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The Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD #2
Further Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD
Included in this volume are four tales, all referenced in the canonical originally published adventures:
The Abernetty Horror. A bloody crime in a Welsh fishing village points to one seemingly obvious answer. Holmes brings his reasoning powers to bear on the parsley and butter to discover the true solution (mentioned in The Six Napoleons).
The Finsbury House. "The shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland, that so nearly cost us both our lives." (The Norwood Builder)
The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon. Mentioned in passing at the beginning of the Red Circle, this case is more light-hearted than many of Holmes' adventures.
An Account of the Victor Lynch Forgery. An account of an early case of Sherlock Holmes, related not by Watson, but by Inspector Lestrade, in the form of a letter to the good doctor, following the events at Meiringen. Mentioned in both Study in Scarlet and the Sussex Vampire.
The Abernetty Horror. A bloody crime in a Welsh fishing village points to one seemingly obvious answer. Holmes brings his reasoning powers to bear on the parsley and butter to discover the true solution (mentioned in The Six Napoleons).
The Finsbury House. "The shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland, that so nearly cost us both our lives." (The Norwood Builder)
The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon. Mentioned in passing at the beginning of the Red Circle, this case is more light-hearted than many of Holmes' adventures.
An Account of the Victor Lynch Forgery. An account of an early case of Sherlock Holmes, related not by Watson, but by Inspector Lestrade, in the form of a letter to the good doctor, following the events at Meiringen. Mentioned in both Study in Scarlet and the Sussex Vampire.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
202 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2013
8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Ashton
67 books64 followersHugh Ashton was born in the UK in 1956. After graduating from the University of Cambridge, he worked in a variety of jobs, including security guard, publisher's assistant, and running an independent record label, before coming to rest in the field of information technology, where he assisted perplexed users of computers and wrote explanations to guide them through the problems they encountered.
A long-standing interest in Japan led him to emigrate to that country in 1988; writing instruction manuals for a variety of consumer products, assisting with IT-related projects at banks and financial institutions, and researching and writing industry reports on the Japanese and Asian financial industries, and writing promotional material for international business publications.
He has recently returned to the UK, and now lives in the cathedral city of Lichfield with his wife, Yoshiko.
He has recently published many volumes of highly-acclaimed Sherlock Holmes pastiches (the Deed Box and Dispatch-box series) with Inknbeans Press of California, with some reviewers hailing him as the re-incarnation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In addition, the list of his thrillers currently includes: At the Sharpe End, featuring an expatriate consultant living in Tokyo, Kenneth Sharpe, who finds himself thrust into a world of violence and high finance; Leo's Luck, a story of rock 'n' roll, crime, romance, and the paranormal; and Balance of Powers, set against the backdrop of the subprime mortgage crisis.
His historical works include: Beneath Gray Skies, an alternative history in which the American Civil War was never fought; Red Wheels Turning, set in an alternative Russia of 1917; and The Untime and The Untijme Revisited, Verne-ian 19th-century steampunk science fiction novels.
Children's books include the Sherlock Ferret series about the world's cutest detective, delightfully illustrated by Andy Boerger.
The collection of short stories Tales of Old Japanese describes some of the endearing characteristics of today's "silver generation" of Japan.
A long-standing interest in Japan led him to emigrate to that country in 1988; writing instruction manuals for a variety of consumer products, assisting with IT-related projects at banks and financial institutions, and researching and writing industry reports on the Japanese and Asian financial industries, and writing promotional material for international business publications.
He has recently returned to the UK, and now lives in the cathedral city of Lichfield with his wife, Yoshiko.
He has recently published many volumes of highly-acclaimed Sherlock Holmes pastiches (the Deed Box and Dispatch-box series) with Inknbeans Press of California, with some reviewers hailing him as the re-incarnation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In addition, the list of his thrillers currently includes: At the Sharpe End, featuring an expatriate consultant living in Tokyo, Kenneth Sharpe, who finds himself thrust into a world of violence and high finance; Leo's Luck, a story of rock 'n' roll, crime, romance, and the paranormal; and Balance of Powers, set against the backdrop of the subprime mortgage crisis.
His historical works include: Beneath Gray Skies, an alternative history in which the American Civil War was never fought; Red Wheels Turning, set in an alternative Russia of 1917; and The Untime and The Untijme Revisited, Verne-ian 19th-century steampunk science fiction novels.
Children's books include the Sherlock Ferret series about the world's cutest detective, delightfully illustrated by Andy Boerger.
The collection of short stories Tales of Old Japanese describes some of the endearing characteristics of today's "silver generation" of Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 9, 2017
All four stories were very very enjoyable to read. The plots were exciting, believable. The writing flowed very well and had an appropriate style. I really liked how Mr Hugh Ashton's Holmes seemed to be a much nicer person, and Watson seemed to be much smarter. Mr Hugh Ashton is, hands down, the best writer of Holmes pastiches that I have ever read. I am sad to see that his books here on Goodreads have not had many ratings.
March 29, 2019
This is a great collection of Sherlock tales including one written from Inspector Lestrade's perspective.
No new ground opened in the stories but each is within the house of Holmes.
Recommended
No new ground opened in the stories but each is within the house of Holmes.
Recommended
January 13, 2019
An excellent collection of Holmes pastiches. I really enjoyed "Sherlock Holmez and the Curious Affair of the Archdeacon". It was a trip.
January 17, 2016
Further Notes from the Dispatch Box of John H Watson MD by Hugh Ashton
“The Abernetty Horror”
This case is mentioned in passing by Watson in SIXN.
Holmes and Watson have traveled to the small Welsh village of Abernetty for a holiday on the coast. Holmes plays his little observation game with Watson about a man who has just arrived. He declares Mr. Fuller a successful business man, stingy, a man who drinks to excess and has a fondness for the ladies. Then the man turns up murdered in his chair in his rented room…
This tale is a good old fashioned whodunit with delightful twists and turns. Five Stars
“The Case of the Finsbury House”
This is the tale of the “Dutch Steamship Friesland” mentioned in passing by Watson in NORW.
Holmes has been to Amberfield House, the London residence of Sir Godfrey Leighbury. There his discovered that Lady Celia Lieghbury’s broach has fake stones in it. She arouses Holmes suspicions. Suspecting a painting, he takes it home to examine. Sure enough, it is a forgery.
It becomes apparent that a blackmailer has Lady Celia in his power. A certain Mr. Visser has been to the house in Sir Godfrey is absent with workmen and an artist’s tools of labor. Lady Celia goes out while her husband is away to this house in Finsbury which is owned by a Mr. de Vries. He seems to find fault with everyone who wants to buy it, although it is listed with an agent.
Gambling debt is the problem Lady Celia has, and she is far from alone. Others, her wealthy friends have also been forced to give up treasures as well.
Everything takes place whenever the Dutch Steamship Friesland is in port. This story has a very great many twists and turns and I confess I didn’t see some of them coming! Five Stars!
“The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon”
This case, the case of Mr. Fairdale Hobbs, is briefly mentioned at the start of REDC.
Mr. Fairdale Hobbs comes to Baker Street with the tale of his Uncle, Archdeacon James Harper-Barrington. His Uncle has always been generous with Mr. Hobbs. The last visit was something else entirely.
Mysterious letters are burned in the fire. Scraps written in both his Uncle’s hand and another, probably a lady, point to an affair. I did not see this twist coming! Five Stars!
“An Account of Victor Lynch, the Forger (As Related by Inspector Charles Lestrade of Scotland Yard)”
This case is mentioned in passing by Watson in SUSS.
Lestrade writes this case for Watson to cheer him up by honoring Holmes following the event at Reichenbach Falls. Four Stars.
Quoth the Raven…
“The Abernetty Horror”
This case is mentioned in passing by Watson in SIXN.
Holmes and Watson have traveled to the small Welsh village of Abernetty for a holiday on the coast. Holmes plays his little observation game with Watson about a man who has just arrived. He declares Mr. Fuller a successful business man, stingy, a man who drinks to excess and has a fondness for the ladies. Then the man turns up murdered in his chair in his rented room…
This tale is a good old fashioned whodunit with delightful twists and turns. Five Stars
“The Case of the Finsbury House”
This is the tale of the “Dutch Steamship Friesland” mentioned in passing by Watson in NORW.
Holmes has been to Amberfield House, the London residence of Sir Godfrey Leighbury. There his discovered that Lady Celia Lieghbury’s broach has fake stones in it. She arouses Holmes suspicions. Suspecting a painting, he takes it home to examine. Sure enough, it is a forgery.
It becomes apparent that a blackmailer has Lady Celia in his power. A certain Mr. Visser has been to the house in Sir Godfrey is absent with workmen and an artist’s tools of labor. Lady Celia goes out while her husband is away to this house in Finsbury which is owned by a Mr. de Vries. He seems to find fault with everyone who wants to buy it, although it is listed with an agent.
Gambling debt is the problem Lady Celia has, and she is far from alone. Others, her wealthy friends have also been forced to give up treasures as well.
Everything takes place whenever the Dutch Steamship Friesland is in port. This story has a very great many twists and turns and I confess I didn’t see some of them coming! Five Stars!
“The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon”
This case, the case of Mr. Fairdale Hobbs, is briefly mentioned at the start of REDC.
Mr. Fairdale Hobbs comes to Baker Street with the tale of his Uncle, Archdeacon James Harper-Barrington. His Uncle has always been generous with Mr. Hobbs. The last visit was something else entirely.
Mysterious letters are burned in the fire. Scraps written in both his Uncle’s hand and another, probably a lady, point to an affair. I did not see this twist coming! Five Stars!
“An Account of Victor Lynch, the Forger (As Related by Inspector Charles Lestrade of Scotland Yard)”
This case is mentioned in passing by Watson in SUSS.
Lestrade writes this case for Watson to cheer him up by honoring Holmes following the event at Reichenbach Falls. Four Stars.
Quoth the Raven…
June 24, 2015
Ashton has done a really fine job of capturing the authentic Conan Doyle voice of Holmes and Watson. It is my favorite collection of his thus far and contains four short stories. In the "Abernetty Horror", mentioned by Watson in The Six Napoleons, Holmes and Watson tackle a murder while on a sabbatical to the coast. It is famous for Holmes' use of parsley and butter in solving the crime. This is followed by a longer tale of "The Finsbury House", based on Watson's passing reference in The Norwood Builder to the Dutch steamship Friesland which indeed nearly cost them both their lives. Then there is the more lighthearted story of "The Affair of the Archdeacon", before finishing up with "The Victor Lynch Forgery Case", an early tale of Holmes prior to his meeting Watson and told by Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard. It was referred to in a Study in Scarlet and The Sussex Vampire. In it Lestrade tells the tale of how he first met the great detective Sherlock Holmes. Highly recommended.
July 7, 2013
An excellent new addition to the Holmesian canon - all four cases, even the one by Lestrade, are quite true to the style, and quite enjoyable. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews