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"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...

In the coming weeks the courts will make the final decision on Undershaw, Conan Doyle’s former home. It has been the subject of a long running battle between the developers who seek to destroy it, and the band of Sherlock Holmes fans who are fighting to save it and return it to its former glory. (Undershaw today, neglected and run down) The high court ruled in favour of the fans - the developers appealed - that was defeated too - now they have appealed the rejection of the appeal (come on....). Now we just have to wait for that to...

“The book was a page turner. I was so sorry that it ended. Great character sketches drawn. There is a waiting list in The Dickens Fellowship in Boston to read this story (with its)…Dickensian master-plot. Such fine details expressed from the Palaces in Italy to the very wardrobe that Dickens wore.  It was as if some one was following Charles and taking notes of all the goings on.  A fast read and, of course, I could not put it down.” Boston Dickens Fellowship  History records that on June 9, 1870, Charles Dickens died of a cerebral haemorrhage. History, however, is wrong....

"A Greyhound called Danny recently visited 10 Downing Street to raise awareness about the benefits of children reading to dogs.  Launching his new book, ‘Danny goes to London’, Danny hopes children will be encouraged to pick it up and read to dogs like him. Danny is a Reading, Education and Assistance Dog (READ), and is sponsored by the Kennel Club’s Bark and Read Foundation to go into schools and listen to children read.  My six year old son absolutely adores this book and managed to read it all on his own. Very very educational! This is highly recommended by London Mums. In...