In League with Sherlock Holmes

Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon

by Laurie R. King (Editor), Leslie S. Klinger (Editor), Maria Alexander

The latest entry in Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger’s popular Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery series, featuring fifteen talented authors and a multitude of new cases for Arthur Conan Doyle’s most acclaimed detective.

Sherlock Holmes has not only captivated readers for more than a century and a quarter, he has fascinated writers as well. Almost immediately, the detective’s genius, mastery, and heroism became the standard by which other creators measured their creations, and the friendship between Holmes and Dr. Watson served as a brilliant model for those who followed Doyle. Not only did the Holmes tales influence the mystery genre but also tales of science-fiction, adventure, and the supernatural. It is little wonder, then, that when the renowned Sherlockians Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger invited their writer-friends and colleagues to be inspired by the Holmes canon, a cornucopia of stories sprang forth, with more than sixty of the greatest modern writers participating in four acclaimed anthologies.

Now, King and Klinger have invited another fifteen masters to become In League with Sherlock Holmes . The contributors to the pair’s next volume, due out in December 2020, include award-winning authors of horror, thrillers, mysteries, westerns, and science-fiction, all bound together in admiration and affection for the original stories. Past tales have spanned the Victorian era, World War I, World War II, the post-war era, and contemporary America and England. They have featured familiar figures from literature and history, children, master sleuths, official police, unassuming amateurs, unlikely protagonists, even ghosts and robots. Some were new tales about Holmes and Watson; others were about people from Holmes’s world or admirers of Holmes and his methods. The resulting stories are funny, haunting, thrilling, and surprising. All are unforgettable. The new collection promises more of the same!

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Historical

368 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2020

About the author

Edgar-winning mystery writer Laurie R. King writes series and standalone novels. Her official forum is
THE LRK VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB here on Goodreads--please join us for book-discussing fun.

King's 2018 novel, Island of the Mad, sees Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes travel from London's Bedlam to the glitter of Venice's Lido,where Young Things and the friends of Cole Porter pass Mussolini's Blackshirts in the streets. The Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series follows a brilliant young woman who becomes the student, then partner, of the great detective. [click here for an excerpt of the first in the series, The Beekeeper's Apprentice] The Stuyvesant and Grey series (Touchstone; The Bones of Paris) takes place in Europe between the Wars. The Kate Martinelli series follows an SFPD detective's cases on a female Rembrandt, a holy fool, and more. [Click for an excerpt of A Grave Talent]

King lives in northern California, which serves as backdrop for some of her books.

Please note that Laurie checks her Goodreads inbox intermittently, so it may take some time to receive a reply. A quicker response may be possible via email to info@laurierking.com.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every book in this series has been a mixed bag for me, but I can't stop reading because I guess I'm just a Holmes junkie. I thought the last entry was by far the best, and In League with Sherlock Holmes started out really good. I really enjoyed the first couple stories, and was convinced that this was going to top the last one. Unfortunately, I apparently jinxed myself, because most of the rest of the stories (and one comic) were pretty lackluster. There were a couple better ones at the end, at least. But all in all, not amazing on the whole.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most short story collections it's a bit uneven. Some are OK and some are quite good. Even one that takes a humorous look at Holmes. Not a bad read though I wish Laurie King had written a story and not just edited.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINAL VERSION:

After a huge long hiatus (pun fully intended) in which I crammed my brain full of as much ACD and Agatha Christie as I could...it's time to come back to this sweet lil anthology.

Because whoa do I have some feels for you!

So...me being me with a ton of book i'm currently reading on my bookshelf and feeling extremely stressed about finishing since there are, I kid you not, about 20 books i'm currently reading...what do I do but start another one?

It's one of my passions in life to stave off boredom by starting a book squarely in the middle, and so that's what I'm doing right now! And, a quick update, it actually is working out super well for me! Thanks, past me!


Reviews are in order of reading, not in order of the book. ;)

The Observance of Trifles
Starting off a book in the middle, especially a short story anthology, is extremely rewarding. This story was incredible in its peculiarity: in short: I loved it. And WHAT a twist at the end too!

This made me think so much of Anthony Horowitz's Moriarty too while reading, so that was fun!

4 out of 5 stars

Infinite Loop
I swear I should have seen who Joann and Shel were supposed to be from the beginning, but I only saw that Joann was Watson at the very end. #gullible #andproudofit

Another unexpected, off the walls great story! It was a wonderful read.

3 out of 5 stars

A Séance in Liverpool
OH
MY
GOODNESS
This story was just...perfect...and amazing...and AAAAAHHHHHHH *banshee screams*

Now HERE is a 5 star short story!

5 out of 5 stars

Benchley
No matter what other stories I read in this book.
No matter what nuggets of goodness I find buried in this book.
I feel pretty confident that...
NOTHING WILL TRUMP THIS STORY.
Ahhhh man! My current favorite of the whole book!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! Let's just say a certain special family member of Sherlock's finally gets a story about them! Ohhhhh man.

5.5 out of 5 stars

The Murderer's Paradox
You will be thinking about this one for weeks to come after you read it because I sure am. A unique, heartbreaking, and ultimately thought-provoking story showing the hurt that is inflicted through prejudice. A five-star story.

5.6 out of 5 stars

A Scandal on the Jersey Shore
A fun story...I liked the touch that Irene was related to *the* Irene...ya'know, "The Woman."
Also when she said that Irene was never a dominatrix my little heart sang because as a die-hard canon fan my lil self had a fun time burning the heart out of what they had done to my Irene Adler. This is my Irene Adler:


But I digress...
The story itself I didn't much care for. I'm not really into the valley-beach-mean-girls scene...and i'm sorry I know I lumped a bunch of tropes that aren't necessarily related into one shebang...but i'm just saying that that's not me. However...I loved Irene. It is the mark of a truly great author to create a world I couldn't care less about with side characters who literally should be so boring...YET EVERY CHARACTER WAS A TREAT. Seriously. Irene Norton the 2nd was a true joy, and her deductive skills really carried the story.

3.5 stars for the wonderful Adler-Norton family. Still not really into the beach scene but you know what that's just my opinion.

The Adventure of the Northridge Bilker
Amusing, clever, funny...I don't really remember much of it but I do remember laughing at the end of it.

3.5 stars for the laughs

Cumberbachelor
This one was a mixed bag and DEFINITELY not one I would recommend...however, it did have this little nugget of goodness at the end: These two made a cameo! so that was fun.

A fun read, but some inappropriate content knocks down my otherwise stellar rating of this.

2.5 stars

A Case of Mistaken Identity
OHHHH MY GOSH.
OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH
CHELSEA QUINN YARBO, YOU DESERVE AN ACCOLADE! Because your idea of having a vicious murderer helped through rehab by the thought that he was truly Sherlock Holmes IS GOLD!

This one was a great read, the characters were well-formed, and the ending was vicious! :D
4 out of 5 stars

Mr. Holmes, I Presume?
Reading this introduction to the story following it - Joe Hill's comic - did help me understand his character better, but I have to say, I still loathe it.

2 out of 5 stars

Dying Is Easy
I liked the FRIENDS references...I liked the kid jumping rope...
Everything else? Dying would be easier than reading it.

1.5 stars for the kid

The Strange Juju Affair at the Gacy Mansion
And now we come to the first story in this anthology (finally)! A truly wonderful tale, one full of mystery and suspense, and one not easily guessed. Fans of Sherlock Holmes' methods will find a striking resemblance to them in the form of an enthralling new character!

5 out of 5 stars

What My Father Never Told Me
Okay, seriously, I would pay Tess Gerritsen to write an entire series just based on this fan theory!! Seriously, Ms Gerritsen, please, write a series.

You'll be hearing from me.

4 out of 5 stars for an incredibly intriguing theory...lost a star because it is logically unsound...however, if you made a series explaining those inconsistencies... ;)

The Case of the Wailing Ghosts
Supernatural meets Sherlock Holmes meets awesome strong women meets happy Rachel. :D Oh, and there's a Hound of the Baskerville reference.

What's not to love?

4 out of 5 stars

The Twenty-Five Year Engagement
Sophisticated...very Holmesian...just what Sherlock Holmes should be! I won't spoil it any further...you've got to read it!

5 out of 5 stars

Aaaand now, the last but CERTAINLY not least story...

When You Hear Hoofbeats...
What the heck?! Who knew that a zebra, drunk Mary Watson, and a reference to Barker and Llewelyn would make such a fantastic story? But you know what? It did.

Still cracking up about that zebra



Seriously. Shadow puppets are not for the faint of heart

4 hilarious stars out of 5

[HB · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: Really hit or miss! If your tastes in short stories run parallel to mine, see below; if not, it's advisable to bail on a story (yeah, even though they're relatively short) if you're not digging it within a page or two.

Why I Read This
I've enjoyed the previous collections of inspired-by-canon Sherlock Holmes stories edited by King & Klinger.

Should You Read It?
Sure, if you like Sherlockiana and short stories.

The Stories
Story Title: individual star rating 0 - 5*
"My notes as I was reading the book"
Additional thoughts

*0 stars: didn't read; not counted toward final rating
*1 star: awful story, shouldn't be included
*2 stars: not awful but not worth your time
*3 stars: not my cup of tea but might be yours
*4 stars: good writing, canonical inspiration apparent
*5 stars: one of the best in the collection, don't skip this one!

The Strange Juju Affair at the Gacy Mansion: 3 stars
"Meh"
Actually, by the end of the collection, this one I at least remember. "Meh" is more in reference to the too-preposterous-to-qualify-as-clever actual method of murder (or rather, concealment of the method of murder), and the banal motive.

What My Father Never Told Me: 3 stars
"Meh"
I don't remember this one, but I do remember being annoyed that I'd read the whole thing for THAT conclusion.

The Case of the Wailing Ghosts: 4 stars for assignment, 5 stars for Jana
"Jana is hilarious; story plot is supernatural, diverges from usual Holmes fodder, but a good homage"
I did really enjoy Jana's character in this one, from her almost childlike urges to the asides that earn her eye rolls from Dana. The story itself is good; if the author wrote a full novel based on these characters, I'd read it.

The Twenty-Five Year Engagement: 1 star
"Borderline offensive to many minorities"
Listen: time has revealed some serious issues with Conan Doyle's original writing. He was as casually racist, classist, and misogynistic as any other well-to-do white man of his day, and though it hardly excuses any of that, it at least tracks for writing of that era, and there are certain characters who consistently rebuke others for their treatment toward or words about other races, classes, and women in general. This story, however, feels like someone's sophomore creative writing assignment was "a story inspired by the Sherlock Holmes canon", but they forgot about it until the last minute, and then basically mashed up several existing stories and clumsily cobbled them together, doubling down on the above issues as though shocking a modern reader might disguise the flimsy effort.

When You Hear Hoofbeats...: 3 stars
"A bit far-fetched"
Well, it was a bit far-fetched.

Mr Homes, I Presume?: 0 stars, didn't read
This is sort of the intro to the next story, as far as I can tell, which... idk, if you're compiling a collection of fifteen short stories, and you need one of those fifteen slots to explain the existence of a second one, maybe just go a different route.

Dying Is Easy: 0 stars, didn't read
I'm just not a fan of graphic novels. If you are, I bet this is worth your time.

The Observance of Trifles: 1 star
"Blah blah blah"
Maybe I'm just jaded from all the super-long footnotes that turn out to truly just be pointless lists in House of Leaves, which I read just before this book, but this is pretty clearly supposed to be Holmes complaining that Watson only writes the most sensational shit, or maybe Mycroft or Moriarty complaining about Watson, or who cares, because whoever is doing the complaining is goddamn tedious, and whomever they're complaining about seems to at least be entertaining, and to the victor go the spoils, trifles notwithstanding.

Infinite Loop: 3 stars
"Pointless"
Yes, I get the irony of calling a story called Infinite Loop "pointless", and if the assignment was supposed to be ironically meta, then, full marks. But it wasn't and "Shel Rock" is a stupid name and I didn't care about the narrator's anything.

A Séance in Liverpool: 4 stars
"Closer to canon-style, but sort of half-assed"
Tbh I think I was in a bad mood about something else when I wrote that note, because as I recall it now, this story does have a very original-Holmes feel to it, and I can't for the life of me remember why I thought it was half-assed. Maybe I just thought it needed a bit more fleshing-out, but it's meant to be a short story, and it gets the job done.

Benchley: 5 stars
"Finally! Great."
Best bang for your buck in the whole collection. I thought I knew who the characters were right up until I figured out who the characters probably actually were and then that was confirmed. Truly, if you only have time to skim this collection, read this one.

The Murderer's Paradox: 4 stars
"Dark but appropriate for extension of canon, esp given Moriarty's involvement"
You might guess the ending but you might not, and either way the original paradox itself is a fun brainteaser.

A Scandal on the Jersey Shore: 5 stars
"Awesome. Probably the best one so far"
Other than Benchley, that is, but tbf this one is quite a bit longer. I recently visited the Jersey Shore, and a working understanding of that culture makes this story much richer for its accuracy. The narrator is ridiculous and fun, sort of reminded me of Alexis Rose but with a knack for investigation rather than PR.

The Adventure of the Northridge Bilker: 5 stars
"Takes a minute to get there but great in the end"
Despite needing a bit of editing, this is a great contribution to the collection. Also it drives me insane when characters' names aren't consistently spelled; it's almost easier to forgive the author, who legit might have changed the name after the fact and not caught every instance, but were there not copy editors for this book?

Cumberbachelor: 3 stars
"I want to like this more than I do"
I mean okay someone was going to write about Benedict Cumberbatch, but Sam is an interesting character and deserves a better plot and better supporting characters than Daphne and Matt (gaaaaggggg) and her dipshit mom.

A Case of Mistaken Identity: 4 stars
"Four stars, but should be five"...
...and easily could have been, but for a few silly loose ends or incomplete introductions. A couple things just feel too convenient (new guy at the door), and a couple others feel like they should have had more space. It's easy to read this two very different ways, but if the author intended for the second identity to be a plausible ending, it needs a bit more concrete misdirect.

[Mac Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories by famous mystery writers, though not necessarily for Holmesian stories, are fun and interesting. From classic Holmes mysteries to a Jersey Shore murder, each one is both familiar and unique. It's time well spent.

[Greg Burrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of short stories on the theme of Sherlock Holmes. There are plenty of books of pastiches, this one stands out because of its range of adherence to the theme - some are straightforward pastiches featuring Holmes while others take a looser approach (ie a larger degree of separation). What I also liked is that the stories don't require the reader to be a Holmes expert, anybody can enjoy these without the need for esoteric Holmesian knowledge.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed with this collection. Only a handful of the stories kept me engaged enough to read to the end, and I had to skip over the entire comic book section because of the foul language. This has not been my experience with previous books in this series, and I am sad.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine collection of short stories either featuring or inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Each story has worthy features and the collection as a whole adds a new understanding of Baker Street's finest detective.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of short stories. My favorite waa A Case of Mistaken Identity. Fantastic!

[Ray Palen · Rating 5 out of 5]

IN LEAUGE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES is far from your typical short story collection. Neither is it a gathering of famous writers from all different genres taking their shot at composing their own Holmes and Watson tale, although a few of the authors here do just that.

No, for this special gathering of stories inspired by the Sherlock Holmes Canon editors Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger personally hand-picked and invited each and every author who contributes within rather than merely soliciting stories that met the criteria. Also, and here is the fun part, the short stories here as well as the one brief graphic novel collaboration, merely use the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his world-famous creation Sherlock Holmes as inspiration to create unique tales that have settings from Baker Street, London to Africa and even on the wild Jersey Shore!

Just as Sherlock Holmes’ friends and fans have expanded over the decades and decades following the last Conan Doyle novel, leagues of Holmes fan-groups and clubs have operated around the world and King and Klinger are proud members of one of them --- The Baker Street Irregulars. IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES is the type of collection that, if you are a fan like me, you will be squirming in your seat in a fit of pure delight as you turn each successive page. Those readers who have been reading my reviews for the past few decades are probably aware that I am not only a huge Holmes fan and member of a NYC-based Sherlockian group, but I have also portrayed Holmes several times on stage and even published a short Holmes play which went on to great acclaim. Are there any classics among this group of short stories, probably not, however, the boundless creativity exercised by the authors that contribute is unmatched in any prior Holmes collection I have read, and the end result is pure magic. I will highlight for you some of the stories that stood out for me personally and why:

• “The Strange Juju Affair At the Gacy Mansion” by Kwei Quarty – first off, this highly creative Holmes-inspired tale is set in Ghana and features the legendary detective Mensah Bay, known for his very Holmesian powers of observation and deduction. When he is presented with what appears to be a locked room murder at the famed Gacy Mansion, Bay breaks down the case bit by bit just by utilizing what was seen by the Detective in Charge as he successfully identifies the guilty party.
• “What My Father Never Told Me” by Tess Gerritsen – a young American woman travels to London for the purpose of honoring her father’s dying wish of having his ashes scattered there. She meets one of her father’s friends that she was unfamiliar with, a Julian Watson, and soon learns of the legacy behind their famous names. An easy thing to overlook in America, I guess, when you have a normal name like Eve Moriarty.
• “The Twenty-Five Year Engagement” by James Ziskin – Ziskin, whose own novels are typically set-in upstate New York, pens a traditional Holmes and Watson tale with a twist. As always, Watson narrates, and he presents us with this case which he felt embodied their peculiar friendship like no other before. It is a masterful story of pure Holmes wit and wisdom as he cuts through the murder of long-married husband at the behest of his wife and turns the tables on everyone.
• “When You Hear Hoofbeats” by Robin Burcell – the murder of John Watson, but not the one you are thinking of. This Watson was murdered outside of San Francisco and a retired former SFPD Detective now turned PI named S. Barker is called onto this case. What stood out for me was the use of a character named Dr. Bell as true Holmes fan will recognize as the same name for the person who inspired Conan Doyle to create Holmes in the first place.
• “Mr. Homes, I Presume?” by Joe Hill and Illustrator Martin Simmonds – this unique effort is a short graphic novel featuring a protagonist with the nickname of Sh*t-Talk Homes. The narrative is all Joe Hill and his bizarre dark humor while the graphics are penned by Simmonds.
• “A Séance In Liverpool” by Lisa Morton – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the star of this story which finds he and close friend, George Budd, attending a Séance in Liverpool held by a famous medium named Miss DeLisle. Most people were aware of the fact that Conan Doyle was a famous skeptic of the supernatural and this séance will test his wits to the fullest.
• “A Scandal On the Jersey Shore” by Brad Parks – just imagine that Snookie or J-Wow from the infamous virtual reality show of the same name had the powers of observation of the great Holmes and you will have some idea of the fun time you are about to have at the hands of author Brad Parks. I love all of Parks work and have attended a book-signing of his where he truly showed off his sense of humor. He is also rumored to have serenaded Sherlock Holmes at a past Bouchercon Festival.
• “A Case Of Mistaken Identity” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro – I have been reading Miss Yarbro’s horror for decades and this short story has perhaps the best twist in this collection. I do not want to spoil the fun, let’s just say you do not have to actually ‘be’ Sherlock Holmes to be a Holmes!

IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES is just plain fun to read and if you consider yourself a fellow Sherlockian you would be doing yourself a disservice if you missed out on this collection. To say that the time spent with Holmes-inspired stories would not just be logical, it would be flat-out elementary!

Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES is far from your typical short story collection. Editors Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger handpicked and invited each and every one of these authors rather than merely solicit stories that met their criteria. These pieces use the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his world-famous creation as inspiration to produce unique tales that feature settings from Baker Street, London, to Africa…and even the wild Jersey Shore!

Countless Sherlock Holmes fan groups and clubs operate around the world, and King and Klinger are proud members of one of them: the Baker Street Irregulars. If you are a fan like me, you will be squirming in your seat in a fit of pure delight as you turn each page of this anthology. Those who have been reading my reviews for the past few decades are probably aware that I am not only a huge Holmes aficionado and member of a New York City-based Sherlockian group, I have portrayed the detective several times on stage and even published a short Holmes play that went on to great acclaim.

Are there any classics among this group of short stories? Probably not. But the boundless creativity exercised by these contributors is unmatched in any prior Holmes collection I have ever read, and the result is pure magic.

Here are some of the stories that stood out for me:

“The Strange Juju Affair at the Gacy Mansion” by Kwei Quartey
Set in Ghana, Quartey’s tale features legendary detective Mensah Blay, known for his very Holmesian powers of observation and deduction. When presented with what appears to be a locked-room murder at the famed Gacy Mansion, Blay breaks down the case bit by bit just by utilizing what was seen by the detective in charge as he successfully identifies the guilty party.

“What My Father Never Told Me” by Tess Gerritsen
A young American woman travels to London for the purpose of honoring her father’s dying wish of having his ashes scattered there. She meets Julian Watson, a friend of his with whom she is unfamiliar, and soon learns of the legacy behind their famous names. It’s an easy thing to overlook in America, I guess, when you have a normal name like Eve Moriarty.

“The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement” by James W. Ziskin
Ziskin, whose own novels are typically set in upstate New York, pens a traditional Holmes and Watson tale with a twist. As always, Watson narrates, and he presents us with this case, which he felt embodied their peculiar friendship like no other before. It is a masterful story of pure Holmes wit and wisdom as he cuts through the murder of a long-married husband at the behest of his wife and turns the tables on everyone.

“When You Hear Hoofbeats” by Robin Burcell
John Watson has been murdered…but it’s not the Watson you’re thinking of. Retired San Francisco PD homicide detective-turned-PI S. Barker is called to work on the case. The character of Dr. Bell stood out for me, as Joseph Bell --- a Scottish surgeon and lecturer --- served as the real-life inspiration for Conan Doyle to create Holmes in the first place.

“Mr. Homes, I Presume?” written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Martin Simmonds
This short graphic novel features a protagonist nicknamed “Sh*t-Talk Homes.” Hill’s bizarre dark humor and Simmonds’ outstanding illustrations make this unique effort a winner.

“A Séance in Liverpool” by Lisa Morton
Conan Doyle and his close friend, George Budd, are attending a séance in Liverpool held by Miss DeLisle, a popular medium. A famous skeptic of the supernatural, Conan Doyle’s wits will be tested to the fullest.

“A Scandal on the Jersey Shore” by Brad Parks
Just imagine that Snooki or Jwoww from the infamous virtual reality show of the same name had the powers of observation of the great Holmes, and you will have some idea of the fun time you are about to have here. I love all of Parks’ work and attended a book signing where he truly showed off his sense of humor. He also is rumored to have serenaded Sherlock Holmes at a Bouchercon event.

“A Case of Mistaken Identity” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
I have been reading Yarbro’s horror for decades, and her contribution has perhaps the best twist in this collection. I do not want to spoil the fun. Let’s just say that you do not have to actually “be” Sherlock Holmes to be a Holmes!

IN LEAGUE WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES is just plain fun to read. If you consider yourself a Sherlockian, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you missed out on this book. The time spent with Holmes-inspired stories would be not just logical, but flat-out elementary!

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Because I’m a sucker for a good Sherlock Holmes pastiche, and in the right mood even for a bad one, I’ve eagerly anticipated each of these collections as they’ve appeared and I’ve read every single one of them, beginning with the very first, A Study in Sherlock back in 2011. This first entry in the series includes what is still my favorite story across the entire five volumes, The Case of Death and Honey by Neil Gaiman

It’s hard to believe that this current volume is the fifth in the series, after A Study in Sherlock, In the Company of Sherlock Holmes, Echoes of Sherlock Holmes and For the Sake of the Game.

Like most such collections, this one is just a bit uneven. The stories that work, really, really work. The ones that don’t fall flatter than the proverbial pancake.

I think I’ve read every single one of these collections as they have come out, and my favorite is still the very first one, A Study in Sherlock, although I have certainly discovered favorite stories in many of the later volumes.

I have to say that this entry in the series did not live up to its predecessors. As the series has gone on, the stories have ranged further and further from their original inspiration, in ways that, at least in this particular volume, feel like they owe more to cleverness than detection.

To put it another way, I like my Sherlock to more or less be a kind of Sherlock. It’s not necessary that the stories feel like the original canon – unless that’s done well it can be terribly off-putting. But when I hear the name Sherlock Holmes I expect a detective story of some kind, and too many of the stories in this entry in the series seemed to be showing off how ‘twee’ they could be rather than how well they could solve a case.

But I still have two favorites even in this somewhat motley crew.

James W. Ziskin’s The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement is a classic pastiche, featuring the original Holmes and Watson solving a case that was so old and so cold no one even knew it was a case. It’s not the first time, that the unexpected return of a person long-though deceased has provided new clues to an old murder for the Great Detective, and this one shows the deft hand of both the investigator and the writer in constructing – and solving – such a conundrum.

The Strange Juju Affair at the Gacy Mansion by Kwei Quartey was a classic of a completely different kind. It is the kind of Holmesian homage where, rather than Holmes himself serving as the detective, the investigator is someone who uses Holmes’ methods and applies them with Holmes’ genius at a time and place that Holmes never visited, in this particular case Kasoa, Ghana at an unspecified time period that feels like it is much later in the 20th century – if not the 21st – than Holmes would have lived to see. The detective is a retired police superintendent who never visits the crime scene, but with a few questions to his younger – and rather desperate – colleague still manages to solve a classic locked-room mystery.

Escape Rating B-: Too much of this entry in this long-running series went too far afield for this reader. But those two stories were right on the mark as lovely but totally different Holmes pastiches. Your reading mileage will, of course, vary. That is the point of these collections, that there is something for every reader looking for a taste, in this case a taste of Sherlock Holmes.

[M. K. French · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection has fifteen new stories inspired by the Sherlock Holmes canon. The titular detective has inspired many other detectives of movies and literature, and now this collection puts together stories written by award-winning authors of other genres. In these stories, we travel all over the world and in different time periods, but all carry a hint of Sherlock.

We open with “The Strange Juju Affair At The Gacy Mansion,” a locked room murder in Ghana with a former police inspector that has the same investigative and observational skills as Sherlock Holmes. It’s a story-within-a-story format, rather like the original stories that Doyle wrote, which makes it a familiar sort of atmosphere for the reader. Then we slip into “Things My Father Never Told Me,” which had previously been published and is available online. It’s short, but inverts the Doyle stories we know so well, and in such a fun way. Joe and Kasey Lansdale’s contribution was off to a bit of a slow start, but the tension built up and I enjoyed the second half of the story when the spooky bits really took shape.

Robin Burcell's "When You Hear Hoofbeats" derives its name from the medical school adage "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses and not zebras," meaning think of the most obvious solution. Mary and John Watson had a strained marriage before his murder, and investigators have to figure out whodunit. I rather enjoyed how the investigation played out, and how dedicated to detail they were. Joe Hill's Syd Homes story follows it, and this ex-cop turned comedian has a bit of an introduction before the story begins to give some perspective. I appreciated that, never having read the comic he originated in. This comic here is short and sweet, giving you insight into Syd's personality and observation skills. Another modern take is Martin Edwards' "The Observance of Trifles" is a book blogger's post on a new volume of Sherlockian studies; apparently the two authors had a give and take rather like Holmes and Moriarty; the comments after the post really make the story!

I can absolutely hear the Jersey voice in "A Scandal on the Jersey Shore" by Brad Parks. Irene Adler's descendant is now working a summer on the Jersey Shore, and has the original Irene's investigation skills as well as a modern day social media network. She's just as brilliant as Irene, and plays detective as well as Holmes. Other stories use the iconic characters themselves, others allude to them; it doesn't always end up as well as they hope it will.

All in all, this is a very fun collection to read, especially for fans of Sherlock Holmes.

[Stan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first fell in love with the Holmes canon when I was in graduate school in the early ‘80s; the independent TV station (at the time) in Washington DC would show the old Basil Rathbone Holmes movies every Saturday night. Rathbone will always be Holmes and Nigel Bruce will always be Watson to me. As I read the stories in the current volume, I can clearly see their faces when they appeared, or even in the stories when they are referenced.

I have read many Agatha Christie works as well as Arthur Reeve, who created the lesser-known character of Professor Craig Kennedy. Kennedy has been referred to as the ‘American Sherlock Holmes.’ Nothing, though compares to the Holmes canon and of the modern works inspired by the original stories, the current volume is the best collection that I have read.

King and Klinger assembled a stellar collection of authors to contribute to this volume. These 15 stories plus one short push the Holmes mythos beyond the mere mystery to stories with hints of the modern-day thriller, paranormal, horror, and sci-fi. My favorite story that left me with a real Oh! of a surprise was Gerritsen’s, but that only headlines a stellar cast that won’t disappoint. I could only chuckle at Parks’ Jell-O shot but enjoyed Detective Dumont’s homage to Holmes and Watson and placement at the Jersey shore, an area I know well. The whole collection was well placed, ‘Holmesian’ stories that won’t disappoint the reader.

Before reading this collection, I was completely unaware of King and Klinger’s series of collections, of which I believe this is the third. I will have to go back and find the other two for myself; I highly recommend this collection to the Holmes fan.

Thanks to Pegasus books and Edelweiss+ for the copy. I have voluntarily left this review.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of original stories inspired by the characters and Canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle--specifically, Sherlock Holmes and his milieu--includes some winners as well as a few oddities that don't quite work, at least for me.
That's par for the course with such collections. But the quality here is superior to many I have read. Notable among the better entries are tales by Derek Haas, David Corbett, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. Others are (barely) inspired by the idea of the too brilliant (annoyingly) eccentric detective, or by the Holmes/Watson partnership, or merely a title fashioned after the many cases of the Great Detective. I especially enjoyed "A Scandal on the Jersey Shore," featuring a descendant of Irene Adler (a.k.a., The Woman).
An amusing set of stories that kept me entertained all too briefly over two days of intermittent reading.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Some of what follows are detective stories, some are not. We hope that you will be as delighted, astonished, and amused as we were-- and henceforth gladly proclaim yourselves to be 'in league with Sherlock Holmes'!"
~Laurie R. King & Leslie S. Klinger

Mission accomplished, and deerstalker cap-tilt to the editors and contributors alike. Pandemic be damned!

The following stories were the standouts for me; each merits more stars than my rating for the volume as a whole.

🤓The Case of the Wailing Ghosts, Joe & Kasey Lansdale
😎Benchley, Derek Haas
😆A Scandal on the Jersey Shore, Brad Parks
😲A Case Of Mistaken Identity,
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm, I’m not entirely certain how I felt about this. I enjoyed most of the stories, but the collection wasn’t at all what I expected. I thought this would be a collection of stories following the traditional pastiche style from the original Sherlock canon, but with different genres and settings. While some stories do follow this structure, most in the book do not. I think my favorite stories were “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement,” “A Case of Mistaken Identity,” and “The Strange Juju Affair at Gacy Mansion.”

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all anthologies, this one had some great stories, some good stories, some mediocre stories, and two I skipped after a few paragraphs. Unlike other short story anthologies, this one had a preponderance of at last good stories. I enjoyed this look at how authors interpreted Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Dr. Moriarity, etc. I plan to look into the first four anthologies.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an sort of interesting take on SH. I found some of the stories to be ok and other's just didn't do it for me. These are stories inspired from from the SH canon. I may be too much a stick in the mud to deviate much from the Victorian age Holmes and Watson stories. The last story was a real kick though I have to say that. I'm just "meh" about all of it.

[Outlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mixed bag of 16 short stories, collectively an all round reasonable read, but too many of the others had no connection to Sherlock Holmes. Only 4 were worth a mention, namely "The Murderers Paradox", "Benchley"and "The 25year Engagement". I even enjoyed "A Case of Mistaken Identity" if that's the right word for a bit of a shocker.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I think I have been spoiled by good fanfiction. The stories here were too short for me and felt like more of a series of exercises stretching the premise of Sherlock in different ways then a real stand alone narrative.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always excited to find a new Holmes book or a collection of short stories. This is my first in these collections, overall a 5 star, a couple were just ok but the others made up for them. Great gift from my son, I’ll be on the lookout for more.

[Mary Beth Str8K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this compilation of short stories (one was even a graphic short story). If you like books that are Sherlockian in style you’ll enjoy this one and the previous books in this series. I could read or two short stories each night before bed.

[Caryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a fan of Sherlock Homes, I had high expectations of this anthology. I was so disappointed. Most of the stories had profanity. One story suggested "safety inside a pentagram" which goes against my beliefs. It was a waste of my time.

I won a copy. All views expressed are my own opinion.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skip this one

I looked forward to this book as I have read the others in the series, but was greatly disappointed. The stories have leapt from the canon and into a strange place that has nothing to do with the comforting setting in 221B Baker street.

[Lucy Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I especially liked the story called “A 25-year Engagement.” A classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. Another really good story was “The Observance of Trifles.”

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun anthology, though the stories vary in their quality. Some were so intriguing or funny, while others were rather just... meh.

[crdefe2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite good, I loved everything I read, not only the narrative, the characters and the elements that make up the story are good and that is why I will rate it with 5 stars.

[Jim Benton]

A couple of gems and a few stinkers: a typical collection