the Last Moriarty: a Sherlock Holmes Thriller

This non-canon book takes place AFTER "The Empty House" return of Holmes, but before the general public is aware of his return. So, that's an interesting take but nothing really comes of it.

There's some mixing of fictional characters (the remnants of the Moriarty gang) with real life historical figures (the Rockefellers, JP Morgan, etc.) which is sort of fun.
I really feel like this is a great start, but it just never arrives to any place truly intriguing. There's not really a mystery here... we know who the bad guys are, we pretty much know where and when they're going to strike and then it's just a matter of stopping them... pretty standard stuff. Still, a Kindle deal at $3.99.
A nice try by Charles Veley.

Sherlock (BBC) Series 3

We waited and waited and finally, Series 3 of the excellent BBC show, “Sherlock” arrived (I’m using the term “series” in the BBC sense. Here in the states we usually use “season.”) Was it worth it? I would have to say that it was not. I am a huge fan of the entire show, with it’s excellent and sly references to the canon (in fact, the first episode back was “The Empty Hearse”, a very well done play on the literary return from the death of Sherlock Holmes, “The Empty House.”)

The three episodes of this Series (“The Empty Hearse”, “The Sign of the Three”, “His Last Vow”) were like a poorly designed cake… 90% frosting and 10% cake. “You know my method. It is based on the observation of trifles.” The unique component of this modern take of the Great Detective has been the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. We relish the brief moments of human emotion assigned to Sherlock and even when there’s a scene between brothers (Mycroft) there is a heretofore element of drama and personality. In the first two Series, we were treated to these glimpses into a more fully realized human Sherlock Holmes. BUT, in the long run, what has made Sherlock Holmes a giant in literary history is the actual act of deduction and combating of crime/evil. This delicate balance, as so expertly designed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is important to his longevity.

In this third Series, we are treated to the imbalance. We delve deeply into the relationship and emotions between Sherlock and John, Sherlock and Mary, Mary and John, Sherlock and Mycroft, and so on. And then there’s some crime solving. In fact, in the second episode (“The Sign of the Three) it is almost 40 minutes until there’s actual deduction or a mystery. It’s too much frosting. You might enjoy frosting on a cake, but it’s just a addition to the cake not the cake itself. (this metaphor is terrible. I think my personal prejudice against cupcakes is showing.)

Anyway, in summation, I was a bit disappointed in this Series. While I enjoyed the last episode the most, it had to overcome the dismal first two. It does seem like the entire team is dedicated to turning out more shows in quick succession so I have high hopes for more quality Sherlock in the future.

In the meantime, please enjoy this wonderful musical homage to the Sherlock series:

House of Silk & A Slight Trick of the Mind

The House of Silk was written by Anthony Horowitz. It's almost a Sherlock Holmes story by way of Law & Order: SVU. The crimes described within are instantly recognizable to us, a modern audience, but not to the Edwardian characters who are trying to solve them.

Perhaps it's a credit to the author to remain true to the time period but it does end up leaving the reader ahead of the Great Detective and we end up reading and waiting for Holmes to catch up... which is no fun.
Well-written but ultimately pedestrian and sadly, a bit boring.














A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullen. This novel takes place several years into Holmes' retirement. 93 and unable to walk without the assistance of a cane, Sherlock writes in his journals, tends his apiary and deals with his (new) housekeeper and her son. As his physical and mental strength begin to flag he remembers a journey to Japan he took and the narrative switches back and forth.

This is an exceptional book, but not really Sherlock Holmes story... it's a story of aging and coming to terms with one's mortality, but there is little of the qualities we look for within a Holmes story-- no deduction, no Watson, no England, no turn of the century, etc. If you start reading with this in mind, you might have a better experience than I.

By the way, this book is being turned into a movie starring Ian McKellan. While, that may be fun, I hope the film is more... let's say lively, than the book.

Sherlock (2010)- BBC

Finally!

Sherlock, a 2010 series created for the BBC is now being shown in America on PBS (under the Mystery! label) and it's been well worth the wait. After only seeing the very first episode ("A Study in Pink"), I feel I can safely say that this is the best "reimagining" of the Holmes canon ever. Under the loving guidance of Steven Moffat (who revamped, reimagined and revitalized Dr. Who) this brings Holmes into the 21st century with the appropiate updating of social mores and technology. Benedict Cumberbatch is Sherlock and Martin Freeman (from the Office-BBC!) is Dr. Watson.

The first episode repurposes the "origin story" with some nice twists and turns. Technology takes a role in the story as well but never diminishes the role of the Great Detective. There is inventive use of texting and GPS (so simply and eloquently utlized one wonders why no one has do it in this manner before.) Some pastiches, quotes and motivations from other stories make their way into this modernization, but it never feels hamhanded or forced. Lestrade is more confident and competent though other doubters are brought to cast asperisations on Holmes' sanity.

I was able to guess (I know, it's destructive to the logical faculty) the character twist at the end of the episode fairly early on, but otherwise I was immensely impressed by this show and I cannot reccommend it enough.

A nice, smart exchange that could have been in the canon as well:

WATSON: That was the most ridiculous thing I've ever done.

HOLMES: And you invaded Afghanistan.

This series is playing now on PBS, but the DVD set is available for purchase.

Slightly Off-topic

I don't play Sherlock Holmes games. Especially video-games. Those tend to be fancy picture-searches and I hate those. This clip from YouTube helps support my disdain even though it is hilarious:

Sherlock Holmes (2009, from Asylum Prod.)

I should have waited a few months and it would be full year since I updated.

Let's take a look. I still haven't seen the Sherlock Holmes from 2009 starring Robert Downey Jr. BUT, I have seen the other Sherlock Holmes movie that was released in 2009. It was a straight-to-video release from Asylum Productions, creators of such fine fare as Transmorphers and The Terminators. They go a little crazy by having Holmes fight some dinosaurs (which is weird since England is about 4o degrees colder than dinosaurs would be able to survive... I think they would probably get cold, sleepy and then fall over dead. Anyway...)

Sadly, even though they upped the ante by adding various thunder lizards they also thought it would be prudent to use the Guy Ritchie model* and made Holmes a young, dashing, cad more than the brilliant gentleman of canon. It's frustrating. Just like the big-budget version, this does little more than lip-service to the Great Detective and just trades on the name. The trailer is fun however.

Murder by Decree

This 1979 movie has a great pedigree. I was especially excited while watching it as I seemed to remember various scenes from my childhood. This film must one of those on a tight turn-around on Saturday afternoons and late night network fillers. And there's a great reason for that.... it's great!

Murder by Decree has Christopher Plummer, James Mason and Donald Sutherland! It features Sherlock Holmes pitted against Jack the Ripper (again!) I will strive to not spoil anything in case you haven't seen it yet, but I think the very title reveals almost too much! I mean, who gets to make "decrees"?!

Plummer does a fun turn as Holmes. Not very stuffy and much more a man of action without betraying the character of the Great Detective. Much more of note is James Mason. He does a fantastic job as Watson and only took the part if he could rewrite or add a few scenes that give the good doctor dignity and intelligence; here is a man worthy of being the partner of the Worlds Greatest Detective. There is an absolutely delightful and telling scene with just Holmes, Watson and the case of the last pea:

The basic premise/conceit of the movie is the same as From Hell so it might seem a mite familiar. The ending could never be done today. Not the plot, but pretty much Holmes has a meeting with three officials and debates with them for about 10 minutes. And then the credits. Weird, but satisfying to me. I liked this movie very much. It is available on Netflix.

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula

The full title is "Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula: The Adventure of the Sanguinary Court." The book is well written, fully aping both Doyle's and Stoker's mannerisms and atmosphere. Some of the scenes are quite effective, but ultimately this book fails to live up to the title! Here, Sherlock Holmes, the world's greatest detective is relegated to third banana.. he is seemingly always playing catch-up to Harker, the protagonist from the Dracula novel.

Estleman is so reverent to the Dracula novel that Holmes is irrelevant and inconsequential to the story. It's similar to the trend in publishing today; just dropping in bits of horror into literary classics like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies..) The reader, along with Holmes, must make a giant leap over the supernatural hurdle ("The world is big enough for us. No ghosts need apply.") and the book doesn't make the jump or make it worthwhile.

The Return of Moriarty

John Gardner has written a trilogy dealing with Professor Moriarty (The Return of..., The Revenge of..., and simply, Moriarty (which came out this year.))

While I do enjoy his attention to details and reading about the details of the Napoleon of Crime and his empire, all three rely on one simple thing; Sherlock Holmes' forbearance.

Set almost immediately after The Adventure of the Empty House, "The Return of Moriarty" states that the Professor and the Great Detective had entered into "an understanding" where they will not engage each other. That doesn't sit well with me. From the canon we understand that Holmes would perish gladly if he could be sure that Moriarty was destroyed, but a few years later he's okay with a criminal empire being run in England? I might understand if the agreement kept Moriarty out of Great Britain, but not for this seeming acceptance by Holmes of Moriarty's evil.

Sherlock Holmes' passion for justice, and not the law, was always a major part of the character to me and this condonation seems anathema.

So, sadly, I have to give all three books a thumbs down. I didn't like them. (though I did read all three and what does that say about me?)

7% Solution

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by Nicholas Meyer.

It’s a fun, quick read and probably the first “major” Sherlock Holmes historical team-up. It was made into a rather successful movie starring Nicol Williamson and Robert Duvall as Holmes and Watson, respectively. The book has Watson discovering that Holmes is in severe addiction throes and decides to trick his friend into seeing a new specialist in Vienna. With Dr. Freud’s help, Sherlock remembers and confronts a secret from his past and then they solve a crime.

It’s one of the better non-canon reads and deserves the reputation it has. It is interesting to note that Nicholas Meyer wrote this book when he was only 28. He would later direct another historical fiction, the movie Time After Time, where H.G. Welles chases Jack the Ripper into the 20^th century.

The book was quite popular so you should be able to find it used for very cheap and then movie is on Netflix and pops up on cable once in a while.

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

This is simply a boring and tedious attempt to flesh out the Baker Street Irregulars. The characters are all stereotypes with the mystery being painfully obvious. The use of Irene Adler will be inconsequential to non-Holmes fans, and annoying to Sherlockians. Poor use of a canonical character.

Jonathan Pryce does his best with a weak script, but I would love to see him try again with a stronger project.

Sherlock Holmes & the Case of the Silk Stocking

Awful. What a great opportunity wasted. The only reason that I did not give this disc 1 star is that I thought the performances were well done. The creators of this show clearly have not read the Holmes canon and just have mapped a "regular" mystery onto a Holmes story. The concept of Mrs. Watson being brought into the "team" of Holmes of Watson is an admirable one, but not with the character being such a rebel... that would have been abhorrent to Watson (Holmes would have loved it, though.) The mystery and the MO (of both the detectives and criminals) are lame. Taken straight from a regular network show instead of utilizing the time period for something interesting. A wonderful opportunity to attempt something post-Brett simply squandered by poor writing, directing and producing. If producers want to use an old or rejected CSI script, please don't drag Mr. Holmes into it.

The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

It's not really a Holmes story but I would consider it part of the Holmesian genre... This very well-made, very fun BBC mini-series has a young Arthur Conan Doyle teaming up with his mentor Dr. Joseph Bell (whose methods of observation and deduction for patient analysis were the basis for Sherlock Holmes) to solve various murders.

The acting and writing are quite strong, though most of the installments could be a bit shorter (most run 90 minutes, but could be 60 with ease.) There's a little bit of the Shakespeare in Love effect... where something happens and you think, "Ah, there's where THAT came from..." It's done with a light touch and it's not the point of the stories. If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I recommend this series.

Par Excellance

I might be a little spoiled. Even as a little kid I was a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I had read Hound of the Baskervilles and then in my sister's Big Book of Horse Stories, Silver Blaze. I sought out and found the complete works and re-read the canon every year. To me, the Granada series (for the BBC, I believe) starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes is simply the best. I cannot imagine a more faithful yet original adaptation of the canon. Brett is stunning. Already an accomplished performer, he looked and sounded the part as if he was born to it. He's the bar for all performers faithful to the books. I could go on and on, but I just recommend watching those works... they adapted the entire canon.

The Last Sherlock Holmes Story

I really had high expectations for this book. It's quite well written, capturing the feel and essence of Doyle's universe and merges it with the real-life events of the Jack the Ripper homicides. How Holmes is sucked into the case and how he tackles it is very well done.

Now, comes the crapfest. HERE BE SPOILERS!!

Thou hast been warned.

Watson, as is wont a sidekick, ignores orders and follows Holmes during a footchase in Whitechapel. He discovers that Sherlock Holmes is Jack the Ripper. Which is fine... I mean, I don't like it- I think it sucks, but if that's the conceit of the book so be it. BUT, then Watson proceeds to ignore the revelation for months! Never confronting, never exploring further... until much later, when the pair travel to Reichenbach Falls to confront Moriarty (who Holmes ALSO ends up being) and then Watson is forced to kill him. Ugh. The Holmes as villain is a big enough stomach-turner and then Watson virtually condoning his actions by inaction is just awful.

This is a bad book.

Sherlock: A Case of Evil

Just watched Sherlock: A Case of Evil. Terrible.

It came out in 2002 and the only feature of note is that Vincent D'Onofrio plays Professor Moriarty. D'onofrio, of course, plays Detective Goren on Law & Order: Criminal Intent who is based on Sherlock Holmes.

This movie suffers from the worst kind of adaptation; taking the names and some traits but betraying the heart and soul of the source material. James D'arcy is terrible as Sherlock Holmes.

This Made-for-TV movie is available on Netflix and features a 20-something year old Holmes who kills Moriarty in the first 10 minutes. Since the police have been searching for the Professor for sometime this makes Sherlock a celebrity (newspaper headline: Sherlock Holmes Kills Professor Moriarty) and his fledgling detective agency gets a boost.

Ugh. Anyway, this movie is terrible.