Historical Mystery Lovers discussion

I'd like to know your favorite Sherlock Holmes contemporary author. I really enjoyed the 2 books by Bonnie MacBird.

Laurie R. King's books about Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes are very good. The first is The Beekeeper's Apprentice.

I second the Mary Russell series. I find Holmes believable though King needs to make him quite young in the original books. Humorous tidbits about his being thought fictional.

I’ve only read the second of two books so far, Mycroft and Sherlock by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar but really liked it. We see a young Sherlock, still at school, beginning to develop his interest in sleuthing. A third book comes out in September.

Phair wrote: "I’ve only read the second of two books so far, Mycroft and Sherlock by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar but really liked it. We see a young Sherlock, still at school, beginning to..."

I am currently reading this and enjoying the teenage Sherlock, a contrast to the elder version in the Mary Russell series.

I'm an admirer of a short book by Michael Chabon, The Final Solution. The protagonist is never named but he is a very elderly Holmes. Sentences like strings of jewels.

Abigail wrote: "I'm an admirer of a short book by Michael Chabon, The Final Solution. The protagonist is never named but he is a very elderly Holmes. Sentences like strings of jewels."

That sounds great and by an author I've meant to read for avery long time. Thanks.

I like his shorter books best, this one and Gentlemen of the Road, which is a medieval buddy adventure story.

There is an interesting YA series by Brittany Cavallaro about present-day descendants of Holmes and Watson. The first is A Study in Charlotte.

All the above, AND don't forget Lyndsay Faye's brilliant The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes. Just brilliant, really captures the tone of Conan Doyle, some stories fitting neatly in the gaps of the Canon. A delight.

Edited to add: I forgot her earlier Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson, the absolute best take on the Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper oevre.

I have now read The Final Solution and loved it. Excellent portrayal of an elderly Homes.

I´ve got The Beekeeper's Apprentice at home, and would like to start it sometime in summer.

Definitely the Mary Russell books. (That said, I have friends who are devoted fans of Sherlock Holmes who *hate* these books.)

Older (1970s) but still fun is The Seven-Percent Solution.

What about Val Andrews' series?

MX Publishing has been putting out a series of anthologies of Sherlock Holmes short fiction written by contemporary authors. (Full disclosure, I'm one of them.)

The "assignments" are given by the publisher and editor. Volume XII had to be set in Victorian England between 1984-1902 and based on one of the "other cases." Mine was "Another Case of Identity" based on the reference to the Abergavenny murders and the Ferrers documents. I just sent in another story for one of their upcoming volumes - the "rules" here had to be that the story had to appear to have some supernatural cause, but turn out to have a real-world explanation.

It's great fun, and some proceeds go to support a school for special needs children that's housed in a former residence of Conan Doyle.

J. wrote: "MX Publishing has been putting out a series of anthologies of Sherlock Holmes short fiction written by contemporary authors. (Full disclosure, I'm one of them.)

The "assignments" are given by the ..."

Sounds like a great combination of fun reads and good works.

The next MX Publishing anthologies of new Sherlock Holmes stories are being released over the next few months. They are attracting some good reviews from prominent sites like PW.
Most of the stories have to be written in a certain time frame, or abide by certain rules - for my next story (which will be in Book XVI) the case had to present as supernatural, but have a real-world solution. My tale is "The Return of the Noble Bachelor", bringing back a character from a Conan Doyle tale.
They're already planning their spring series.

My maiden post here.
Group members may like to know that my debut novel, "Sherlock Holmes and the Ciphered List", by Simon Trelawney, has recently been published, by Breese Books, an imprint of Baker Street Studios. It was published on 6th June, 2022 and is available in paperback at £10.99 from the publishers at www.breesebooks.com or from Amazon. It is a rollicking spy adventure story involving Holmes & Watson's attempts to expose a German espionage ring operating in England, and involves the duo in murder, blackmail and much, much else.

On another site I put up a list of authors who write new Sherlock Holmes tales, and do a very good job of nailing the Conan Doyle style, which for me is most important. I mean there are some weak stories in the canon - the Five Orange Pips for example - so tho I expect a good story, if you are just sticking Holmes into any old thing, it doesn't ring true.
Some of the best authors of new Holmes fiction IMHO are Hugh Ashton, David Stuart Davies, Arthur Hall, Timothy Miller, David Marcum, Tracy Revels, Jane Rubino, Geri Schear Denis O. Smith.

I'm not familiar with Sherlock stories but I just read Elementary, She Read and the heroine's shop sells some contemporary Sherlock mysteries and gaslight mysteries.

She mentioned
Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse
The Beekeeper's Apprentice
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Holmes for the Holidays