This collection of short stories is not the strongest in the series, but it certainly has its moments. Doyle knew this would be the end, and he took aThis collection of short stories is not the strongest in the series, but it certainly has its moments. Doyle knew this would be the end, and he took a few risks with the storytelling, getting away, in places, from his standard approach. This is the book, more than any of the others, where he really seemed to relax and get creative with the style. Some parts are better than others, but all of them are interesting. This book features some stories narrated from Sherlock’s point of view, and one of those, set during Holmes’ retirement, takes place mostly on the beach. That’s a fun deviation from Sherlock’s usual milieu. Doyle also allowed himself to get a little sentimental here, especially in the story “The Three Garridebs.” I would give the collection 5 stars for this story alone. (view spoiler)[In this story, Holmes and Watson go off on an adventure, and Watson gets shot. Watson is also narrating the story, and his account of Sherlock’s reaction is golden: “‘You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!’ It was worth a wound—it was worth many wounds—to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.” I can’t imagine that. Sherlock losing control, his lip trembling? And all because he cares for Watson! (hide spoiler)] This is the moment I’d been waiting to see since book one. Absolutely lovely....more
This is a hard book to rate because it's a collection of short works by different writers. The stories themselves range quite a bit in quality. Some aThis is a hard book to rate because it's a collection of short works by different writers. The stories themselves range quite a bit in quality. Some are very good, but most of them, in my opinion, were not. While I was reading it, at first, I thought it would be between 3 and 4 stars. Then, as I went on and read more of the stories, it was a solid 3. Then 2.5. Then it got worse yet. I was very disappointed overall. One good thing about this collection is that because it's a collection of so many parts, a few bad stories won't hurt the overall experience—it's a celebration of Sherlock Holmes, and certainly the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. Here, though, there were only two stories that I really liked, two more that were nice, and a fifth that was very good but just not my cup of tea. I'm still counting it as plus, since it was so good, and since my opinions are subjective anyway. But that still only leaves five positives out of 14 stories altogether. Again, this is all just my own reaction, but it was not a good experience. I spent most of the time feeling irritated. Then I'd get to a really good one, and I'd get my hopes up again.
Some stuff I didn't like: • Paranormal. I'm okay with it as a genre, but it doesn't fit well into Sherlock Holmes. Maybe I'd feel differently if the writers had done a better job of integrating it, or if it hadn't been used in SO MANY of the tales. • Non-smart Sherlock Holmes. Usually this happens alongside a perfect other character who outsmarts him at every turn. I've no problem with Sherlock being outsmarted, especially if it's by an Irene Adler figure. After all, her victory was in the VERY FIRST short story of the canon. But in that story, Sherlock was smart and clever, and Irene was cleverer still. Here, I think, some of the authors wanted their own characters to triumph, so instead of writing them smarter, they just diminished Sherlock. They made him jump to conclusions (a far cry from the “Data! Data! Data! I cannot make bricks without clay!” detective of the canon). They made him mild and prone to inaction. There were also some painful scenes of Sherlock meeting an Irene-like character, and falling over himself telling her how wonderful and smart and tough she is. Didn't feel real to me. • Super-perfect non-Doyle characters. Whether it’s a macho tough guy or a badass warrior woman, I would have liked something more interesting than perfect perfection • Gratuitous violence (I know, I know, it’s about a man who solves murders, so of course, there will be murders. It just felt a little over-the-top to me.) • Some of them just felt pretentious.
Some stuff I liked: • The variety. Some of these are stories set in the Doyle-era, starring Doyle characters. Others are set in modern times, still with Sherlock et al. Then there are the ones that have all original characters, but whose heroes assume the roles of Holmes and Watson. And ones where the characters are normal, everyday people who also happen to be Sherlock Holmes fans. And a whimsical Sherlock-is-really-a-bug retelling. And prose. And poetry. And a graphic novel. This is a very rich collection of many different styles and forms. • The humor. A few stories made me laugh out loud. • Whimsy • Fun. Some of these stories had such a nice sense of fun, and they really felt like a celebration of Doyle.
My top 5: Dr. Watson’s Song and The Case of the Naked Butterfly, tied for first. The Case of the Missing Case, honorable mention. A nice origin story for Holmes. Also, they worked music into the plot, so that’s a win. The Adventure of the Six Sherlocks, honorable mention. A lot of fun to read about a mystery at a Sherlock Holmes convention, with a bunch of Sherlock cosplayers as suspects. The mystery element kind of falls apart if you think about it too much, but the story itself was such a hoot that I didn’t much care. Sherlocked. I didn’t care so much for this one, but it was well-written.
All in all, I didn’t enjoy most of this collection. Parts of it were cute, but most of these stories were either irritating or dull. I enjoy a good Sherlock yarn, but this collection just wasn’t for me....more
I love this book. It’s very dark and sad, far more melancholy than the gothic horror of “Baskerville.” Like A Study in Scarlet, the second part jumps I love this book. It’s very dark and sad, far more melancholy than the gothic horror of “Baskerville.” Like A Study in Scarlet, the second part jumps back in time and tells the origin story of the killer and the victim. However, Doyle’s craft has improved through the years, and here, this framing technique is more polished. The characters are well-developed, the villains are super creepy, and there are a few surprises along the way. I also liked (view spoiler)[the bleak tone. This is a great book for me when I’m in the mood for something sad, something with noble and brave heroes who miss out on their HEA. (hide spoiler)] That said, this book wasn’t perfect. I can’t explain what I didn’t like without giving a very slight spoiler: (view spoiler)[Doyle still has a nasty habit of killing off major characters “offscreen,” as it were. The major deaths in this story felt almost like afterthoughts. (hide spoiler)] All in all, it’s memorable and poignant. The perfect book to read with a cup of hot tea on a rainy evening....more
Well, he’s back. After being presumed dead for three years, Sherlock dramatically reappears. And it IS very dramatic: there’s enough of a narcissist iWell, he’s back. After being presumed dead for three years, Sherlock dramatically reappears. And it IS very dramatic: there’s enough of a narcissist in Sherlock to want to stage his entrance properly. This collection is my dad’s favorite; he says that this book features several years’ worth of ideas that percolated during Doyle’s Sherlock hiatus. It certainly has some memorable stories. “The Norwood Builder,” “The Solitary Cyclist,” “The Dancing Men,” “The Priory School,” “The Six Napoleons,” and “The Golden Pince-Nez” are all top-notch. “The Abbey Grange” is one of my all-time favorites, probably in my top 3, definitely top 5. The writing is solid, and Doyle uses humorous touches to great effect. And this collection is bookended by two drastic life events for Sherlock: “The Empty House” is Sherlock’s triumphant return from exile, and “The Second Stain” opens with Watson informing readers that Sherlock has retired to study bees on the Sussex Downs. So no more stories! Yeah, right. ;)
But it’s not all fun and games—this collection also exemplifies what is, for me, the single most frustrating element of these stories: the endings that get dropped. I’m going to make a Shakespeare analogy here, so hang tight. Spoilers for Romeo and Juliet. (view spoiler)[Okay, here goes: You know how Romeo and Juliet fall in love pretty early on in the story, and you spend the whole play rooting for them to be all right? And in Act IV, they have this scheme with Friar Lawrence, and you kind of let yourself think, just for a moment, that it will end happily, even though you know it won’t? You keep hoping that they’ll get their HEA? And then Act V happens, and it’s so sad, and you understand how and why they die, and despite the tragedy, you at least feel like you’ve followed them on their star-crossed journey? (hide spoiler)] Well, Doyle’s story is the opposite of that. Spoilers for something that happens between “Memoirs” and “Return.” (view spoiler)[The Sign of Four was the great love story, with John and Mary falling in love and getting married. Now, in this collection, Mary has already died of something, and we don’t see it or know what it was, and we don’t see Watson’s reaction (or anyone else’s, for that matter). She’s dead when it opens, and she’s mentioned ONCE. And not even by name. So this is like Romeo and Juliet, if R&J ended with Act IV, and then the chorus came out with an epilogue in which they said, “Oops! They died, not sure how, too bad you missed it!!” This is THAT level of frustrating, for me. Here’s Mary’s great death scene from “Empty House”: “In some manner he had learned of my own sad bereavement, and his sympathy was shown in his manner rather than in his words. ‘Work is the best antidote to sorrow, my dear Watson,’ said he.” And that’s IT. “Norwood Builder” opens with Watson selling his practice and moving back in with Sherlock, and he finds out afterward that Sherlock had arranged for Watson to get a good price, so Sherlock is looking out for his widowed friend. So that was nice to see. And I know that Mary was more of a side character, so probably my Shakespeare comparison isn’t fair; these stories are not supposed to be about Watson’s marriage. They’re about Watson’s friendship with Holmes. But we, as readers, got to witness their courtship. We had the chance to root for Watson when he felt so unworthy of Mary’s hand. We had the chance to cheer when it looked like things would work out. And then, hey, guess what, she’s been dead for a while already. I’m sure it was done to make it easer for Sherlock and John to have their adventures, and by having it happen in the in-between time, Doyle can have a very sad and lonely Watson who is at his most vulnerable when Sherlock comes back. Even so, I feel cheated. (hide spoiler)] Despite all this, still a very strong collection of stories, with much to recommend it....more
4.5 stars. Another strong collection of short stories. Some of these tales have a lot going on, with intrigue and mystery and confusion running throug4.5 stars. Another strong collection of short stories. Some of these tales have a lot going on, with intrigue and mystery and confusion running through them. Others are more straightforward, even simple. One of the charms in this collection, for me, was this difference from one story to the next. Some tales felt like complete adventures, while other were more like snapshots. This was a nice mix. I found “Silver Blaze” and “The Musgrave Ritual” to be quite memorable, and Sherlock’s heartfelt speech about the hope and beauty that one finds in flowers remains one of my favorite moments in the whole saga. Finally, I won’t spoil anything here, but the adventures that Watson and Holmes share in “The Final Problem” are among the most compelling of anything in the series. Amazing....more
Quite a remarkable Sherlock collection. I am amazed at how cohesive a whole is formed from these several separate stories, and I can’t remember the laQuite a remarkable Sherlock collection. I am amazed at how cohesive a whole is formed from these several separate stories, and I can’t remember the last time I had such an enjoyable experience. I strongly disliked this collection at first, and I am still amazed at how drasticallly my opinion changed as the stories were crafted.
The book opens with a preface about how Sherlock retired to the South Downs to keep bees. I don’t know why this book starts out with that image, but I suppose it is partly Doyle’s way of assuring his readers that he will not kill off Holmes as he did before. That said, although the idea of a man living peacefully alone with a bunch of bees can be soothing, the preface felt, to me, to be rather melancholic. No matter how successful his career, he has finished with it now. Although he was once young and strong and surrounded by admirers, now he is old and alone, and he takes no interest in the concerns of the police or the mysteries of everyday life. Earlier, his mind rebelled at stagnation, and now he seems to desire it. The stories, then, before they have even begun, have already been presented as historical cases from a now long-retired detective who, as far as we know, has no contact with anyone from his former life at Baker Street. I think retirement can be a beautiful thing, and I don’t blame Sherlock for wanting rest, but his total separation from everything he’s known is described almost as an afterthought, and I found it to be a little depressing. (Plus, I felt a bit cheated dramatically. How can I worry about Sherlock putting himself in danger if I know he’s going to retire to the South Downs?)
But then the stories started, and oh! Such stories! Even at this late point in the series, it is easy to see character development, and—was Doyle getting sentimental?—at least two different events in two different stories that demonstrate the genuine warmth between Holmes and Watson. One of the stories begins with Watson explaining that he had just had a message from Holmes to publish one his accounts of their adventures, and this the first occasion to show that even in retirement, Holmes is still in touch with Watson. And these stories are magnificent. There is one that fleshes out his brother Mycroft and showcases the siblings’ cooperation and respect. We get to see Watson’s suffering as he is helpless to save his friend in “The Dying Detective,” and we see a very sick Sherlock trying to recover his health in a completely different milieu in “Devil’s Foot.” These are two of my favorite Sherlock stories, period. They’re definitely in my top five, and possibly in my top three. Sherlock is also definitely thinking with his heart in this collection; his genuine worry about an innocent lady and his desire to protect her drive the “Carfax” story, and his kindness keeps coming to the fore in many of these tales. The tone is softer, the characters (after all these years) are open and trusting, and even poor Lestrade gets to shine. Holmes and Watson have come to rely on his support, and he can be depended on to back them up. It’s a far cry from the awkward and competitive relationship they had early on.
And then, at the end of all of it, comes “His Last Bow.” Right from he beginning, this story is different. It’s told in 3rd person, and it takes place post-bees. This is a much older, steadier Sherlock Holmes. No longer is he working to support himself, or even sleuthing “for the game’s own sake”—not here. Now, the stakes are higher, the need is greater, and a threat so terrible in its magnitude has drawn Sherlock out of retirement and plunged him once more into his former profession. And now, the preface finally makes sense for me. Sherlock retires, and then Sherlock keeps going. In this story, we see for the first time the work that he has accomplished during his time on the South Downs. So even then, he has not been idle. And now, afterward, Sherlock comes back when he is needed, so that he can continue to do what he had always done. I like the idea of more, of change, of surprise. Just when you think everything has ended, there is still more to come. I like the idea of Sherlock rising up from obscurity, of standing tall, of doing, of saving, of protecting. He came back from the dead, as it were, in “The Return of Sherlock Holmes,” but this, this is his real resurrection. And it took my breath away.
Last of all, three of my favorite Sherlock Holmes quotes are found in this collection: “I play the game for the game’s own sake.” “I thought I knew my Watson.” And finally, “Quick, man, if you love me.” Beautiful moments, all....more
Some of these were good, and some weren’t, but this is definitely a case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. I enjoyed the experienceSome of these were good, and some weren’t, but this is definitely a case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. I enjoyed the experience of listening to these stories far more than I enjoyed some of the individual contributions. These stories are all related to Sherlock in some way, but there is tremendous variety in each interpretation. Some of the stories are about Sherlock, or about minor characters in the Sherlock stories, or about Doyle, or about people who have read the Sherlock stories; the tones are pleasant, or bleak, or serious, or humorous. They are parodies, or straight retellings, or brand-new stories. They are set in modern day, or Victorian England, or WWII. There is one crossover and one graphic novel. This collection, one big celebration of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock culture, offers the unique chance to see the iconic character from a variety of perspectives. And while some of these stories would get 5 stars from me and some others only 2, I relished the chance to see Sherlock from someone else’s eyes....more
This book blew me away. I'd rate it higher than five if I could.
Since my childhood, I have loved the Granada series starring Brett. This book has helpThis book blew me away. I'd rate it higher than five if I could.
Since my childhood, I have loved the Granada series starring Brett. This book has helped me to appreciate the series on a much deeper level. Davies doesn't give a biography of Brett; rather, this is a tightly focused look at Brett's involvement with the TV show. Davies discusses each episode of the show, even describing individual scenes. He traces input from executives, producers, directors, screenwriters, and actors; he compares the show's plots to the source material; and he demonstrates trends over time as the show ran year after year. Brett's brilliance as an actor shines through, both in these pages and on the screen. This book is a celebration—of Sherlock, of Brett, of Doyle. It's a reminder of why we loved the series. It captures the heartache of the series' end and of Brett's illness. It showed me, all over again, the brilliance and daring of an amazing actor....more
This is a difficult book to review. Or, rather, it is difficult to cover so many full-length books in a single review. One constant in this series is This is a difficult book to review. Or, rather, it is difficult to cover so many full-length books in a single review. One constant in this series is the quality of the writing: the mysteries are fresh and interesting, and the characters feel very real and well-developed. The friendship between Holmes and Watson is genuine and solid, even if the Sherlock doesn’t like to show emotion or admit to any kindness. He insults Watson to his face, yet he praises him to others (and means it); Holmes trusts Watson, cares for him, and relies on his courage in many dangerous situations.
Throughout the series, Holmes seems to go out of his way to make himself seem worse than he is. He pretends not to care for the people close to him, but he does. He claims not to like women, yet he is chivalrous, tender, and sympathetic toward women. He worries, risks his life to help, and is compassionate. In one story, he refuses to tell the police about a woman who’d killed her husband (and he even saves her life) because he cares for her. He is egotistical, but he is honest and forthcoming about his failures, and he doesn’t seek credit for his work. He is empathetic. He becomes furious (and would even sink to murder) when someone harms the ones he loves. His personality is strong, and his kindness, when it appears, is equally strong—perhaps all the more so because it is so unexpected.
Some final thoughts: I like the atmosphere in the stories; they definitely have a British “feel,” and the details about the Victorian age in which it is set help evoke the scene. Quick shout-out to Simon Vance, who narrated the audio, and who adroitly handled voices for men, women, and children, and with a variety of accents. I enjoyed Watson’s romance in The Sign of Four. I enjoyed the variety of the stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; I liked that some of tales featured no murder, and some featured no crime at all. The tone is much sweeter and more lighthearted than most of the other mysteries I’ve read. By the time the later books came, the overall feel was much darker, and it felt like the author was getting tired. The series ends on a high note, however, with a burst of creativity in the last book, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes; it’s as though Doyle was willing to try new things here. It’s a great farewell to these two beloved characters. I can’t believe that it’s over, and that there isn’t any more to look forward to. It’s been a beautiful and deeply emotional journey, and I would very much like to pull out these books in the future and read them all over again. Slipping back into this world would be like visiting old, dear friends....more
I really liked this. I remember reading once that at one time, both of these figures stood equally prominent in the public's collective imagination. II really liked this. I remember reading once that at one time, both of these figures stood equally prominent in the public's collective imagination. It is strangely ironic that the real man is seldom talked about now, while the fictional one stars in films, TV shows, and new books (not to mention being featured on keychains, coffee mugs, t-shirts, etc.). I was delighted to read a graphic novel where they once again share the center stage. Their conflict and (eventually) their camaraderie drive the story. Both leads are well-crafted. I especially appreciate the way that Anthony Del Col brought Houdini to life here. He is remembered for the desperation with which he sought a way to communicate with the dead, as well as for the cleverness with which he exposed the fraudulent mystics. This book stays true to that, while still imbuing him with subtlety and dignity. His orderliness, his tenacity, his ego—all are thoughtfully portrayed. Sherlock feels a little out of character at times, but that might simply be because I am not used to seeing him interact with (and compete with) someone who is his intellectual equal. He still embodies the essence of the great detective, and fans of Arthur Conan Doyle will find much to cheer for here. This book plays a little fast and loose with a few historical details, but the storytelling was so engaging and the characters so dynamic that it didn't really matter. This is meant to be a fun romp, and in that respect, it certainly delivers....more
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