News — Book Reviews

“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...

“Recensione ‘Sherlock Holmes e i tesori di Londra’ di Tracy Revels Pubblicato da Stefania Auci Cari lettori, è stato pubblicato dalla Gargoyle Books un romanzo particolare, che ha tutti i numeri per diventare una perfetta lettura estiva, un mash up in cui trovano posto il voodoo, l’Inghilterra vittoriana, fate, fantasmi e una meravigliosa storia di amicizia. Protagonisti? Sherlock Holmes e John Watson. Questo volume, pubblicato in inglese con il titolo di Shadowfall, è stato seguito da un secondo, Shadowblood, pubblicato in Gran Bretagna a marzo 2012, dalle tinte più gotiche e dark e ambientata nel mondo della stregoneria. Personalmente, sono curiosa di leggere questo secondo volume poiché il primo mi ha intrigato...

“This is a first novel by an author new to Sherlockian fiction who has undertaken to unite two of the most popular Sherlockian pastiche subjects into a single volume.  The Database of Sherlockian pastiches, parodies and related fiction lists ninety five efforts to have Sherlock uncover the identity of ‘Saucy Jack.’  Further, the database also lists fifty five efforts to tell of Sherlock’s efforts to cope with Vampires.  Two of the listed items combine these themes.  A short story, “The Children of the Night,” and the current volume are the only combinations of these themes, in so far as I...

"This is Mr. McMullen’s second book of Sherlockian fiction and his gift for catching the reality of time and place is undiminished.  Since this book is about Irish History, it is a sad book.  It tells of the Easter Uprising of 1916 as experienced by Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson at the request of Mycroft Holmes.  The characters are mostly historic and are presented much as they were, flawed human beings trying to live up to their own ideals. My knowledge of 20th Century Irish History is spotty at best, so I cannot speak to the accuracy of Mr. McMullen’s portrayals,...

"This is another collection of tales by David Ruffle.  By my count it is his fourth collection, but I am not sure of the various publishing dates and editions involved.  This collection begins with a lengthy novella and includes a dozen or more, shorter items.  Those that are not fragments could be described as short stories.  Most have some Sherlockian content, but some have no relation to Holmes and Watson. The title story is quite interesting and draws its villain from deep in Holmes’ past.  Mycroft and Inspector Lestrade put in appearances and Dr. Watson pursues his second (or is she...