What do you think?
Rate this book
Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1885
As a scientist, Sherlock Holmes would have certainly been familiar with the famous dictum attributed to Nature abhors a vacuum.
In that same vein, fans of the Great Detective must look at 1885 and 1886 and see a somewhat similar void. Conan Doyle set no cases during those years; in fact, if you believe Doyle, Holmes and Watson remained inactive for a period of some 30 months. Given the expenses of everyday life, it’s difficult to imagine Holmes moonlighting as a hansom driver (a job he would have been eminently suited for, given his intimate knowledge of London’s streets and byways) or Watson, putting in extra hours at the clinic.
Obviously, they were working on various cases, including a number that were withheld for various reasons. However, we have reached out to Sherlockians around the globe and asked them to review carefully any correspondence with Dr. Watson which may have come into their possession.
As you might expect, they unearthed a plethora of stories which occurred in 1885 and ‘86. We have culled through them with an eye towards selecting not only those cases which showcase the amazing deductive abilities of the Great Detective but those which offer insights into his unique personality as well as those highlighting the relationship between Holmes and his Boswell.
Having said that, know that once again, “The game is afoot!”
Enjoy!
1885 Stories
Jan – The Adventure of the Lock Hospital – Katy Darby
Feb – The Burning Mania – Gustavo Bondoni
March – The Adventure of the Damaged Tomb – George Gardner
April – The Light of Liberty – Paul Hiscock
May -- The Return of the Buckinghamshire Baronet -- Hassan Akram
June – The Faulty Gallows – David Marcum
July – A Brick through a Window – Victoria Weisfeld
August -- The Mystery of the Cloven Cord – George Jacobs
September – The Six-Fingered Handprint – Shelby Phoenix
Oct – The Adventure of the Hands of Glory – David Cisler
Nov – Tracks Across Canada – Kevin Thornton
Dec – Tracks Across America – Kevin Thornton
PLUS TWO BONUS STORIES!!!
March – An Appointment with the Hangman – Mike Adamson
March – The Japanese Village Mystery – D.J. Tyrer
In that same vein, fans of the Great Detective must look at 1885 and 1886 and see a somewhat similar void. Conan Doyle set no cases during those years; in fact, if you believe Doyle, Holmes and Watson remained inactive for a period of some 30 months. Given the expenses of everyday life, it’s difficult to imagine Holmes moonlighting as a hansom driver (a job he would have been eminently suited for, given his intimate knowledge of London’s streets and byways) or Watson, putting in extra hours at the clinic.
Obviously, they were working on various cases, including a number that were withheld for various reasons. However, we have reached out to Sherlockians around the globe and asked them to review carefully any correspondence with Dr. Watson which may have come into their possession.
As you might expect, they unearthed a plethora of stories which occurred in 1885 and ‘86. We have culled through them with an eye towards selecting not only those cases which showcase the amazing deductive abilities of the Great Detective but those which offer insights into his unique personality as well as those highlighting the relationship between Holmes and his Boswell.
Having said that, know that once again, “The game is afoot!”
Enjoy!
1885 Stories
Jan – The Adventure of the Lock Hospital – Katy Darby
Feb – The Burning Mania – Gustavo Bondoni
March – The Adventure of the Damaged Tomb – George Gardner
April – The Light of Liberty – Paul Hiscock
May -- The Return of the Buckinghamshire Baronet -- Hassan Akram
June – The Faulty Gallows – David Marcum
July – A Brick through a Window – Victoria Weisfeld
August -- The Mystery of the Cloven Cord – George Jacobs
September – The Six-Fingered Handprint – Shelby Phoenix
Oct – The Adventure of the Hands of Glory – David Cisler
Nov – Tracks Across Canada – Kevin Thornton
Dec – Tracks Across America – Kevin Thornton
PLUS TWO BONUS STORIES!!!
March – An Appointment with the Hangman – Mike Adamson
March – The Japanese Village Mystery – D.J. Tyrer
- GenresShort StoriesCrime
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2023
33 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Richard T. Ryan
14 books9 followersFor Richard T. Ryan see also:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 20, 2024
Very disappointed with this book. Not 1 story with more than 3 and at least 1 I’d give 0.
January 31, 2024
Not one of the better ones in the series. Disappointing in many ways. Rounded up from 2.5.
February 28, 2024
Wonderful collection of stories...Loved them!!
April 14, 2026
I’ve read this entires series, except for 1890 and that one is next. Very interesting cases taken on by the famous duo. The stories featured here, to me anyway, show Watson as not always agreeing blindly with Holmes and does a bit of grumbling here and there about his tasking by Holmes. Which makes him more real life. Goodness knows I’d find Sherlock a real handful to live with.
The stories are well laid out and researched and are written so as to feel like real life. Our friends from Scotland Yard are not featured too much, but it’s not really noticeable.
All and all, a recommendation to read this series if you like the Holmes mysteries.
The stories are well laid out and researched and are written so as to feel like real life. Our friends from Scotland Yard are not featured too much, but it’s not really noticeable.
All and all, a recommendation to read this series if you like the Holmes mysteries.
March 25, 2024
A solid collection of interesting short stories featuring the great detective and doctor Watson.
Watson is well treated, smart and capable, but still amazed by Sherlock's quick brain and skills. The stories are told well and interesting, with a couple connected or in sequence, but most just cases in a period undocumented by Watson.
Watson is well treated, smart and capable, but still amazed by Sherlock's quick brain and skills. The stories are told well and interesting, with a couple connected or in sequence, but most just cases in a period undocumented by Watson.
April 30, 2025
Yet another collection of master Holmesian writers, this one set in the single year or 1886. Read the series!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews