This second volume of Caiden Cooper Myles’s The Further Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a real pleasure to read. Written very much in the style of the canon, supposedly by a rather bemused Dr Watson, our unstoppable hero has eight new mysteries to solve.

They are helpfully dated from 1896-1898, so we are in the period after the Great Hiatus, when Holmes was thought to be dead, after plunging with the villainous Moriarty into the Reichenbach Falls. With that adversary out of the way – for we can safely assume that, unlike Holmes, the Professor met his end on that occasion – it might well be expected that another will rise in his place. And indeed, in the final story of the collection, The Adventure of the Six Constables, it appears that a new antagonist has indeed arrived. I expect to hear more of this so far nameless and faceless villain in Volume III.  

Each story here is distinguished by an ingenious and intriguing plot, whether featuring kidnapped reporters, missing monogrammed napkins, a creepy sect, or a beautiful medium. One of my favourite yarns here is The Adventure of the Yellow Boxes, in which several women receive the said big bright yellow boxes containing gifts from a mysterious secret admirer.

I challenge any reader to figure out the connection between this and a series of jewellery shop robberies. But Holmes does, most satisfactorily.

Mr Cooper Myles’s Watson is a fine foil for Holmes. By no means foolish, and certainly brave, he is often frustrated by the detective’s propensity for playing his cards close to his chest, and revealing nothing until absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, Watson enjoys fine dining, a good brandy, and a pretty face, although it must be said that he is frequently intimidated by certain severe and formidable matrons.   

A final plus for me: the book is beautifully presented, with lovely illustrations by Marie-Charlotte Feret.

Available from MX publishing or Amazon or similar on-line retailers.