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Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Tainted Canister
A lost chapter in the Holmes canon finally appears, as Dr. Watson recounts the mystery behind the tragic death of his beloved Mary Morstan. Join him as he attempts to bring a murderer to justice. Along the way, readers will encounter old friends and enemies from several of the other stories, leading to a startling conclusion that may baffle even Sherlock Holmes.
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
13 people want to read
About the author
Thomas A. Turley
10 books8 followersThomas A. (Tom) Turley has been “hooked on Holmes” since about the age of twelve. He has a Ph.D. in British history but spent most of his career as an archivist with the State of Alabama. Approaching retirement, Tom returned to a youthful hobby: writing fiction. His pastiche “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Tainted Canister” (2014) is available as an e-book and audiobook from MX Publishing. It was also published in The Art of Sherlock Holmes-USA Edition 1 (2019), illustrated by a painting from artist Angela Fegan. Previously, Tom has had stories published in Parts VI, VII, XVIII, XIX, and XXVII of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. One of them, “A Ghost from Christmas Past,” also appeared in The Art of Sherlock Holmes, West Palm Beach Edition (2019), paired with a painting by artist Nuné Asatryan. Tom’s new collection of historical pastiches, Sherlock Holmes and the Crowned Heads of Europe, was published by MX in 2021. It includes four interrelated stories that involve Holmes and Watson in the events that led to World War I. Tom lives with his wife Paula, along with two new dogs, in Montgomery, Alabama. Interested readers may contact him through MX Publishing or his Goodreads and Amazon author's pages.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 1, 2024
Doctor Watson in his later years as the end of his life approaches, recalls the events around Mary’s death. A never before reveal of events leading up to and the aftermath.
February 8, 2016
Edward Hardwicke was made for this Watson!
Reviewing this without going heavy on ruining the plot for others is a challenge. First I'll explain my 5 stars:
Plot: Full of surprises. Why? It is a little rare to find so many harmonious blends in so many different past Adventures inside a single short story. We as readers simply don't expect it. Don't blame us for that--it is difficult to create a case with one eye to the past and the other just as sharply upon the present. Turley's love for the Master's craft shines in this successful effort.
Originally I was going to post the mood as 'suspenseful' and let me tell you, Turley did my blood pressure no favors whatsoever. Even when I was pretty sure I knew what would happen, I kept on reading and let the celery scorch on the stove because I had to read 'just one more' paragraph. The secret to this is the voice of the author. Watson IS supremely thoughtful as he reviews the most significant act of his life and he managed to do it without Sherlock Holmes. So despite the suspense, I came away thoughtful. This tale puts our Watson in a dark, dangerous terrain and we are left thinking about the story long after the end...if indeed it is the end.
The pace is steady. This is in thanks to the careful mood of the tale--Watson is telling you what has already happened and we are ultimately in the dark until he tells us it is over. A gracious host, he will never be so rude as to tell his story out of turn, or one part faster than the other. The pattern is much like that of a skilled storyteller well familiar with his subject...only we are reminded that his familiarity with the events of the canister is due to the countless hours and hours he spent realizing the unthinkable and how to redress a great crime. He is still thinking of it to this day, and he will until he dies. This kind, quiet man is a Man of Action and it is because of him that Sherlock Holmes has escaped death more than once. Less observed is the fact that Watson's inability to hesitate mixed with his natural talents as a soldier--for the first time in my life I found myself wondering how many lives Watson has taken in his career as soldier and guardian. Too often we ask that sort of question about Holmes.
The characters were developed well and in my personal experience...a little TOO believable. I know a murderer personally. The man shrieking at Watson hit very close to home as well as his carefully crafted disassociation from his own actions. Always excuses--always reasons. The sharp contrast between the two men were that the craven killer had reasons for taking another life and causing terrible pain to others. Watson, however has only one motive: to take a life. Period. He gives himself no excuse.
Edward Hardwicke would have given his eyeteeth for this role! And he would have given the performance of his life in doing so. No fan recalls without a shiver his unflinching words to a cowardly killer (who thinks he may hesitate to shoot because of social niceties): "Do not forget, sir, that I am a soldier."
Watson is a soldier, yes. He is OUR soldier. As much a fish out of water as Holmes, he answers to his own code of conduct, and we are with Holmes' decision that Watson's actions are beyond the law. He has already judged himself for his actions and to quote the mysteries of Dion Fortune, "...there is no special hell for those who dabble in forbidden things; it would be superfluous."
Reviewing this without going heavy on ruining the plot for others is a challenge. First I'll explain my 5 stars:
Plot: Full of surprises. Why? It is a little rare to find so many harmonious blends in so many different past Adventures inside a single short story. We as readers simply don't expect it. Don't blame us for that--it is difficult to create a case with one eye to the past and the other just as sharply upon the present. Turley's love for the Master's craft shines in this successful effort.
Originally I was going to post the mood as 'suspenseful' and let me tell you, Turley did my blood pressure no favors whatsoever. Even when I was pretty sure I knew what would happen, I kept on reading and let the celery scorch on the stove because I had to read 'just one more' paragraph. The secret to this is the voice of the author. Watson IS supremely thoughtful as he reviews the most significant act of his life and he managed to do it without Sherlock Holmes. So despite the suspense, I came away thoughtful. This tale puts our Watson in a dark, dangerous terrain and we are left thinking about the story long after the end...if indeed it is the end.
The pace is steady. This is in thanks to the careful mood of the tale--Watson is telling you what has already happened and we are ultimately in the dark until he tells us it is over. A gracious host, he will never be so rude as to tell his story out of turn, or one part faster than the other. The pattern is much like that of a skilled storyteller well familiar with his subject...only we are reminded that his familiarity with the events of the canister is due to the countless hours and hours he spent realizing the unthinkable and how to redress a great crime. He is still thinking of it to this day, and he will until he dies. This kind, quiet man is a Man of Action and it is because of him that Sherlock Holmes has escaped death more than once. Less observed is the fact that Watson's inability to hesitate mixed with his natural talents as a soldier--for the first time in my life I found myself wondering how many lives Watson has taken in his career as soldier and guardian. Too often we ask that sort of question about Holmes.
The characters were developed well and in my personal experience...a little TOO believable. I know a murderer personally. The man shrieking at Watson hit very close to home as well as his carefully crafted disassociation from his own actions. Always excuses--always reasons. The sharp contrast between the two men were that the craven killer had reasons for taking another life and causing terrible pain to others. Watson, however has only one motive: to take a life. Period. He gives himself no excuse.
Edward Hardwicke would have given his eyeteeth for this role! And he would have given the performance of his life in doing so. No fan recalls without a shiver his unflinching words to a cowardly killer (who thinks he may hesitate to shoot because of social niceties): "Do not forget, sir, that I am a soldier."
Watson is a soldier, yes. He is OUR soldier. As much a fish out of water as Holmes, he answers to his own code of conduct, and we are with Holmes' decision that Watson's actions are beyond the law. He has already judged himself for his actions and to quote the mysteries of Dion Fortune, "...there is no special hell for those who dabble in forbidden things; it would be superfluous."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews