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

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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National TV Appearance For Throat Cancer Survivor that used NLP to battle the disease

Keith Hern’s groundbreaking book ‘Bangers and Mash‘ has been a bestseller in many countries in the field of throat cancer. An open and honest journey through his battle with throat cancer, the book is a revelation also for the photos throughout the book. Keith is a professional photographer and took pictures all the way through the battle with throat cancer.

Keith recently appeared on ITVs ‘This Morning’ in a an unprecedented eleven minute interview as an advocate for a mouth cancer charity bringing the message of early identification to an audience of millions.

Keith Hern - ITV's This Morning 30th November 2010

ITV have very kindly put the full interview on their website [click on any of the pictures to be taken to the full interview].

Bangers and Mash - ITV's This Morning

The book is being used by many cancer hospitals and charities both to give hope to patients battling cancer, but also to question existing processes used with patients. The book is available from good bookstores around the world and is particularly popular in eBooks formats – Amazon Kindle and iBooks for the iPad and iPhone.

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 delivery worldwide] and Watersones.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers and Mash

 

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Book Review – Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon: A Complete Tour Guide and Companion – Sherlock Holmes Society of London

One of our most popular books of 2010 and nominated for several awards, this wonderful guide has done well in all formats and will no doubt be a travel companion for many visiting Devon in 2011.

 

“A couple of years ago, Messrs Pugh and Spiring broke new ground with On the Trail of Arthur Conan Doyle: An Illustrated Devon Tour. This latest book is essentially an enlarged and improved version, benefiting greatly from the participation of a distinguished Devon historian. We knew that Conan Doyle was briefly in practice in Plymouth with the volatile Dr George Turnavine Budd, and that he later visited Dartmoor in company with his friend Bertram Fletcher Robinson to research local colour for The Hound of the Baskervilles, but Devon can claim another man, no less important to the success of the author and his immortal character — Sir George Newnes, founder and publisher of The Strand Magazine. Each man’s life and career, and his contribution to the life of the county, are summarised in the first hundred pages, with well-chosen illustrations.

Then some 220 pages are devoted to the much-expanded Devon tour. Even without the literary interest the tour would be worth undertaking, as the county is so remarkably varied and beautiful, but the chance to walk in the footsteps of Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes is almost irresistible. The book’s easy readability belies the awe-inspiring amount of research that’s gone into it.”

 

The book is available worldwide from all good bookstores.

In the USA direct from MX Publishing, AmazonBarnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle and iTunes [iPad and iPhone via iBooks].

In the UK from MX Publishing, Amazon, and Amazon Kindle.

 

ACD, Sherlock Holmes and Devon

Athur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon

 
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Posted by on January 2, 2011 in Book Reviews

 

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Book Review – The Sign of Fear – Sherlock Holmes Society of London

‘The Sign of Fear’ is the first in a series of Holmes pastiche novels from Molly Carr, a life long Dr. Watson expert. It features Mrs. Watson as a strong female lead character andthe book has gained very posititive reviews from Holme societies around the world. Here, Roger Johnson from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London reviews the book for their newsletter;

 

“Never mind what you’ve been told: the former Mary Morstan is a woman with a past — so perhaps it’s natural that she should come within the orbit of the Napoleon of Crime. At least we can understand that she should occupy the time during Dr Watson’s long absences by doing detective work herself. More surprising is the identity of her partner, a dangerous young woman to whom male costume is nothing new: “Emily Fanshaw” is actually Mrs Neville St Clair, and she still resents the fact that Sherlock Holmes cut short her husband’s profitable scam by exposing him as the beggar with the twisted lip…

There are more surprises in Mary Watson’s memoirs, not least the revelation that John H Watson, who never qualified as a doctor, was born Ormond Sacker and changed his name by deed poll! Other dubious characters encountered by the intrepid duo include A J Raffles, Bunny Manders, John Clay, Mrs Marple (mother of Jane), and M. Poirot (father of Hercule). Rather like M J Trow’s stories of Inspector Lestrade, the book takes a distinctly revisionist approach to the Canon. The Sign of Fear is something of a guilty pleasure, perhaps, but a pleasure it certainly is!”

Roger Johnson, Sherlock Holmes Society of London

 

The Sign of Fear is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble USAAmazon UK, Amazon Kindle USA, Book Depository (free delivery to Canada and India), and for the iPad and iPhone through iTunes iBooks.

The sequel to The Sign of Fear, ‘A Study In Crimson‘ was release in November 2010.

 

 
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Posted by on December 31, 2010 in Book Reviews

 

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