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Product Description
Product Description
This compilation, comprising a Baker's (street) Dozen of his adventures, re-creates the gas-lit, fog-enshrouded world of Victorian London as once more Sherlock Holmes urges, Come, Watson, the game is afoot!
About the Author
Gerard Kelly is a retired Draughtsman with a passion for writing. In addition to his Sherlock Holmes stories he has written three novels, Tempus, Stasis and Rites of Passage. He has also written a factual book called The Great Debate (Evolution or Creationism?). Mr Kelly is married with a daughter and three grandsons and lives with his wife Marlene in Cheshire.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection brought back a number of old friends and introduced me to a pair of new acquaintances. Eleven of these tales were published in pamphlet format in 1999. They have not been easy to find and several were later reprinted in a small, single volume collection. In any case, the sequence in which they were presented differs in a few details from the sequence they appear here. I am sure the author took the opportunity to correct any of the trifling errors that may have appeared in the original publications when this new collection was produced. A cursory examination revealed no changes from pamphlet to Trade Paperback, however, I am sure there are some that I simply did not notice.
These stories take place at various times during Holmes' career and at a number of different locales. Most are well written and seem to echo the Canon, although they are, in general, more `emotional' than the Canonical tales. Also, in common with the Canon, some of these tales are better or, at least, more satisfying than the others. There are a number of interesting characters introduced and several familiar faces grace these pages. Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson and Inspector Lestrade are the most frequently met characters other than Holmes and Watson, but several new faces are quite fascinating. I was particularly taken by the Spanish Ambassador who appears in one of the original tales.
The two new stories are "Catacusis Ebriosus" and "The Peddler of Death." `Catacusis' was published earlier in "Curious Incidents II," a collection edited by J. R. Campbell and Charles Prepolac. I do not record an earlier appearance of "The Peddler of Death." Both are certainly worth including in any collection of Sherlockian fiction.
Most of these stories rate being classed as novellas, as they exceed twenty pages in length. This is, of course, an arbitrary definition, but I have found it useful for describing different sorts of tales. The point is that most of these stories are long enough to allow the author to develop characters and events in some detail. Usually, the short story format forces the author to concentrate on the action involved and has little time for complexities or character traits. In this collection, the author demonstrates that the true monsters in the World are all too human. Nothing is so truly frightening as the ability of humans to terrify and torture one another.
This is a pleasing book, whether the reader is a casual admirer of the Sherlockian Canon or a true aficionado. A few purists may take issue with the timing of several of the tales, but I suspect the author can justify his choices of time and place with little trouble. I am not sure that the occasional use of extra-natural events is truly justified, however, such forays are not germane to the solution of the crimes and only offer some explanation for otherwise unexplained external events.
Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, September 2011
These stories take place at various times during Holmes' career and at a number of different locales. Most are well written and seem to echo the Canon, although they are, in general, more `emotional' than the Canonical tales. Also, in common with the Canon, some of these tales are better or, at least, more satisfying than the others. There are a number of interesting characters introduced and several familiar faces grace these pages. Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson and Inspector Lestrade are the most frequently met characters other than Holmes and Watson, but several new faces are quite fascinating. I was particularly taken by the Spanish Ambassador who appears in one of the original tales.
The two new stories are "Catacusis Ebriosus" and "The Peddler of Death." `Catacusis' was published earlier in "Curious Incidents II," a collection edited by J. R. Campbell and Charles Prepolac. I do not record an earlier appearance of "The Peddler of Death." Both are certainly worth including in any collection of Sherlockian fiction.
Most of these stories rate being classed as novellas, as they exceed twenty pages in length. This is, of course, an arbitrary definition, but I have found it useful for describing different sorts of tales. The point is that most of these stories are long enough to allow the author to develop characters and events in some detail. Usually, the short story format forces the author to concentrate on the action involved and has little time for complexities or character traits. In this collection, the author demonstrates that the true monsters in the World are all too human. Nothing is so truly frightening as the ability of humans to terrify and torture one another.
This is a pleasing book, whether the reader is a casual admirer of the Sherlockian Canon or a true aficionado. A few purists may take issue with the timing of several of the tales, but I suspect the author can justify his choices of time and place with little trouble. I am not sure that the occasional use of extra-natural events is truly justified, however, such forays are not germane to the solution of the crimes and only offer some explanation for otherwise unexplained external events.
Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, September 2011
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having recently finished all the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories, I thought my journeys with Holmes and Watson were complete. I did not anticipate, however, that there was another collection of stories, seemingly left by Conan Doyle himself, ready for Baker Street fans to devour. I was thoroughly gripped by `The Mysterious Death of the Kennington Verger,' thrilled by `The Paddington Pyromaniac,' and elated by the twist of `The Peddler of Death.' The fantastic riddles contained in the Carstairs legacy had my faculties working at full capacity and it was wonderful to observe Holmes and Watson crack these intriguing codes and unravel the mystery. This collection of stories filled the gap left by finishing the original stories, in a way that only Conan Doyle could. Imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered the name on the cover to be Gerard Kelly instead of the man himself. Had these stories been inserted into the original volumes of Sherlock Holmes collections, I severely doubt even the most enthusiastic Conan Doyle fans would be able to tell you which ones were not written by the original author. A fantastic, well written and incredibly faithful collection of stories that do further justice to the legacy of Sherlock Holmes. Outstanding indeed Mr Kelly.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The thirteen tales that make up the Outstanding Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes all have something in common above all else.....a fast pace and sense of rhythm. It's great to come across stories in which the author, in spite of his meticulous research, has no need to padd out, the adventures and the camaraderie of Holmes and Watson speak for themselves.
The dialogue rings true and all the characters act as you would expect them to and the cast of characters include the usual cast of Mrs Hudson, Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes. I have seen criticism of many a pastiche writer who may have populated their tales with these familiar figures as though it told in some way of a lack of imagination from the writer. I do not see it that way. These almost peripheral characters are every bit a part of the Holmes universe in the way that London fogs and hansom cabs are. I am always glad to see them in the mix. The stories themselves are well-constructed, atmospheric and effective. My personal favourite is 'The Chamber of Sorrow Mystery'; I never object to tales of Holmes tinged with the supernatural and this is a very sweet offering and quite moving. I wished I had written it myself. The only minor quibble I have is a somewhat over reliance on stock phrases such as 'old fellow' 'By Jove' 'Eureka' but then I habve been guilty of that myself with far too many 'my dear friends' creeeping into my first pastiche 'Sherlock Holmes and The Lyme Regis Horror', I have attempted to rein myself in for the next pastiche!
All in all, then a worthy addition to the realms of Holmes pastiches. Thoroughly entertaining.
The dialogue rings true and all the characters act as you would expect them to and the cast of characters include the usual cast of Mrs Hudson, Lestrade and Mycroft Holmes. I have seen criticism of many a pastiche writer who may have populated their tales with these familiar figures as though it told in some way of a lack of imagination from the writer. I do not see it that way. These almost peripheral characters are every bit a part of the Holmes universe in the way that London fogs and hansom cabs are. I am always glad to see them in the mix. The stories themselves are well-constructed, atmospheric and effective. My personal favourite is 'The Chamber of Sorrow Mystery'; I never object to tales of Holmes tinged with the supernatural and this is a very sweet offering and quite moving. I wished I had written it myself. The only minor quibble I have is a somewhat over reliance on stock phrases such as 'old fellow' 'By Jove' 'Eureka' but then I habve been guilty of that myself with far too many 'my dear friends' creeeping into my first pastiche 'Sherlock Holmes and The Lyme Regis Horror', I have attempted to rein myself in for the next pastiche!
All in all, then a worthy addition to the realms of Holmes pastiches. Thoroughly entertaining.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A very good read.
I really enjoyed this book. It took me back to my boyhood, when I devoured every Sherlock Holmes story, and then re-read them several times over the following years. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Martin Dove
Good collection of stories
Good collection of stories and illustrations and very nicely presented. Can't get enough Holmes short fiction - open to ideas for other new collections?
Published 9 months ago by Timea Pal
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