Chinese Box Mysteries: Sherlock Holmes [Hardcover]

Dan Kilcup (Author), Susan Olson-Kilcup (Editor), Marie Kuhn-Creek (Illustrator), Lenore Sullivan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1996

Sherlock Holme's short stories - mysteries

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Kilcup, Brooklyn, New York, 3/26/42 A Sherlock Holmes fan who wrote the book to assist local humanitarian organizations in the Washington, D.C. area. All proceeds received by Allen Wayne Limited, the publisher, will be donated to organizations as listed at the website, Washington Needs You.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Allen Wayne Ltd (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965263606
• ISBN-13: 978-0965263603
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,715,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It's for charity, and that's the only good thing, October 5, 2000

By 

"grrreg" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Box Mysteries: Sherlock Holmes (Hardcover)

"Chinese Box Mysteries" is a series of short stories featuring Sherlock Holmes (well after his retirement) and John S. Watson, son of his late chronicler. Dan Kilcup obviously tries to produce stories worth reading, but sadly doesn't succeed.

The problems, to me, are a poor portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, a failure to depict the Edwardian age in a believable fashion, and an attempt to use language beyond the author's grasp of vocabulary.

Kilcup's Holmes is an extraordinarily arbitrary character. I have no problems with the fact that Holmes is not infallible as this is consistent with Conan Doyle's portrayal. However, some of his actions are very strange, and do nothing to progress his investigations. I think his intention was to make Holmes likable, but I think he fails.

In setting stories in a particular time period, an author should portray the period believably. Mr Kilcup's characters use oddly harsh language - not necessarily for our time, but for that about which we are reading. Other things, details like Holmes' unlikely query of a London cabby as to when the next train to Brussels leaves, grate rather harshly.

With these factors distracting the reader, Mr Kilcup's use of words in the wrong context certainly makes the reading of this book a chore.

Sorry, Mr Kilcup, but not worth the time I spent reading it let alone the money I spent buying it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Chinese Box Mysteries, Vol.II, May 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Chinese Box Mysteries - Vol. II - Sherlock Holmes (Hardcover)

Spellbinding! Keeps you entangled throughout!

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Holmes Stories, May 7, 2000

By 

Donna Jo Mayo (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Box Mysteries - Vol. II - Sherlock Holmes (Hardcover)

I'm a devoted fan of the Conan Doyle efforts but I was amazed how close to the original these stories were, in atmosphere and in developing the feel of the characters. Also the PBS series with Jeremy Brett came to life for me in these stories - a little darker, more intellectual and perhaps, amazingly, more human. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a return to Holmes!