Metropolis Pictures is filming The Speckled Band in Hollywood around 1940. But the director of the film, an infamous libertine named Stephen Worth, threatens “changes” which outrage The Baker Street Irregulars, a band of Sherlock Holmes aficionados. In an attempt to calm the critics of the ill-fated movie, owner of Metropolis Pictures, F. X. Weinberg, invites The Baker Street Irregulars to Hollywood to act as “advisors” on The Speckled Band. Into this dangerous mix enters a murder and a dozen various theories of “Whodunit.” The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars is another book I’ve had on my shelves for decades. Anthony Boucher blends dozens of Sherlock Holmes references into his twisty plot. If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you’ll enjoy the wit and deception in this mystery. GRADE: B+
It’s been many years since I read an Anthony Boucher novel but this has remained one of my favorites, along with ROCKET TO THE MORGUE.
Jerry, like you I enjoyed ROCKET TO THE MORGUE, too. I read it decades ago. But I only got around to reading THE CASE OF THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS a few weeks ago. I think I only have one Boucher novel left to read.
What Jerry said. I had a bunch of Boucher’s books at one time but those are the two I enjoyed the most.
Jeff, THE CASE OF THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS shows Boucher’s love for the Holmes Canon. It’s funny and clever!
This brings back some memories. I discovered Boucher’s novels when I was in graduate school in the late 60s. Most, or maybe all, of his novels had been reprinted by somebody (Pyramid, I think), and I blew through all of them in a short period of time. They were a lot of fun. There was a series detective who appeared in most of the books but I don’t remember his name.
Michael, I discovered Boucher’s mysteries about the same time as you did in the Sixties. I was familiar with Boucher from F&SF MAGAZINE and all those BEST OF F&SF collections. Later, I would discover Boucher’s wonderful book reviews.
I’ll have to read this. I had all the bouchers in PB editions, and am not sure which I read.
Maggie, I passed up some Boucher hardcovers in the 1970s that I regret not buying!