What do you think?
Rate this book
The Outstanding Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes
This compilation, comprising a Baker's (street) Dozen of his adventures, re-creates the gas-lit, fog-enshrouded world of Victorian London as once more Sherlock Holmes urges, Come, Watson, the game is afoot!
324 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
8 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Gerard Kelly
15 booksGerard Kelly is a retired Draughtsman with a passion for writing. In addition to his Sherlock Holmes stories he has written three novels, Tempus, Stasis and Rites of Passage. He has also written a factual book called The Great Debate (Evolution or Creationism?). Mr Kelly is married with a daughter and three grandsons and lives with his wife Marlene in Cheshire.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 27, 2020
Really good one
March 12, 2015
Gerard Kelly is a former draughtsman and his illustrations for this book are like his stories - meticulously detailed, well through out and researched and just a bit stiff and workmanlike. His prose is acceptable, save for a tendancy towards italics and capitalisation, and he does tend to make Holmes a bit over-animated as well as invoke Mycroft's aid rather often. Nonetheless, these are ingenious puzzles with some truly clever murder methods. A bit too much of a reliance on riddles, but who doesn't love a really tough riddle? A very satisfying little volume of puzzle stories with a pleasing Sherlockian setting.
January 10, 2016
A Slaying in Suburbia
The Mystery at the Golden Cockerel
The Mysterious Death of the Kennington Verger
The Riddle of the Carstairs Legacy
The Mystery of the Locked Study
The Adventure of the Black Arrow
The Paddington Pyromaniac
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Good Ship Alicia
Catacausis Ebriosus
The Prodigal Quest
The Mayfair Strangler
The Changer of Sorrow Mystery
The Peddler of Death
The Mystery at the Golden Cockerel
The Mysterious Death of the Kennington Verger
The Riddle of the Carstairs Legacy
The Mystery of the Locked Study
The Adventure of the Black Arrow
The Paddington Pyromaniac
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Good Ship Alicia
Catacausis Ebriosus
The Prodigal Quest
The Mayfair Strangler
The Changer of Sorrow Mystery
The Peddler of Death
April 16, 2016
The Outstanding Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes by Gerard Kelly
My thanks to Steve and Timi at MX Books for my review copy of this book. You guys are the best!
This book is a collection of thirteen short stories, both written and illustrated by Gerard Kelly. They are enjoyable. They are nicely written. There is however just a little something off about them, but only minor things that many Sherlockians would probably either miss or chose to ignore. I still believe that this book is worth four stars…
The tales follow:
“A Slaying in Suburbia” is about the murder of Cedric Tomkins. He has been shot through the head with a .22 caliber bullet. Trajectory on the bullet leads to flats on Royal Avenue. It came from either flat number 12 or flat number 14. Two men, both who own .22 rifles are suspected. One of the guns is an air-rifle…
“The Mystery of the Golden Cockerel” tells of a murder in the restaurant “Le Coq D’or.” The owner, Monsieur Fontaine has discovered the body of one Jeremiah Brentwood. Brentwood had arranged for a midnight meal with an unnamed party and paid to have the restaurant empty of everyone except himself and his guest…
“The Mysterious Death of the Kennington Verger” concerns Watson’s niece Anne. Her fiancé, Simon Jurgens, is accused of murdering Arnold Soames. The Verger was found on the sidewalk, just outside of St. Albans Church. Footprint evidence has made Scotland Yard highly suspicious of Simon as the murderer, who struck with a long blade or poker…
“The Riddle of the Carstairs Legacy” brings Andrew Newton to 221B. Newton is currently chandler’s clerk, but recently was contacted by the law firm of Faversham and Brinkley. To his surprise he has inherited a manor house and two hundred acres of land from someone he doesn’t know. There is a catch. He must solve a series of riddles…
“The Mystery of the Locked Study” begins with Mycroft bringing a murder case to Holmes’ attention. Captain A Cavendish, an acquaintance of Mycroft, has died of gas poisoning in his study with the door locked, bolted, and the key on the man’s desk! A neat locked room mystery!
“The Adventure of the Black Arrow” deals with the abduction of the daughter of Sir Charles Crichton. Sophie has been kidnapped and a ransom note demands ₤1,000 for her safe return…
“The Paddington Pyromaniac” is the story of a series of arson fires in London. Lestrade is at his wits end, and all the usual suspects are either dead or in prison. Except one…
“The Mysterious Disappearance of the Good Ship Alicia” is mentioned in passing by Watson in THOR. The ship sailed into a small patch of fog and simply disappeared! It was also determined that the ship did not sink as it was not found on the ocean’s floor—very Bermuda Triangle like!
“Catacausis Ebriosus” or spontaneous human combustion, is a phenomena still not fully understood. Alice Murphy, 27, has burned to death in a bizarre manner. Lestrade feels out of his depth and contacts Baker Street, and Holmes smells a rat. This case takes place during Watson’s third year as Holmes’ friend and companion.
“The Prodigal Quest” brings Holmes the case of Justin Clearwater who is seeking for his lost family. His father and uncle had a very Cain and Able relationship, and Clearwater is not the boy’s real last name… There is a neat chipper in this story!
“The Mayfair Strangler” pits Holmes against a serial killer. Three women have been raped and strangled. Quid justum pretium?
“The Chamber of Sorrow Mystery” pits Holmes against a group of Spiritualists. The leader of the group is a woman known as Madame Le Conte. Having attended a séance given by Madam Le Conte, Holmes and Watson are invited to a séance at Burslam Priory, considered the most haunted house in England! (This is possibly based on Borley Rectory, once considered the most haunted house in England before it was ruined by fire and torn down.)
“The Peddler of Death” winds up this romp into the world of Sherlock Holmes. Watson’s old Commanding Officer, Major General Wright Pullman is dead. There is a strange riddle left by someone who calls himself “The Peddler.” After a second man, Sir Walter Fredrick Havelock also dies with a riddle left behind, Holmes is desperate to find the Peddler! A third victim is found and then Holmes himself is threatened…
All stories a great and the illustrations make a nice touch!
Quoth the Raven…
My thanks to Steve and Timi at MX Books for my review copy of this book. You guys are the best!
This book is a collection of thirteen short stories, both written and illustrated by Gerard Kelly. They are enjoyable. They are nicely written. There is however just a little something off about them, but only minor things that many Sherlockians would probably either miss or chose to ignore. I still believe that this book is worth four stars…
The tales follow:
“A Slaying in Suburbia” is about the murder of Cedric Tomkins. He has been shot through the head with a .22 caliber bullet. Trajectory on the bullet leads to flats on Royal Avenue. It came from either flat number 12 or flat number 14. Two men, both who own .22 rifles are suspected. One of the guns is an air-rifle…
“The Mystery of the Golden Cockerel” tells of a murder in the restaurant “Le Coq D’or.” The owner, Monsieur Fontaine has discovered the body of one Jeremiah Brentwood. Brentwood had arranged for a midnight meal with an unnamed party and paid to have the restaurant empty of everyone except himself and his guest…
“The Mysterious Death of the Kennington Verger” concerns Watson’s niece Anne. Her fiancé, Simon Jurgens, is accused of murdering Arnold Soames. The Verger was found on the sidewalk, just outside of St. Albans Church. Footprint evidence has made Scotland Yard highly suspicious of Simon as the murderer, who struck with a long blade or poker…
“The Riddle of the Carstairs Legacy” brings Andrew Newton to 221B. Newton is currently chandler’s clerk, but recently was contacted by the law firm of Faversham and Brinkley. To his surprise he has inherited a manor house and two hundred acres of land from someone he doesn’t know. There is a catch. He must solve a series of riddles…
“The Mystery of the Locked Study” begins with Mycroft bringing a murder case to Holmes’ attention. Captain A Cavendish, an acquaintance of Mycroft, has died of gas poisoning in his study with the door locked, bolted, and the key on the man’s desk! A neat locked room mystery!
“The Adventure of the Black Arrow” deals with the abduction of the daughter of Sir Charles Crichton. Sophie has been kidnapped and a ransom note demands ₤1,000 for her safe return…
“The Paddington Pyromaniac” is the story of a series of arson fires in London. Lestrade is at his wits end, and all the usual suspects are either dead or in prison. Except one…
“The Mysterious Disappearance of the Good Ship Alicia” is mentioned in passing by Watson in THOR. The ship sailed into a small patch of fog and simply disappeared! It was also determined that the ship did not sink as it was not found on the ocean’s floor—very Bermuda Triangle like!
“Catacausis Ebriosus” or spontaneous human combustion, is a phenomena still not fully understood. Alice Murphy, 27, has burned to death in a bizarre manner. Lestrade feels out of his depth and contacts Baker Street, and Holmes smells a rat. This case takes place during Watson’s third year as Holmes’ friend and companion.
“The Prodigal Quest” brings Holmes the case of Justin Clearwater who is seeking for his lost family. His father and uncle had a very Cain and Able relationship, and Clearwater is not the boy’s real last name… There is a neat chipper in this story!
“The Mayfair Strangler” pits Holmes against a serial killer. Three women have been raped and strangled. Quid justum pretium?
“The Chamber of Sorrow Mystery” pits Holmes against a group of Spiritualists. The leader of the group is a woman known as Madame Le Conte. Having attended a séance given by Madam Le Conte, Holmes and Watson are invited to a séance at Burslam Priory, considered the most haunted house in England! (This is possibly based on Borley Rectory, once considered the most haunted house in England before it was ruined by fire and torn down.)
“The Peddler of Death” winds up this romp into the world of Sherlock Holmes. Watson’s old Commanding Officer, Major General Wright Pullman is dead. There is a strange riddle left by someone who calls himself “The Peddler.” After a second man, Sir Walter Fredrick Havelock also dies with a riddle left behind, Holmes is desperate to find the Peddler! A third victim is found and then Holmes himself is threatened…
All stories a great and the illustrations make a nice touch!
Quoth the Raven…
October 2, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised to have come across this collection when I believed I had exhausted all the collections of Sherlock Holmes. Then I realized that this was a modern version of the classic series. Being a fan of the famous fictional detective who enchanted his readers with his magical deductions, I was excited to read this set of short stories.
Gerard Kelly has done a fine emulation of the literary genius, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. By that I mean that he has taken care to recreate the setting of these stories, paying attention to details of the time period and culture. I have to say that if I hadn’t seen the author’s name, I’d have been fooled that someone had published a long-lost collection of SH.
Each fictional chronicle in this book is blessed with the classic features of a Holmes episode, the pivotal one being drawing ingenious conclusions from simple matters, invisible to the layman. To the glee of puzzle lovers, Holmes does lay his magic on unravelling cryptograms as well. The ever-reliable Watson continues to be the loyal yet clueless observer and we love him for being so. I know I enjoyed this book and hope other SH fans will.
Gerard Kelly has done a fine emulation of the literary genius, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. By that I mean that he has taken care to recreate the setting of these stories, paying attention to details of the time period and culture. I have to say that if I hadn’t seen the author’s name, I’d have been fooled that someone had published a long-lost collection of SH.
Each fictional chronicle in this book is blessed with the classic features of a Holmes episode, the pivotal one being drawing ingenious conclusions from simple matters, invisible to the layman. To the glee of puzzle lovers, Holmes does lay his magic on unravelling cryptograms as well. The ever-reliable Watson continues to be the loyal yet clueless observer and we love him for being so. I know I enjoyed this book and hope other SH fans will.
November 20, 2011
Whilst the illustraions don't quite match up to The Lost Stories of Sherlock Holmes (which are uncannily like the originals) the stories are great - don't get me wrong, the illustrations are ok and add to the mood but not quite Paget.
April 16, 2013
A very interesting book, with great stories of my favorite detective. I love to read Sherlock Holmes adventures. It sets me right back in Victorian England, following the greatest consulting detective..loved it.....
January 16, 2014
The stories in this pastiche were relatively interesting, although there was more emphasis on riddles than most Holmes stories I've read. I thought the author over did the sexism, however, especially for a relatively recent book.
February 20, 2014
I agree with Charles & Becca on all points. I am also interested to know about Sherlock's bad playing of the violin. In the "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" we are told that he was a good musician and had written music!
April 1, 2019
Pretty good.......
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews