The Secret Notebooks of Sherlock Holmes by
June Thomson
hbk out April 04
Published by Allison Busby
at £17.99
The temptation to try one's hand at Sherlockian pastiches is for many authors almost
irresistible. The challenge of writing in Watson's style and putting together an
atmospheric mystery that might just pass as the work of Conan Doyle has, over the
years, appealed to scores of us: I can myself testify to the enduring pleasure of
indulging in this distinctive sub-branch of crime fiction. But it is safe to say that of all
those who have produced Sherlockian pastiches, few can match the sustained
achievements of June Thomson. Thomson combines the necessary attributes: she is
steeped in Holmesian lore (her book about Holmes and his faithful sidekick is a must-
read for fans) and she is also an accomplished author in her own right. Her literary
gifts are crucial, for anyone who has attempted this type of story rapidly becomes
aware that Conan Doyle's greatest skill lay neither in plotting nor characterisation, but
rather in his ability to create an utterly convincing and atmospheric world by deft and
vivid writing. Her fifth collection of stories for which the world was long unprepared
matches the high standards of its predecessors. Copious footnotes are included for the
benefit of devotees, but the stories themselves are the thing and these are thoroughly
entertaining. Two small editorial suggestions: I would have welcomed a full list of the
author's previous books and also a contents page for this one.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
The Secret Notebooks of Sherlock Holmes by
June Thomson
