Mystery Scene Community
General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: Becke Davis on January 03, 2020, 07:23:18 pm
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January 6, 2020 marks the 166th birthday of the brilliant Baker Street detective, Sherlock Holmes. Born in Portsmouth, England, the feats of the world-renowned detective continue to amaze readers to this day.
http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/bio/bio_one.htm
In addition to Holmes' exploits as detailed by Dr. Watson via Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, several modern day authors of expanded on the Holmes legacy:
https://bookriot.com/2017/03/27/i-spent-a-month-reading-sherlock-holmes-retellings/
https://www.tor.com/2011/12/28/the-great-pastiche-game-notable-non-doyle-holmes-books/
https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Christmas-Demon-Lovegrove/dp/1785658026/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3AX3NNDFMDYOA&keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&qid=1577771065&sprefix=sherlock+holmes%2Caps%2C574&sr=8-13
https://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Peculiar-Protocols-Adapted-Journals/dp/1250228956/ref=sr_1_19?crid=3AX3NNDFMDYOA&keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&qid=1577771651&sprefix=sherlock+holmes%2Caps%2C574&sr=8-19
https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Due-Sherlock-Holmes-Adventure/dp/0008348103/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=3AX3NNDFMDYOA&cv_ct_cx=sherlock+holmes+books&keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&pd_rd_i=0008348103&pd_rd_r=c39597fb-5ffc-4220-b2af-4159827280fc&pd_rd_w=bM9XN&pd_rd_wg=QuNuD&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=2ZPK8FWPHHDZZ4BP8Z3S&qid=1577771651&sprefix=sherlock+holmes%2Caps%2C574
https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Shadwell-Shadows-Cthulhu-Casebooks/dp/1785652915/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=3AX3NNDFMDYOA&cv_ct_cx=sherlock+holmes+books&keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&pd_rd_i=1785652915&pd_rd_r=c39597fb-5ffc-4220-b2af-4159827280fc&pd_rd_w=bM9XN&pd_rd_wg=QuNuD&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=2ZPK8FWPHHDZZ4BP8Z3S&qid=1577771651&sprefix=sherlock+holmes%2Caps%2C574
https://www.amazon.com/Mycroft-Sherlock-Birdcage-Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar/dp/1785659308/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?crid=3AX3NNDFMDYOA&cv_ct_cx=sherlock+holmes+books&keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&pd_rd_i=1785659308&pd_rd_r=c39597fb-5ffc-4220-b2af-4159827280fc&pd_rd_w=bM9XN&pd_rd_wg=QuNuD&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=2ZPK8FWPHHDZZ4BP8Z3S&qid=1577771651&sprefix=sherlock+holmes%2Caps%2C574
https://www.amazon.com/Study-Treason-Daughter-Sherlock-Mysteries/dp/1250215617/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&qid=1577771826&s=books&sr=1-19
https://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Chronicles-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/1510709487/ref=sr_1_30?keywords=sherlock+holmes+books&qid=1577771826&s=books&sr=1-30
If I've missed any of your favorite Holmes retellings, share them with us in the comments. If any of the books/series in the links above are favorites of yours, please tell us which ones and why you like them.
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Tell us what you like about Holmes - the character, the books, the TV show, the movies.
What was your introduction to Sherlock Holmes?
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The first Sherlock Holmes mystery I ever read was "The Speckled Band." I was around 11 years old, I think, and the woman talking about the death of her sister made a big impression on me. (I have four younger sisters.)
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"The Man With the Twisted Lip" blew my mind when I was a kid.
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"The Man With the Twisted Lip" blew my mind when I was a kid.
I had red hair when I was young, as did one brother and one sister, so it's not surprising the first Sherlock Holmes story that caught my attention was "The Redheaded League." I later read that it was one of Conan Doyle's personal favorites.
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Speaking of sisters and Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Springer's terrific Enola Holmes YA novels are just a delight. She started the series in 2006 with THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS in which Sherlock Homes's much younger sister decides to run away from home (and the overbearing supervision of her two older brothers) and makes her way to London and adventure. I believe there are six books total in this series and they'd make a great gift for any young fan of Holmes. We interviewed Nancy Springer a few years ago in the magazine and she was quite interesting. SHe's written lots of fantasy and other YA books.
THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS and THE CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRINOLINE both won Best Juvenile Mystery Edgar Awards. (She's also won two other Edgars for her work.)
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Speaking of sisters and Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Springer's terrific Enola Holmes YA novels are just a delight. She started the series in 2006 with THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS in which Sherlock Homes's much younger sister decides to run away from home (and the overbearing supervision of her two older brothers) and makes her way to London and adventure. I believe there are six books total in this series and they'd make a great gift for any young fan of Holmes. We interviewed Nancy Springer a few years ago in the magazine and she was quite interesting. SHe's written lots of fantasy and other YA books.
THE CASE OF THE MISSING MARQUESS and THE CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRINOLINE both won Best Juvenile Mystery Edgar Awards. (She's also won two other Edgars for her work.)
I'll put this author on my "watch list." (That's like a wish list with an asterisk - I'll look for her books in new and used bookstores.) My daughter and I both read and sort-of unofficially collect YA books.
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The first time I discovered Sherlock Holmes was when my parents gave me an illustrated digest sized edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". The rest is history.
My friend throws a Halloween/Christmas party mashup the first or 2nd weekend of December each year. There's a theme for the party and costumes. It was Alice in Wonderland this past year and I didn't dress up. But the theme for this year is British Invasion so you can go as any famous Brit. My current plan is to go as Sherlock Holmes.
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The first time I discovered Sherlock Holmes was when my parents gave me an illustrated digest sized edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". The rest is history.
My friend throws a Halloween/Christmas party mashup the first or 2nd weekend of December each year. There's a theme for the party and costumes. It was Alice in Wonderland this past year and I didn't dress up. But the theme for this year is British Invasion so you can go as any famous Brit. My current plan is to go as Sherlock Holmes.
That is a great story. I remember seeing a vintage movie version of it that just about scared me to death! I was pretty young, and it was a good introduction to the Holmes' Black and white films. I still enjoy those.
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I just realized that the interview Mystery Scene did with Nancy Springer, author of the Enola Holmes books, is online. Check out Cheryl Solimini's terrific profile of the author at
https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/component/content/article/20-articles/articles/3035-sherlocks-smarter-sister?highlight=WyJzaGVybG9jayIsInNoZXJsb2NrJ3MiLCJob2xtZXMiLCJob2xtZXMnIiwiaG9sbWVzJ3MiLCJzaGVybG9jayBob2xtZXMiXQ==&Itemid=113
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I just realized that the interview Mystery Scene did with Nancy Springer, author of the Enola Holmes books, is online. Check out Cheryl Solimini's terrific profile of the author at
https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/component/content/article/20-articles/articles/3035-sherlocks-smarter-sister?highlight=WyJzaGVybG9jayIsInNoZXJsb2NrJ3MiLCJob2xtZXMiLCJob2xtZXMnIiwiaG9sbWVzJ3MiLCJzaGVybG9jayBob2xtZXMiXQ==&Itemid=113
Great review! It makes me want to go out and get all six books in the series. I especially like this line: "Is it any wonder then that she gave her only daughter a name that, backward, spells alone?" I've always had a thing about names, and I love it when authors select names partly because of their meaning.
Of the not-quite-Holmes stories, I'm only really familiar with Laurie R. King's Mary Russell books. I'm always nervous to read books "based on" originals. It took me quite awhile to read the Sophie Hannah Poirot books, and was surprised how much I liked them. But the Mary Russell books made me like Sherlock Holmes more - as a person, I'd always found him conceited and annoying. I read the Holmes stories again after reading King's first two or three books and I appreciated them more.
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Just for a moment, let's talk about TV and movies, since there are several versions of Sherlock Holmes stories. Do you prefer the old black and white movies (and if so, which actor does your favorite Holmes portrayal?) or do you like the more modern ones starring Robert Downey, Jr.?
I like the Cumberbatch/Holmes TV episodes, although I though some of them were hard to follow or had loopholes.
Is there an actor you wish had played Holmes?
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I've only seen the first Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock movie. It was fine but it felt more like the actor PLAYING a caricature of Holmes than actually playing Holmes.
Nothing beats Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.
I've seen some of the black and white movies with Basil Rathbone, but it was so long ago that I really don't remember them all that well.
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I've only seen the first Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock movie. It was fine but it felt more like the actor PLAYING a caricature of Holmes than actually playing Holmes.
Nothing beats Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.
I've seen some of the black and white movies with Basil Rathbone, but it was so long ago that I really don't remember them all that well.
I agree with you. I saw the Downey/Holmes movie and while I didn't dislike it, I had a hard time accepting Downey as Holmes. I like Brett, Rathbone, and Cumberbatch, and I like Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes in the TV show ELEMENTARY.
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I agree with you. I saw the Downey/Holmes movie and while I didn't dislike it, I had a hard time accepting Downey as Holmes. I like Brett, Rathbone, and Cumberbatch, and I like Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes in the TV show ELEMENTARY.
I would say that Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes in the ELEMENTARY series would be my 2nd favorite portrayal because I loved that show. I watched every episode and I'm planning on buying the series DVD set as soon as I can.
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I agree that ELEMENTARY, despite its many changes to the original story, really captured the spirit of Sherlock Holmes. Jonny Lee Miller was excellent and I also liked Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. The episodes on addiction were particularly good, I thought.
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I agree that ELEMENTARY, despite its many changes to the original story, really captured the spirit of Sherlock Holmes. Jonny Lee Miller was excellent and I also liked Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. The episodes on addiction were particularly good, I thought.
Kate,
I know the ratings for the show were low but I still wish they were making new episodes. It just hit the right notes in how everything was portrayed.
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I agree with you. I saw the Downey/Holmes movie and while I didn't dislike it, I had a hard time accepting Downey as Holmes. I like Brett, Rathbone, and Cumberbatch, and I like Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes in the TV show ELEMENTARY.
I would say that Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes in the ELEMENTARY series would be my 2nd favorite portrayal because I loved that show. I watched every episode and I'm planning on buying the series DVD set as soon as I can.
That show really grew on me. At first I was very hesitant to watch it, but with every season I liked it more.
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We have a lot of ground to cover still, so I just want to make a note about our Holmes Celebration. The Birthday anniversary inspired this event, but the celebration will go on all month.
I'd love to hear from anyone who writes or enjoys reading books that relate to the original Holmes books but take them in a new direction.
Spread the word!
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I read all sorts of homages to the Holmes canon or non-canonical Holmes stories that get published. The library's Mystery Book Club just read the first book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delany which I love, but it was funny that one member just hated everything about the main character. She printed out everything that she didn't like and when someone asked me what I thought about what she said, my response was "Everything she hated is what made me like the character and book."
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I read all sorts of homages to the Holmes canon or non-canonical Holmes stories that get published. The library's Mystery Book Club just read the first book in the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series by Vicki Delany which I love, but it was funny that one member just hated everything about the main character. She printed out everything that she didn't like and when someone asked me what I thought about what she said, my response was "Everything she hated is what made me like the character and book."
It's so funny how that works. I once got into a conversation with a woman at a bookstore. She saw me browsing through mysteries and went on a rant about how over-rated Agatha Christie is. I knew it would be a waste of time and energy defending one of my favorite authors when I was pretty sure she'd never even read one.
I'm not always in the mood for cozies, just like I'm not always in the mood for noir or thrillers. And I must admit, when I first started reading Sherlock Holmes stories, I enjoyed the plots but thought Holmes was an annoying know-it-all. Reading the Mary Russell books humanized Holmes for me, and watching Elementary made him more likable to me, too.
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It's so funny how that works. I once got into a conversation with a woman at a bookstore. She saw me browsing through mysteries and went on a rant about how over-rated Agatha Christie is. I knew it would be a waste of time and energy defending one of my favorite authors when I was pretty sure she'd never even read one.
I'm not always in the mood for cozies, just like I'm not always in the mood for noir or thrillers. And I must admit, when I first started reading Sherlock Holmes stories, I enjoyed the plots but thought Holmes was an annoying know-it-all. Reading the Mary Russell books humanized Holmes for me, and watching Elementary made him more likable to me, too.
I've had people ask me for recommendations every so often so I give them suggestions. Some take them, others don't but the ones who do have generally liked the books I've recommended.
Right from the start, I've loved everything about Sherlock Holmes. The know-it-all aspect actually appealed to me so obviously there must be something wrong with me. Ha!
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This homage to Holmes is advertised in the current issue of Mystery Scene. The gorgeous cover would have caught my eye in a bookstore, but I somehow missed this one. It gets great reviews and based on the reviews it's a shout-out to HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.
It's well past Christmas, but I've added this to my wish list - like so many others!
https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Christmas-Demon-Lovegrove/dp/1785658026/ref=sr_1_1?crid=7U6ESZZ6AIZ3&keywords=sherlock+holmes+and+the+christmas+demon&qid=1579247906&s=books&sprefix=sherlock+holmes+demo%2Cstripbooks%2C230&sr=1-1
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I've seen that book on the shelf at my local Barnes and Noble. I will probably wait until it comes out in paperback. Lovegrove also wrote the first couple of Firefly prose novels that have been published recently.
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In honor, I am rereading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I have a quality paperback that is supposed to be a facsimile of the original edition, with Sidney Paget's illustrations. I also have The Memoirs...; they came as a pair. I have a paperback of The Hound of the Baskervilles, that I got when I was in junior high! I'm actually not sure that I've read any of the other novels; much more familiar with the short stories.
For me, Jeremy Brett is the definitive Holmes. Basil Rathbone was very good, too, although I think a number of those movies had original plots not from the stories. The Cumberbatch series is excellent in its own way, and really fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the character of Moriarty in that series. Elementary was also a good series.
And don't forget the movie The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother! So long since I've seen it, but what a comedy cast! Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, etc. Basically a Mel Brooks film, only without Brooks - Wilder wrote and directed.
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In honor, I am rereading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I have a quality paperback that is supposed to be a facsimile of the original edition, with Sidney Paget's illustrations. I also have The Memoirs...; they came as a pair. I have a paperback of The Hound of the Baskervilles, that I got when I was in junior high! I'm actually not sure that I've read any of the other novels; much more familiar with the short stories.
For me, Jeremy Brett is the definitive Holmes. Basil Rathbone was very good, too, although I think a number of those movies had original plots not from the stories. The Cumberbatch series is excellent in its own way, and really fascinating. I particularly enjoyed the character of Moriarty in that series. Elementary was also a good series.
And don't forget the movie The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother! So long since I've seen it, but what a comedy cast! Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, etc. Basically a Mel Brooks film, only without Brooks - Wilder wrote and directed.
Denise - I had forgotten all about the Wilder/Holmes movie! You just reminded me of another book-and-movie: THE 7 1/2 PERCENT SOLUTION. It had a good cast but I seem to remember the movie dragged a bit. The book, on the other hand, was well-received. I'm sure I read it when it first came out - I remember I had a book club edition of the book (that I no longer have) - but I don't remember much about it.
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I read The Seven and Half Percent Solution when I in college, I think. I remember being very startled by the drug addiction material. Somehow I had read the stories, admittedly when I was a kid, and hadn't quite processed Sherlock's whole cocaine habit....
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I read The Seven and Half Percent Solution when I in college, I think. I remember being very startled by the drug addiction material. Somehow I had read the stories, admittedly when I was a kid, and hadn't quite processed Sherlock's whole cocaine habit....
I didn't figure that out until I was older, either, and at first I was sure I must be mistaken.
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In the Adventures, cocaine was spelled "cucaine". I hadn't seen that spelling before. Now I've moved on to the Memoirs, and it's spelled "cocaine".
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In the Adventures, cocaine was spelled "cucaine". I hadn't seen that spelling before. Now I've moved on to the Memoirs, and it's spelled "cocaine".
I've come across that spelling recently - I can't remember which book it was, though.
I subscribe to an email newsletter from the U.S. Patent Office (I get a lot of random emails) and the latest one included information about a 1924 movie called "Sherlock, Jr.":
"Sherlock Jr.
In 1924, the iconic filmmaker and actor Buster Keaton directed and starred in two acclaimed silent films, The Navigator and Sherlock Jr. The latter is considered one of his masterpieces. Film historians and critics celebrate the surrealistic film for Keaton’s trademark physical comedy and dry humor as well as for its editing and special effects. In 1991, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Additionally, the American Film Institute ranked Sherlock Jr. as one of the 100 funniest films, and the Motion Picture Editors Guild named it one of the 75 best-edited films of all time."
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IF you don't mind an older copy of the film, you can see it on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRXkAhMYKEc
Sherlock Jr. is also available in a new upgraded version. Very funny film!
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IF you don't mind an older copy of the film, you can see it on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRXkAhMYKEc
Sherlock Jr. is also available in a new upgraded version. Very funny film!
Great - thank you!