The Incidents of Sherlock Holmes

by Barry Clay

The author who discovered manuscripts in an old box and edited from them The Darkened Village and The Leveson-Gower Theft for the reading public now presents Sherlock Holmes and his faithful biographer Dr. Watson again, this time in two novelettes and two novellas.

Sherlock Holmes is summoned by Scotland Yard to a sunny golf course that has been the scene of two gruesome murders. But all is, perhaps, not quite what it seems. Can even Sherlock Holmes unravel the tangle of so many conflicting clues?

Two elderly ladies visit Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes at 222b Baker Street with an unusual every week, someone invades the yard of one of the women while she is at a church meeting and digs up one of her rose bushes. The police believe she is exaggerating, or perhaps a little potty. Will Sherlock Holmes help her?

Mycroft Holmes engages his brother Sherlock to recover plans for a revolutionary, new ship that have disappeared from Admiral Gaston Weller’s home in embarrassing circumstances, for the thief appears to be one of Mycroft’s own men. Can Sherlock Holmes recover the plans and prevent "The Dreadnought Incident" from damaging the security and reputation of Her Majesty’s government?

In the final case, Holmes is engaged by a man to investigate a mysterious note that implies that his step-mother is in danger from one of his siblings. Can Holmes investigate and determine if his step-mother is really in danger, and protect her from it if so?

Four separate cases, but one incomparable consulting detective to solve them, and one unequaled biographer to record them. The fans of Sherlock Holmes will not be disappointed.

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2023

About the author

I live close to Harrisburg, PA and have been married since 1990 to a wonderful woman who puts up with me disappearing into my study more often than she would like. I have four children, two of whom are still at home, and four very cute grandchildren -- and one on the way!

I am a graduate of Red Land High school in Lewisberry, PA, and a summa cum laude graduate of Shippensburg University, also in PA, with a BA in English. Shippensburg provided a good education at a reasonable price. For years before my marriage, I performed on stage in area community theaters, directed and music directed stage and musical shows, and otherwise kept myself occupied until, on a blind date, I met my wife. Unlike previous dates where either I or the lady I was a dating knew from the first we weren't a match, I was nearly positive my wife was the woman for me. (She was less certain.) I am very, very glad I waited for the right woman. Who else would tolerate me?

I have had many jobs over the years. I've dug ditches, stocked grocery shelves, tutored for room and board, cleaned restrooms, mopped floors, taught cartooning, worked in a bank, asked if you'd like fries with that (and cooked the fries to boot), ordered carpet for cars, and worked commission sales at Sears before it went to the shopping mall in the sky. I retired after 37 years as a civilian For the United States Navy. Believe it or not, I and my employees saved you money, which was no doubt shamelessly spent somewhere else in the government. You can read about my government career in one of my books: "Close Enough for Government Work."

I am the volunteer conductor of the Central Pennsylvania Home School Orchestra (CPHOmusic.org) in our area. I have volunteered as conductor for 25 years (and counting), and I'm told they'll keep me - if for no other reason than I'm willing to do the work for nothing.

I have been writing stories for decades in different genres. I've added spice to my writing life by switching from comedy, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror as the muse strikes me. I try to keep my stories mature, but not so mature your children couldn't read them. The exception would be "Collisions" and its sequels, which depicts some adult situations. While not graphic by today's standards, adults should use discretion in allowing their children to read it.

My big sellers are my Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan pastiches, all of whom have (generally) good reviews.

I also write non-fiction. I have been a Christian for over 50 years, and I decided to write a book on theology for the layman, "Solid Ground." While written primarily for believers (to provide the grounding in the faith I missed because I was not raised in a Christian home), it also should provide easy access to the unbeliever who wants to know more about how the every day Christian he may meet approaches his or her faith. You can buy the complete tome, or you can by individual chapters as eBooks and some as printed books.

In addition to the books and stories you will see on Amazon, I've written four musicals (two of which were performed locally to good reviews), three piano sonatas, one etude, ten works for Christian choirs and ensembles, over 40 works for young orchestra, and even have a passel of cartoons I drew when I was a working level employee.

In my spare time, I play piano, am a chain reader, volunteer in church, clean the kitchen.

Some nights, I sleep, too.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining Holmes listening 🎶🔰

This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account

A number of short Sherlock Holmes mysteries, each story is different with interesting characters lots of action and misdirection leading to each conclusion.

I would recommend this novel and author to fans of Sherlock Holmes and readers of British 🏰👑 mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 😤😆

[Maryellen Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but a bit slow

These are very good stories, well-developed. They are a bit slow, like watching an old black-&-white mystery movie, moving at about the same pace. In fact, sometimes it felt like I was reading the actual script.
The reader is usually ahead of the drama, except for a few out-of-left-field details in the endings. (There's a word for that, but I can't think of it.)

[Christa Saccullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry Clay Does It Again!

Barry Clay is definitely one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes authors and he does not fail to disappoint with this new collection!
I enjoyed every moment with this classic friendship!

Christa

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

One major anachronism, still quite enjoyable stories. Of all the ACD followers whose stories I've read, this one so far has come the closest.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are quick and fun and easy reading tales of S Holmes and Watson solving different cases. I think these are more like the tales told by A C Doyle than many of the other S H take offs.