2024 Annual Review of Books
From debut novels that will set your detective instincts on fire to the brilliant latest iterations by seasoned writers, we reveal MX Publishing's Top Picks for 2024.
Don't miss out on our fantastic 3 for 2 offer on these gems, as well as our entire collection of New Books 2024 (over 50 new titles). Simply enter the promo code '2024new' at checkout to take advantage of this exclusive deal.
In addition to the newest editions of the MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes stories, here are our top picks from 2024 — all in no particular order:
1. The Six Thirteen from Fairfield Junction and other .... by Denis O. Smith
This latest collection 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. Denis has a command of Watsonian style and tone that has his titles rising above the generic and has a lightness of touch that allows these mysteries to unfold without being overworked.
Reviewed by Sherlock Holmes Society of London and others
2. The Further Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Vol 2 by Caiden Cooper Myles
These eight tales in Caiden Cooper Myle’s second collection are everything that one looks for in a Holmes story – well-plotted, interesting in a way to propel the reader forward to find out what happens next. Penned in Watson’s voice, these stories follow the Canonical path and like The Canon take place during different periods of Holmes and Watson’s lives.
Reviewed by David Marcum and others
3. Sherlock Holmes - Eliminate The Impossible by Paula Hammond
This collection includes six short mysteries, each well executed and paced. Not too long or short, each story makes for a quick and enjoyable read. Also each story ends with a notes section explaining the historical context behind significant details within the plot - this appreciated by readers who want to learn more about the topics discussed and about the historical period in general.
4. Sherlock Holmes and The Hearthstone Manuscript by Daniel D Victor
In this latest literary-themed Holmes novel Holmes and Watson meet Hamlin Garland, the “Dean of American Letters” – and it’s no surprise that Garland has a case which only Sherlock Holmes can solve. Like many of Victor’s other American Literati books, we see where the true facts of Holmes’s investigation served as the jumping-off place for a later more-famous fictionalized version of the case. Once again, this book proved that Daniel D. Victor is one of the best today at reaching into Watson’s Tin Dispatch Box and pulling out a winner of a story that one can read without having to worry that things might go off into the weeds.
Reviewed by David Marcum and others
5. Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Light, Shadow and Darkness by Tracy Revels
A prolific contributor to the MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes stories, this three volume “Tales of Light”, “Tales of Shadow”, and “Tales of Darkness” collection moves from light-hearted to more serious and then tragic tales, offering readers dozens of excellent Canonical adventures to reflect their mood.
Reviewed by David Marcum and others
6. Death In The Harem by Susan Knight
Susan Knight is a wonderful Holmesian pasticheur and also known for her Mrs. Hudson novels.She first appeared on the scene with “Mrs. Hudson Investigates”, followed by “Mrs. Hudson Goes to Ireland”, “Mrs. Hudson Goes to Paris”, “Death in the Garden of England” – and now “Death in the Harem”, wherein Holmes and Mrs. Hudson travel, by way of the Orient Express, to Constantinople, where they become involved in a new mystery and encounter an old enemy. Ms. Knight’s vision of Mrs. Hudson is consistent and entertaining and the novel is packed with other vibrant characters too including the formidable Sultan Abdul Hamid II, the sweet Princess Naime, and a pet tiger named Guzellik—an adventure awaits!
Reviewed by David Marcum and others
7. The Magician's Trunk (McCabe and Cody 13) by Dan Andriacco
A clever, twisting plot concerning a tontine and a trunk that disappears and reappears as if by magic, and which contains a mysterious bequest. Add to the mix an animal channeler, an obsessive collector of baseball cards (who knew they were so valuable) and a beautiful wedding planner/magician with a shaved head, and we’re in for some fun as well as grisly murder.
Reviewed by David Marcum and others
8. The Collected Papers of Sherlock Holmes - Volume 7 by David Marcum
With the publication of The Collected Papers of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 7, Marcum's remarkable pastiches have now surpassed 100 - setting yet another world record. Since its debut in 2013, this collection has received tremendous acclaim and the first volume honored with a coveted starred review from Publishers Weekly. Marcum makes writing a traditional pastiche look easy and this latest collection of short stories is no exception, striking no false notes while subtly fleshing out the relationship between Holmes and Watson.
Reviewed by Publishers Weekly and others
9. The Traitorous Templar: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Richard Ryan
As you might expect, “The Traitorous Templar”, Richard Ryan’s ninth Holmes novel, is a mixture of both Victorian England mixed with an ancient mystery – this time, where the lost Templar treasure was hidden when the famed order of knights was ruthlessly disbanded. There are shades of Dan Brown-meets-Holmes throughout the plot. Over the course of a month, Holmes, Watson, and new acquaintances roam London and several other locations before winding up in Cornwall for the fascinating conclusion. This adventure is a fascinating case with Holmes at his best, and one is left wondering what Ryan will share with us next time.
10. SHURDLE - Elementary Enigmas: Sherlock Holmes Puzzles by Paul Elgood
Shurdle brilliantly combines the intrigue of Sherlock Holmes with the challenge of logic puzzles. The book is structured with a narrative that guides you through a series of cases, each one presenting a unique set of puzzles that must be solved to advance. More than just a collection of puzzles—it's a literal journey through the world of Sherlock Holmes. Paul generously contributes a new Shurdle puzzle to appear every week in our THIF newsletter
Shurdle taster puzzles for you to enjoy
11. The Criminal World of Sherlock Holmes Volume 3 by Kelvin Jones
The late Kelvin Jones was a Sherlockian legend, a shining beacon for decades, and it was always a thrill to read his Sherlockian scholarship and his pastiches. I first ran across his name in the 1980’s, when his scholarly monographs were on my yearly Christmas lists. Following his numerous masterful analyses of various specialized topics, he turned his attention to writing Holmes pastiches – which particularly caught my interest. But he never stopped his pursuit of the scholarly side of Sherlockiana, as shown in The Criminal World of Sherlock Holmes. Now, with the third and final book, we have more of his brilliant essays, including thoughts on Jack the Ripper and connections with Watson’s Literary Agent.
Be sure to obtain the first two volumes along with this one, and take a moment to pause and remember a truly great Sherlockian.
12. Sherlock Holmes The Crimson Trail and Other Stories by Brenda Seabrooke
This is Brenda's second compilation of short stories - ten traditional pastiches with a touch of fantasy here and there. In the title story, Holmes, laid low by a badly sprained ankle, solves the case without even having to move from his armchair. Story by story Watson becomes more and more involved in the investigations and is delighted when, finally, Holmes introduces him to a client as ‘my friend and associate’. Between sadistic murderers, vampires, damsels wrongly accused, and a mysteriously anonymous Christmas card that one year fails to appear, there’s plenty here to intrigue and absorb.