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Sherlock Holmes: My Life and Crimes
In the personal memoirs of the renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes sheds new light on some of his most famous cases and defends his use of cocaine
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 3, 2020
Sherlock Holmes: My Life and Crimes is a really cool Sherlock Holmes tale that actually feels totally authentic. It starts off as Sherlock's autobiography/ memoir featuring photos and illustrations, but then it begins to tell its own story. It presents an intriguing alternative to what you think you know about "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House". If you're a fan of the character you will definitely need to try this.
February 15, 2019
Weirdly, this was the first Sherlock Holmes book that I ever read. 10 years ago my mom brought library rejects home and we've been here ever since. This book is a little bit of a different angle on Holmes, but I think accurate to his character. However, it loses some of the magic that the other home stories have. And I think that's probably because there's no Watson. The dynamic between those two is definitely what continues to hold my love after more than a decade, and this story just doesn't have the same draw without Watson. It is an interesting take on the Great Hiatus, though, and worth a read for that alone.
November 11, 2020
It has been many years since I have read Hardwick’s writing; I had honestly forgotten just how good he is. “Sherlock Holmes: My Life and Crimes” reawakened pleasant memories of Hardwick’s writings ~ especially those of Holmes. Hardwick cleverly Sherlock Holmes's reminiscences after his retirement to his little villa in Sussex. Here he creates a most creative variation to the truth of the Great three-year Hiatus. The story thus presents an intriguing alternative to what you think you know about "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House," as well as some new biographical background of Holmes himself.
The language and local color of “Sherlock Holmes: My Life and Crimes” felt quite like Doyle. Also, of interest in Holmes’ memoires was his personal background information detailing his training with the Pinkertons in the States, his own personal training, and his concluding journey to his becoming the world’s only consulting detective. Historical pictures illustrate places, people, and events depicted in the story. Hardwick carefully created an excellent Holmesian novel that stands above the maddening crowd of other imitators. If you are a fam of Holmes, you will enjoy this story.
The language and local color of “Sherlock Holmes: My Life and Crimes” felt quite like Doyle. Also, of interest in Holmes’ memoires was his personal background information detailing his training with the Pinkertons in the States, his own personal training, and his concluding journey to his becoming the world’s only consulting detective. Historical pictures illustrate places, people, and events depicted in the story. Hardwick carefully created an excellent Holmesian novel that stands above the maddening crowd of other imitators. If you are a fam of Holmes, you will enjoy this story.
October 19, 2023
A very thoroughly-researched (it even includes pictures) account of the spaces in Holmes' story which Watson was never able to fill in, particularly the beginning of his practice and "the lost years."
The stories put forward are completely plausible, though the storytelling itself is just a little wandering and slow to start. It definitely feels like sitting together looking through a scrapbook. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but once I realized that, I found it interesting and clever!
The stories put forward are completely plausible, though the storytelling itself is just a little wandering and slow to start. It definitely feels like sitting together looking through a scrapbook. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but once I realized that, I found it interesting and clever!
January 21, 2024
Well, another SH by Michael Hardwick, one of the best pastiche writers, and sad to say long gone. I can't quite make up my mind about the hiatus years spent in this way, but it made a very reasonable alternative to the accepted version. I would call this one a must read, or maybe call it a reading bucket list. Once again the cover art is so apt and a treat for the eyes, it's yet another work by John Atkinson Grimshaw, this one is called "St Paul's from Ludgate Bridge."
July 29, 2024
Brilliant Retelling
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, seeing a bigger glimpse of Holmes' background. Because so little is established in the originals, there's a lot of room for creative licenses.
I confess I lost most interest in the second half, but that's just me who prefers her own delusions of Watson's account. Otherwise, it's very well told and provides some insights of what could have actually happened...
Christa
I really enjoyed the first half of the book, seeing a bigger glimpse of Holmes' background. Because so little is established in the originals, there's a lot of room for creative licenses.
I confess I lost most interest in the second half, but that's just me who prefers her own delusions of Watson's account. Otherwise, it's very well told and provides some insights of what could have actually happened...
Christa
June 18, 2024
A retired Sherlock Holmes is writing in his journal, to be read only by himself. What if neither Holmes nor Moriarty were killed at the falls? What if instead, they travelled incognito around Europe working together for the English Government. An interesting version of the story.
Read
April 14, 2020Great fun. Very inventive idea, and Hardwick really has caught Doyle's writing style and voice.
Sherlock's brother Mycroft "kept nodding his head, making a concertina effect with his chins."
Sherlock's brother Mycroft "kept nodding his head, making a concertina effect with his chins."
November 16, 2022
Actually I rate this book 3 1/2 stars, thought it started a bit slow and could have used the voice of Watson. It’s an interesting take on the ‘great hiatus’.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2024
As told by Sherlock Holmes. What did really happen at the Reichenbach Falls and the years after.
An enjoyable story.
An enjoyable story.
January 10, 2012
I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and a self-proclaimed purist,thus it is hard to find non-canonical Sherlock Holmes works that I can be entertained with. Being a fictional autobiography and considering my past, mixed experience with Sherlock Holmes pastiches, I approached this book with skepticism. However, I found it to be perfectly satisfying. The author approaches the characters in a very unassuming way, and (thankfully) takes hardly any liberties with their quirks and general natures. He writes his Holmes and Moriarty to be very approachable as they are already recognized, and creates a wonderfully believable past for SH, detailing his training with the Pinkertons in the US, his own personal training, and his journey to his establishment as the best and only consulting detective in the world and best friend of Dr. Watson. I was prepared to find myself criticizing the author's words with exclamations such as "Holmes would never say that!" or "that is so out of character" and the like, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I especially enjoyed the alternative "true story" of Holmes' and Moriarty's deaths and the nature and development of their relationship (with a good bit of influence from Mycroft), which also played out as a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast could well believe. The author satisfactorily captured the writing style of Holmes, demonstrated by ACD in the stories "The Lion's Mane" and "The Blanched Soldier." Overall I found the story an entertaining and exciting character development, and thought that it ended way too soon. I also recommend other works by the author, Michael Hardwick, as I have so far found him to come the closest to capturing the real essence of Conan Doyle's beloved characters, set down so long ago.
March 18, 2019
Excellent alternative to the events of the canonical stories: The Final Problem and The Empty House.
Styled as Sherlock Holmes's reminiscences after his retirement to his little villa in Sussex, Hardwick posits a most original and ingenious variation to the truth of the Great Hiatus, during which Holmes was absent from London for three years.
In the process he reveals a much more human side of Holmes than most eminent Sherlockians have granted the Master. The first person narrative is uniquely in the voice
of Holmes, and unlike some Reichenbach alternatives, never hits a false note.
I read the book in one sitting, completely absorbed by it. Recommended to anyone whose fascination with the Great Detective will allow them to enjoy a work in which Watson is not an active participant, (but whose presence is still felt) and what may seem to some an unholy alliance is entered into by fire enemies, for the good of England.
Styled as Sherlock Holmes's reminiscences after his retirement to his little villa in Sussex, Hardwick posits a most original and ingenious variation to the truth of the Great Hiatus, during which Holmes was absent from London for three years.
In the process he reveals a much more human side of Holmes than most eminent Sherlockians have granted the Master. The first person narrative is uniquely in the voice
of Holmes, and unlike some Reichenbach alternatives, never hits a false note.
I read the book in one sitting, completely absorbed by it. Recommended to anyone whose fascination with the Great Detective will allow them to enjoy a work in which Watson is not an active participant, (but whose presence is still felt) and what may seem to some an unholy alliance is entered into by fire enemies, for the good of England.
October 10, 2012
The book was about how Sherlock Holmes started his crime detective work and it started in his life because he met this women at this ball and he liked her but he doesn't think that he should be in a relationship with her because he thinks that life is better alone. Then, she has a problem where she needed help with a situation with her brother because he was missing and she thinks something is going on with her brother like something bad already happened or something is going to happen. So she asked him for help but he refused to do so. But, then she tried to bribe him on helping her and you know what she did, she kissed him because that's really what he wanted, so he ended up helping her out and within the end it all worked out. He cracked the case and for now on he is going to crack other crimes.
The message of the story is you should never do anything alone.
The three quotes:
1. "Sherlock prefers to be alone".
2. "Everything has a story to it".
3. "Everything is not going to go as planned".
These three quotes are significant because they mainly tell what the story is mainly about, it tells the real meaning of the story and they reflect that you can change a lot about your personality and your thoughts from others and on how you really feel.
The message of the story is you should never do anything alone.
The three quotes:
1. "Sherlock prefers to be alone".
2. "Everything has a story to it".
3. "Everything is not going to go as planned".
These three quotes are significant because they mainly tell what the story is mainly about, it tells the real meaning of the story and they reflect that you can change a lot about your personality and your thoughts from others and on how you really feel.
February 4, 2017
Great pictures that illustrate places and things from the original books... Not really anything new in regards to Holmes and his character, although it does totally retell the story of Holmes and Moriarty. It's a solid story, well constructed and built on good research and a love of the character. It just doesn't have that little zing! that makes for a really entertaining story.
Some of it may be that it's told BY Holmes, rather than about him. The canonical stories told from his POV suffer by it, and it may be what flattens these stories too. The magician's tricks aren't half so entertaining when he's taken you behind the curtain with him.
Some of it may be that it's told BY Holmes, rather than about him. The canonical stories told from his POV suffer by it, and it may be what flattens these stories too. The magician's tricks aren't half so entertaining when he's taken you behind the curtain with him.
June 11, 2016
The book is written in the form of a memoir from a retired Sherlock Holmes. Holmes recounts exactly what he did during the three years from when he "died" at the falls to when Conan Doyle resurrects him again.
Like many other authors, Hardwick perpetuates the doltish Watson caricature. That is why I liked the Jeremy Brett incarnation of Holmes; the Watson character is truer to what ACD wrote. Watson after all is a doctor and a military man who can handle a weapon. Not quite the bumbling oaf that many have portrayed him as.
Like many other authors, Hardwick perpetuates the doltish Watson caricature. That is why I liked the Jeremy Brett incarnation of Holmes; the Watson character is truer to what ACD wrote. Watson after all is a doctor and a military man who can handle a weapon. Not quite the bumbling oaf that many have portrayed him as.
December 5, 2016
This book takes place when Holmes is just getting started on his journey to becoming the worlds greatest detective. Holmes and Moriarty take the stage as the main characters in this novel. This book explores may themes such as trust and mystery as Holmes has his first encounter with Prof. Moriarty. Some thematic elements are be careful who you trust and to understand what you may be getting yourself into. You would have difficulties with this book if you have trouble with complex story lines.
October 22, 2007
A very good fictional autobiography of Sherlock Holmes, including his life as a private detective for the Pinkerton agency, and his version of the famous moment that he met his biographer Dr. Watson in the medical laboratory at St. Bart's.
Also, what really happened at Reichenbach Falls and the three ensuing years that the detective was "missing" from the world, how clever Moriarty really was, and who first postulated the theorem that E equals mc squared.
Also, what really happened at Reichenbach Falls and the three ensuing years that the detective was "missing" from the world, how clever Moriarty really was, and who first postulated the theorem that E equals mc squared.
January 16, 2013
For me the appeal of the Sherlock Holmes stories lies in the relationship and the interaction between Holmes and Watson as much as the mysteries. So I didn't find this book appealing and stopped reading fairly early.
February 8, 2011
A reprieve for Moriarty???
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews