Tangled Web UK Review May 2007
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes by
Paul D Gilbert
hbk out March 07
Published by Hale
at £18.99
The first impression of this volume is that the picture of Holmes on the cover is a
drawing of Jeremy Brett; the second, that the title of both the collection and the seven
stories therein lack imagination. Unfortunately, both observations are more profound
than first expected. Mr Gilbert's Holmes is in fact a caricature of Brett rather than an
imitation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original, and the result has a twice-removed
feel somewhat remote from the Great Detective of the Canon. The prosaic titles also
reflect a degree of repetition in the cases, as if the author had original ideas for four or
five, and was told to extend his repertoire to produce a publishable series.
There are several positive comments worth making, however: all the
adventures begin either in Baker Street or the Watson residence, which gives an
authentic, familiar feel; Watson's character is much closer to Sir Arthur's original, if a
little too sensitive and pedantic; the period detail creates the right atmosphere without
cluttering the narrative; and The Missing Don Giovanni is one of the better pastiches
on offer, despite sharing the eccentric punctuation that makes several of the stories
difficult reading.
The final case, The Adventure of the Dying Gaul, takes Holmes and Watson to
Rome in an original look at some of the inconsistencies concerning Professor
Moriarty and the events described in The Final Problem. Whatever one may think of
the result, it clearly sows the seeds for a sequel, with the implication that Holmes and
his archenemy had a second, secret battle some time during or after 1898. This is a
clever touch, and subtly done. Although the Lost Files is far from impressive as a
collection, with his first pastiche behind him Mr Gilbert may well be capable of
delivering a very entertaining clash between the two illustrious antagonists.
(
Rafe McGregor
)
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