My apologies for not posting earlier yesterday -- medical appointments interfered, and I'll share more about that in a later post. But I have been enjoying reading a series of Sherlock Holmes pastiches, and this latest really absorbed my interest:
Bones are at
the crux of Marcia's main novella in this story collection. The title comes from a 17th-century
English proverb: “You buy land, you buy
stones; you buy meat, you buy bones.” Throughout, the stories give us
Scotland Yard’s view of Holmes as being brilliant, but a bit crazy, while Dr.
Watson wins the Yard’s sympathy and growing respect. Watson, in fact, is the
hero of the title novella:
Watson has come
across disturbing information at a medical convention—the skeleton of a young
female exhibited by someone he knew in the past. Watson suspects the skeleton is
that of someone related to Inspector Lestrade’s sidekick, Bradstreet. Since the
suspect is in the medical profession and a fellow Scotsman, Watson feels personal
responsibility to track him down. Because it may be a difficult case to prosecute,
he leaves Holmes out of it to avoid jeopardizing the consulting detective’s
career.
As the case
progresses, body thieves, grave robbers, and ancient folklore about selkies
(seal people) come into play, along with genetic traits inherited in certain North
Sea cultures. To say more than that would involve spoilers.
What I
particularly enjoyed in this collection of stories was the new take on Watson
and Holmes, as well as the interplay between Lestrade and Gregson. The latter
two show up in the cannon as inspectors working with Sherlock Holmes, but here
we see their personal rivalry and individual personalities, with Lestrade the
more complex and sympathetic lawman who shares Watson’s temperament and
approach to things.
Watson himself
becomes more three dimensional than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s returning war soldier.
The cannon wavers between whether Watson’s leg or shoulder has been wounded.
Given realities of modern warfare (of the 20th century), Wilson
shows Watson suffering from recurring pain in both his leg and shoulder, as well as giving him a certain cynicism,
despite his sturdiness of character. Watson becomes a modest hero one can root
for without ever detracting from the brilliance of his roommate at 221b Baker
Street. Additionally, Wilson gives a reader the texture of London’s backstreets,
as well as that of late 19th century Edinburgh.
This fine story
collection is a good addition for any collector of Sherlock Holmes fiction and
a good find for anyone who enjoys a complex mystery.
You can buy this book at:
and all good bookstores and e-bookstores worldwide
Do you have a favorite Holmes and Watson mystery to share here? Or even any mystery? I'm always on the lookout for recommendations.
