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Secret Sherlock Holmes #5
The Secret Documents of Sherlock Holmes
A collection of stories allegedly written by Dr Watson, which for various reasons have not been published before. Includes stories of the theft of the Vatican cameos, the arrest of Huret the Boulevard assassin, and the terrible death of Crosby the banker.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 1997
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About the author
June Thomson
70 books21 followersJune Thomson, a former teacher, has published 24 crime novels, 18 of which feature Detective Chief Inspector Jack Finch and his sergeant, Tom Boyce. She has also written six short story collections of Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Her books have been translated into many languages. She lives in St Albans in Hertfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 28, 2025
A flawless collection of new Sherlock Holmes mysteries. A treat!
May 27, 2015
Satisfying filling up of several tantalising leads referred to in the main canon....
September 3, 2024
Yet another small collection of seven short tales well worthy of the four stars. The stories were all equally as good as ever and (as always from this author) have the characters in the right time frame as well as following the canon - great stuff.
March 3, 2022
Another good collection.
May 19, 2022
Sherlock who?
Enjoyable short stories but they felt a little to similar to previous reads. Still I had a gig time reading this book and look forward to the next June Thomson book
Enjoyable short stories but they felt a little to similar to previous reads. Still I had a gig time reading this book and look forward to the next June Thomson book
October 10, 2016
Seven Mysteries suggested by canonical references!
Spoilers always possible but I will try hard not to ruin the reader’s experience!
The first story is “The Case of the Ainsworth Abductions.” This case is not mentioned by Watson, but there are references in the footnotes of the story.
Sir Hector Ainsworth comes to 221B with the story that his daughter Millicent has been kidnapped by assistant groom, Albert Weaver. There is also the matter of Ainsworth’s gig and pony that is missing, along with Millicent’s horse, Jemima. And oddly enough, his daughter took no spare clothing…
Next is “The Case of the Boulevard Assassin,” mentioned in passing by Watson in GOLD.
Mycroft Holmes brings this case to Baker Street due to a threat to the life of Monsieur Claude Aruial, a visiting French Diplomat. Alphonse Huret, already under suspicion of two successful assassinations, is believed to be the trigger man in this case as well. Huret’s MO is a drive-by; shooting from a cab or carriage. He is also in the habit of garroting the people whose conveyances he steals for the hit…
Then we have “The Case of the Wimbledon Tragedy.” This is the case referenced by Watson as “The Abernetty family (depth which the parsley had sunk into the butter) in SIXN.
Mr. Abernetty’s housekeeper, Mrs. Woodruffe, comes to Baker Street worried about her Master’s health. Every time his daughter-in-law, Mrs. William Abernetty, widow of Abernetty Senior’s son visits, Mr. Abernetty becomes violently ill. Mrs. Woodruffe suspects foul play, but she and the maid also eat from the dinner leftovers and neither is the least bit ill…
“The Case of the Ferrers Documents,” mentioned by Watson in PRIO, is next in line.
Mr. Alistair Thackery, of the law firm of Allardyce, Thackery, and Makepeace, brings this case to Holmes’ attention. Elderly Dowager Lady Agatha Ferrers has written a suspicious letter to the firm, asking for a new Solicitor. Mr. Thackery has been her contact for many years, and the letter concerns changes to her will…
Then comes “The Case of the Vatican Cameos” that is not referenced by Watson in the Canon, but has significant footnotes as well…
Signor Graziani has came to London at the request of Pope Leo XIII, bringing three valuable cameos of the Medici Family to display at the British Museum. The bag containing the cameos, which were cut from agate and onyx in the 15th century, is stolen on the street. Holmes believes he knows the thieves and their MO, but there are more twists to the story than just who took the valuable artworks…
Moving on we come to “The Case of the Camberwell Deception,” mention by Watson as “a case Holmes had solved for Mrs. Cecil Forrester,” who employs Mary Morstan in SIGN…
Mrs. Forrester has hired a governess for her children on the recommendation of her friend, the Honorable Mrs. Frederick Gore Hamilton. The lady, a Miss Emma Holland has the habit of wearing high necked dresses at all times. But when Mrs. Forrester mentions this to Mrs. Hamilton, she is socked by what she learns. Not only was this not a habit with Mrs. Hamilton’s Emma Holland, but Emma’s eyes were brown, and Mrs. Forrester’s Emma’s eyes are blue!
The final mystery in the book is “The Case of the Barton Woods Murder.” This is the case that Watson refers to as “The death of Crosby the banker” in GOLD.
September, 1894. George Wilberforce, of Wilberforce and Dekin, Solicitors in Lombard Street comes to Holmes out of concern for an friend, the banker Mr. Algernon Crosby. Crosby has been receiving hreatening letters, describing the banker as “a leech that has a special hell waiting for him.” Crosby is told to journey to Steeple Barton, where a letter left at the Rose and Crown Tavern by a woman gives him directions to a meeting spot in the nearby woods…
The book ends with an essay on the true identity of “The King of Bohemia.”
I give each story four stars!
Quoth the Raven…
Spoilers always possible but I will try hard not to ruin the reader’s experience!
The first story is “The Case of the Ainsworth Abductions.” This case is not mentioned by Watson, but there are references in the footnotes of the story.
Sir Hector Ainsworth comes to 221B with the story that his daughter Millicent has been kidnapped by assistant groom, Albert Weaver. There is also the matter of Ainsworth’s gig and pony that is missing, along with Millicent’s horse, Jemima. And oddly enough, his daughter took no spare clothing…
Next is “The Case of the Boulevard Assassin,” mentioned in passing by Watson in GOLD.
Mycroft Holmes brings this case to Baker Street due to a threat to the life of Monsieur Claude Aruial, a visiting French Diplomat. Alphonse Huret, already under suspicion of two successful assassinations, is believed to be the trigger man in this case as well. Huret’s MO is a drive-by; shooting from a cab or carriage. He is also in the habit of garroting the people whose conveyances he steals for the hit…
Then we have “The Case of the Wimbledon Tragedy.” This is the case referenced by Watson as “The Abernetty family (depth which the parsley had sunk into the butter) in SIXN.
Mr. Abernetty’s housekeeper, Mrs. Woodruffe, comes to Baker Street worried about her Master’s health. Every time his daughter-in-law, Mrs. William Abernetty, widow of Abernetty Senior’s son visits, Mr. Abernetty becomes violently ill. Mrs. Woodruffe suspects foul play, but she and the maid also eat from the dinner leftovers and neither is the least bit ill…
“The Case of the Ferrers Documents,” mentioned by Watson in PRIO, is next in line.
Mr. Alistair Thackery, of the law firm of Allardyce, Thackery, and Makepeace, brings this case to Holmes’ attention. Elderly Dowager Lady Agatha Ferrers has written a suspicious letter to the firm, asking for a new Solicitor. Mr. Thackery has been her contact for many years, and the letter concerns changes to her will…
Then comes “The Case of the Vatican Cameos” that is not referenced by Watson in the Canon, but has significant footnotes as well…
Signor Graziani has came to London at the request of Pope Leo XIII, bringing three valuable cameos of the Medici Family to display at the British Museum. The bag containing the cameos, which were cut from agate and onyx in the 15th century, is stolen on the street. Holmes believes he knows the thieves and their MO, but there are more twists to the story than just who took the valuable artworks…
Moving on we come to “The Case of the Camberwell Deception,” mention by Watson as “a case Holmes had solved for Mrs. Cecil Forrester,” who employs Mary Morstan in SIGN…
Mrs. Forrester has hired a governess for her children on the recommendation of her friend, the Honorable Mrs. Frederick Gore Hamilton. The lady, a Miss Emma Holland has the habit of wearing high necked dresses at all times. But when Mrs. Forrester mentions this to Mrs. Hamilton, she is socked by what she learns. Not only was this not a habit with Mrs. Hamilton’s Emma Holland, but Emma’s eyes were brown, and Mrs. Forrester’s Emma’s eyes are blue!
The final mystery in the book is “The Case of the Barton Woods Murder.” This is the case that Watson refers to as “The death of Crosby the banker” in GOLD.
September, 1894. George Wilberforce, of Wilberforce and Dekin, Solicitors in Lombard Street comes to Holmes out of concern for an friend, the banker Mr. Algernon Crosby. Crosby has been receiving hreatening letters, describing the banker as “a leech that has a special hell waiting for him.” Crosby is told to journey to Steeple Barton, where a letter left at the Rose and Crown Tavern by a woman gives him directions to a meeting spot in the nearby woods…
The book ends with an essay on the true identity of “The King of Bohemia.”
I give each story four stars!
Quoth the Raven…
July 25, 2015
Once again the hidden writings of John Watson have been uncovered; these cases were previously left unpublished for several reasons, some political, one was close to Watson's own memories, and others were not included at the bequest of Sherlock himself. June Thomson does a good job of staying true to the canon, but many Sherlockians will find this collection too simple for their tastes, not to mention the author's penchant for footnotes is superfluous. However, for those that aren't so entrenched in the lore, this is an excellent choice. The stories are short, just like the original ones, and feature a variety of problems. Unlike many other modern writers who have "discovered" John Watson's long lost papers, Thomson doesn't try to come up with a case that is more outstanding or significant than the last, instead she goes back to the roots; those singular little instances among the common people and noble alike that best tested Sherlock's powers of deduction. At the very least, readers will find this collection an amusing diversion and will want to look up the others by this author.
December 15, 2014
If you're a true Sherlock Holmes fan, don't bother. The stories are basic and certainly not worthy of the Sherlock Holmes name. Same with all June Thomsons books, I felt the same about previous volumes and gave her another chance. Never again.
March 1, 2014
Pretty decent. Certainly will be reading more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews