Redacted Sherlock Holmes Volume VII
Dr Watson once again picks up his pen to present five cases taken by Sherlock Holmes— each too sensitive to be published at the time of writing—taking readers back to London between 1887 and 1917. One client witnesses a strange ceremony in Highgate Cemetery, which he believes Holmes should investigate. Another case has Mycroft asking Sherlock to spy on poet A. E. Housman, who reveals the secret between an account book and some illicit diaries. Another has Sherlock investigating a covert coal operation that happens to be around the corner from 221B Baker Street. Two cases catch Dr Watson out: in one, he’s the buyer of some unusual paintings, while in another his attempt to invest his money causes him to suffer unexpected consequences. Naturally, Sherlock solves each case.
Pearson’s take is a clever way to present the “new” material—unprintable in the years the cases happened, Dr Watson’s tales are available to readers only years later. Readers don’t need to be familiar with the original Sherlock cases to enjoy these stories.
In this seventh volume, Pearson has, for the first time, given the background information that inspired each story. Without these details, the stories are still enjoyable, but I found the histories fascinating, and they add rich details to the book. At times, within the stories, an overwhelming amount of historical detail has been added, which interferes with the flow, but fans of Holmes will like this book, as will readers who love history and the Victorian era.
