The Adventure of the Spanish Drums

by Martin Daley

"An interesting, yet brief, message," Holmes mumbled, tapping the letter with the stem of his pipe. "We shall take the eight-seventeen out of Euston and head for the city of Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland, tomorrow." The daring theft of the Arroyo Drums from the Border Regiment brings Sherlock Holmes and the loyal Dr. Watson to Carlisle on their latest adventure. Martin Daley has picked up Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's pen to communicate a case which has never before been brought to the notice of the public. A case that brings fact and fiction, including original photographs, together into a seamless new adventure for Sherlock Holmes set in Carlisle in October 1903.

Genres: Mystery

180 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2010

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche set in Carlisle 1903.

It is about the theft of the Arroyo drums which really exist. There is a coherent explanation why Sherlock picks up this case.
Within the story you visit Watson's past. The prose is well done and there is no difference in the characterisation of the heores compared to the original stories.
Furthermore I liked the discussions between Holmes and Watson about their future.

In Carlisle Homes and Watson meet Inspector Cornelius Armstrong, a character created by the author and described in detail in two books starring Armstrong.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Martin Daley is one of my favourite authors I had expected to start my review saying how much I enjoyed this book. It was however quite average. While the story itself was an okay read it wasn't anything special. Even Sherlock Holmes admitted that his detective skill were slowing and that it was time for him to retire. The descriptions and illustrations of Carlisle thoughout was a welcome relief to a rather slow storyline