Customer Reviews

Silver Blaze (Sherlock Holmes)

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"To call this CD only a 'reading' of the classic Sherlock Holmes story of 'Silver Blaze' would be to devalue the beauty of this performance. Although you may have heard recordings of the Sherlock Holmes work read before with distance and haughty affectation, none of that is present in Mr. Davies storytelling performance. This CD features one man, many voices and a hefty portion of talent. This performance is fresh, approachable and inviting." -Storyteller.net Reviews

SILVER BLAZE is a great story by Arthur Conan Doyle and may have been considered one of his favorites. A brilliant horse which was a favorite with the racing public goes missing and the worse is feared. Where was the first favorite for the Wessex cup? Coupled with the beloved horse's unknown whereabouts was evidence of a drugged stable boy and a murdered trainer. What happened to the horse, how did the stable boy get drugged and who killed the trainer?

This is a great story and is delivered admirably. Holmes even shows humility in this story which is certainly not a quality that he was well known for. He says to Watson: "Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson - which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than anyone would think who only knew me through your memoirs."

This story also shows Holmes to have his own moral compass and has him playing a "Robin Hood" of sorts in determining who should be exonerated and given amnesty. We see Holmes has his own unique sense of right from wrong!

As Kyle Freeman wrote in his Introduction to Volume I of the Sherlock Holmes anthology, " The first in the series, "Silver Blaze," pleased Conan Doyle so much that he bet his wife a shilling she couldn't solve the mystery. The story has some of the most brilliant writing in the Holmes Canon, particularly what is probably
the most famous of all Holmes's deductions: "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time", which has come to be known by the prosaic phrase "the dog that didn't bark." In polls of various Holmes Societies around the world, it regularly rates as one of the top ten stories."

I recommend this story highly.

Rating: B+

Bentley/2008
Silver Blaze and Other Stories (Macmillan Reader)Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Large Print Edition): includes Silver Blaze The yellow face The stock-broker's clerk The "Gloria Scott" The Musgrave ritual ... The naval treaty The final problemCases Of Sherlock Holmes No. 12 Mar "The Adventure of Silver Blaze"Stories of Sherlock Holmes Silver Blaze (Swc 1240)Silver Blazes and Other Stories: Elementary Level (Heinemann Guided Readers)Sherlock Holmes : The Norwood Builder / Disappearance of Silver BlazeSherlock Holmes: Silver BlazeThe Return of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 4 - The Devil's Foot / Silver Blaze / The Bruce Partington PlansSign of the Four & Silver Blaze; Sherlock Holmes Double FeatureThe Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

If you enjoy the intrigue of Sherlock Holmes, you are in for a real treat listening to David Davies vibrant and incredible rendition. Looking forward to future "readings" by D. Davies. You will too, once you've experience this exciting reading.

Dave Davies dramatic rendition of this Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes classic tale is well worth a listen. Dave's obvious talent for dramatic reading comes through beautifully and the production quality is excellent. Hopefully David will not stop with just this one but will continue right through the entire cannon. If you like listening to "a good read" Silver Blaze is highly recommended.