they were, flawed human beings trying to live up to their own ideals.

My knowledge of 20^th Century Irish History is spotty at best, so I cannot speak to the accuracy of Mr. McMullen’s portrayals, but I suspect they are fairly true to life. Many of the participants in this tale died during or within a short time after the events narrated. Most of the prominent survivors died within the next few years, so our knowledge of these times relies mostly on the memories of a very few survivors and on those of friends of the participants. Paper evidence, outside of court records, is in short supply and the courts were mostly English, with little regard for the truth of events in Ireland in the face of the urgency of The Great War.

The History between England and Ireland begins shortly after the Norman Conquest. From the traditional English point of view, Ireland was a land of feuding tribes and pirate raiders. The period of anarchy that followed the death of Brian Boru, who turned back the Vikings and their allies at the Battle of Clontarf, offered all the excuse that the Norman overlords needed to extend their conquest to the island. Unlike England, the Irish were never integrated into the Kingdom. They retained their own language, customs and religious leadership.

When Henry split the English Church from Rome, the Irish remained in communion with Rome. The Church of Ireland made little impact on the Irish. Most members were those whose loyalties were to England such as the descendants of Scottish and English emigrants brought into Ireland as part of Royal policies. The Glorious Revolution of the Seventeenth Century completed the entire subjection of Ireland to English control as Cromwell invaded and devastated Ireland. Revolution festered and generations of Irish patriots carried out an uprising roughly every forty years from the late Eighteenth Century into the Twentieth.

This story is typical of Irish tragedies. Poets, teachers and madmen persuade and trick others into a hopeless revolution and the English act in their chosen character. After the battle is won, they decide to wash out all traces of revolution with blood after being unable to mount any effective prevention. Stupidity, venality and complete misunderstanding of the other side mark the normal course of English-Irish relations.

Obviously, this tale is fiction, but it could have been true. Most of the characters are real and they acted much as described. Holmes and Watson provide us with insights and a point of view of events that echo Greek Tragedies with their view that character is destiny. As I said, this is a sad story, but it is gripping, emotionally involving and impressive.”

Sherlock Holmes and The Irish Rebels is available from all good bookstores worldwide including in the USA Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in the UK Amazon and Waterstones - and in all electronic formats including Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone).

Philip K Jones reviews Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Legacy

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:38:38 -0400

This is another collection of tales by David Ruffle. By my count it is his fourth collection, but I am not sure of the various publishing dates and editions involved. This collection begins with a lengthy novella and includes a dozen or more, shorter items. Those that are not fragments could be described as short stories. Most have some Sherlockian content, but some have no relation to Holmes and Watson.

The title story is quite interesting and draws its villain from deep in Holmes’ past. Mycroft and Inspector Lestrade put in appearances and Dr. Watson pursues his second (or is she his third?) wife. Other old acquaintances make appearances, if only fleeting ones and Lyme Regis provides a colorful and interesting background

There is little to say about the shorter works. All are interesting, some are touching and many are set in Lyme Regis. The place and its history provide a fascinating background, especially to a writer as sensitive to its echoes as is Mr. Ruffle.

This is an interesting collection of stories, constructed around a colorful and interesting place. It is well worth the time it takes to read and it evokes pictures of times long past and people worth knowing. The collection ends with “A Brief History of Lyme Regis” and a pair of laudatory poems.

Sherlock Holmes and The Lyme Regis Legacy is available from all good bookstores worldwide including in the USA Amazon, Classic Specialities and Barnes and Noble - and in all electronic formats including Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone)

Philip K Jones reviews The Consulting Detective Trilogy Part 1: University

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:26:10 -0400

This is the second of Ms. Darlene A. Cypser’s biographical series on Sherlock Holmes. It begins immediately following events in her earlier book, The Crack in the Lens. This book covers Sherlock’s experiences at university, specifically at Sydney Sussex College at Cambridge University. This book does not have the dark overtones of the first volume, but it does depict Sherlock attempting to deal with the immense trauma he suffered as a teen.

Looked at in retrospect, this book is remarkable. While reading it, there seems to be action proceeding all the time, but after it is finished, the reader realizes that the ‘action’ was mostly internal. Events occur, but most of the narrative is taken up with Sherlock’s reactions and adaptations to those events. Again, while reading, worlds of possibilities open up and all sorts of consequences become possible, but really, only fairly normal things actually occur. It is a truly remarkable narrative that rings with possibilities and yet makes the events described seem to be natural outcomes of the situations. This makes it difficult to review.

I could say that the action is riveting, as it was, but there is really little action. I could say that the characters are fascinating, which they are, but most appear and then disappear, leaving their interactions with Sherlock as the only evidence of their existence. The relationship between Sherlock and Mycroft remains the same as it ever was, but it seems fuller and richer as we learn of how they shared experiences and learned from one another. So it is with the entire book. Sherlock learns to cope with stress and guilt, he learns to react to the world and he learns about himself.

Sherlock’s relations with his parents and his brothers are looked at a bit more closely, but they remain much the same as before. Sherlock’s relations with the world, on the other hand, grow and develop. He learns to participate more and to observe without judging so deeply. He also learns how to learn. The process is painful, but so is any growth. The Sherlock who leaves Cambridge at the end of this book is far different than the one who arrived. He is not yet a ‘finished tool’ but he has the process well in hand. Most of the details have been made fascinating by the author, so the book is a very ‘good read.’

Philip K Jones reviews The Secret Journal of Dr Watson

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:01:09 -0400

mxpublishing:

Extract from Philip K Jones detailed review of The Secret Journal of Dr Watson;

“This is a difficult book to review. The fantastic nature of the story told makes it almost unbelievable. Unfortunately, the events recounted occurred in a century of unprecedented espionage and trickery that began with the appointment of an enemy agent as head of intelligence services for the Austro-Hungarian Empire and ended with the routine computer monitoring of all cell phone conversations across the world by the NSA. During that century, such intelligence ‘coups’ as the Zimmerman Telegram, the Coventry air raid non-warning and the routine killing of marked individuals by umbrellas that shoot tiny, poisoned balls have become commonplace. Further, from my extensive readings in Twentieth Century history, I must conclude that, however fantastic the details of this adventure, all of the persons involved could have performed their reported roles, especially those of historical note.

The book begins with Sherlock and Dr. Watson being escorted to a meeting with Prime Minister David Lloyd George and then with King Edward V. They are charged with an intensely secret mission and directed to leave the country with no explanations to friends or family. From this point, the story becomes a study in the double-cross. At any given time, it is impossible to say who is currently friend and who is foe, as people seem to change orientations so frequently.

The task requires intense concentration and heavy sacrifice by all involved. The results are kept secret and the participants are silenced, either by guilt, by death or by other Government action. Dr. Watson’s account is given to his lawyers in a sealed package only to be read by his descendants after seventy five years.

The narrative in engrossing and the characters are well-drawn. I was impressed by the realistic representations of several historical characters and I found that the mystery and tension of the narrative carried right up to the final page. The book is certainly worth reading and it is an interesting Sherlockian mystery. The presentation of events and personalities is carefully done and seems quite consistent with the known history of the times. I repeat, things could have happened this way and the people involved could have acted this way”

The Secret Journal of Dr Watson is available for pre order from all good bookstores worldwide including in the USA Barnes and Noble, and in the UK Amazon.

The book is also available on Amazon Kindle and all good electronic formats.

You can watch a video review at No Place Like Holmes.

Philip K Jones aka The Ill Dressed Vagabond Reviews Sherlock Holmes and the Princess Jewel

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:39:36 -0400

This is a play script for a 2-Act Sherlockian drama. It contains elements of “The Musgrave Ritual,” “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” and “The Final Problem.” It is always difficult for a reviewer to judge the interest of a play solely from reading the script. So much of the appeal of theater is derived from the performance arts of the cast, the vision and execution of the director and the work of the producer that the efforts of the playwright may well be overshadowed by the errors or mistakes of those involved in the performance.

Given the above, this script is quite interesting. It will not be appealing to the general run of Sherlockians, who demand conformity to the Canon. As I said earlier, this script contains elements from several Canonical tales; however it also contradicts the Canon in many places, because the playwright has a different view of Sherlock than that commonly held. I found the script imaginative and appealing, but I am well-acquainted with the myriad of Sherlockian pastiches available and am prepared to accept alternative views of The Great Detective.

Familiar elements, including Inspector Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson and Professor Moriarty as well as the code from ‘The Dancing Men’ and the Historical events leading up to “The Musgrave Ritual” are mixed somewhat differently to create a new view of Holmes and Watson. The similarities of English Sea Chantries and modern Rap performance are used to stage several scenes in a fashion at once familiar and traditional. The familiar badinage of deductions and amazement between Holmes and Watson is missing, but not really missed. This is a different Holmes and Watson with a different relationship.

I would enjoy watching a performance, provided the actors and director were up to the task. It would not be Canonical, but it would be entertaining. In any case, the job of the Canonical Watson is to present Holmes, not to explain him. This Watson serves more as a foil for this Holmes who is well capable of presenting himself.

The author, on the other hand, could use the services of a good editor. The dialogue contained a number of errors, mostly simple typos, but it also displays a strong American influence in its language and orientation. This is not really a good thing in presenting Sherlock to the audience. It is similar to casting a Brooklyn accent as Winston Churchill. A good producer could overcome these difficulties, but they do exist.

Philip K Jones aka The Ill Dressed Vagabond Reviews The Yukon in Peril

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:22:54 -0400

This is a straight-forward adventure novel posing as a Sherlockian mystery. Sherlock and Dr. Watson are commissioned by the Prime Minister to prevent an upset of US - UK relations over a border dispute between Alaska and Canada. An active Irish terrorist has taken an interest in the growing problems caused by the Gold Rush in the Yukon Territory and Her Majesty’s Government fear this may trigger a disagreement between the British Government edging into war with South Africa and the expansionist United States Government and their just-completed war with Spain.

Actually, the situation is well-chosen and the strife and conflict are matters of Historical fact. The true problem involved is to identify the terrorist and to prevent whatever scheme he is pursuing from disrupting relations between the two countries. Canada is feeling its own identity and a Commonwealth nation and the Gold Rush population of Alaska is overwhelming the public services of the neighboring Yukon Territory. Tempers are high, patriotism is being invoked on all sides and many persons have an interest in fostering unrest for money, for political power and out of general nastiness.

Holmes and Watson journey to the Yukon under pseudonyms and try their hands at forestalling International Intrigue. The trip is well-described and many interesting characters are encountered along the way. The entire premise sounds fantastic, but it is actually typical of the type of backdoor diplomacy that was used in late Victorian and Edwardian times. One gets the feeling of senior politicians hanging onto a careening train for dear life while events flash by on either side. The final efforts fizzled out in the summer of 1914 as Europe marched firmly into a war that no one wanted.

The author seems to have found an excellent editor and the very few errors I found were more disagreements than actual errors. The characters presented were well-drawn and plausible, with lots of research being evident in their creation and/or depiction. The book reads like an adventure novel, but it is well-constructed and historically hard to argue with. It describes a little-known time of conflict between the US and its northern neighbor very well.

Philip K Jones Reviews Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Volume Two by Ron Fortier

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:48 -0500

This is a collection of five, well-written novellas. It is the second collection in a series by this Publishing House and it will soon be followed by a third volume. There seems to be no overall theme set for this collection of tales, but the book does not suffer from the lack. All of the tales are readable and interesting, even entertaining. One can ask little more of a Sherlockian anthology and this one delivers quite effectively.

“The Affair of the Wretched Flesh,” by Joshua Reynolds begins with Sherlock in a characteristic ‘blue funk.’ Thankfully, Inspector Lestrade arrives before Holmes turns to the needle and the pair are off on a new adventure. This case is solved, but that is about all. The cost of the solution in lives and treasure is daunting and the villain seems to have escaped to cause more trouble.

“The Affair of the Western Mail,” by I. A. Watson calls Holmes and Watson to deal with an ‘impossible’ robbery of a payroll carried on an express train with numerous safety features in place. The case is complex and the solution finally comes through the odd actions of a ‘con’ man well known to Holmes.

“The Case of the Missing Engine,” by Bernadette Johnson, brings Holmes and Watson to Trinity College, Cambridge to look into the theft of a reconstruction of Charles Babbage’s “Analytical Engine.” The investigation is complex and the villain is not really villainous, but murder has been done and a solution is needed.

“The Last Deposit,” by I. A. Watson, is depressing. It is well thought out, but inevitably sad and depressing. The body of a murdered young woman is found in a safe deposit box at a prestigious bank, something every one claims is impossible. Yet, there she is. The investigation is depressing and the true villain escapes justice, except, perhaps, in his dreams.

The final tale, “The adventure of the Phantom Raiders,” by Andrew Salmon, brings together two unlikely comrades. HMS Victory, rotting at anchor is paired with the RN’s newest acquisition, Submarine A1. The Eighteenth Century super weapon, the flagship of Nelson at Trafalgar is sent into battle alongside the Naval wonder weapon of the Twentieth Century, the torpedo-armed submarine.

This is an interesting book, with a nice selection of tales and locales. The circumstances and timing all seem to fit well into the Canon and the presentation of the tales is comfortable and familiar. Some readers may object to details, but most are explicable and few are crucial. In fact, there seem to be fewer errors of fact or timing than is common for a similar collection of Canonical tales.

Philip K Jones Reviews Sherlock Holmes Tales From The Strangers Room

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:51:12 -0500

“It is completely impossible that all readers will fail to find at least one view that strikes a chord within their mind that says, “of course! That was the real Holmes (or Watson).”

Philip K Jones is one of the most experienced Holmes reviewers in the world and maintains the world’s largest database of pastiches. He was particularly keen to review Sherlock Holmes and The Strangers Room as it contains more than forty short ‘pastiches’ which Phil nicely refers to as ‘moments’ rather than mysteries. This is a fascinating collection that we savoured the first time we read it and we agree with Phil that some of them are an excellent insight into the true Holmes and Watson.

“This is a collection of Sherlockian items that were originally published on the Internet. Some of them have been revised for this publication and some remain in their original forms. In contrast to the usual Sherlockian anthology, this book is an assembly of fragments. Each item is complete and entire, but they mostly catch moments, not stories. Some are complete mysteries, with villains to catch and investigations to be performed, but, mostly, they are visions of Holmes and Watson, along with Mrs. Hudson, Inspector Lestrade and the irregulars at particular moments. Some of these moments are quite important, but that is all they are, moments.

A number of these items center on Christmases, mostly those following Holmes’ return from the Great Hiatus. In general, the entire collection celebrates the change of Holmes into a human being. His boyhood is suggested as lonely and neglected with Mycroft as his only real human contact. His association with Watson is depicted as the source of his growing humanity and these tales seem to capture the moments he sees other people as more than simply data to be integrated into his catalogue of human activities.

Many of the items are authored by the editor, David Ruffle. He confines himself, mostly, to short pieces and to the area of Puns. Two of his creations are presented, both of which easily merit inclusion in any collection of Sherlockian narrative puns, if such can ever be published. Poems are also included. These are strictly outside my areas of expertise, but I do concede that they definitely convey impressions of the individuals they portray.

This collection is definitely not a group of Sherlockian mysteries. Instead, it is a series of more than forty small peeks at Holmes, Watson and the standard Doyle dramatis personae that are not afforded by the Canon. It is possible that readers may dislike or consider some of the views to be silly. It is completely impossible that all readers will fail to find at least one view that strikes a chord within their mind that says, “of course! That was the real Holmes (or Watson).” Further, readers may encounter a few old friends along the way.”

Sherlock Holmes Tales From The Strangers Room is available through all good independent booksellers including Classic Specialities and the Mysterious Bookshop (NY) as well as Amazon and in all electronic formats such as Amazon Kindle.

Philip K Jones aka The Ill Dressed Vagabond Reviews The Bookman Chronicles by Lavie Tidhar

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:03:09 -0500

This is a series of three novels set in a “Steampunk” Universe that includes a large population of Nineteenth Century fictional and historical characters. By ‘large,’ I mean that I lost track during the first volume and merely took occasional notes during the later volumes. For example, Chief Sitting Bull appears in the same volume as Erich Weiss, aka Harry Houdini and Irene Adler is a Scotland Yard Inspector, keeping her eye on Fagin and Oliver Twist. The three volumes in the series are, respectively, “The Bookman,” “Camera Obscura” and “The Great Game.” All three volumes are, more or less, stand-alone publications. On the other hand, I have a number of questions after completing the third volume, so all of the answers are definitely NOT included in the books.

The main theme of the series revolves around Mycroft Holmes and his Intelligence Organization. Many other Sherlockian characters appear as well as an unruly mob of other personages. One really needs a scorecard to keep track. The author also has a habit of making readers work for understanding of the environment. Every once in a while, some character will summarize a part of history, either recent or ancient, so that readers can orient (not ‘orientate’) themselves. Mostly, though, the characters talk about more immediate concerns as do people involved in active lives so readers are left to catch up on their own. I found this aspect more interesting than most fictional settings because it makes a reader think. Meanwhile, the action continues and events keep happening.

The three volumes occur in 1888, in 1893 and in 1899. Many characters appear in all three volumes and some explanations are offered. I retain a number of serious questions, such as “What happened to Smallpox” and “Where did Amerigo Vespucci learn to pilot a ship?” There are also open questions about who is on which side of what. There seem to be more ‘sides’ than players and there are a real ocean full of players. Needless to say, the action takes place all over the place and even in some unexpected places.

At base, this is an action series. Agents, counteragents, retired agents and secret agents wander in and out, change sides, switch masters and shoot it out with each other at the drop of a hat. It is difficult to bring up any subject without revealing some of the mysteries that are part of the story. As an example, there was a revolution in France in the late eighteenth Century. It was called “The Quiet Revolution.” Doctors Frankenstein and Jekyl are working together, sort of. Milady DeWinter and the Comte de Rochefort are still (or again) in business, working for the French Government, in between other clients. One hint, when the author talks about a “Vespucian” you can translate that as “American.”

This is a fun series. There are lots of interesting characters, stolen from everywhere, as much action as can be kept track of and a whole slew of questions left unanswered. Familiar characters pop up in the oddest places for even odder reasons and familiar places all look just a little bit odd. If you can figure out what actually happened, please drop me a note. I’m still a bit puzzled.

Philip K Jones aka The Ill Dressed Vagabond Reviews Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:32:34 -0500

I liked this book a lot, and I certainly wish it had been available the last time I was on Dartmoor. My wife and I meandered aimlessly around the moor not knowing what we were looking for or where to find it. We did see our share of moor sheep and nature lovers, however. The moor sheep were lying in the sun, as were the nature lovers - the sheep were covered the nature lovers weren’t …

The authors, Brian Pugh, Paul Spiring and Sadru Bhanji certainly spared no specifics in describing both locale and individuals in this remarkably enjoyable book.

The journey begins with a biography of Sir Arthur, which is both pithy and comprehensive and goes on to introduce us to the other prominent persons with whom he became acquainted while staying in Devon, among them: Doctor George Turnavine Budd, with whom he was in practice for a time. Budd was a classmate of ACD at Edinburgh, and because of his questionable practices Doyle used him as a model for Dr. Cullingworth in the Stark Munro Letters.

A very careful consideration of Sir George Newnes follows. Newnes was a very multifaceted chap. He involved himself in numerous endeavors, but for our purposes the creation and publishing of the Strand Magazine is more to our point. The Strand Magazine was a success story for Newnes, he was destined to make most of his wealth from the publication and sales of this periodical, and the stories, which Doyle contributed, surely helped in the magazines success.

And last but not least, there was Mr. Bertram Fletcher Robinson. It was Robinson who first introduced the story of the Hound on the moor to Doyle and helped him with the famous Gothic tale. But Robinson was more than a one-trick pony as the short biography discloses.

There is also a plethora of classic pictures all through this volume, most of which are period photos.

The book ends with a tour of Devon, which is replete with maps and photos.

All in all this is an exceptional read.

Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon is available from all good book stores, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Amazon Kindle