The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Hardcover

An absolute must for fans celebrating Holmes's centennial, this is also a first-rate collection of new stories that could serve nicely as an introduction to the famous sleuth. There isn't a bad tale in these 15although purists may balk at Loren D. Estleman's "Dr. and Mrs. Watson At Home," a snippy playlet, and at the rather nerdy Watson who narrates Joyce Harrington's "The Adventure of the Gowanus Abduction." Most of the stories are affectionate, accurate pastiches of the originals. Among the best are Dorothy B. Hughes's "Sherlock Holmes and the Muffin," and Stephen King's "The Doctor's Case," which keeps the old form while allowing the mystery to be solved by Watson, with a lovely twist at the end. "The House That Jack Built" by Edward Wellen is an hallucinogenic tour de force of a puzzle that revives Moriarty, with a startling idea about the real nature of that "Napoleon of crime." Michael Harrison's "Sherlock Holmes and 'The Woman' " identifies Irene Adler as Lillie Langtry in a brilliant now-it-can-be-told style from a nonegenarian Watson. A splendid addition to Holmesiana, worthy of its honoree. Period illustrations not seen by PW. 25,000 first printing; Mystery Guild main selection.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the first appearance in print of Sherlock Holmes, the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has authorized an official book of new short stories, written by 16 British and American authors, including John Gardner and Stephen King. Among the more effective and successful tales are those that adopt the time frame and style of the originals, e.g., Stuart Kaminsky's "The Final Toast" and Barry Jones's "The Shadows on the Lawn." Stories with a modern setting offer a further extension of the Holmes mystique. Entertaining reading for fans of Conan Doyle. Lydia Burruel Johnson, Mesa P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.