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“This collection includes seven novellas drawn from a variety of times during Holmes’ career.  The letter by Dr. Watson that precedes the stories explains that these tales were not told earlier for a variety of reasons but mostly to prevent further harm to the victims.  There seems to be no common thread or theme among the tales included.

‘The Adventure of the Poisoned Affair’ tells of Holmes’ involvement, at the request of the new widow, in the investigation of an apparent suicide by poison.  Anomalies at the scene convince Holmes that the ‘suicide’ is actually a murder.  ‘The Adventure of the Yellow Handkerchief’ leads Holmes and Watson into the world of Thuggee.  Inspector Lestrade asks Holmes to help with a series of murders that are otherwise unrelated except for yellow handkerchiefs left at the scenes.  The story also presents a selection of other potential clients and their problems.

‘The Adventure of the Haunted Hotel’ presents a mystery with its roots firmly placed in the past.  Holmes and Watson are faced with hatreds and superstitions based on a pirate raid carried out at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century.  The solution requires drastic action and careful planning.  ‘The Adventure of the Acquitted Client’ details a well-organized and executed scam based on common legal practice in Victorian England.  Again, the solution calls for a great deal of planning and active detective work.

‘The Adventure of St. Mary’s Murder’ has Holmes called in to help the local police on another series of murders.  Attractive young women are being murdered and left in churches in the Manchester area.  There seems to be no connection except the youth and attractiveness of the victims.  Holmes and Watson manage to identify and trap the monster responsible, along with evidence to convict for multiple murders.  ‘The Adventure of the Diamond Jubilee’ has Inspector Lestrade seeking Holmes’ help in dealing with an apparent threat by Muslim extremists against the Queen at Her Diamond Jubilee.  A resurrected Moriarty seems to be at the base of this problem and Holmes must persuade the Queen to accept his advice and control of events in order to ensure Her safety.

The final story, ‘The Solved Problem’, rewrites some elements of ‘The Empty House’ and reveals the details of the death of Mary Morstan Watson.  In addition, the elements of the renewed Moriarty presence mentioned in earlier stories is explained and examined.  Many elements of this tale are quite personal and painful for Watson and telling it is difficult and revealing.

This book was fairly well edited.  I found only a couple of spelling errors, but there were a number of homonym errors.  For example, writing ‘past’ for ‘passed’ and visa-versa occurred several times, along with various, similar errors.  There were also odd errors in subject/predicate agreement and a few other such problems.  Another problem for Sherlockians is the difference between these tales and those from the Canon.  I cannot put my finger on the stylistic details, for Watson is kept thoroughly in the dark by Holmes, but the difference is one of taste and viewpoint, so don’t look for new Canonical tales.  On the other hand, these are interesting and puzzling mysteries and the author worked to recreate the world of The Canon.”

The Untold Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is available from all good bookstores including in the USA Barnes and Noble and Amazon , in the UK Amazon and Waterstones and fans outside US and UK can get free delivery from Book Depository. In ebook format it is in Kindle, iTunes, Kobo and Nook.

“Very few writers have tried to imagine what sort of things Holmes got up to, and what sort of people he met during his years living as the disaffected Irish-American, Altamont. He began his ‘pilgrimage’ in Chicago, so it’s natural that he would run into Diamond Jim Colosimo’s criminal organisation and encounter one of its youngest members, Al Capone. Natural too that he would visit the Café de Champion on West 31st Street, to meet its famous owner, Jack Johnson, the first black world heavyweight champion. The great boxer is actually the central character in a powerful novel, Anomalous: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes featuring Jack Johnson and Alphonse Capone by Samuel Williams Jr (MX Publishing, £9.99/$16.95/€12.99). Johnson’s turbulent fortunes bring him to London, where two very different people, both black, have important rôles to play in a struggle to save both Johnson’s life and the security of the realm. You’ll recognise their names, I’m sure: Lucy Hebron and Steve Dixie…”

Anomalous – The Adventures of Sherlcok Holmes is available from bookstores including in the USA Barnes and Noble and Amazon, in the UK Waterstones, Amazon and Book Depository (free worldwide delivery) and in electronic formats – iTunes (iPad), Kindle, Nook and Kobo.

 

“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.