Sherlock Book Review - The Six Thirteen From Fairfield Junction and Other Cases of Sherlock Holmes
Posted by Steve Emecz on
Sherlockian pasticheurs (myself included) often forget that Conan Doyle’s primary purpose in the Canon was to exhibit his detective’s skills in observation and deduction. Assuredly, Denis O. Smith is not among them. Each of the five cases in his new collection is a flawlessly constructed chain of logical analysis, in which (as Watson put it elsewhere) every link rings true.
There is commendable variety among them: two are obviously inspired by canonical stories; another is an “untold tale.” A whimsical offering about a stolen artifact gives way to grimmer sagas of international conspiracy, thwarted love, and murder. Smith perfectly captures Watson’s voice, employing narrative and emotional restraint worthy of the original Literary Agent. His portraits of Holmes and Watson never impose “modern” effects upon Sir Arthur’s characters, and his obvious comfort with the Victorian Era lends his stories seamless authenticity. In short, these five pastiches from Denis O. Smith are as close to the originals as it is possible to come. I only wish there had been more of them!
The Six Thirteen From Fairfield Junction and Other Cases of Sherlock Holmes is available from this site and also;
The latest collection of Sherlock Holmes stories by well-known author, Denis O. Smith, provides a variety of puzzling and tangled mysteries for the great detective to unravel.
What is the explanation for the train which arrives at its destination with not a soul on board? What lies behind the sudden, shocking death of one of the members at an exclusive London club? These cases require all of Holmes’s unique investigative skills if the truth is to be uncovered.
From Westminster, in the very centre of London, through the English countryside, to the far north of Scotland, follow the exploits of the world’s first and only consulting detective.