Q&A with Laurie R. King discussion

After reading Doyle's canon a few times, I started to branch out and try out other author's takes on Holmes. I can say with certainty that yours is my favorite incarnation of Holmes. My question is, what other authors and/or titles do you like that are out there?

Ys, let me second this point. After getting hooked on Russell, I tried reading other published Holmes follow-ups as well as the originals. Never made it through any of them.

Russell, herself, is clearly the key. Kudos to you, Laurie, for creating her!

Yes, Ms. King is the first non-ACD author I've read for Holmes novels. As an aside, I have compiled a list of non-Doyle novels and collections into which I plan to delve once I finish Garment of Shadows. My list exceeds 500 works, so there is a lot of interest in so-called 'pastiches'.

However, based on what I've read, anyone asking me for a recommendation will be sent to begin with The Beekeeper's Apprentice.

I can't remember where, but LRK once said she had liked Michael Chabon's presentation of an aged Holmes in The Final Solution. I thought the aged Holmes there really seemed like the way ACD's (and LRK's) Holmes would be at an advanced age. I didn't like as much the aged Holmes in A Slight Trick Of The Mind.

Lyndsay Faye's "Dust and Shadows" is an awesome pastiche that has Holmes investigating the Whitechapel murders.

I recently finished Mitch Cullin's "A Slight Trick of The Mind" which I found to be a fascinating spin on an elderly Holmes and highly recommend. Caleb Carr wrote "The Italian Secretary" which I also enjoyed to a somewhat lesser extent. "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" stands far above those two for me.

I don't read many pastiches, since it's all I can do to keep track of the Conan Doyle stories and I am afraid of incorporating plot points and characters from non-Doylean works.

Although yes, I did enjoy Michael Chabon's novel. And for very different reasons, Michael Dibdin's dark Ripper tale, The Last Sherlock Holmes Story.

Mike wrote: "I recently finished Mitch Cullin's "A Slight Trick of The Mind" which I found to be a fascinating spin on an elderly Holmes and highly recommend. Caleb Carr wrote "The Italian Secretary" which I a..."

I liked Caleb Carr's work. It is so totally differnt from the focus of Ms. King's series.

And I did not know about some of the works mentioned in these posts. Thanks for the suggestions. I do really enjoy reading about Sherlock Holmes. And I like to read about Doyle's viewpoint on his character.

Sorry for the liking Caleb Carr. And then the next sentence. I am trying to write less as my notes are too long, but sometimes I condense to much.

I simply meant that Ms. King's work takes a totally different focus from all the other authors and it is especially enjoyable because of how she does that.