This anthology of faux-Sherlock Holmes stories was published in 1998. Yes, sometimes it takes me some time to get around to reading the books on my shelves. The Confidential Casebook of Sherlock Holmes is a sequel to The Resurrected Holmes: New Cases from the Notes of John. H. Watson, M.D. (a book from 1996 that I’ve never seen). Marvin Kaye writes that these stories were found in a safety deposit box. As you might suspect, the quality of these stories vary widely.
I liked “The Darlington Substitution Scandal” by Henry Slesar although it was easy to figure out. I also enjoyed Edward D. Hoch’s “The Adventure of the Dying Ship” where Hoch places Sherlock Holmes on the Titanic. Carole Bugge tells a tale of where Sherlock Holmes disguises himself as a Catholic priest in “The Revenge of the Fenian Brotherhood.” If you’re looking for some entertaining faux-Sherlock Holmes stories, you’ll like The Confidential Casebook of Sherlock Holmes. GRADE: B
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction — Marvin Kaye 1
Delicate Business
The Darlington Substitution Scandal — Henry Slesar 7
The Adventure of the Old Russian Woman — H. Paul Jeffers 21
The Adventure of the Noble Husband — Peter Cannon 35
The Case of the Woman in the Cellar — Pat Mullen 53
Desperate Business
The Adventure of the Boulevard Assassin — Kathleen Brady 77
The Case of the Ancient British Barrow — Terry McGarry 95
The Adventure of the Dying Ship — Edward D. Hoch 115
The Revenge of the Fenian Brotherhood — Carole Buggé 131
My Blushes, Watson!
The Affair of the Counterfeit Countess — Craig Shaw Gardner 159
The Woman — Aline Myette-Volsky 177
The Little Problem of the Grosvenor Square Furniture — Van “Patrick LoBrutto” (ascribed to Arthur Stanley Jefferson) 197
À La Recherche du Temps Perdu
A Ballad of the White Plague — P. C. Hodgell 211
The Adventure of Vanderbilt and the Yeggman — Roberta Rogow 235
The Secret Marriage of Sherlock Holmes — Shariann Lewitt 257
The Case of Vittoria the Circus Belle — Jay Sheckley 287
Contributors Notes 351
Acknowledgments 355
By coincidence, I just read that Hoch story last year in a Kindle collection of his, THE SHERLOCK HOLMES STORIES OF EDWARD D. HOCH. The Titanic story was one of the better ones, but frankly I far prefer his Sam Hawthorne and Nick Velvet stories. But Hoch is never not worth reading.
Jeff, I agree. Hoch’s Sam Hawthorne and Nick Velvet stories are more entertaining that his faux-Sherlock Holmes stories. But, I did enjoy this TITANIC tale. I’ve been in the mood for some faux-Sherlock Holmes stories and binged on these two anthologies with mixed results.
These stories feature Sherlock Holmes, correct? So why do you call them “faux Sherlock Holmes stories”? I think the word you’re looking for is “pastiche”.
Rick, “faux” means “made in imitation.” Yes, these stories are pastiches (another French word). Some of these stories, like Ed Hoch’s TITANIC tale, have Sherlock Holmes narrating the action. Very faux, indeed.
Do you really think I don’t know the meaning of faux? All right, call them whatever the hell you want, I could care less.
Rick, I consider “faux” and “pastiche” to be synonymous terms.
I have had books on my shelf practically since my marriage. Too good to get rid of but not that seductive to read.
Patti, same here. But I’m bound and determined to “declutter” my book shelves in 2019 starting with these Sherlock Holmes pastiches!