News — Book Reviews

Philip K Jones is one of the most respected, and meticulous Sherlock Holmes reviewers in the USA. Here he casts a close eye over Watsons Afghan Adventure, the debut Holmes pastiche from Keiran McMullen. "This is the only Sherlockian book I know of by this author.  It is Watson’s own tale of his experiences in Afghanistan.  The narrative is a very realistic exposition of a British Doctor’s life during the Second Afghan War.  I am not sure of the details of the campaigns involved, but the presentation is an accurate and intelligent view of what Watson would have seen and...

Philip K Jones is one of the USA's leading Sherlock Holmes reviewers. Here he casts a comprehensive eye over Kate Workman's debut novel (the first in a series of five) pastiche 'Rendezvous at The Populaire'. New Jersey based Kate is getting much acclaim for the novel and Phil admits "she has talent" and overall seemed to enjoy the book saying it is 'readable' and inventive'. "This is the first book in a projected series of Sherlockian tales by Ms. Workman.  This tale has a small number of editing errors, mostly misused words or terminology.  In any case, editing is not...

Philip K Jones (aka The Ill Dressed Vagabond ) is one of the leading Holmes reviewers in the USA. Here is his recent review of 'The Lost Stories of Sherlock Holmes' by Tony Reynolds. This is the first Sherlockian writing I have found by this author. It is a collection of eight short novellas, each set up similarly to the Canonical tales. Other than the language, which seems a bit modern, these tales read a lot like their originals. `The Giant Rat of Sumatra" takes place in London and migrates from a tale of murder to a story of a...

Phil K. Jones aka An Ill-dressed Vagabond is one of the USA's leading Holmes reviewers - here is his take on 'A Study in Crimson'. "This is the second book in Molly Carr’s ‘Watson – Fanshaw Detective Agency’ series. It follows events in The Sign of Fear rather directly and continues in much the same vein. Again, Watson natters, Holmes is always out on some sort of business, Lestrade needs help and odd clients turn up in the strangest places (or is that strange clients in oddest places?). It is difficult to be more specific as the author wanders from...

An Ill-dressed Vagabond is one of the most respected Sherlock Holmes reviewers in the USA. Here is his review of Molly Carr's fascinating biography of Dr.Watson from May 2011. "This book is a study of the sources and uses of John H. Watson as presented in the sixty Sherlockian tales written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The author examines the relationship between the characters of Holmes and Watson in a careful fashion to determine why Doyle chose to create Watson as both a foil and a counterpoint for Holmes and how that choice affected the style and development of the...