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Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook
It’s 1890. Holmes’s fame has spread even to the colonies, and he and his stalwart chronicler Watson are swept up in an array of mysteries Down Under. They find themselves summoned from place to place, dealing with exciting and unique mysteries in every corner of this strange island continent.
Contributors include Kerry Greenwood, Meg Keneally, Lucy Sussex, Kaaron Warren, L.J.M. Owen and many more.
Editor Christopher Sequeira is known and respected internationally for his Holmes-related writings. His published work includes poetry, prose, and comic-book scripts, including Pulse of Darkness, Rattlebone: The Pulp-Faced Detective and The Borderlander.
Contributors include Kerry Greenwood, Meg Keneally, Lucy Sussex, Kaaron Warren, L.J.M. Owen and many more.
Editor Christopher Sequeira is known and respected internationally for his Holmes-related writings. His published work includes poetry, prose, and comic-book scripts, including Pulse of Darkness, Rattlebone: The Pulp-Faced Detective and The Borderlander.
354 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 28, 2017
3.5 ★s
Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook is a beautifully-bound hardcover book of short stories with illustrations. It is a compilation of sixteen stories by seventeen different authors with full-page illustrations by three illustrators. It is edited by Christopher Sequiera (who also contributes a story). Each story is narrated by Dr John Watson and all but one examine cases that he and Sherlock Holmes investigated during their time in Australia in 1890.
This might be regarded as Arthur Conan Doyle fan fiction, but as each of these writers (a mix of established authors and new young talent) is a published (and often award-winning) author of their own crime novels, it really is more than that. Many of them capture Holmes and Watson very well, although sometimes they do slip slightly out of character: now and then Holmes is not quite as arrogant and cool as we might remember him from Conan Doyle’s work.
The cases and locations are quite varied: most states and territories of Australia get a look in, and there are murders, kidnappings and abductions, theft, unnatural deaths, a closed room mystery, an apparent return from the dead, bushrangers, charlatans and revolutionaries. Often the stories are well constructed, but some are a bit rushed at the end, or a bit more “tell” than “show”. The plots are frequently very clever, but occasionally feature so many twists and red herrings as to make for a convoluted result.
Of the sixteen stories, those by Kerry Greenwood and Lindy Cameron, L.J.M. Owen, Christopher Sequeira, Steve Cameron, Narelle M Harris, Lucy Sussex, and Doug Elliott are outstandingly good. Holmes and Watson ride camels, horses and donkeys, travel by buggy, ship, carriage and train, are threatened, praised, misled, attacked and insulted, and in one story, Holmes goes for a swim. Readers familiar with the work of the individual authors will be interested in their take on Holmes and Watson, while for Holmes fans, these extra doses of the famous detective make it a book to savour.
With thanks to Echo Publishing for this copy to read and review.
Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Casebook is a beautifully-bound hardcover book of short stories with illustrations. It is a compilation of sixteen stories by seventeen different authors with full-page illustrations by three illustrators. It is edited by Christopher Sequiera (who also contributes a story). Each story is narrated by Dr John Watson and all but one examine cases that he and Sherlock Holmes investigated during their time in Australia in 1890.
This might be regarded as Arthur Conan Doyle fan fiction, but as each of these writers (a mix of established authors and new young talent) is a published (and often award-winning) author of their own crime novels, it really is more than that. Many of them capture Holmes and Watson very well, although sometimes they do slip slightly out of character: now and then Holmes is not quite as arrogant and cool as we might remember him from Conan Doyle’s work.
The cases and locations are quite varied: most states and territories of Australia get a look in, and there are murders, kidnappings and abductions, theft, unnatural deaths, a closed room mystery, an apparent return from the dead, bushrangers, charlatans and revolutionaries. Often the stories are well constructed, but some are a bit rushed at the end, or a bit more “tell” than “show”. The plots are frequently very clever, but occasionally feature so many twists and red herrings as to make for a convoluted result.
Of the sixteen stories, those by Kerry Greenwood and Lindy Cameron, L.J.M. Owen, Christopher Sequeira, Steve Cameron, Narelle M Harris, Lucy Sussex, and Doug Elliott are outstandingly good. Holmes and Watson ride camels, horses and donkeys, travel by buggy, ship, carriage and train, are threatened, praised, misled, attacked and insulted, and in one story, Holmes goes for a swim. Readers familiar with the work of the individual authors will be interested in their take on Holmes and Watson, while for Holmes fans, these extra doses of the famous detective make it a book to savour.
With thanks to Echo Publishing for this copy to read and review.
March 22, 2018
An accessible dip into the world of fan fiction, these 16 illustrated short stories are not just for lovers of Sherlock Holmes. Full Review at Newtown Review of Books
September 2, 2020
A good variety of Holmes short stories set in Australia and faithful to the Doyle style.
January 7, 2018
Interesting anthology of stories that see Sherlock Holmes and John Watson investigating crimes in 19th century Australia.
Like all anthologies, some stories are better than others. Narrelle Harris' story was my favourite, but I mostly found that, for me, Holmes and Watson fit better in foggy London, not scorching Australia.
Like all anthologies, some stories are better than others. Narrelle Harris' story was my favourite, but I mostly found that, for me, Holmes and Watson fit better in foggy London, not scorching Australia.
December 31, 2021
I'm pretty sure that I have read all of the ACD stories about the exploits of Holmes. I think I was a teenager when I first started. Fifty years later I reread a collection of short stories (thanks to COVID lockdown) and found the same old magic.
Obviously I wasn't around in 1890 to have direct knowledge of Australia back then, but the writers of The Australian Casebook seems to have the climate, the towns and the cities, and the people about right. As they should, because they are all accomplished Australian authors.
All the stories seem to have the Holmes and Watson characters acting true to ACD form. The plots are OK too.
The authors must have had a blast!
Obviously I wasn't around in 1890 to have direct knowledge of Australia back then, but the writers of The Australian Casebook seems to have the climate, the towns and the cities, and the people about right. As they should, because they are all accomplished Australian authors.
All the stories seem to have the Holmes and Watson characters acting true to ACD form. The plots are OK too.
The authors must have had a blast!
January 7, 2018
Well, this was quite a bit of fun. A collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories set in Australia in 1890 written by talented Australian authors. Most of the stories were very good, with some of the longer ones being excellent. I have a fondness for cosy murder mysteries and this was a very enjoyable collection. My favourites were by Kerry Greenwood and Lindy Cameron, Will Schaefer, Robert Veld, Dr L.J.M Owen and Christopher Sequeira - so now I have some new authors to look up.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes cosy murder mysteries.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes cosy murder mysteries.
January 14, 2021
Sherlock Holmes is such a quintessential character. He has evolved over the years since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first brought him to the page. This anthology brings together a wealth of top mystery writers to breath new life into Holmes' old bones. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection.
July 5, 2021
More like 3.5, but rounded up because I love the idea of Sherlock Holmes in Australia.
January 1, 2025
Always good to read a reasonable Holmes pastiche, and this collection worked pretty well. Thanks, Chris, for making the effort on this, but no thanks for leaving it to me to discover by accident.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews