The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

Great New Talent, 01 Aug 2008
Borderlands will keep you on the edge of your seat.It makes you feel like your standing beside the crime sceen.Could not find anything wrond with it.A+1 all the way.

A bit disappointing, really, 27 Jul 2008
I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book at all. Didn't like the main character [Devlin] or the story much. I've been to Donegal and love the area but [unlike a number of crime witers] I don't feel he captures any atmosphere. Sorry.

Tightly plotted thriller with heart of a poet, 16 Apr 2007
Ben Devlin is a unique copper in the ranks of murder mystery writing; with a (mostly) happy family life and an easy familiarity with his small community which never borders on the arch, he still evidences the kind of common sense thinking and popular misconceptions about the modern world that make him instantly relatable and much more than just a device for the author's omniscience. He's incredibly likeable, but has enough of the poet about him that he remains compelling enough to follow, in this short debut novel from McGilloway. The plot is tightly structured and meticulously paced for the most part; the first two thirds of the book follow an almost linear and procedural progression which keeps the seasoned reader happily immersed in their own suspicions. If the book has a flaw it is in the final pages, where possibly too many twists in too short a time stretch the believability slightly. Still, I didn't see the end coming. A wonderful subplot with the family dog provides an elegant allegory for the larger issues in the book and shows just how sophisticated a writer McGillway is and how good this ongoing series should prove to be (He's written the second and been signed upfor three more after that). Highly recommended.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

Great New Talent, 01 Aug 2008
Borderlands will keep you on the edge of your seat.It makes you feel like your standing beside the crime sceen.Could not find anything wrond with it.A+1 all the way.

A bit disappointing, really, 27 Jul 2008
I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book at all. Didn't like the main character [Devlin] or the story much. I've been to Donegal and love the area but [unlike a number of crime witers] I don't feel he captures any atmosphere. Sorry.

Tightly plotted thriller with heart of a poet, 16 Apr 2007
Ben Devlin is a unique copper in the ranks of murder mystery writing; with a (mostly) happy family life and an easy familiarity with his small community which never borders on the arch, he still evidences the kind of common sense thinking and popular misconceptions about the modern world that make him instantly relatable and much more than just a device for the author's omniscience. He's incredibly likeable, but has enough of the poet about him that he remains compelling enough to follow, in this short debut novel from McGilloway. The plot is tightly structured and meticulously paced for the most part; the first two thirds of the book follow an almost linear and procedural progression which keeps the seasoned reader happily immersed in their own suspicions. If the book has a flaw it is in the final pages, where possibly too many twists in too short a time stretch the believability slightly. Still, I didn't see the end coming. A wonderful subplot with the family dog provides an elegant allegory for the larger issues in the book and shows just how sophisticated a writer McGillway is and how good this ongoing series should prove to be (He's written the second and been signed upfor three more after that). Highly recommended.

Another cracker, 08 Oct 2008
This is the 13th in the series. Matthew and Brother Michael continue their crime solving escapades. This time a charlatan 'healer' comes into town and performs some wonderful 'miracles', managing to turn the town against its traditional practitioners, including Matthew Bartholomew and creates self doubt in Bartholomew.
Simultaneously, a leading medical practioner is murdered, their are tensions in town over a rent war, with landlords wanting to charge the university more and the university unwilling to pay. An elderly scholar dies. A note claims it was murder. Bartholomew claims it was natural. Could he be wrong?
This really is an excellent series. By now Matthew, Brother Michael and the rest of the characters are like old friends but there are still enough surprises to keep the reader's interest.
If you have enjoyed the series so far, I don't think this will disappoint. If you are new, each novel is stand alone but does refer back to previous episodes. You have to start somewhere!
Now if only Matilde came back...


More Laurel and Hardy than Dalziel and Pascoe, 24 Sep 2008
I wonder why I persevere with this series, this is the 12th I have read and since the first 4 or five they have been generally disappointing and repetitive. Brother Michael and Matthew Bartholomew are not the Holmes & Watson of 14th Century crime detection, not even the Dalziel & Pascoe, probably more like the Laurel & Hardy.

The problem is that while Susanna Gregory knows her history, she has little or no idea how to construct a detective novel. Our heroes keep stumbling and bumbling about accusing everyone in sight of the crime with frequent visits to eating establishments to satisfy Michael's voracious appetite.

The squalor, lack of hygiene, Brother William's 'filthy grey habit' and the antics of the incorrigible Deynman get their umpteenth mention, 'Town and Gown' have their usual squabbles but it is not enough, not anymore, to sustain interest.

I am not sure that Ms Gregory, until the last few pages, has any more idea than the reader who is going to be denounced as the killer as the denouement of the last three or four books have been quite ludicrous.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

Great New Talent, 01 Aug 2008
Borderlands will keep you on the edge of your seat.It makes you feel like your standing beside the crime sceen.Could not find anything wrond with it.A+1 all the way.

A bit disappointing, really, 27 Jul 2008
I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book at all. Didn't like the main character [Devlin] or the story much. I've been to Donegal and love the area but [unlike a number of crime witers] I don't feel he captures any atmosphere. Sorry.

Tightly plotted thriller with heart of a poet, 16 Apr 2007
Ben Devlin is a unique copper in the ranks of murder mystery writing; with a (mostly) happy family life and an easy familiarity with his small community which never borders on the arch, he still evidences the kind of common sense thinking and popular misconceptions about the modern world that make him instantly relatable and much more than just a device for the author's omniscience. He's incredibly likeable, but has enough of the poet about him that he remains compelling enough to follow, in this short debut novel from McGilloway. The plot is tightly structured and meticulously paced for the most part; the first two thirds of the book follow an almost linear and procedural progression which keeps the seasoned reader happily immersed in their own suspicions. If the book has a flaw it is in the final pages, where possibly too many twists in too short a time stretch the believability slightly. Still, I didn't see the end coming. A wonderful subplot with the family dog provides an elegant allegory for the larger issues in the book and shows just how sophisticated a writer McGillway is and how good this ongoing series should prove to be (He's written the second and been signed upfor three more after that). Highly recommended.

Another cracker, 08 Oct 2008
This is the 13th in the series. Matthew and Brother Michael continue their crime solving escapades. This time a charlatan 'healer' comes into town and performs some wonderful 'miracles', managing to turn the town against its traditional practitioners, including Matthew Bartholomew and creates self doubt in Bartholomew.
Simultaneously, a leading medical practioner is murdered, their are tensions in town over a rent war, with landlords wanting to charge the university more and the university unwilling to pay. An elderly scholar dies. A note claims it was murder. Bartholomew claims it was natural. Could he be wrong?
This really is an excellent series. By now Matthew, Brother Michael and the rest of the characters are like old friends but there are still enough surprises to keep the reader's interest.
If you have enjoyed the series so far, I don't think this will disappoint. If you are new, each novel is stand alone but does refer back to previous episodes. You have to start somewhere!
Now if only Matilde came back...


More Laurel and Hardy than Dalziel and Pascoe, 24 Sep 2008
I wonder why I persevere with this series, this is the 12th I have read and since the first 4 or five they have been generally disappointing and repetitive. Brother Michael and Matthew Bartholomew are not the Holmes & Watson of 14th Century crime detection, not even the Dalziel & Pascoe, probably more like the Laurel & Hardy.

The problem is that while Susanna Gregory knows her history, she has little or no idea how to construct a detective novel. Our heroes keep stumbling and bumbling about accusing everyone in sight of the crime with frequent visits to eating establishments to satisfy Michael's voracious appetite.

The squalor, lack of hygiene, Brother William's 'filthy grey habit' and the antics of the incorrigible Deynman get their umpteenth mention, 'Town and Gown' have their usual squabbles but it is not enough, not anymore, to sustain interest.

I am not sure that Ms Gregory, until the last few pages, has any more idea than the reader who is going to be denounced as the killer as the denouement of the last three or four books have been quite ludicrous.

The Iron Horse, 27 Aug 2007
Although the 'railways' don't play a significant role in this story as its predecessors I still found it absorbing and difficult to put down.
It took me 2 evenings to finish due to work but entertaining it was. Highly recommended - another success for Edward Marston

Fourth in the Inspector Colbeck Mysteries, 01 Aug 2007

Keith Miles, aka Edward Marston and Martin Inigo, came from Wales to read Modern History at Oxford. He has been a university lecturer, radio, television, and theatre dramatist, and in addition to writing has worked as an actor, director, and dramatist. He has been quite a prolific writer under the pseudonym Edward Marston with a long series of books featuring the Elizabethan theatre, and also his Domesday. When not travelling or fulfilling speaking engagements, he lives in rural isolation in Kent.

This is the fourth book that features Inspector Colbeck. The book has a dramatic opening when a small crowd of passengers standing besides some luggage at the station are given the fright of their lives when the lid of a hatbox is flipped open and its contents tipped out. Rolling about on the platform was a human head.

The country at large is excited as Derby Day approaches. People from all walks of Victorian society gather to watch the races. The plot thickens when another human head is discovered on a train at Crewe. Inspector Colbeck and his assistant are assigned the case and are rapidly involved in a web of deceit that stretches across the country. Just how much is someone prepared to gamble to win . . .

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

Great New Talent, 01 Aug 2008
Borderlands will keep you on the edge of your seat.It makes you feel like your standing beside the crime sceen.Could not find anything wrond with it.A+1 all the way.

A bit disappointing, really, 27 Jul 2008
I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book at all. Didn't like the main character [Devlin] or the story much. I've been to Donegal and love the area but [unlike a number of crime witers] I don't feel he captures any atmosphere. Sorry.

Tightly plotted thriller with heart of a poet, 16 Apr 2007
Ben Devlin is a unique copper in the ranks of murder mystery writing; with a (mostly) happy family life and an easy familiarity with his small community which never borders on the arch, he still evidences the kind of common sense thinking and popular misconceptions about the modern world that make him instantly relatable and much more than just a device for the author's omniscience. He's incredibly likeable, but has enough of the poet about him that he remains compelling enough to follow, in this short debut novel from McGilloway. The plot is tightly structured and meticulously paced for the most part; the first two thirds of the book follow an almost linear and procedural progression which keeps the seasoned reader happily immersed in their own suspicions. If the book has a flaw it is in the final pages, where possibly too many twists in too short a time stretch the believability slightly. Still, I didn't see the end coming. A wonderful subplot with the family dog provides an elegant allegory for the larger issues in the book and shows just how sophisticated a writer McGillway is and how good this ongoing series should prove to be (He's written the second and been signed upfor three more after that). Highly recommended.

Another cracker, 08 Oct 2008
This is the 13th in the series. Matthew and Brother Michael continue their crime solving escapades. This time a charlatan 'healer' comes into town and performs some wonderful 'miracles', managing to turn the town against its traditional practitioners, including Matthew Bartholomew and creates self doubt in Bartholomew.
Simultaneously, a leading medical practioner is murdered, their are tensions in town over a rent war, with landlords wanting to charge the university more and the university unwilling to pay. An elderly scholar dies. A note claims it was murder. Bartholomew claims it was natural. Could he be wrong?
This really is an excellent series. By now Matthew, Brother Michael and the rest of the characters are like old friends but there are still enough surprises to keep the reader's interest.
If you have enjoyed the series so far, I don't think this will disappoint. If you are new, each novel is stand alone but does refer back to previous episodes. You have to start somewhere!
Now if only Matilde came back...


More Laurel and Hardy than Dalziel and Pascoe, 24 Sep 2008
I wonder why I persevere with this series, this is the 12th I have read and since the first 4 or five they have been generally disappointing and repetitive. Brother Michael and Matthew Bartholomew are not the Holmes & Watson of 14th Century crime detection, not even the Dalziel & Pascoe, probably more like the Laurel & Hardy.

The problem is that while Susanna Gregory knows her history, she has little or no idea how to construct a detective novel. Our heroes keep stumbling and bumbling about accusing everyone in sight of the crime with frequent visits to eating establishments to satisfy Michael's voracious appetite.

The squalor, lack of hygiene, Brother William's 'filthy grey habit' and the antics of the incorrigible Deynman get their umpteenth mention, 'Town and Gown' have their usual squabbles but it is not enough, not anymore, to sustain interest.

I am not sure that Ms Gregory, until the last few pages, has any more idea than the reader who is going to be denounced as the killer as the denouement of the last three or four books have been quite ludicrous.

The Iron Horse, 27 Aug 2007
Although the 'railways' don't play a significant role in this story as its predecessors I still found it absorbing and difficult to put down.
It took me 2 evenings to finish due to work but entertaining it was. Highly recommended - another success for Edward Marston

Fourth in the Inspector Colbeck Mysteries, 01 Aug 2007

Keith Miles, aka Edward Marston and Martin Inigo, came from Wales to read Modern History at Oxford. He has been a university lecturer, radio, television, and theatre dramatist, and in addition to writing has worked as an actor, director, and dramatist. He has been quite a prolific writer under the pseudonym Edward Marston with a long series of books featuring the Elizabethan theatre, and also his Domesday. When not travelling or fulfilling speaking engagements, he lives in rural isolation in Kent.

This is the fourth book that features Inspector Colbeck. The book has a dramatic opening when a small crowd of passengers standing besides some luggage at the station are given the fright of their lives when the lid of a hatbox is flipped open and its contents tipped out. Rolling about on the platform was a human head.

The country at large is excited as Derby Day approaches. People from all walks of Victorian society gather to watch the races. The plot thickens when another human head is discovered on a train at Crewe. Inspector Colbeck and his assistant are assigned the case and are rapidly involved in a web of deceit that stretches across the country. Just how much is someone prepared to gamble to win . . .

The quintessential Holmes tale, 06 Jan 2006
The image of Sherlock Holmes in 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' is perhaps the most enduring image we have of him. You see, an Inverness cloak and deerstalker cap are inappropriate wardrobe for the town, and belong in the country. Sherlock Holmes is predominantly a city dweller and city investigator; it is relatively uncommon that he treks out on adventures, but the case of the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville and the attempted murder of Sir Henry Baskerville led him to the Dartmoor plain. Thus, country garb was in order. This is where we get much of our imagery.

Also helping with this is that every major actor to play Holmes has considered 'Hound of the Baskervilles' to be the ultimate Holmes story to act -- rather like the Hamlet of Conan Doyle's work. Holmes was a popular film icon, and in the early decades of the twentieth century several dozen films were made of Holmes, but the first after these many films to be set in Victorian times (and not be updated for the screen) was a version of Hound. Ellie Norwood, Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing, Jeremy Brett -- many distinguished actors have considered this among their greatest roles.

Watson dates the case to 1889, but various reading authorities, knowing the good doctor's occasional attempts to distort details to protect the privacy of the innocent, have dated this to between 1886 and 1900.

In fact, the novel appeared in serialised form in the Strand magazine, the great first-publication site of most Holmesian tales, between August 1901 and April 1902, after Conan Doyle had attempted to kill off the great detective in the short story The Final Problem, which showcased Holmes' battle with Moriarity, the Napoleon of Crime. In fact, Conan Doyle came to dislike the character of Holmes because it was a distraction to his other pursuits.

So, bowing to public pressure, Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles to placate the public demand for more stories, but took care to place it before the death of Holmes, in the hopes that he could leave the detective safely dead (if not buried). Such was not to be, and we find a few years later that in fact Conan Doyle 'resurrects' Holmes in a rather ingenious fashion.

But, on to the story at hand. Holmes and Watson, at home at 221b Baker Street, are approached by a Dr. James Mortimer regarding the death of Sir Charles Baskerville and a family curse which involved evil forces in the form of a satanic hound. Mortimer is concerned for the safety of the new proprietor of the family lands, freshly arriving from Canada, who had a new boot stolen, then an old boot stolen, in his hotel in London. Later Holmes would put together the significance of this seeming strange minor act (no, I won't tell you).

Holmes sends Baskerville and Watson together to the country estate while he tends things in London on another case. In reality, Holmes is setting Watson up as a diversion, while he investigates the moor and the surroundings of the Baskerville estate under cover. Life at the estate is a bit strained, given the murder, an attempted murder, a curse, and all. The neighbours seem nice enough, though. Or are they? Watson picks up on curious little details of their relationship, which he reports back in written notes to Holmes (which have been redirected to his moor outpost).

Eventually Holmes reveals himself to Watson, and then to Baskerville, and the chase is on in earnest, to discover the reality of the mysterious creature each have seen or heard. In good mystery fashion, we come across long lost relatives and an inheritance to be had; we find plots and subplots muddied by superstitious belief and fear, on a mysterious plain in southwestern England.

All the elements combined that are now considered standard bits for a well-done country English mystery. But the mystery does not stop merely with the story. In true mystery fashion, appearing in the Daily Express edition of March 16, 1959, there were doubts cast upon the authorship of Hound of the Baskervilles. The one who carried the dispute was named none other than Baskerville, Harry Baskerville. He credited the story to one Fletcher Robinson, who died (perhaps of the Egyptian mummy's curse) at age 35 shortly after the publication of Hound. With his death, only Baskerville remembered the issue of co-authorship. Baskerville claims it was Robinson who 'borrowed' the Baskerville name.

One of Conan Doyle's heirs, Adrian Conan Doyle, heatedly denied involvement of Robinson past possible 'conversations' that might have taken place between Arthur Conan Doyle and Robinson. But, he did not deny Conan Doyle's possible 'inspiration' from Robinson.

One Baker Street Irregular (an exclusive club of Holmesian experts) was doing a monograph on this issue as well, claiming that the reason why Holmes appears so infrequently is due to the fact that he had to be written in to an otherwise essentially completed story. This Irregular travelled to meet with Baskerville, and hinted at discoveries he had found. But alas, the Irregular died three weeks later in America, his monograph never published and his notes were never found. Perhaps a dog ate the homework? A mysterious hound, perhaps?

Gloom, Doom, and Subtle Misdirection, 26 May 2004
Most Sherlock Holmes stories (especially the short stories like The Red Headed League) are like playing chess in a Victorian drawing room. You get a period piece with some subtle moves. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a total change-up from that format. Doyle builds the atmosphere of ancient legends, foul play, and a dark moor in an irresistible way. You will find yourself looking out over your shoulder if you read this book on a dark, lonely night. So if you like a novel with a true gothic feel, this will be your main reward.

Your unexpected reward will be one of the most famous clues in all of detective fiction. In searching out who is haunting the Baskerville's, Doyle has Holmes solve the puzzle by looking for something that no one else was looking for. This is the only mystery that I know of that is solved by vacuous fulfillment (an odd concept of mathematics that Doyle must have known about).

The third feature of this story is the many fallacious beliefs about how science works (like phrenology -- the shape of the skull determining your mind and character). You may find this interesting or annoying. In either case, try to remember that we probably have many similar false beliefs today that will look silly a hundred years from now. Can you think of one?

Wrap up in a blanket by the fire, have a glass of wine, and shiver with anticipation!

A thrilling and gripping read - a real page-turner!, 25 Aug 2001
'The Hound of the Baskervilles' sees Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his faithful sidekick Dr Watson on one of their most famous and exciting adventures. Right from the start the author succeeds in grabbing the readers' attention, and dramatic plot twists and the eery setting of the desolate moors keep it held until the final page. Holmes and Watson's detective skills are called upon to investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose body is discovered with a look of terror upon his face near the footprints of a huge hound. Could the tale of a terrifying beast that haunts the Baskerville family be more than just superstition? The skills and courage of the Sleuths are tested to the limit in their bid to discover the truth. Although first published almost a hundred years ago, this novel has lost none of its appeal and is as good as any modern-day thriller. Full of excitement and suspense, this book is a real page-turner, and a must for all fans of the detective novel.

Clever and a page turner, 26 Nov 2000
It keeps you guessing, spooky and witty. If you like mysterys you'll love this

A first - class mystery thriller, 28 Aug 1999
The Hound of the Baskervilles is a marvellous example of a British detective mystery. The story keeps you entertained and guessing at every twist and turn and the ending is far from predictable! An enjoyable and well written mystery and a classic Sherlock Holmes case.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical understanding then you have to buy this book. Don't worry it's not a complicated book with a hard to understand story. This must be the best book I ever bought form Amazon because it contains all the original illustrations and complete and unabridged stories of the very clever detective (and scientist) Sherlock Holmes. The second I started reading the book I couldn't stop reading it because of the clever and sometimes complex characters illustrated magnificently by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also because of the magnificent plots of the hundreds of stories written in such a great manner. The stories always make you want to keep reading on to find out who was behind it all and it is always somebody who you would never suspect, this book is just full of millions of surprises.

Great New Talent, 01 Aug 2008
Borderlands will keep you on the edge of your seat.It makes you feel like your standing beside the crime sceen.Could not find anything wrond with it.A+1 all the way.

A bit disappointing, really, 27 Jul 2008
I'm afraid I couldn't get into this book at all. Didn't like the main character [Devlin] or the story much. I've been to Donegal and love the area but [unlike a number of crime witers] I don't feel he captures any atmosphere. Sorry.

Tightly plotted thriller with heart of a poet, 16 Apr 2007
Ben Devlin is a unique copper in the ranks of murder mystery writing; with a (mostly) happy family life and an easy familiarity with his small community which never borders on the arch, he still evidences the kind of common sense thinking and popular misconceptions about the modern world that make him instantly relatable and much more than just a device for the author's omniscience. He's incredibly likeable, but has enough of the poet about him that he remains compelling enough to follow, in this short debut novel from McGilloway. The plot is tightly structured and meticulously paced for the most part; the first two thirds of the book follow an almost linear and procedural progression which keeps the seasoned reader happily immersed in their own suspicions. If the book has a flaw it is in the final pages, where possibly too many twists in too short a time stretch the believability slightly. Still, I didn't see the end coming. A wonderful subplot with the family dog provides an elegant allegory for the larger issues in the book and shows just how sophisticated a writer McGillway is and how good this ongoing series should prove to be (He's written the second and been signed upfor three more after that). Highly recommended.

Another cracker, 08 Oct 2008
This is the 13th in the series. Matthew and Brother Michael continue their crime solving escapades. This time a charlatan 'healer' comes into town and performs some wonderful 'miracles', managing to turn the town against its traditional practitioners, including Matthew Bartholomew and creates self doubt in Bartholomew.
Simultaneously, a leading medical practioner is murdered, their are tensions in town over a rent war, with landlords wanting to charge the university more and the university unwilling to pay. An elderly scholar dies. A note claims it was murder. Bartholomew claims it was natural. Could he be wrong?
This really is an excellent series. By now Matthew, Brother Michael and the rest of the characters are like old friends but there are still enough surprises to keep the reader's interest.
If you have enjoyed the series so far, I don't think this will disappoint. If you are new, each novel is stand alone but does refer back to previous episodes. You have to start somewhere!
Now if only Matilde came back...


More Laurel and Hardy than Dalziel and Pascoe, 24 Sep 2008
I wonder why I persevere with this series, this is the 12th I have read and since the first 4 or five they have been generally disappointing and repetitive. Brother Michael and Matthew Bartholomew are not the Holmes & Watson of 14th Century crime detection, not even the Dalziel & Pascoe, probably more like the Laurel & Hardy.

The problem is that while Susanna Gregory knows her history, she has little or no idea how to construct a detective novel. Our heroes keep stumbling and bumbling about accusing everyone in sight of the crime with frequent visits to eating establishments to satisfy Michael's voracious appetite.

The squalor, lack of hygiene, Brother William's 'filthy grey habit' and the antics of the incorrigible Deynman get their umpteenth mention, 'Town and Gown' have their usual squabbles but it is not enough, not anymore, to sustain interest.

I am not sure that Ms Gregory, until the last few pages, has any more idea than the reader who is going to be denounced as the killer as the denouement of the last three or four books have been quite ludicrous.

The Iron Horse, 27 Aug 2007
Although the 'railways' don't play a significant role in this story as its predecessors I still found it absorbing and difficult to put down.
It took me 2 evenings to finish due to work but entertaining it was. Highly recommended - another success for Edward Marston

Fourth in the Inspector Colbeck Mysteries, 01 Aug 2007

Keith Miles, aka Edward Marston and Martin Inigo, came from Wales to read Modern History at Oxford. He has been a university lecturer, radio, television, and theatre dramatist, and in addition to writing has worked as an actor, director, and dramatist. He has been quite a prolific writer under the pseudonym Edward Marston with a long series of books featuring the Elizabethan theatre, and also his Domesday. When not travelling or fulfilling speaking engagements, he lives in rural isolation in Kent.

This is the fourth book that features Inspector Colbeck. The book has a dramatic opening when a small crowd of passengers standing besides some luggage at the station are given the fright of their lives when the lid of a hatbox is flipped open and its contents tipped out. Rolling about on the platform was a human head.

The country at large is excited as Derby Day approaches. People from all walks of Victorian society gather to watch the races. The plot thickens when another human head is discovered on a train at Crewe. Inspector Colbeck and his assistant are assigned the case and are rapidly involved in a web of deceit that stretches across the country. Just how much is someone prepared to gamble to win . . .

The quintessential Holmes tale, 06 Jan 2006
The image of Sherlock Holmes in 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' is perhaps the most enduring image we have of him. You see, an Inverness cloak and deerstalker cap are inappropriate wardrobe for the town, and belong in the country. Sherlock Holmes is predominantly a city dweller and city investigator; it is relatively uncommon that he treks out on adventures, but the case of the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville and the attempted murder of Sir Henry Baskerville led him to the Dartmoor plain. Thus, country garb was in order. This is where we get much of our imagery.

Also helping with this is that every major actor to play Holmes has considered 'Hound of the Baskervilles' to be the ultimate Holmes story to act -- rather like the Hamlet of Conan Doyle's work. Holmes was a popular film icon, and in the early decades of the twentieth century several dozen films were made of Holmes, but the first after these many films to be set in Victorian times (and not be updated for the screen) was a version of Hound. Ellie Norwood, Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing, Jeremy Brett -- many distinguished actors have considered this among their greatest roles.

Watson dates the case to 1889, but various reading authorities, knowing the good doctor's occasional attempts to distort details to protect the privacy of the innocent, have dated this to between 1886 and 1900.

In fact, the novel appeared in serialised form in the Strand magazine, the great first-publication site of most Holmesian tales, between August 1901 and April 1902, after Conan Doyle had attempted to kill off the great detective in the short story The Final Problem, which showcased Holmes' battle with Moriarity, the Napoleon of Crime. In fact, Conan Doyle came to dislike the character of Holmes because it was a distraction to his other pursuits.

So, bowing to public pressure, Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles to placate the public demand for more stories, but took care to place it before the death of Holmes, in the hopes that he could leave the detective safely dead (if not buried). Such was not to be, and we find a few years later that in fact Conan Doyle 'resurrects' Holmes in a rather ingenious fashion.

But, on to the story at hand. Holmes and Watson, at home at 221b Baker Street, are approached by a Dr. James Mortimer regarding the death of Sir Charles Baskerville and a family curse which involved evil forces in the form of a satanic hound. Mortimer is concerned for the safety of the new proprietor of the family lands, freshly arriving from Canada, who had a new boot stolen, then an old boot stolen, in his hotel in London. Later Holmes would put together the significance of this seeming strange minor act (no, I won't tell you).

Holmes sends Baskerville and Watson together to the country estate while he tends things in London on another case. In reality, Holmes is setting Watson up as a diversion, while he investigates the moor and the surroundings of the Baskerville estate under cover. Life at the estate is a bit strained, given the murder, an attempted murder, a curse, and all. The neighbours seem nice enough, though. Or are they? Watson picks up on curious little details of their relationship, which he reports back in written notes to Holmes (which have been redirected to his moor outpost).

Eventually Holmes reveals himself to Watson, and then to Baskerville, and the chase is on in earnest, to discover the reality of the mysterious creature each have seen or heard. In good mystery fashion, we come across long lost relatives and an inheritance to be had; we find plots and subplots muddied by superstitious belief and fear, on a mysterious plain in southwestern England.

All the elements combined that are now considered standard bits for a well-done country English mystery. But the mystery does not stop merely with the story. In true mystery fashion, appearing in the Daily Express edition of March 16, 1959, there were doubts cast upon the authorship of Hound of the Baskervilles. The one who carried the dispute was named none other than Baskerville, Harry Baskerville. He credited the story to one Fletcher Robinson, who died (perhaps of the Egyptian mummy's curse) at age 35 shortly after the publication of Hound. With his death, only Baskerville remembered the issue of co-authorship. Baskerville claims it was Robinson who 'borrowed' the Baskerville name.

One of Conan Doyle's heirs, Adrian Conan Doyle, heatedly denied involvement of Robinson past possible 'conversations' that might have taken place between Arthur Conan Doyle and Robinson. But, he did not deny Conan Doyle's possible 'inspiration' from Robinson.

One Baker Street Irregular (an exclusive club of Holmesian experts) was doing a monograph on this issue as well, claiming that the reason why Holmes appears so infrequently is due to the fact that he had to be written in to an otherwise essentially completed story. This Irregular travelled to meet with Baskerville, and hinted at discoveries he had found. But alas, the Irregular died three weeks later in America, his monograph never published and his notes were never found. Perhaps a dog ate the homework? A mysterious hound, perhaps?

Gloom, Doom, and Subtle Misdirection, 26 May 2004
Most Sherlock Holmes stories (especially the short stories like The Red Headed League) are like playing chess in a Victorian drawing room. You get a period piece with some subtle moves. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a total change-up from that format. Doyle builds the atmosphere of ancient legends, foul play, and a dark moor in an irresistible way. You will find yourself looking out over your shoulder if you read this book on a dark, lonely night. So if you like a novel with a true gothic feel, this will be your main reward.

Your unexpected reward will be one of the most famous clues in all of detective fiction. In searching out who is haunting the Baskerville's, Doyle has Holmes solve the puzzle by looking for something that no one else was looking for. This is the only mystery that I know of that is solved by vacuous fulfillment (an odd concept of mathematics that Doyle must have known about).

The third feature of this story is the many fallacious beliefs about how science works (like phrenology -- the shape of the skull determining your mind and character). You may find this interesting or annoying. In either case, try to remember that we probably have many similar false beliefs today that will look silly a hundred years from now. Can you think of one?

Wrap up in a blanket by the fire, have a glass of wine, and shiver with anticipation!

A thrilling and gripping read - a real page-turner!, 25 Aug 2001
'The Hound of the Baskervilles' sees Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his faithful sidekick Dr Watson on one of their most famous and exciting adventures. Right from the start the author succeeds in grabbing the readers' attention, and dramatic plot twists and the eery setting of the desolate moors keep it held until the final page. Holmes and Watson's detective skills are called upon to investigate the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose body is discovered with a look of terror upon his face near the footprints of a huge hound. Could the tale of a terrifying beast that haunts the Baskerville family be more than just superstition? The skills and courage of the Sleuths are tested to the limit in their bid to discover the truth. Although first published almost a hundred years ago, this novel has lost none of its appeal and is as good as any modern-day thriller. Full of excitement and suspense, this book is a real page-turner, and a must for all fans of the detective novel.

Clever and a page turner, 26 Nov 2000
It keeps you guessing, spooky and witty. If you like mysterys you'll love this

A first - class mystery thriller, 28 Aug 1999
The Hound of the Baskervilles is a marvellous example of a British detective mystery. The story keeps you entertained and guessing at every twist and turn and the ending is far from predictable! An enjoyable and well written mystery and a classic Sherlock Holmes case.

Charming but strange, 18 Aug 2008
Rather a mixture. Despite the impeccable detail, this story had the feeling of being set in a slightly later period, and I'm not entirely sure why. It might be the dialogue (which I sometimes found pedestrian), or perhaps the Holmesean resonances, especially the characters of the engine driver and his daughter who seemed to me straight out of Conan Doyle, or at least his era. I also found the plot a little thin, espcially the detective's ability to anticipate an outrage at a precise spot in the Crystal Palace, on the slenderest of evidence.
Nevertheless, the story had considerable charm, especially the disarmingly innocent attraction between the detective and the engine driver's daughter. This was refreshing and sensitively done. Indeed the entire book had the feel of being written many decades ago. If the author intended this, then he triumphed.
I shall certainly read more of these. The charm and unique atmosphere for me outweigh the shortcomings and perhaps, when this series gets into its stride (I intentionally read the first story first) it will strengthen further.

A pleasant journey on the Railway, 11 May 2008
This is the first in what has become a series of detective books based around the advent and development of the railways. With any first book we are being introduced to the main characters for future novels interspersed with a detective story.

We are introduced to Inspector Colbeck, a rather dandy sort of character who leads the investigation into a train robbery on the London to North railway line. An ex barrister who has turned to working in the rather new police force and Detective Department of Scotland Yard to feel like he was absolving some guilt that he is living with. The true reason has something to do with a woman (doesn't it always) and we do not find any great detail about it until the very end.

Along with Colbeck, we have Sergeant Leeming the faithful assistant to him and who although will go along with him, is somewhat stuck in another age before trains, locomotives and speed into the country and is a traditional method policeman. Superintendent Tallis is the stalwart hard working detective in charge of Colbeck, but in typical fashion is the one who is ridiculed and made to look inadequate in his actions by the Commissioner, who obviously despite perhaps some of the riskier elements in Colbeck's investigation is favoured greatly by the Commissioner.

The mystery is not taxing and it is quite obvious to come to the conclusion of what happened and why (though in my opinion the reason for these crimes is somewhat scraping the bottom of the barrel for a motive). Edward Marston does make all the parts of the mystery tie in nicely together with no loose ends. Good will overcome Evil and even the perpetrator of the crimes is somewhat above a common criminal with his manner.

This is a good and fairly easy read, it took a while to slip into the fact it was 1851 and trains were a new invention and that by jumping in a cab actually meant a horse drawn one! I was worried to begin with as it smacked of the 1963 Great Train Robbery and I was expecting something a bit meatier.

However, once you take yourself back nearly 160 years you enjoy the journey, the researched information about the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace and the Railways Lines is well done and I look forward to reading other books and experiencing the other mysteries that Colbeck solves.




Robbery on the Mail Train, 10 Feb 2008

Edward Marston is just one of the pseudonyms of author Keith Miles. He has been a university lecturer, radio, television, and theatre dramatist, and in addition to writing has worked as an actor, director, and dramatist. He has written a large number of books with historical themes, perhaps the most well known being his Domesday series. These revolve around the census of 1086 and a series of mysteries featuring the Elizabethan theatre as their background.

Once you have become familiar with an author's work, his character's and style of writing it is sometimes difficult to become attuned to a new character and storyline, but in this case the author seems to have come up with yet another winner, although his Domesday books will always be my own particular favourites..

This is a new venture for the author published in 2004 and featuring a new character in the redoubtable Inspector Robert Colbeck. The book is set in a period when the railways were still in their infancy and not everybody liked traveling on them, and in some cases still preferred the horse. Inspector Colbeck is called to the scene of a train robbery. The driver has been badly beaten and the fireman made to drive the locomotive off the rails, for no apparent reason.

It is not long before Robert Colbeck, barrister, turned police officer has used his ample brain power and intuition to establish that the robbery was not only an attempt and a successful one, to gain money but also the actions of someone who for some reeason has a grudge against the railways . . .

Ho-hum, 05 Dec 2007
A rather uninspiring read. This book reads like a 1970s cop show. All the stereotype characters are there: the good cop, the faithful sidekick, the cranky interfering boss, the evil well-heeled criminal mastermind, the psychopathic killer, the comely maiden, the disappointed suitor. This is Starsky and Hutch with top hats. The dialogue is very 1970s too, and the plotting. Rather than concentrate on the solving of the crime, the book throws in a few murders and a kidnapping. Sure, what else would you do when you run out of interest in your characters? Even for train nuts, this book is going to be a let-down: right from the first page where the engine is 'throbbing' at the head of its train. For those who don't know - Mr Marston among them - engines didn't 'throb' until after Rudolph Diesel invented his engine. If you want a good book about murder on the railways in the 19th century, read Zola's 'The Beast in Man' ('La Bete Humaine'): it's a cracker. This book, sadly, isn't.

A Ripping Yarn!, 31 Jan 2007
It's London in 1851, the railways are slowly establishing themselves as the best means of travel and preparations are underway for the Great Exhibition. A robbery on the railway near Leyton Buzzard and the theft of both money and mail threaten the reputation of the safety of the trains.

Enter Inspector Colbeck, a bit of a dandy, and one of the best detectives with the Metropolitan Police. Will he be able to find those responsible??

This is a great novel, really easy to read, and includes everything you want in a detective novel of this kind; robbery, treachery, murder, life in the slums of London, a little love interest and an uptight Chief Inspector.

Cracks along at a great pace and avoids being too 'nerdy' about trains. Recommended.

The GREAT SHERLOCK HOLMES BOOK, 08 Apr 2008
Hi, I'm Shobha Varma from India. I have this book in my husband Dr.Varma's library. It is a wonderful book, no doubt on that aspect. But because my husband is an artist and movie buff while I am a Carnatic Musician, we always crave for books with illustrations. This book DOES have illustrations, but my husband wants only the illustated short stories.
The 56 short stories are wonderful. Particularly with Sydney Paget's illustrations.

The ultimate bedtime read, 04 Apr 2008
I've had this book since my teenage years and it's the one book I go back to time and time again. I don't know what it is that makes me grab it from the bookshelf, perhaps Conan Doyle's unique style, his descriptions of old London or the Grimpen Mire or the small village deep in the home counties, the knee high fog settling on the moor,I just don't know!
Watson's narration and Holmes deductions and logic never cease to thrill me and carry me away on an orgasmic journey of escapism. For that's what a good book does. That's what this book does.

Elementary, my dear reader, 27 Dec 2005
The first Sherlock Holmes book I ever read was given to me as a gift for my thirteenth birthday. It was a collection of the short stories, with a wonderful leather trim and gold leafing, and I thought it was fantastic. I read the first story, and was instantly hooked. Within a few days, I was disappointed with my wonderful new book because it was incomplete. I had devoured all of the selected stories, and was ready for more.

Shortly thereafter, I purchased what purported to be the 'only complete Sherlock Holmes available', compiled by Christopher Morley. This became my favourite book. But, alas, neither of these volumes was illustrated.

The original stories, which appeared in The Strand magazine, were illustrated, by the great illustrator Sidney Paget. Actually, careful research (which Holmes himself would insist upon) will reveal that Paget was not the first illustrator; however, it is not able to be determined conclusively how many artists preceding Paget. It is know that the first publication of A Study in Scarlet, in which Holmes and Watson are first introduced, was illustrated by on D.H. Friston. These illustrations would appall the Holmesian set today.

The next edition after the barely-received Beeton's Christmas Annual edition, was in book form, and apparently illustrated by Arthur Conan Doyle's father, Charles.

The next illustration was in The Sign of Four, appearing in Lippincott's Magazine, which showed a scene in India, but did not have one of Holmes.

The classic ideas of Holmes (in a visual sense) did not thus solidify until the popular series of short stories in The Strand, illustrated by Paget, beginning with the story A Scandal in Bohemia, in which Holmes is actually out-foxed by THE woman, but still manages a satisfactory ending to the case, and (particularly his illustrations of the serialised Hounds of the Baskervilles) Paget's illustrations have become the standard image.

This volume contains all the short stories (56 of them) and the novels (4). (At least, this is the official canon -- there are other proto-stories by Conan Doyle, and dozens of tribute stories written by other authors.) Hundreds of illustrations accompany the text. Perhaps Paget drew his image of Holmes based upon the actor William Gillette, who made a career out of portraying the Baker Street detective on stage in London and New York. Charlie Chaplain got one of his early starts in entertainment by playing the page attendant to Holmes opposite Gillette.

From the beginning introduction of Holmes and Watson to Holmes' gentle retirement to beekeepping on the southern coast of England, this book contains all the essential stories (none of the apocryphal, anecdotal, or tribute-written pieces are contained here). Holmes was often thought to be a real person, and Sherlockians the world over still search for 'evidence' to prove that he was. During his 'lifetime', the post office for the Baker Street area regularly received mail addressed to Holmes or Watson at 221B Baker Street. While such an address does not (and did not during the late Victorian era) exist, there is a business on the site that would be 221B, and they have dedicated a desk to Holmes, and strive to answer mail received in the great detective's name.

Perhaps the two elements that made Holmes and Watson the world-renowned figures that they became are, first, the dominance of the British Empire globally at the time Conan Doyle was writing, which made English things sought-after, admired, and to be emulated, and secondly, the introduction of a method of detection hitherto unknown, both in the annals of detective stories (save perhaps in a proto-form in Poe and a few other obscure pieces of dubious literary merit) and in real life.

Holmesian tales became required reading in the training of police and detectives in many parts of the world. It is still recommended even when it is not required.

Holmes permeates other literature and venues as well. When Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation looks for images of Holmes, he is being guided by the descriptions in the stories as well as by the illustrations in The Strand. When the BBC produced Jeremy Brett's rendering of Holmes, the same holds true. When Basil Rathbone's films were cast, these illustrations and stories were uppermost in the directors' minds.

So, pull some tobacco from your persian slipper, stoke your pipe, scratch out a tune on your violin, and re-enter the gas-lit world of the foggy London, where danger is afoot and one detective can always save the day.

Holmes gets tiresome after a while but still a great read, 12 Jun 2004
Great stuff but a tiny bit far fetched - what Holmes can deduce from a scrape on your shoe (or maybe I'm stupid). I had to stop reading three quarters of the way because it gets a bit formulaic but up to that it was great. Will finish it some day.

I'd prefer not to have the illustrations because it spoils my image of Basil Rathbone when I'm picturing Holmes.

As for the illustration of the Hound of The Baskervilles - it's ridiculous - it looks like my Red Setter.

A MUST BUY!, 01 Apr 2004
If you like detective stories that show a lot of logical und