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Book Review – The Official Papers into the Matter Known as ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ – Sherlock Holmes Society of London

03 Jan

As a retired detective with the Metropolitan Police Keiron Freeburn has excellent experience which he has used to great effect with a very unusual take on The Hound of The Baskervilles. As with several reviews of this fascinating book the societies have been tough on the small mistakes, but another resounding thumbs up for a very unusual and memorable Holmes pastiche.

“What we have here, apparently, are facsimiles of the original case files from both Scotland Yard and Devon County Constabulary. In fact this collection of witness statements, medical reports, and police reports is the work of a former member of the Metropolitan Police CID, now living in Devon. The project is very nicely done, providing a fresh and completely valid view of the investigation. In particular it’s good to know how the two police forces regarded the summoning of a Scotland Yard man without reference to the Devon Constabulary!

There are some careless errors (the post-mortem report on Sir Charles Baskerville has Sir Henry’s name on the first page; Mrs Lyons is called “Miss Lyons” throughout; Selden’s name changes from Arthur to Albert; Barrymore once refers to his wife as his sister). Such matters are easily attended to, though. A corrected edition of this fascinating and very worthwhile new look at a familiar classic will be something to treasure.”

The book is available from all good bookstores around the world – as the whole point of the book is the Victorian fonts the book is only available in printed format [so no Kindle or iPad versions].

In the USA the book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

In the UK the book is available from Amazon, Book Depository [free worldwide delivery], and Waterstones.

Official Papers into the matter of The Hound of The Baskervilles

Official Papers into the matter of The Hound of The Baskervilles

 
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Posted by on January 3, 2011 in Book Reviews

 

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