Customer Reviews

Exploits of Sherlock Holmes

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book in part on the strength of three 5-star reviews on this site. This is a very handsome hardcover volume at a surprisingly reasonable price.

There are three classifications of stories in the book. First, stories primarily written by Adrian Conan Doyle, with some input from JD Carr. Second, two stories written almost entirely by Mr. Carr, possibly with some slight input from Doyle. Third, six stories written solely by Mr. Adrian Doyle.

Since I have read a number of mysteries by Carr, and expected much, I was most disappointed to find his two stories the weakest in the book. In one instance, after reading the first page I was able to anticipate the entire plot. In the other case, I simply found the story flat, uninteresting, and narrowly derivative of similar stories in the original Holmes canon.

To the contrary, some of the stories by Mr. Doyle cannot be praised enough. One that's typical, "The Adventure of Foulkes Rath," seems up to the work of Arthur Conan Doyle himself. All in all, Adrian Doyle admirably captures the style and brooding Gothic tone that so typifies many of the best stories in the original Holmes canon. Moreover, Adrian Doyle's stories have a kind of life and warmth that brings the Edwardian world alive for the reader.

I would give the book five stars were it not for a few tales that seem off the pace, and decidedly inferior to the others. Alas-- and surprisingly-- these are from JD Carr's pen. Perhaps Carr tried too diligently to write an impeccably logical mystery, where nothing in the denoument was not well provided for in the early story. The effect, unfortunately, was to create a mechanical kind of plot, which made it all to easy for the reader to anticipate too accurately the entire unfolding of the story.

So in this interesting and generally worthwhile book of tales, we might have the amateur outwriting the old master.

All in all, a worthwhile purchase -- and handsome book with great bedtime reading at a very reasonable price.

Patrick Callahan's excellent review is right on the money, but I'm giving this little book four stars anyway just because, when it's good, it's _very_ good. Some of the stories contained herein -- based on Watson's occasional references to unrecorded (not "unsolved", as the current edition's subtitle incorrectly has it) cases -- surpass some of the elder Doyle's later works. Highly recommended, especially as an antidote to the surfeit of "pastiches" that can't seem to get any of the details right.

Adrian Conan Doyle (with or without John Dickson Carr) tells a straight no-frills tale very much in the spirit of the Sherlockian canon; Holmes doesn't wind up getting married, Watson doesn't turn out to be the real Holmes, et cetera, et cetera. And there are no attempts to link Holmes to fabulous ripped-from-the-headlines figures like Dracula or Jack the Ripper -- these are perfectly ordinary cases of the kind in which Holmes himself was known to delight for their own sake owing to their touch of the _outre_ and the singular features they presented to the reasoner. Solid stuff despite the weaknesses of a few of the tales.

If you want a couple of novel-length pastiches to go with it, I recommend Nicholas Meyer's first two: _The Seven Per Cent Solution_ and _The West End Horror_.

This collection of stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyles youngest son, Adrian Conan Doyle, in collaboration with American mystery writer John Dickson Carr, are a wonderful treat for anyone who loves the originals! The twelve stories here refer to cases that Doyle made teasing reference to in the original series but never made available to the reading public. The stories are filled with black hearted villians, damsels in distress, atmosphere, and above all, the friendship between Holmes and Watson that have made them the most famous characters in the history of literature. Several stories like "The Adventure of the Deptford Horror" and "The Adventure of the Red Widow" are dark tales of murder; while others such as "The Aventure of the Wax Gamblers" and "The Aventure of the Highgate Miracle" will make you smile. What I enjoyed the most is that the authors have tried to stay true to the characters and didn't try to change them as other writers have done. The stories seem to have been written with one goal in mind, to fill the reader with delight! Originaly written in the early 1950s and out of print for many years, I am happy that Random House has released this once again, and in a Hardbound edition. Come dear reader,"the games afoot!"

These are the best and more Sherlock-like stories since the ones written by ACD. Some of them are not as good, but in general it captures the essence of the characters and the environment. I read everything related to Sherlock, but this is so far, the most entertaining and interesting collection of cases post-ACD. The characters are very close to the original, and that is something to appreciate. None of the authors try to do anything to prove themselves better than the master. I agree with other reviewers. It is a very enjoyable book.

Adrian Conan Doyle, the "playboy" son of Arthur Conan Doyle, wrote half of the stories in this volume unaided, but for the first six he had the assistance of the famed mystery writer John Dickson Carr. Here are twelve new tales which vary in quality, but in one way or another, all of them are intriguing. Speaking personally, I would rate this volume rather higher than at least one of the "canonical" volumes. I have a feeling my comments are unnecessary, but let us examine the 12 tales one by one:

THE ADVENTURE OF THE SEVEN CLOCKS. What would cause a brave and stalwart man to faint at the sound of a ticking clock?

THE ADVENTURE OF THE GOLD HUNTER. Holmes and Watson tangle with Lestrade in a story drawn from the famous Bartlett case, involving chloroform. Here is a splendid variation on the "least likely suspect" leitmotif.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE WAX GAMBLERS. Stories set in wax museums are always spooky and this one has a socko ending.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE HIGHGATE MIRACLE. This is the famous tale Watson once mentioned, the case of "Mr. James Phillimore, who, stepping back into his own house to get his umbrella, was never more seen in this world." A natural for John Dickson Carr.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLACK BARONET. A thoroughly bloody mess of a crime and a drinking cup that proves unexpected fatal for a despicable cur. Not a very good story.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE SEALED ROOM. The "sealed room" is again a trademark of John Dickson Carr. This story is oddly more like something G K Chesterton might have turned out than an authentic Sherlock Holmes adventure.

THE ADVEVNTURE OF FOULKES RATH. This story has been widely praised, but I do not see its appeal.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE ABBAS RUBY. Holmes undertakes to prove the innocence of a butler suspected of stealing a precious jewel. It is nice to see him helping out a member of the servant class.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE DARK ANGELS. To me, this tale seemed the most similar to the original tales by Arthur Conan Doyle, with its plot involving a secret society determined to avenge betrayal by a former member.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE TWO WOMEN. It is rather like having a good Irene Adler, and a bad one, both in the same case.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE DEPTFORD HORROR. Slick re-write of the famous original Conan Doyle case of THE SPECKLED BAND, but frightening and horrid nonetheless.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE RED WIDOW. Gregson accepts Holmes' suggestions in the "red widow" case. "Red widow" - guillotine. It's graphic. "His hands were tied behind him and a white cloth, hideously besmirched, concealed his head, or rather the place where his head had been."

What a book! So glad it's back in print and in a handsome edition too, with easy to read type and lovely page numbers redolent of the period.

Also one of the strangest. It's widely uneven, since two people write different sections of it, but still an interesting read. Now, this book sounds nearly exactly like Doyle's original stories. Why? It's not just the dated language, it's the simple mechanism most Holmes fans don't use: Making mistakes. Giving Holmes a red dressing gown instead of purple or grey. Giving an irregular the name "Billy", the name of his page-boy. Small details like that. However, for some reason, I thought that, as the book neared it's close, it sounded more and more like a pastiche. The most superior stories are "The Gold Hunter" and "The Sealed Room". The former, based on "the Camberwell poisoning case", involves the death of an elderly man in his bed, with literally no indication of how he died. The latter is based on "Colonel Warburton's Madness", and involves whether or not a retired military man shot himself and his wife in a locked room, or if he was murdered. "Foukles Rath" is a story where the killer is introduced at the very end, leaving the reader with no way to solve it. "The Abbas Ruby" has few suspects and is very easy to guess whodunit, and "The Dark Angels" seems like you haven't been given enough evidence to confront the murderer. "The Black Baronet" was also good, good enough to be adapted as a Tv play starring Basil Rathbone. But "The Red Window" totally ripped off "The Norwood Builder", covered up with the line "I may use this modest trick again" or words to that effect. Also, it has Holmes saying "Elementary, my Dear Watson," which he never said. All in all, OK reading.

Like the other reviewers mentioned, this is a mix bag. It basically narrates the cases that were just briefly mentioned the original stories.

Don't expect this to match the original Holmes canon. I feel that the first few stories didn't arrest my interest enough, but it got better as I read on. Some of the stories were a bit too predictable. I give this book a good rating primarily based on the last two stories--they are WONDERFUL and very creative (The Deptford Horror and The Red Widow). The other stories ranged from "alright" to "pretty good".

If you are new to Sherlock Holmes, get the real canonical stories from Arthur Doyle instead. If you are a seasoned Holmes fan, get this book to make your collection complete. I don't regret having bought it.

I truly enjoyed this book. As a fan of HOlmes, I wanted to read about his "lost" cases, or the ones that Watson mentions in passing but never puts down on paper. This is a delightful collection of stories, although I wished that "The Giant Rat of Sumatra" was included. ;-}

Seldom am I impressed by follow-up attempts. In this case though, I almost enjoyed this better than the orginal Sherlock Holmes stories. A collection of dark and dangerous short stories by a descendant of Arthur Conan Doyle, teamed with mystery master John Dickson Carr. Lock the doors and light your pipe, the game's afoot. You will not be disappointed!!!!! John Green Page, A

The stories in the Exploits of Sherlock Holmes carries on the great tradition of Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Conan Doyle. The stories are written by Adrain Conay Doyle and John Dickson Carr with great accuracy for the Victorian period of time. And the stories captures the relaionship between Holmes and Dr. Watson. The addition of great plot twists to the stories makes this book a must have addition to the Sherlock Holmes' fan library.