“The Adventure of the Wordy Companion: An A-Z Guide to Sherlockian Phraseology” is written by Nicko Vaughan and published by MX Publishing.

As a person who loves both Sherlock Holmes and the intricacies of the English language, this book hit a number of spots.

Nicko Vaughan has waded through the Holmes canon selecting words and phrases that may not be a part of most people’s vocabularies these days, and set about providing an explanation for them.

Written with admirable conciseness and some considerable wit, the book is a must have for anyone new to the Holmes canon.

It is also a handy little reference guide for writers of Sherlock Holmes pastiche. Knowing what words Arthur Conan Doyle used helps give a feel of authenticity to pastiches. The book now has a permanent place in my reference library.

One thing I discovered as I browsed this excellent wee tome, is that…