Category Archives: Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle

“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.

“This book is the second Sebastian McCabe – Jeff Cody mystery, following his earlier No Police Like Holmes.  This book lacks the impressive character set of eccentric Sherlockians encountered in the first, but it does present a dandy mystery and a new set of eccentrics.  This group are a bit more difficult to categorize, but they tend to come from the world of entertainment, if anywhere in particular.

Much of the narrative concentrates on academic in-fighting, with our heroes in medias res.  We are treated to a double murder with theories obscured by facts and suspects just oozing both motives and lies.  Telling the white hats from the black takes more than an eye for color.  Our hero, Jeff Cody, worries his way through the entire process and professor McCabe claims to have every thing almost in hand for most of the book.

Personally, I miss the rich Sherlockian atmosphere of the earlier book, but the author did come up with at least one good line from The Maltese Falcon as well as few other mystery references.  Jeff’s true love, reporter Lynda Teal, turns out to have an educated taste in Bourbon but the chief of police seems to be a “throw ‘em back” fisherman.  The femme fatale of this little opus seems to have an uneducated taste for whatever or whoever is offered.  The battle between Jeff and his boss, Ralph, moves into new territory and the seamy side of the ivory tower gets exposed for all to see.

This is a worthy second volume and it continues the tradition of crimes in an academic setting.  The venue, a small town on the Ohio River, with a small private University and a semi-rural population continues to provide enough contrasts to maintain interest.  Large cities are close enough to hand to add contrast to the mix and the faculty and student bodies offer a wide selection of characters for manipulation.”

Holmes Sweet Holmes is available from all good bookstores worldwide including in the USA Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Classic Specialities – and in all electronic formats including Amazon Kindle and Kobo.