“I have to admit that I’ve never before seen Mr. Macaluso’s other books, portraying various Holmes stories with Lego-based illustrations, but I’ve always found the concept amazing and admirable. Now I’ve obtained a copy of his latest work, a modest little book recreating scenes from The Canon, one for each letter of the alphabet.

I suspect that each of the illustrating photos first appeared in one of his previous Lego books, but I don’t know for sure. I do know that this is a fascinating little volume, and each simple photo, lovingly recreating a scene from one of the original stories, is great fun. Each time I looked at one of them, I was prompted to recall the events of the story, and to admire how cleverly the author made use of the Legos.

I recall playing with Legos as a small child in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. (My sister and I inexplicably called them “toddle”, a word that’s still on the tip of my tongue today when I encounter a piece of Lego.) Once when I was very small, crying with frustration as a Lego wall that I was attempting to build kept pulling apart and falling, my dad – fresh home from work – showed me how bricks should overlap to provide strength. In those days, all we had were the bricks, and maybe a few windows. Later, in the 1990’s, my son had fancier Lego sets, but nothing like what would eventually be available. Seeing the illustrations in this book, I have to wonder if one can buy Holmes Lego figures, and top hats, and lamp posts, and Napoleon hats, and Hell Hounds, and all the other items that make these so amazing. If so, I want them. If not, and if Mr. Macaluso made them, I’m extremely impressed.

I think, having written this, I’ll glance through this fun little book one more time. Excellent stuff!”

Reviewed by David Marcum

A Sherlock Holmes Alphabet is available for pre order from all good bookstores including The Strand Magazine, Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository.