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Not the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Two homeless men insist on being called Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, much to the exasperation of their overworked social worker. No matter what anyone says, Mr. Holmes claims that he was born in 1854. Is he just a monomaniac or could he really be Sherlock Holmes? After following Mr. Holmes on five misadventures, you decide.
This eBook continues in the grand tradition of Sherlock Holmes stories where fact and fiction blur.
This eBook continues in the grand tradition of Sherlock Holmes stories where fact and fiction blur.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2014
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Rena Sherwood
2 books48 followersBorn in America and received two worthless college degrees. Ran away to England in 2000. Was homeless in England for five years. Arrived back in America in 2005, she became a freelance writer in 2006. She stopped in 2022.
Not the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (2014) is her first and probably last eBook. She has also contributed to A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers (2008), The Best of Every Day Fiction (2008) and Polluto 6: Identity Theft & the Octopus Kid (2011).
Rena is a domestic abuse survivor and also suffers from migraines, gambling addiction, and endogenous recurring depression. She spends most of her time taking care of her pets and her crippled mother. She is also a horseless horse lover, which is why she collects so many horse books and Breyer model horses.
Rena is an avid reader but an honest book reviewer. She tends to report on how a book impacted her personally.
Please do not contact Rena if you hate animals, including pit bulls. If you don't like her reviews, just block her.
The photo is when she was about 30 years old. She looks a lot different now.
Not the New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (2014) is her first and probably last eBook. She has also contributed to A Cup of Comfort for Horse Lovers (2008), The Best of Every Day Fiction (2008) and Polluto 6: Identity Theft & the Octopus Kid (2011).
Rena is a domestic abuse survivor and also suffers from migraines, gambling addiction, and endogenous recurring depression. She spends most of her time taking care of her pets and her crippled mother. She is also a horseless horse lover, which is why she collects so many horse books and Breyer model horses.
Rena is an avid reader but an honest book reviewer. She tends to report on how a book impacted her personally.
Please do not contact Rena if you hate animals, including pit bulls. If you don't like her reviews, just block her.
The photo is when she was about 30 years old. She looks a lot different now.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 21, 2015
I'm going to admit from the start that I'm not exactly a Sherlock Holmes fan--the closest I come to it is a deep and abiding love for Disney's The Great Mouse Detective (if you don't at least like that movie, may I just point out that Vincent Price? Yes, I thought that might change your mind). I've never read any of the original stories except The Hound of the Baskervilles (a very, very long time ago), I haven't watched the various adaptations (unless you count a glorious Wishbone episode), nor read any other derivative works on the subject, so I'm not entirely sure what Sherlock Holmes (the stories or the character) is 'supposed' to be. I have absorbed a bit through cultural osmosis--cocaine use, violin playing, little to no tact or sensitivity, excellent deductive reasoning that borders on psychic powers. That said, I don't consider myself a good judge of measuring this against the original Sherlock Holmes stories. I leave that to the experts.
Therefore, I must judge this collection of tales on its own merits, as a more 'mainstream' audience member. I found it delightful! The mysteries were all intriguing, keeping me hooked as I pressed on, eager to unravel each one. There's humor, in Holmes's dry manner and unexpected naivety, and 'Watson's' good-natured attempts to keep him safe and on a fairly even keel (and his real name is a hoot), and sometimes in the resolutions (although these are just as often dark). There is also a good chunk of drama, but you're not bashed over the head with it--Holmes's past is more hinted at than verbalized, and while the other characters' are generally explored more, it's still done with enough delicacy that I didn't feel preached at, nor did I feel crushed by the weight of their troubles. Life sucks sometimes, and that's that. It's very matter-of-fact, and it works. At the same time, the characters don't turn this into a defeatist attitude--they still do everything they can to help, because just because life sucks sometimes doesn't mean you shouldn't try to make it better and keep fighting the good fight. Better yet, it's all very real--these are real problems that real people can and do face, just not with that Holmes flair.
I found the plots interesting, I found the characters interesting, and the writing found exactly the perfect notes at the appropriate moments. There were a few typos (a misplaced letter here and there, a 'lead' instead of 'led' now and then), but they're negligible and easily overlooked. It doesn't detract from the enjoyment. I'd highly recommend this to just about anyone over the age of fourteen or so, as it's a romp with some weight. I don't know why more people haven't read it, but they should.
Therefore, I must judge this collection of tales on its own merits, as a more 'mainstream' audience member. I found it delightful! The mysteries were all intriguing, keeping me hooked as I pressed on, eager to unravel each one. There's humor, in Holmes's dry manner and unexpected naivety, and 'Watson's' good-natured attempts to keep him safe and on a fairly even keel (and his real name is a hoot), and sometimes in the resolutions (although these are just as often dark). There is also a good chunk of drama, but you're not bashed over the head with it--Holmes's past is more hinted at than verbalized, and while the other characters' are generally explored more, it's still done with enough delicacy that I didn't feel preached at, nor did I feel crushed by the weight of their troubles. Life sucks sometimes, and that's that. It's very matter-of-fact, and it works. At the same time, the characters don't turn this into a defeatist attitude--they still do everything they can to help, because just because life sucks sometimes doesn't mean you shouldn't try to make it better and keep fighting the good fight. Better yet, it's all very real--these are real problems that real people can and do face, just not with that Holmes flair.
I found the plots interesting, I found the characters interesting, and the writing found exactly the perfect notes at the appropriate moments. There were a few typos (a misplaced letter here and there, a 'lead' instead of 'led' now and then), but they're negligible and easily overlooked. It doesn't detract from the enjoyment. I'd highly recommend this to just about anyone over the age of fourteen or so, as it's a romp with some weight. I don't know why more people haven't read it, but they should.
April 2, 2015
I enjoyed this book a good deal.
I read the entire collection of original Holmes stories a few years ago, so I feel at least somewhat qualified to register my opinion on modern-day Holmes adaptations. The clever premise here is that Holmes (is he the *real* Holmes?) and Watson are homeless men on the modern-day streets of Pennsylvania somewhere outside of Philadelphia. Our main character is the social worker tasked with bringing some semblance of order to these men's lives - and failing utterly as she instead gets sucked into the whirlwind of Holmes' outsized personality and chaotic crime-solving endeavors.
Overall Rena Sherwood did a great job capturing the character of Holmes. Sherwood's Holmes is an entirely believable, enigmatic, charismatic, and utterly frustrating train-wreck of a person, as in the stories (perhaps even more than in the stories). Think Benedict Cumberbatch but older, edgier, and much more mysterious.
The mystery stories are engaging, and in the grand tradition of Holmes mysteries, usually turn out to be utterly incomprehensible by the end, filled with somewhat unlikely motives for the bad guys, and somewhat questionable logic. This did not bother me, because we all know what we signed up for. Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
But this book is far more than the Holmes mysteries. The truly fascinating aspect of the book is Sherwood's use of the premise of homelessness for Holmes and Watson. Before you pick up the book, read a few lines of her bio and/or her blog, and you'll see she has deeply personal experiences with both mental illness and homelessness. The main character is a stand-in for the author (It's not a stretch to say this - the MC's last name is also Sherwood), and the book goes deep into her backstory as well, detailing her own struggles and bringing an obvious and very affecting realism to the tale that can't help but suck you in.
Because of these elements, the book is very dark in tone. There is plenty of humor, but it's often black humor, and it's often at the main character's expense. She's described as an unattractive older woman with a hopeless crush on Holmes, which can be depressing at times, as you just really feel for the character. Note that the story gets very crude at times, so if scatological humor or bodily functions turn you off, you will have some trouble with this book. The style of humor echoes the tone of Rena Sherwood's blog posts, so take a look at her blog if you're not sure whether it's for you.
If you can handle the elements above, get the book. It was a fast read, and I had trouble putting it down. Sherwood is a talented writer and this book does entertain. Especially if you're a Holmes fan, get it - she goes deep into the character and really brings him to life.
This book has been self-published and I noticed one or two typos at the beginning - not a big deal. Don't let them put you off, keep at it.
I read the entire collection of original Holmes stories a few years ago, so I feel at least somewhat qualified to register my opinion on modern-day Holmes adaptations. The clever premise here is that Holmes (is he the *real* Holmes?) and Watson are homeless men on the modern-day streets of Pennsylvania somewhere outside of Philadelphia. Our main character is the social worker tasked with bringing some semblance of order to these men's lives - and failing utterly as she instead gets sucked into the whirlwind of Holmes' outsized personality and chaotic crime-solving endeavors.
Overall Rena Sherwood did a great job capturing the character of Holmes. Sherwood's Holmes is an entirely believable, enigmatic, charismatic, and utterly frustrating train-wreck of a person, as in the stories (perhaps even more than in the stories). Think Benedict Cumberbatch but older, edgier, and much more mysterious.
The mystery stories are engaging, and in the grand tradition of Holmes mysteries, usually turn out to be utterly incomprehensible by the end, filled with somewhat unlikely motives for the bad guys, and somewhat questionable logic. This did not bother me, because we all know what we signed up for. Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
But this book is far more than the Holmes mysteries. The truly fascinating aspect of the book is Sherwood's use of the premise of homelessness for Holmes and Watson. Before you pick up the book, read a few lines of her bio and/or her blog, and you'll see she has deeply personal experiences with both mental illness and homelessness. The main character is a stand-in for the author (It's not a stretch to say this - the MC's last name is also Sherwood), and the book goes deep into her backstory as well, detailing her own struggles and bringing an obvious and very affecting realism to the tale that can't help but suck you in.
Because of these elements, the book is very dark in tone. There is plenty of humor, but it's often black humor, and it's often at the main character's expense. She's described as an unattractive older woman with a hopeless crush on Holmes, which can be depressing at times, as you just really feel for the character. Note that the story gets very crude at times, so if scatological humor or bodily functions turn you off, you will have some trouble with this book. The style of humor echoes the tone of Rena Sherwood's blog posts, so take a look at her blog if you're not sure whether it's for you.
If you can handle the elements above, get the book. It was a fast read, and I had trouble putting it down. Sherwood is a talented writer and this book does entertain. Especially if you're a Holmes fan, get it - she goes deep into the character and really brings him to life.
This book has been self-published and I noticed one or two typos at the beginning - not a big deal. Don't let them put you off, keep at it.
June 19, 2015
I thought the premise of a homeless man claiming to be Sherlock Holmes would not be strong enough to hold the narrative together. Or at least could not go the distance.
But after turning the early pages anticipating a collapse of the pretext. The belief that this guy against all logic is Sherlock Holmes, became thoroughly convincing. No reader would doubt it. And it’s entirely due to the splendid writing of Rena Sherwood that focuses and engages the reader throughout. Interweaving her own personal story among the fast paced story lines involving Holmes and Watson.
I have only one complaint, the author insists via the title this is not the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Well it certainly reads like it is.
Clever, thought provoking and entertaining.
But after turning the early pages anticipating a collapse of the pretext. The belief that this guy against all logic is Sherlock Holmes, became thoroughly convincing. No reader would doubt it. And it’s entirely due to the splendid writing of Rena Sherwood that focuses and engages the reader throughout. Interweaving her own personal story among the fast paced story lines involving Holmes and Watson.
I have only one complaint, the author insists via the title this is not the new adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Well it certainly reads like it is.
Clever, thought provoking and entertaining.
February 16, 2018
This is a brilliant modern take on Sherlock Holmes. When reading this I kept wondering if Mr.Holmes would be committed to an insane asylum or not. This is such an entertaining read and I love to read this over and over again. Brilliantly written.
August 29, 2015
I enjoyed reading this clever and witty novel. It is told in the first person: "Ah, the glamorous life of a failed social worker" who, as the first person narrator, describes herself as "a dumpy, greying, glasses-wearing social worker with breasts nearly to my belly button" who falls for one of her clients. This was, of course, the man who was convinced he was Sherlock Holmes, who appeared to the narrator as "hot in an eccentric-college-librarian-turned-part-time-international-spy-who-never-loaded-his-gun" manner.
There are in fact five short stories in this novel but the three main characters appear in all of them and give the whole book a coherence that is reinforced by the author's inventive and authentic voice. "How do you expect me to eat when I can hear my fingernails growing?" she has Holmes ask at one point. "This has got to be the cocaine talking," says the narrator at another, to which Holmes replies, "embrace the madness and you expect the madness to embrace you in return."
The sly and astute comments are lightly dispensed: Watson appears with a face like that of "a Labrador retriever looking at his beloved master." The narrator exclaims in exasperation once to Holmes, "even you have needed not to be needed every now and then." Soberly, Holmes reflects that "to take another life, even when the victim wants to die, is a crushing responsibility."
Despite all this, I felt the novel in need of further polish. There were small nits, possibly typos, possibly items that spell-checkers miss. But they mar this otherwise good read.
I was given a free copy of this work in return for an honest review.
There are in fact five short stories in this novel but the three main characters appear in all of them and give the whole book a coherence that is reinforced by the author's inventive and authentic voice. "How do you expect me to eat when I can hear my fingernails growing?" she has Holmes ask at one point. "This has got to be the cocaine talking," says the narrator at another, to which Holmes replies, "embrace the madness and you expect the madness to embrace you in return."
The sly and astute comments are lightly dispensed: Watson appears with a face like that of "a Labrador retriever looking at his beloved master." The narrator exclaims in exasperation once to Holmes, "even you have needed not to be needed every now and then." Soberly, Holmes reflects that "to take another life, even when the victim wants to die, is a crushing responsibility."
Despite all this, I felt the novel in need of further polish. There were small nits, possibly typos, possibly items that spell-checkers miss. But they mar this otherwise good read.
I was given a free copy of this work in return for an honest review.
June 5, 2015
I was given this novel by the author in return for an honest review.
This is a send-up of a Marx Brothers film with ersatz Holmes and Watson playing the roles of Groucho and Chico and the setting is a day care for the impoverished and those needing a few assurances to get through the day. Wacky is the word as a hapless social worker is led by the nose through one bizarre episode after another. And the episodes have a life of their own like a sitcom piling up residuals for many years. The inventiveness just does not stop. The Englishman who thinks he’s Holmes actually does a pretty decent job of recreating (the original) Holmes. His canniness about almost any subject is uncanny and Watson is forever understanding. And patient in a filial way.
Holmes’ lovers will go crazy (perhaps literally) with this literary pastiche removed from the old 221b Baker Street address and flown across the pond and plunked down in Philadelphia.
I was a little put off by the title which--while precisely informative--seemed infelicitous but then the madcap started and it all was fun and….well, mad.
This is a send-up of a Marx Brothers film with ersatz Holmes and Watson playing the roles of Groucho and Chico and the setting is a day care for the impoverished and those needing a few assurances to get through the day. Wacky is the word as a hapless social worker is led by the nose through one bizarre episode after another. And the episodes have a life of their own like a sitcom piling up residuals for many years. The inventiveness just does not stop. The Englishman who thinks he’s Holmes actually does a pretty decent job of recreating (the original) Holmes. His canniness about almost any subject is uncanny and Watson is forever understanding. And patient in a filial way.
Holmes’ lovers will go crazy (perhaps literally) with this literary pastiche removed from the old 221b Baker Street address and flown across the pond and plunked down in Philadelphia.
I was a little put off by the title which--while precisely informative--seemed infelicitous but then the madcap started and it all was fun and….well, mad.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews