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Sherlock Holmes Pastiche by Nicholas Meyer #7
Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson delve into the world of art forgery in this new historical mystery from the author of Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell.
London, 189–: The great city is brought to a standstill by a series of blizzards and Sherlock Holmes is bored to distraction. It would take a miracle to bring a case to the detective’s door. . .
What arrives is not a landlady who complains her artist tenant is behind on rent. Not exactly the miracle for which Holmes was hoping. But, next thing you know, there are several corpses and Sherlock Holmes and his biographer, John H. Watson, MD, find themselves drawn into one of the most bizarre cases of the great detective’s career. And into the cutthroat big business of Art, where chicanery and mendacity (and cut throats) proliferate.
What makes a work of art worth killing for? Is it the artist, his mistress, his dealer, or his blackmailer? The cast of characters is large. But are they perpetrators, accomplices, or victims? And just who is Juliet Packwood, with whom Watson has become infatuated?
Oh, and there’s one other Is this a genuine Holmes case or a clever forgery? Is this the real thing?
If you can’t tell the difference, what is the difference?
London, 189–: The great city is brought to a standstill by a series of blizzards and Sherlock Holmes is bored to distraction. It would take a miracle to bring a case to the detective’s door. . .
What arrives is not a landlady who complains her artist tenant is behind on rent. Not exactly the miracle for which Holmes was hoping. But, next thing you know, there are several corpses and Sherlock Holmes and his biographer, John H. Watson, MD, find themselves drawn into one of the most bizarre cases of the great detective’s career. And into the cutthroat big business of Art, where chicanery and mendacity (and cut throats) proliferate.
What makes a work of art worth killing for? Is it the artist, his mistress, his dealer, or his blackmailer? The cast of characters is large. But are they perpetrators, accomplices, or victims? And just who is Juliet Packwood, with whom Watson has become infatuated?
Oh, and there’s one other Is this a genuine Holmes case or a clever forgery? Is this the real thing?
If you can’t tell the difference, what is the difference?
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2025
97 people are currently reading
4016 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Meyer
36 books274 followersNicholas Meyer graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in theater and film-making, & is a film writer, producer, director and novelist best known for his involvement in the Star Trek films. He is also well known as the director for the landmark 1983 TV-Movie "The Day After", for which he was nominated for a Best Director Emmy Award. In 1977, Meyer was nominated for an Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for adapting his own 1974 novel, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, to the screen.
In addition to his work on Star Trek, Meyer has written several novels, and has written and/or directed several other films.Most notable being the 1983 made-for-television anti-nuclear movie The Day After.
Meyer wrote three Sherlock Holmes novels: The West End Horror, The Canary Trainer, and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. The latter was Meyer's most famous Holmes novel and the project for which he was best known prior to his Star Trek involvement. It was also adapted into a 1976 film, directed by Herbert Ross, for which Meyer wrote the screenplay.
In addition to his work on Star Trek, Meyer has written several novels, and has written and/or directed several other films.Most notable being the 1983 made-for-television anti-nuclear movie The Day After.
Meyer wrote three Sherlock Holmes novels: The West End Horror, The Canary Trainer, and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. The latter was Meyer's most famous Holmes novel and the project for which he was best known prior to his Star Trek involvement. It was also adapted into a 1976 film, directed by Herbert Ross, for which Meyer wrote the screenplay.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
June 13, 2025
I love Sherlock Holmes. I have loved him since I was 14 (and that's a very long time ag0). I read as many of the sequels that have been written to the original series.
And this is an excellent one. I enjoyed it from start to finish. I do think that Holmes gets nicer with each iteration I've read--not only by Meyer but in general, but that is not necessarily a bad thing (although I think part of Holmes' charm for me as an adolescent was his surliness!).
The "real thing" in this story is all about art (but maybe other things as well?). Lady Glendenning comes to Holmes because her tenant, a painter, has disappeared. All his belongings are still in his room but he is gone. Her timing is excellent: Holmes is of all the most deadly fates for him the worst: bored. Otherwise, he probably would not deign to take on such a pedestrian case.
Things turn out in some ways as you might expect but also, in other ways, quite differently.. Meyer takes us into the art world--not the one of surface glitter and dreams and aesthetic thrills but the dark underside--the one of stolen works, thieves, and, above all, forgers.
In addition to all its other pleasures, I enjoyed the ways in which Meyer explores the line between what is "real" and what is "fake"--as well as why it matters to us. That may have been my greatest pleasure in this story.
But there were plenty of others. As usual with Meyer, his story is well-plotted and well-paced. Old friends--such as Sherlock's erudite brother Mycroft and former member of the Baker Street Irregulars--make appearances. And since Watson (the "author") is here, so is a beautiful and somewhat mysterious woman.
Smooth and easy to digest, this book was a pleasure from start to finish.
Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing will be published on August 26, 2025. I want to thank Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press, NetGalley, and the author for giving me this early copy of the novel.
And this is an excellent one. I enjoyed it from start to finish. I do think that Holmes gets nicer with each iteration I've read--not only by Meyer but in general, but that is not necessarily a bad thing (although I think part of Holmes' charm for me as an adolescent was his surliness!).
The "real thing" in this story is all about art (but maybe other things as well?). Lady Glendenning comes to Holmes because her tenant, a painter, has disappeared. All his belongings are still in his room but he is gone. Her timing is excellent: Holmes is of all the most deadly fates for him the worst: bored. Otherwise, he probably would not deign to take on such a pedestrian case.
Things turn out in some ways as you might expect but also, in other ways, quite differently.. Meyer takes us into the art world--not the one of surface glitter and dreams and aesthetic thrills but the dark underside--the one of stolen works, thieves, and, above all, forgers.
In addition to all its other pleasures, I enjoyed the ways in which Meyer explores the line between what is "real" and what is "fake"--as well as why it matters to us. That may have been my greatest pleasure in this story.
But there were plenty of others. As usual with Meyer, his story is well-plotted and well-paced. Old friends--such as Sherlock's erudite brother Mycroft and former member of the Baker Street Irregulars--make appearances. And since Watson (the "author") is here, so is a beautiful and somewhat mysterious woman.
Smooth and easy to digest, this book was a pleasure from start to finish.
Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing will be published on August 26, 2025. I want to thank Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press, NetGalley, and the author for giving me this early copy of the novel.
October 6, 2025
I picked Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing expecting something entertaining — and in many ways, it delivered. The mystery about art forgery, missing rent, and a corpse hidden in a snowman was weird enough to be interesting, and I liked how Holmes’s sharp logic slowly uncovered what was really going on. When the clues fit together near the end, it was satisfying.
That said… parts of it dragged. There were stretches where I felt bored, especially when the story dived into art-restorer politics and every side character seemed shady in the same way. Watson’s infatuation subplot was okay, but I don’t think it added much to the suspense. Also, Holmes sometimes seemed more of a detective in theory — great with deduction — rather than someone doing a lot of heavy lifting, which made the action feel lighter than I would’ve liked.
Overall, the book was good for Sherlock fans: it has clever twists, the setting (London amid snowstorms) creates a moody backdrop, and it leans into the “real vs. forgery” theme in a way that makes you wonder. But it wasn’t the most gripping read. It kept me curious enough to finish, but I wasn’t racing through it. If you like classic Holmes, this is worth a read; if you want nonstop action or emotional stakes, this might feel more comfortable than thrilling.
That said… parts of it dragged. There were stretches where I felt bored, especially when the story dived into art-restorer politics and every side character seemed shady in the same way. Watson’s infatuation subplot was okay, but I don’t think it added much to the suspense. Also, Holmes sometimes seemed more of a detective in theory — great with deduction — rather than someone doing a lot of heavy lifting, which made the action feel lighter than I would’ve liked.
Overall, the book was good for Sherlock fans: it has clever twists, the setting (London amid snowstorms) creates a moody backdrop, and it leans into the “real vs. forgery” theme in a way that makes you wonder. But it wasn’t the most gripping read. It kept me curious enough to finish, but I wasn’t racing through it. If you like classic Holmes, this is worth a read; if you want nonstop action or emotional stakes, this might feel more comfortable than thrilling.
August 23, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this new story featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The latter describes their investigation into an artist’s disappearance and their ensuing journey through the troubling underbelly of the art world: shady dealers, overpriced forgeries, dangerous secrets, the works. Their discoveries prompt excellent discussions of art, chemistry, and—most intriguing for me—the value of originality. Why does the “real thing” matter to us, and why do we pursue it?
I thought the mystery was nicely plotted, but perhaps could have been solved sooner, since I found it slightly less complex than expected. While I can’t call myself an expert on Sherlock Holmes, I’ve read several stories, and I found Meyer’s voice to be comparable to Doyle’s. His interpretation of Holmes, however, was softer and more congenial than I’m used to (I’m not complaining; I loved him). Watson reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Hastings—a little bit of a lovesick doofus. But again, I found him endearing.
The audiobook is well-acted, nice and dynamic, though I found the narrator too prone to “punchiness,” like popping consonants. That could be personal preference. On the whole, I enjoyed it. Very cozy and would be perfect for chilly fall or winter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
I thought the mystery was nicely plotted, but perhaps could have been solved sooner, since I found it slightly less complex than expected. While I can’t call myself an expert on Sherlock Holmes, I’ve read several stories, and I found Meyer’s voice to be comparable to Doyle’s. His interpretation of Holmes, however, was softer and more congenial than I’m used to (I’m not complaining; I loved him). Watson reminded me of Agatha Christie’s Hastings—a little bit of a lovesick doofus. But again, I found him endearing.
The audiobook is well-acted, nice and dynamic, though I found the narrator too prone to “punchiness,” like popping consonants. That could be personal preference. On the whole, I enjoyed it. Very cozy and would be perfect for chilly fall or winter.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2025
As a rabid Sherlockian, writing by authors other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle make me a bit nervous. But Nicholas Meyer has a beautiful way of bringing historical details together along with keeping true to the original characters with wit and charm. For me Jeremy Brett IS Sherlock Holmes so when reading Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing, he is who I envisioned in his 221b Baker Street rooms in this rich novel. There's something comfy and nostalgic about that.
Lady Glendenning consulted Holmes and Dr. Watson with a mystery on her hands. Portraitist Rupert Milestone was also her tenant and had uncharacteristically disappeared. It was up to the detectives to use their deduction and technical skills and learn about the art world including forgery. They also dipped into chemistry and conferred with Mycroft. Along came Juliet who caused a different kind of chemical reaction. But that's not all. The location of a body was creative just like the rest of the novel. The mystery had predictable bits along with surprises and the ending was satisfying.
One of the most striking aspects about this novel is the wonderful Michael Abernathy Jr. prologue! What a treasure! But the mystery itself is a treat, too, and the Old Masters art angle is intertwined seamlessly in the sticky web of deceit. I adore artists such as Raphael, Renoir, Rembrandt, and Titian, all mentioned here. I learned new-to-me things about art such as Craquelure and historical details which were noted in red throughout the book such as the St. Donatus Zadar medal, Madame X, and Sir Thomas More. Really a splendid book to read on this gloriously cool and drizzly day.
Lady Glendenning consulted Holmes and Dr. Watson with a mystery on her hands. Portraitist Rupert Milestone was also her tenant and had uncharacteristically disappeared. It was up to the detectives to use their deduction and technical skills and learn about the art world including forgery. They also dipped into chemistry and conferred with Mycroft. Along came Juliet who caused a different kind of chemical reaction. But that's not all. The location of a body was creative just like the rest of the novel. The mystery had predictable bits along with surprises and the ending was satisfying.
One of the most striking aspects about this novel is the wonderful Michael Abernathy Jr. prologue! What a treasure! But the mystery itself is a treat, too, and the Old Masters art angle is intertwined seamlessly in the sticky web of deceit. I adore artists such as Raphael, Renoir, Rembrandt, and Titian, all mentioned here. I learned new-to-me things about art such as Craquelure and historical details which were noted in red throughout the book such as the St. Donatus Zadar medal, Madame X, and Sir Thomas More. Really a splendid book to read on this gloriously cool and drizzly day.
July 16, 2025
During a frozen winter in the 1890s, Sherlock Holmes is desperate for a case. A landlady’s complaint about her artist tenant plunges Holmes and Watson into the shadowy world of the art market, where deceit, ambition, and greed prove as deadly as any weapon. As bodies pile up and suspects multiply, Watson becomes entangled with the mysterious Juliet Packwood, even as he and Holmes race to uncover who among the artists, dealers, and lovers is truly capable of murder.
This was a fun adventure! It felt like I was reading one of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. Holmes and Watson are as I remember them, down to the good doctor being charmed by a pretty woman, and I enjoyed following them on this adventure.
The details of art forgery were interesting and well-researched. I enjoyed the pacing of the mystery. Each detail was revealed at just the right time and then put together in the end in a satisfying way. I am always happy when I can guess the solution, and this time I was half right.
Overall, this is a great read for anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes adventures. I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
This was a fun adventure! It felt like I was reading one of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. Holmes and Watson are as I remember them, down to the good doctor being charmed by a pretty woman, and I enjoyed following them on this adventure.
The details of art forgery were interesting and well-researched. I enjoyed the pacing of the mystery. Each detail was revealed at just the right time and then put together in the end in a satisfying way. I am always happy when I can guess the solution, and this time I was half right.
Overall, this is a great read for anyone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes adventures. I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.
June 27, 2025
What a delight! Right from the set up of how this latest Watson manuscript was found, we're invited on another rollicking Sherlockian adventure. Meyer has so thoroughly captured Watson's voice that it's like putting on a comfortable old sweater. Great plot, great characters, and great pacing make for another successful homage. Loved it!
January 13, 2026
4 STARS
Nicholas Meyer's found manuscripts for Dr. Watson are always enjoyable, and he relates the voice of Watson very well.
In this particular entry, Holmes and Watson are drawn into the illicit underbelly of the art world where forgery, blackmail, and murder seem to rule the day.
Full of the witty banter between Holmes and Watson that one might expect, this was an enjoyable mystery read, even if the mystery itself was a bit on the weak side.
Enjoyable read, particularly for traditional Sherlock Holmes fans.
4 STARS
Nicholas Meyer's found manuscripts for Dr. Watson are always enjoyable, and he relates the voice of Watson very well.
In this particular entry, Holmes and Watson are drawn into the illicit underbelly of the art world where forgery, blackmail, and murder seem to rule the day.
Full of the witty banter between Holmes and Watson that one might expect, this was an enjoyable mystery read, even if the mystery itself was a bit on the weak side.
Enjoyable read, particularly for traditional Sherlock Holmes fans.
4 STARS
January 7, 2026
I’m not an expert on Sherlock Holmes fiction but this struck me as something of a middle of the road installment. I enjoyed it and it felt authentic to the source material, it just didn’t really wow me.
September 6, 2025
A really well done audiobook. I have been reading these since The 7% Solution and did not even realize there was a new one ( The Peculiar Protocols being my favorite so far).
The mystery was terrific with many surprises, but best of all I learned quite a bit about art restoration and it was quite fascinating. The set up of another "found " Watson story was fun and the footnotes to other books, helpful. We even go back to the rooms from A Scarlet lady.
As in all Sherlock books there are twists and turns, a little romance, and
many revelations. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook so much that I sometimes just drove around so I could listen more.
For all Sherlock fans, and this can be read as a standalone .
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook. I highly recommend listening to it. The opinions in this review are mine alone.
The mystery was terrific with many surprises, but best of all I learned quite a bit about art restoration and it was quite fascinating. The set up of another "found " Watson story was fun and the footnotes to other books, helpful. We even go back to the rooms from A Scarlet lady.
As in all Sherlock books there are twists and turns, a little romance, and
many revelations. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook so much that I sometimes just drove around so I could listen more.
For all Sherlock fans, and this can be read as a standalone .
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook. I highly recommend listening to it. The opinions in this review are mine alone.
September 26, 2025
This felt like it belonged in Holmes & Watson canon. The author got the friendship between Holmes and Watson down pat and Watson’s voice felt right. And the mystery was an enjoyable one, although I guessed different parts of it at different times. You can’t say this isn’t a solvable mystery. I’ll definitely read more.
August 25, 2025
Sherlock is bored and the weather awful so any case will do to occupy his mind. Holmes and Watson will become involved in the Art world when an artist is found dead and frozen in the form of a snowman. The investigation will begin.
Well written and narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this well paced quirky investigation. Is forgery being committed and are people being conned, plus who has been killed. Watson will meet a woman who will change his life.
Well written and narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Good characters in this well paced quirky investigation. Is forgery being committed and are people being conned, plus who has been killed. Watson will meet a woman who will change his life.
September 5, 2025
3.5 stars
In this Sherlock Holmes pastiche by author Nicholas Meyer, Dr. Watson relates 'the tale of the missing painter', in which Holmes delves into the art world, where it's sometimes hard to tell fakes from the real thing.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
*****
As the book opens, a blizzard has coated London in snow, Sherlock Holmes has no interesting cases, and the detective is bored and irritable.
Then Lady Glendenning shows up at 221B Baker Street. Her ladyship is an attractive blonde woman whose East London accent proves she wasn't born to the aristocracy.
Her ladyship - the former Vera Pertwee - explains she's the widow of Lord Glendenning, a real estate mogul who left her in charge of a gaggle of properties. Lady Glendenning tells Holmes that one of her tenants, a painter named Rupert Milestone, has disappeared.
Lady Glendenning goes on to explain that Milestone hasn't paid his rent for three months, when his check always arrived right on time in the past. Also, when Lady Glendenning checked Milestone's studio/apartment, the place was empty and dusty, and the unopened mail was piled up inside the door.
When Holmes mentions the police, Lady Glendenning says she reported Milestone's disappearance to Inspector Gregson, and he told her to file a missing person's report -and suggested she consult Sherlock Holmes.
So here she is!
Shortly afterwards, Holmes and Watson meet Lady Glendenning at Rupert Milestone's address: 7 Turncoat Lane in Notting Hill Gate. The artist's studio is 70' by 40', with a high ceiling comprised of a skylight that would provide a painter with ample light. There are canvases around the walls, a damaged painting of Venice on an easel, and a self-portrait of the artist - a very handsome man - hanging near his bed.
When Holmes and Watson return to Baker Street, Sherlock explains what he noticed: footprints from two pairs of shoes that indicate a scuffle occurred; a wad of cash in the toe of a boot; and dried blood on the floor, obscured by red paint.
Holmes speculates that Milestone was murdered, and his body will be found in a snowdrift when the snow starts to melt. Holmes is almost right, because Milestone's body is found in a playground, hidden inside a snowman.
Lady Glendenning pays Holmes a generous fee - and the sleuth no longer has a client - but he can't let it go.
Something about the paraphernalia in Milestone's studio - including a pumice stone and formaldehyde - and the marred painting of Venice raises Holmes' suspicions.
To garner information about the art world, Holmes drops into the VERY exclusive Diogenes Club, to consult with his brother Mycroft, who has arcane knowledge about everything.
While Mycroft scarfs down the eclairs Sherlock's been served, he explains that Sir Jonathan Van Dam, Lord Southbank - who goes by the moniker Lord Johnny - is the most important art dealer in London. Lord Johnny deals EXCLUSIVELY in the old masters, and he's a capable and crafty salesman.
Mycroft goes to explains that Rupert Milestone (the murder victim) was the art restorer for Lord Johnny and that a man named Signor Garibaldi is the authenticator for Lord Johnny, assuring clients the paintings are authentic.
In the course of his investigation, Sherlock learns Milestone was a skilled copycat, a feature common to forgers. To learn more about Milestone, Sherlock sends Watson to the Packwood Gallery that represented the artist, and Watson is attracted to gallerist Juliet Packwood, who works for her uncle. As Sherlock investigates Milestone's homicide, Holmes woos Miss Packwood, and the twains eventually meet (so to speak).
In a fun touch, Holmes gets assistance from Wiggins, a young man who was head of the Baker Street Irregulars a decade ago, when he was a lad.
As Holmes continues to speak to people and collect clues, someone gets spooked and there are more murders. In time Sherlock gets an inspiration that leads him to the killer, and I don't think many armchair sleuths will beat him to the punch.
I don't have many gripes about the novel, though I wonder about children being allowed to enter a playground right after a snowman (with a body inside) is carted away. Additionally, some of the chitchat about real paintings and forgeries is overdone, and I would have preferred more detecting and less conversation.
That said, I'd recommend the book to fans of Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by David Robb and Nick Meyer, who do a fine job.
There are hints that this is Nicholas Meyer's last Sherlock Holmes pastiche, but I hope that isn't true. Meyer has captured Arthur Conan Doyle's style, and his books are a good fit with the Sherlock Holmes canon.
Thanks to Netgalley, Nicholas Meyer, and Highbridge Audio for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
August 31, 2025
Absolutely brilliant…
I’ve read all of Nick’s novels and have enjoyed them immensely. The Watson chronicles are wonderful beyond measure. This latest entry is no exception. I hope he will write more Watson chronicles but if he doesn’t this book is an excellent way of finishing the series. Thank you, Nick.
I’ve read all of Nick’s novels and have enjoyed them immensely. The Watson chronicles are wonderful beyond measure. This latest entry is no exception. I hope he will write more Watson chronicles but if he doesn’t this book is an excellent way of finishing the series. Thank you, Nick.
August 25, 2025
A wonderful adaptation of the original. I listened to this book and the reader was extremely good. The only thing listening to it the story gets cut into with footnotes that are in the book. I highly recommend this book.
June 22, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.
Another fine Holmes tale that focuses less on real life historical events / people and more on the craft of Art, the question of authenticity and its monetary value and social impact - concepts that are still relevant in the 21st Century (with the rise of AI, social media filters and such). The story is well paced with enough suspects and clues to keep the reader guessing until the end. Meyer is an expert in capturing Doyle's tone and cadence for the characters and situations that one could almost believe it was a 'lost' case written by Doyle.
Another fine Holmes tale that focuses less on real life historical events / people and more on the craft of Art, the question of authenticity and its monetary value and social impact - concepts that are still relevant in the 21st Century (with the rise of AI, social media filters and such). The story is well paced with enough suspects and clues to keep the reader guessing until the end. Meyer is an expert in capturing Doyle's tone and cadence for the characters and situations that one could almost believe it was a 'lost' case written by Doyle.
June 23, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers- Mysterious Press for an advance copy featuring the team of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson as they attempt to figure out the whereabouts of a missing artist, and find a whole new world of crime and skullduggery in the world of paintings and portraits.
I found two sections in the book, one in the novel and one in the afterword from the author dealing with the question of who decides what is art, and what is original, that made me pause both times. I have a complicated relationship with others continuing to work with characters created by others. Especially today when everything seems to geared to make a profit, and not profit fans in decent storytelling. Both the fiction and nonfiction, part of a conversation between Holmes and Watson, and a retelling by the author of the book of an encounter really summed up what I thought, what I felt, and helped me feel better for enjoying works like this. So in addition to a find story, with a great use of classic characters, I have even more to thank Nicholas Meyer for. Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing features the team of Watson and Holmes as they learn about a new kind of crime, the one that takes place in the highest levels of art world, a crime that might lead someone to murder.
The time is the end of the 1800's and London is buried under snow that seems to be not stopping. People are trapped in their homes, the municipal workers are overwhelmed, and Sherlock Holmes is bored, bored, bored. Thankfully a hansom cab delivers a client, a young woman with an interesting story. The woman is the widow of a wealthy man who owns many properties in the town. One of her renters is an artist of renown, but has not paid his rent in months. A look inside the studio shows nothing, but the woman is concerned enough to come to Holmes to find him. The studio is indeed empty, except for a large chest, piles of money, a paining on an easel, and a bit of blood on the ground. A conversation with Mycroft, Sherlock's older, smarter, and more obese brother introduces Sherlock to a whole new world. A world of high priced art dealers, and restorers, with sometimes a lack of honesty. The more Holmes investigates the more he fears that this case is far larger than he expects. And more dangerous.
Nicholas Meyer is probably better known for his Hollywood movies, Star Trek, Time After Time, and a movie version of his own book The Seven Percent Solution. Meyer has been writing about Holmes for over 50 years and has a real grasp of what makes the characters and the stories so interesting. There is a sense of an ending here also, as this might be the last mystery that Meyer will write, and if it is well he is leaving head held high. The story is good, played fair, with a clues and Sherlock figuring things out about people that others might miss. There are many Easter eggs in the story leading back to other novels of Meyer and of classic stories also. Meyer gets the relationship between Holmes and Watson, and that is really the highlight of the book. Also Meyer lets Holmes be a little more human, which I have always enjoyed. What I also liked was that the art world was new to Sherlock Holmes, and to have him learn as we were reading was kind of novel.
I do hope this is not the last book, as I really enjoy the work the Meyer does. Fans of Sherlock will really enjoy this, and if this is the last, well start at the beginning and enjoy.
I found two sections in the book, one in the novel and one in the afterword from the author dealing with the question of who decides what is art, and what is original, that made me pause both times. I have a complicated relationship with others continuing to work with characters created by others. Especially today when everything seems to geared to make a profit, and not profit fans in decent storytelling. Both the fiction and nonfiction, part of a conversation between Holmes and Watson, and a retelling by the author of the book of an encounter really summed up what I thought, what I felt, and helped me feel better for enjoying works like this. So in addition to a find story, with a great use of classic characters, I have even more to thank Nicholas Meyer for. Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing features the team of Watson and Holmes as they learn about a new kind of crime, the one that takes place in the highest levels of art world, a crime that might lead someone to murder.
The time is the end of the 1800's and London is buried under snow that seems to be not stopping. People are trapped in their homes, the municipal workers are overwhelmed, and Sherlock Holmes is bored, bored, bored. Thankfully a hansom cab delivers a client, a young woman with an interesting story. The woman is the widow of a wealthy man who owns many properties in the town. One of her renters is an artist of renown, but has not paid his rent in months. A look inside the studio shows nothing, but the woman is concerned enough to come to Holmes to find him. The studio is indeed empty, except for a large chest, piles of money, a paining on an easel, and a bit of blood on the ground. A conversation with Mycroft, Sherlock's older, smarter, and more obese brother introduces Sherlock to a whole new world. A world of high priced art dealers, and restorers, with sometimes a lack of honesty. The more Holmes investigates the more he fears that this case is far larger than he expects. And more dangerous.
Nicholas Meyer is probably better known for his Hollywood movies, Star Trek, Time After Time, and a movie version of his own book The Seven Percent Solution. Meyer has been writing about Holmes for over 50 years and has a real grasp of what makes the characters and the stories so interesting. There is a sense of an ending here also, as this might be the last mystery that Meyer will write, and if it is well he is leaving head held high. The story is good, played fair, with a clues and Sherlock figuring things out about people that others might miss. There are many Easter eggs in the story leading back to other novels of Meyer and of classic stories also. Meyer gets the relationship between Holmes and Watson, and that is really the highlight of the book. Also Meyer lets Holmes be a little more human, which I have always enjoyed. What I also liked was that the art world was new to Sherlock Holmes, and to have him learn as we were reading was kind of novel.
I do hope this is not the last book, as I really enjoy the work the Meyer does. Fans of Sherlock will really enjoy this, and if this is the last, well start at the beginning and enjoy.
August 27, 2025
Sherlock Holmes is snowed in, vibrating with boredom, and basically one violin solo away from throwing himself out the window of 221B when Nicholas Meyer drops Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing in our laps. Cue a landlady with a rent complaint that sounds about as exciting as soggy toast... except the missing tenant is an artist, bodies start dropping like bad sketches, and suddenly Holmes and Watson are skating into the most murderous corner of the art world.
And let me tell you, this isn’t the glamorous champagne-and-galleries art world. This is the shady back-alley version where dealers are shysters, mistresses are walking plot twists, and everyone has a knife tucked under their smock. Meyer has stacked the suspect list so high you could hang it in the Louvre. Every time you think you’ve pegged the culprit, someone else looks just as guilty, and Holmes is over here quietly smirking while you trip over red herrings.
Watson, meanwhile, is fully living his “I can fix her” era with Juliet Packwood, the mysterious woman who drifts into the case like a walking caution sign. He’s blushing, fumbling, absolutely head over heels, while Holmes is busy recreating forgery techniques with chemistry experiments that probably violate several health codes. Watson’s soft, lovesick energy is the perfect chaotic foil to Holmes’s razor-wire brain, and honestly it gives the story its pulse.
The real clever twist though is the way Meyer leans into the theme of forgery itself. The whole case is about fake paintings, but also, hello, the book itself is a forgery, a Conan Doyle imitation passed off as “the real thing.” It’s the kind of layered cheekiness that makes you stop mid-chapter and mutter, “Okay, fine, that’s smart,” before diving back into the bodies in the snow.
Now, as far as mystery mechanics go, this one isn’t quite a jaw-dropper. It’s more “solidly twisty” than “oh my god, my monocle just fell off.” But it’s got atmosphere for days, a blizzard trapping everyone in a chilly snow globe of secrets, and enough corpses and cutthroats to keep the stakes high. It’s a perfect winter read, the kind where you want to burrow under a blanket and let Holmes monologue you into submission.
The narration? David Robb is serving straight Victorian drama with a splash of grit. His Holmes voice has that sharp, almost surgical crispness, while his Watson has a warm, open quality that makes you believe this man would fall in love with a mysterious stranger mid-murder spree. The pacing is smooth, the mood immersive, and he handles the sprawling cast without anyone bleeding into each other. Meyer even sneaks in his own vocal cameo, which feels like a cheeky wink from the author, not a distraction.
At the end of the day, this is less about a mind-bending solution and more about the vibe: a chilly, deadly romp through art, forgery, and human folly, with Holmes as our sardonic guide and Watson once again proving he cannot resist a pretty face. A comfortable 3.5 stars from me, enjoyable with just enough bite to keep the blood pumping.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Deeply Suspicious of Both Oil Paintings and Men Named Rupert
Big thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for sliding me this early audiobook like a forbidden forgery tucked under a coat. You enablers know exactly how to keep me out past curfew with Holmes and Watson.
And let me tell you, this isn’t the glamorous champagne-and-galleries art world. This is the shady back-alley version where dealers are shysters, mistresses are walking plot twists, and everyone has a knife tucked under their smock. Meyer has stacked the suspect list so high you could hang it in the Louvre. Every time you think you’ve pegged the culprit, someone else looks just as guilty, and Holmes is over here quietly smirking while you trip over red herrings.
Watson, meanwhile, is fully living his “I can fix her” era with Juliet Packwood, the mysterious woman who drifts into the case like a walking caution sign. He’s blushing, fumbling, absolutely head over heels, while Holmes is busy recreating forgery techniques with chemistry experiments that probably violate several health codes. Watson’s soft, lovesick energy is the perfect chaotic foil to Holmes’s razor-wire brain, and honestly it gives the story its pulse.
The real clever twist though is the way Meyer leans into the theme of forgery itself. The whole case is about fake paintings, but also, hello, the book itself is a forgery, a Conan Doyle imitation passed off as “the real thing.” It’s the kind of layered cheekiness that makes you stop mid-chapter and mutter, “Okay, fine, that’s smart,” before diving back into the bodies in the snow.
Now, as far as mystery mechanics go, this one isn’t quite a jaw-dropper. It’s more “solidly twisty” than “oh my god, my monocle just fell off.” But it’s got atmosphere for days, a blizzard trapping everyone in a chilly snow globe of secrets, and enough corpses and cutthroats to keep the stakes high. It’s a perfect winter read, the kind where you want to burrow under a blanket and let Holmes monologue you into submission.
The narration? David Robb is serving straight Victorian drama with a splash of grit. His Holmes voice has that sharp, almost surgical crispness, while his Watson has a warm, open quality that makes you believe this man would fall in love with a mysterious stranger mid-murder spree. The pacing is smooth, the mood immersive, and he handles the sprawling cast without anyone bleeding into each other. Meyer even sneaks in his own vocal cameo, which feels like a cheeky wink from the author, not a distraction.
At the end of the day, this is less about a mind-bending solution and more about the vibe: a chilly, deadly romp through art, forgery, and human folly, with Holmes as our sardonic guide and Watson once again proving he cannot resist a pretty face. A comfortable 3.5 stars from me, enjoyable with just enough bite to keep the blood pumping.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Deeply Suspicious of Both Oil Paintings and Men Named Rupert
Big thanks to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for sliding me this early audiobook like a forbidden forgery tucked under a coat. You enablers know exactly how to keep me out past curfew with Holmes and Watson.
September 6, 2025
4 1/2 Stars
I have never hidden the fact that my all-time favorite fictional character is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. However, as a Holmesian it is sometimes difficult to navigate all the options available out there in the age of Public Domain. There are literally thousands of novels, short stories, films, TV shows, and streaming series about Holmes are directly inspired by him, not all of them great.
This is not the case with author and filmmaker Nicholas Meyer who, in my humble opinion, is the preeminent author of Sherlock Holmes novels that are the most faithful to Conanan Doyle’s original version. This was evident in his first Holmes novel THE SEVEN-PERCENT-SOLUTION, a 1970’s bestseller, and continues through his most recent effort, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING.
This novel lives within the world of fine art. You might be thinking that this is not a remarkably interesting subject matter for a Sherlock Holmes investigation. You would be wrong in this thought as Meyer has put together a story involving the dark side of fine art and the forgeries and double-dealings done within the industry which can bring about homicidal responses in an effort to protect the restoration of original classic artwork that is often duplicated by those with subversive morals and delusions of grandeur and financial windfalls when trading in these items.
On a snowy winter day, Sherlock Holmes is suffering from a severe case of boredom. This mood is not expected to change when a Lady Glendenning calls on Holmes and Watson to report a situation with a missing tenant. Holmes reluctantly listens not expecting to have interest. That is until Glendenning confesses that the missing tenant was an artist of mostly portraits named Rupert Milestone. He disappeared owing her a few months’ rent and having gone to the police who turned up nothing, Lady Glendenning felt impelled to take her potential case to the great consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes and Watson ask to see Milestone’s apartment and head directly there even with the snow picking up outside. Upon full inspection of the premises, Holmes discovers some interesting things that make him want to move forward with the case, the most obvious being the considerable amount of dried blood on the floor with all the old, spilled paint. Another item which Holmes finds to be somewhat significant was the unframed Rembrandt painting which, to the untrained eye, looked like an original. Not being an expert in fine art, Holmes reaches out to both his brother Mycroft as well as Milestone’s own employer to attempt to authenticate this piece. The responses he gets, especially from the world-renowned art restorer named Garibaldi, shows high interest in this painting and a bit of desperation to possess it.
Things begin to get considerably more dangerous when Holmes frequent professional colleague, Inspector Lestrade, uncovers a dead body hidden within the confines of a melting snowman. The initial fear is that this is the missing Rupert Milestone. Knowing that there are people out there willing to kill to protect whatever chicanery Milestone and his cohorts were involved in was enough to put Holmes and Watson on high alert while continuing their investigation. One person they call upon to provide expert opinion is a woman named Juliet Packwood, to whom the widowed Watson takes quite a shine. She will play a key role in the made-up ‘play,’ a tip of the hat to the play within a play conceived by Hamlet in Shakespeare’s classic, and hopefully a killer or killers will be revealed.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING delivers everything a Holmes fan should expect from a great tale masterminded by Nicholas Meyer. In the Acknowledgements at the end of the novel, Meyer hints at the fact that this may very well be his last Holmes novel which was why he wanted to bring things full circle with several references to the very first Holmes story, A Study In Scarlet.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
I have never hidden the fact that my all-time favorite fictional character is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. However, as a Holmesian it is sometimes difficult to navigate all the options available out there in the age of Public Domain. There are literally thousands of novels, short stories, films, TV shows, and streaming series about Holmes are directly inspired by him, not all of them great.
This is not the case with author and filmmaker Nicholas Meyer who, in my humble opinion, is the preeminent author of Sherlock Holmes novels that are the most faithful to Conanan Doyle’s original version. This was evident in his first Holmes novel THE SEVEN-PERCENT-SOLUTION, a 1970’s bestseller, and continues through his most recent effort, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING.
This novel lives within the world of fine art. You might be thinking that this is not a remarkably interesting subject matter for a Sherlock Holmes investigation. You would be wrong in this thought as Meyer has put together a story involving the dark side of fine art and the forgeries and double-dealings done within the industry which can bring about homicidal responses in an effort to protect the restoration of original classic artwork that is often duplicated by those with subversive morals and delusions of grandeur and financial windfalls when trading in these items.
On a snowy winter day, Sherlock Holmes is suffering from a severe case of boredom. This mood is not expected to change when a Lady Glendenning calls on Holmes and Watson to report a situation with a missing tenant. Holmes reluctantly listens not expecting to have interest. That is until Glendenning confesses that the missing tenant was an artist of mostly portraits named Rupert Milestone. He disappeared owing her a few months’ rent and having gone to the police who turned up nothing, Lady Glendenning felt impelled to take her potential case to the great consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Holmes and Watson ask to see Milestone’s apartment and head directly there even with the snow picking up outside. Upon full inspection of the premises, Holmes discovers some interesting things that make him want to move forward with the case, the most obvious being the considerable amount of dried blood on the floor with all the old, spilled paint. Another item which Holmes finds to be somewhat significant was the unframed Rembrandt painting which, to the untrained eye, looked like an original. Not being an expert in fine art, Holmes reaches out to both his brother Mycroft as well as Milestone’s own employer to attempt to authenticate this piece. The responses he gets, especially from the world-renowned art restorer named Garibaldi, shows high interest in this painting and a bit of desperation to possess it.
Things begin to get considerably more dangerous when Holmes frequent professional colleague, Inspector Lestrade, uncovers a dead body hidden within the confines of a melting snowman. The initial fear is that this is the missing Rupert Milestone. Knowing that there are people out there willing to kill to protect whatever chicanery Milestone and his cohorts were involved in was enough to put Holmes and Watson on high alert while continuing their investigation. One person they call upon to provide expert opinion is a woman named Juliet Packwood, to whom the widowed Watson takes quite a shine. She will play a key role in the made-up ‘play,’ a tip of the hat to the play within a play conceived by Hamlet in Shakespeare’s classic, and hopefully a killer or killers will be revealed.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING delivers everything a Holmes fan should expect from a great tale masterminded by Nicholas Meyer. In the Acknowledgements at the end of the novel, Meyer hints at the fact that this may very well be his last Holmes novel which was why he wanted to bring things full circle with several references to the very first Holmes story, A Study In Scarlet.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 7, 2025
It is no secret that my all-time favorite fictional character is Sherlock Holmes. However, as a Holmesian, it is sometimes difficult to navigate all of the options available in the age of public domain. There are literally thousands of novels, short stories, films, TV shows and streaming series about Holmes, and not all of them are great.
That is not the case with author and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. In my humble opinion, his books are the most faithful to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original version. This was evident in his first Holmes novel, the 1976 bestseller THE SEVEN-PER-CENT-SOLUTION, and continues in his most recent effort, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING.
This time, Meyer has penned a story about the dark side of fine art and the forgeries and double dealings done within the industry that can bring about homicidal responses in an effort to protect the restoration of classic artwork, which is often duplicated by those with subversive morals, delusions of grandeur and financial windfalls when trading in these items.
On a snowy winter day, Sherlock Holmes is suffering from a severe case of boredom when Lady Vera Glendenning alerts him and Watson to a missing tenant. Rupert Milestone is a portrait artist who disappeared while still owing her a few months’ rent. The police have turned up nothing, so she feels compelled to ask Holmes for assistance.
Holmes and Watson head to Milestone’s apartment, even with the snow picking up. Upon full inspection of the premises, Holmes discovers a considerable amount of dried blood on the floor with all the old, spilled paint. He also finds an unframed Rembrandt painting, which, to the untrained eye, looks like an original. Not being an expert in fine art, he reaches out to his brother, Mycroft, and Milestone’s employer to attempt to authenticate it. The response he gets, especially from a world-renowned art restorer, shows a great deal of interest in the painting and a bit of desperation to possess it.
Holmes’ frequent colleague, Inspector Lestrade, uncovers a dead body hidden within the confines of a melting snowman. It initially is feared to be Milestone. Knowing that there are people out there willing to kill to protect whatever chicanery Milestone and his cohorts have been involved in is enough to put Holmes and Watson on high alert while continuing their investigation. They call on Juliet Packwood, to whom the widowed Watson takes quite a shine, to provide her expert opinion. She will play a key role in the made-up play, a tip of the hat to the play within a play conceived by Hamlet. Hopefully a killer or killers will be revealed.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING delivers everything a Holmes fan should expect from a great tale masterminded by Nicholas Meyer. In the acknowledgements, Meyer hints that this may be his last Sherlock Holmes novel, which is why he cleverly brings everything full circle with several references to the first Holmes story, A STUDY IN SCARLET.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
That is not the case with author and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. In my humble opinion, his books are the most faithful to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original version. This was evident in his first Holmes novel, the 1976 bestseller THE SEVEN-PER-CENT-SOLUTION, and continues in his most recent effort, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING.
This time, Meyer has penned a story about the dark side of fine art and the forgeries and double dealings done within the industry that can bring about homicidal responses in an effort to protect the restoration of classic artwork, which is often duplicated by those with subversive morals, delusions of grandeur and financial windfalls when trading in these items.
On a snowy winter day, Sherlock Holmes is suffering from a severe case of boredom when Lady Vera Glendenning alerts him and Watson to a missing tenant. Rupert Milestone is a portrait artist who disappeared while still owing her a few months’ rent. The police have turned up nothing, so she feels compelled to ask Holmes for assistance.
Holmes and Watson head to Milestone’s apartment, even with the snow picking up. Upon full inspection of the premises, Holmes discovers a considerable amount of dried blood on the floor with all the old, spilled paint. He also finds an unframed Rembrandt painting, which, to the untrained eye, looks like an original. Not being an expert in fine art, he reaches out to his brother, Mycroft, and Milestone’s employer to attempt to authenticate it. The response he gets, especially from a world-renowned art restorer, shows a great deal of interest in the painting and a bit of desperation to possess it.
Holmes’ frequent colleague, Inspector Lestrade, uncovers a dead body hidden within the confines of a melting snowman. It initially is feared to be Milestone. Knowing that there are people out there willing to kill to protect whatever chicanery Milestone and his cohorts have been involved in is enough to put Holmes and Watson on high alert while continuing their investigation. They call on Juliet Packwood, to whom the widowed Watson takes quite a shine, to provide her expert opinion. She will play a key role in the made-up play, a tip of the hat to the play within a play conceived by Hamlet. Hopefully a killer or killers will be revealed.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING delivers everything a Holmes fan should expect from a great tale masterminded by Nicholas Meyer. In the acknowledgements, Meyer hints that this may be his last Sherlock Holmes novel, which is why he cleverly brings everything full circle with several references to the first Holmes story, A STUDY IN SCARLET.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
September 7, 2025
It is no secret that my all-time favorite fictional character is Sherlock Holmes. However, as a Holmesian, it is sometimes difficult to navigate all of the options available in the age of public domain. There are literally thousands of novels, short stories, films, TV shows and streaming series about Holmes, and not all of them are great.
That is not the case with author and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. In my humble opinion, his books are the most faithful to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original version. This was evident in his first Holmes novel, the 1976 bestseller THE SEVEN-PER-CENT-SOLUTION, and continues in his most recent effort, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING.
This time, Meyer has penned a story about the dark side of fine art and the forgeries and double dealings done within the industry that can bring about homicidal responses in an effort to protect the restoration of classic artwork, which is often duplicated by those with subversive morals, delusions of grandeur and financial windfalls when trading in these items.
On a snowy winter day, Sherlock Holmes is suffering from a severe case of boredom when Lady Vera Glendenning alerts him and Watson to a missing tenant. Rupert Milestone is a portrait artist who disappeared while still owing her a few months’ rent. The police have turned up nothing, so she feels compelled to ask Holmes for assistance.
Holmes and Watson head to Milestone’s apartment, even with the snow picking up. Upon full inspection of the premises, Holmes discovers a considerable amount of dried blood on the floor with all the old, spilled paint. He also finds an unframed Rembrandt painting, which, to the untrained eye, looks like an original. Not being an expert in fine art, he reaches out to his brother, Mycroft, and Milestone’s employer to attempt to authenticate it. The response he gets, especially from a world-renowned art restorer, shows a great deal of interest in the painting and a bit of desperation to possess it.
Holmes’ frequent colleague, Inspector Lestrade, uncovers a dead body hidden within the confines of a melting snowman. It initially is feared to be Milestone. Knowing that there are people out there willing to kill to protect whatever chicanery Milestone and his cohorts have been involved in is enough to put Holmes and Watson on high alert while continuing their investigation. They call on Juliet Packwood, to whom the widowed Watson takes quite a shine, to provide her expert opinion. She will play a key role in the made-up play, a tip of the hat to the play within a play conceived by Hamlet. Hopefully a killer or killers will be revealed.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING delivers everything a Holmes fan should expect from a great tale masterminded by Nicholas Meyer. In the acknowledgements, Meyer hints that this may be his last Sherlock Holmes novel, which is why he cleverly brings everything full circle with several references to the first Holmes story, A STUDY IN SCARLET.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
That is not the case with author and screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. In my humble opinion, his books are the most faithful to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original version. This was evident in his first Holmes novel, the 1976 bestseller THE SEVEN-PER-CENT-SOLUTION, and continues in his most recent effort, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING.
This time, Meyer has penned a story about the dark side of fine art and the forgeries and double dealings done within the industry that can bring about homicidal responses in an effort to protect the restoration of classic artwork, which is often duplicated by those with subversive morals, delusions of grandeur and financial windfalls when trading in these items.
On a snowy winter day, Sherlock Holmes is suffering from a severe case of boredom when Lady Vera Glendenning alerts him and Watson to a missing tenant. Rupert Milestone is a portrait artist who disappeared while still owing her a few months’ rent. The police have turned up nothing, so she feels compelled to ask Holmes for assistance.
Holmes and Watson head to Milestone’s apartment, even with the snow picking up. Upon full inspection of the premises, Holmes discovers a considerable amount of dried blood on the floor with all the old, spilled paint. He also finds an unframed Rembrandt painting, which, to the untrained eye, looks like an original. Not being an expert in fine art, he reaches out to his brother, Mycroft, and Milestone’s employer to attempt to authenticate it. The response he gets, especially from a world-renowned art restorer, shows a great deal of interest in the painting and a bit of desperation to possess it.
Holmes’ frequent colleague, Inspector Lestrade, uncovers a dead body hidden within the confines of a melting snowman. It initially is feared to be Milestone. Knowing that there are people out there willing to kill to protect whatever chicanery Milestone and his cohorts have been involved in is enough to put Holmes and Watson on high alert while continuing their investigation. They call on Juliet Packwood, to whom the widowed Watson takes quite a shine, to provide her expert opinion. She will play a key role in the made-up play, a tip of the hat to the play within a play conceived by Hamlet. Hopefully a killer or killers will be revealed.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE REAL THING delivers everything a Holmes fan should expect from a great tale masterminded by Nicholas Meyer. In the acknowledgements, Meyer hints that this may be his last Sherlock Holmes novel, which is why he cleverly brings everything full circle with several references to the first Holmes story, A STUDY IN SCARLET.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 20, 2025
Nicholas Meyer became the King of Holmesian Pastiche as long ago as The Seven Percent Solution, which was published in 1973. I cannot remember how many followed that first masterpiece, but most of them--most of them--have been quite good. In the Acknowledgements section that follows his text, Meter writes, "I'm thinking this will be my last Holmes novel," an inevitability that chills my blood. But if yer gonna go out, ya might as well go out to a thunderous round of applause. Meyer accomplishes that, and then some.
The story entails a visit during a raging blizzard to 221B Baker Street by a somewhat beleaguered landlady. Her tenant, a struggling artist, is more than three months late in paying his rent. She fears that something catastrophic has happened. A visit to the police has netted no action, just a blithe reference to filing a missing persons report. Inspector Gregson has helpfully suggested that this problem might be more in line with the talents of consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, so to Holmes she goes.
Holmes is bored to stupefaction, as repeated foul weather has slowed every kind of activity in London. Nonetheless, he agrees to visit the rented property. Holmes and Watson discover nothing of note, except for a single canvas that appears to have a considerable percentage unfinished. Upon close examination at the foot of the easel on which the canvas is mounted, what looks like multiple splotches of paint is topped by numerous spatters of blood. What began as a potential missing person case evolves into a murder investigation.
Holmes and Watson's travels take them to the Packwood Gallery, overseen by the beguiling Miss Juliet Packwood. Holmes, disguised as an American art collector, can acknowledge her beauty, but Watson turns into a blabbering imbecile. Seldom has Watson been depicted as so thoroughly smitten. He begins courting Miss Packwood, who is able to shed some light on artworld dealings, but when she discovers Holmes' true identity, she firmly makes plain that she does not like being deceived. In one of the more charming subplots of any Holmes story, pastiche or otherwise, Watson labors mightily to regain her favor.
Eventually, Holmes gets the solve, within which aficionados will recognize a hearty tribute to the very first sherlock Holmes adventure. Nicholas Meyer is a writer who has done his homework. Whenever a reference to an adventure within the Holmesian canon occurs, eyer dutifully footnotes it. In pastiches from the past, I believe Meyer has tried harder to replicate Watson's writing style. In this perhaps final problem, he sounds like he is enjoying himself much more. The story, while grim in spots, delivers some laugh-out-loud moments, and everyone--Holmes, Watson and Meyer--detail the proceedings with a pronounced twinkle in their eyes. I'm sad to see Meyer ride off into the sunset, but only because the ride has been so satisfying for so long.
The story entails a visit during a raging blizzard to 221B Baker Street by a somewhat beleaguered landlady. Her tenant, a struggling artist, is more than three months late in paying his rent. She fears that something catastrophic has happened. A visit to the police has netted no action, just a blithe reference to filing a missing persons report. Inspector Gregson has helpfully suggested that this problem might be more in line with the talents of consulting detective Sherlock Holmes, so to Holmes she goes.
Holmes is bored to stupefaction, as repeated foul weather has slowed every kind of activity in London. Nonetheless, he agrees to visit the rented property. Holmes and Watson discover nothing of note, except for a single canvas that appears to have a considerable percentage unfinished. Upon close examination at the foot of the easel on which the canvas is mounted, what looks like multiple splotches of paint is topped by numerous spatters of blood. What began as a potential missing person case evolves into a murder investigation.
Holmes and Watson's travels take them to the Packwood Gallery, overseen by the beguiling Miss Juliet Packwood. Holmes, disguised as an American art collector, can acknowledge her beauty, but Watson turns into a blabbering imbecile. Seldom has Watson been depicted as so thoroughly smitten. He begins courting Miss Packwood, who is able to shed some light on artworld dealings, but when she discovers Holmes' true identity, she firmly makes plain that she does not like being deceived. In one of the more charming subplots of any Holmes story, pastiche or otherwise, Watson labors mightily to regain her favor.
Eventually, Holmes gets the solve, within which aficionados will recognize a hearty tribute to the very first sherlock Holmes adventure. Nicholas Meyer is a writer who has done his homework. Whenever a reference to an adventure within the Holmesian canon occurs, eyer dutifully footnotes it. In pastiches from the past, I believe Meyer has tried harder to replicate Watson's writing style. In this perhaps final problem, he sounds like he is enjoying himself much more. The story, while grim in spots, delivers some laugh-out-loud moments, and everyone--Holmes, Watson and Meyer--detail the proceedings with a pronounced twinkle in their eyes. I'm sad to see Meyer ride off into the sunset, but only because the ride has been so satisfying for so long.
December 20, 2025
Nick Meyer is great at channeling Doyle. His Holmes and Watson and their world feel totally authentic to me, and Mr. Meyer is a better writer than Doyle, so in some ways they are superior to the originals. I have read so many of Mr. Meyer's Holmes books now that his Holmes merges together in my mind with Doyle's. It becomes hard for me to tease them apart.
The theme of authenticity and inauthenticity is woven into the fabric of this book, and it works on a meta level since the book itself is an imitation. The meta theme is discussed in the author's afterword, which I will leave to you to read after you have read the book. Holmes comes to the conclusion that in the world of art, the only ultimate difference between an original and a perfect forgery is the signature. That is, of course, also true in a sense of Mr. Meyer's Holmes stories. It's even possible in some cases that a near perfect copy can show the art of the original in a new light, or perhaps surpass it, though Mr. Meyer is too modest to make that claim. Of course, there is an element of authorial self-doubt in all of this. Is art that consciously copies less than art that strives for originality? I don't think so. Any creator wants his art to be his own, but all art is stolen in some fashion. Wearing the emblem of your progenitor on your sleeve by openly using his characters and his world is no less artful and is perhaps more honest than writing a derivative work that pretends to be minted from fresh material.
And I love the clever references that are embedded in the book. I'm sure that I missed a lot of them, but the ones that stuck with me were (i) the purloined otter, which simultaneously references Poe's Purloined Letter and Doyle's giant rat of Sumatra for which the world is also not prepared, (ii) "Mr. Watson, come here. I need you," which are of course the famous first words spoken on the telephone, which plays a key role in this story as a new technology just beginning to spread broadly, and (iii) Holmes' statement that nobody remembers the second discoverer of calculus, which is both true and untrue, because anyone who has studied the subject knows that it was simultaneously discovered by Newton and Leibniz, so untrue that we have forgotten the second one, but true because we don't know who was actually first and who second and because we have forgotten the limited surviving facts on which their respective claims for being first were based.
And, oh yes, Mr. Meyer is a friend and client. I get a much undeserved acknowledgement at the end.
The theme of authenticity and inauthenticity is woven into the fabric of this book, and it works on a meta level since the book itself is an imitation. The meta theme is discussed in the author's afterword, which I will leave to you to read after you have read the book. Holmes comes to the conclusion that in the world of art, the only ultimate difference between an original and a perfect forgery is the signature. That is, of course, also true in a sense of Mr. Meyer's Holmes stories. It's even possible in some cases that a near perfect copy can show the art of the original in a new light, or perhaps surpass it, though Mr. Meyer is too modest to make that claim. Of course, there is an element of authorial self-doubt in all of this. Is art that consciously copies less than art that strives for originality? I don't think so. Any creator wants his art to be his own, but all art is stolen in some fashion. Wearing the emblem of your progenitor on your sleeve by openly using his characters and his world is no less artful and is perhaps more honest than writing a derivative work that pretends to be minted from fresh material.
And I love the clever references that are embedded in the book. I'm sure that I missed a lot of them, but the ones that stuck with me were (i) the purloined otter, which simultaneously references Poe's Purloined Letter and Doyle's giant rat of Sumatra for which the world is also not prepared, (ii) "Mr. Watson, come here. I need you," which are of course the famous first words spoken on the telephone, which plays a key role in this story as a new technology just beginning to spread broadly, and (iii) Holmes' statement that nobody remembers the second discoverer of calculus, which is both true and untrue, because anyone who has studied the subject knows that it was simultaneously discovered by Newton and Leibniz, so untrue that we have forgotten the second one, but true because we don't know who was actually first and who second and because we have forgotten the limited surviving facts on which their respective claims for being first were based.
And, oh yes, Mr. Meyer is a friend and client. I get a much undeserved acknowledgement at the end.
August 29, 2025
Just plain fun for anyone who is a Holmes/Watson fan. And who isn’t???
Nicholas Meyer has been getting quicker with his editing of Dr John H Watson’s journals, with three coming out in the last four years. Which is all to the good, since each of the previous books that I’ve read has been a treat, and Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing is a treat too.
As with the previous books, readers get a brief explanation up-front of how Meyer came into possession of this latest of Watson’s journals, after which we dive into the case. And although the matter of Lady Glendenning’s missing tenant doesn’t look like much of a puzzle at first, the mystery keeps gaining levels of complexity - and a dead body - as events proceed. Holmes finds clues others have missed, learns about the expensive and brutal world of art (or maybe “Art”, with a capital “A”) from Mycroft, and wears wonderful disguises. Watson does his usual double duty, both as a stater of the obvious, and an advisor on women – while also falling for one of said women. Other familiar faces - Lestrade, Gregson, even a grown-up Wiggins – also make appearances. And at the end, of course, Holmes figures it all out. So, overall, The Real Thing feels true to those earlier Watson journals, those ones edited by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
I’ve also always had a bit of a thing for art-world mysteries, so I especially enjoyed the setting for The Real Thing. And I appreciated the asides on what is really “art” vs. “fake”, and why – if you can’t tell the difference – does it matter? Which is a conversation my husband and I often have in a different context, as we head off to listen to a good cover band.
All-in-all, though, The Real Thing is a quick-reading and fun Holmes and Watson pastiche, and I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys the classic Holmes stories. And who doesn’t? I was sad to read, in the afterword, that Meyer thinks this may be his last journal to edit, and I very much hope that isn’t the case. But if it is, he has gone out on a good one. And my thanks to Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press and NetGalley for my review copy.
Nicholas Meyer has been getting quicker with his editing of Dr John H Watson’s journals, with three coming out in the last four years. Which is all to the good, since each of the previous books that I’ve read has been a treat, and Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing is a treat too.
As with the previous books, readers get a brief explanation up-front of how Meyer came into possession of this latest of Watson’s journals, after which we dive into the case. And although the matter of Lady Glendenning’s missing tenant doesn’t look like much of a puzzle at first, the mystery keeps gaining levels of complexity - and a dead body - as events proceed. Holmes finds clues others have missed, learns about the expensive and brutal world of art (or maybe “Art”, with a capital “A”) from Mycroft, and wears wonderful disguises. Watson does his usual double duty, both as a stater of the obvious, and an advisor on women – while also falling for one of said women. Other familiar faces - Lestrade, Gregson, even a grown-up Wiggins – also make appearances. And at the end, of course, Holmes figures it all out. So, overall, The Real Thing feels true to those earlier Watson journals, those ones edited by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
I’ve also always had a bit of a thing for art-world mysteries, so I especially enjoyed the setting for The Real Thing. And I appreciated the asides on what is really “art” vs. “fake”, and why – if you can’t tell the difference – does it matter? Which is a conversation my husband and I often have in a different context, as we head off to listen to a good cover band.
All-in-all, though, The Real Thing is a quick-reading and fun Holmes and Watson pastiche, and I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys the classic Holmes stories. And who doesn’t? I was sad to read, in the afterword, that Meyer thinks this may be his last journal to edit, and I very much hope that isn’t the case. But if it is, he has gone out on a good one. And my thanks to Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press and NetGalley for my review copy.
November 25, 2025
Nicholas Meyer came out with the iconic novel The Seven Percent Solution in 1977 and has published what may be his last in the series supposedly from John H, Watson's journals, Meyer says this in an Author's Note. I haven't read all the books in the series yet, but I will because they're thrilling, clever, and I learn cool things. In Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing, I learned a lot about art forgery.
When Holmes is asked by a nervous landlady to find her missing tenant, a well-known painter in Victorian London, it didn't seem to promise an interesting case, but after examining the artist's empty studio/house, it was evident to him that murder had happened.
Holmes and Watson visit art museums to find where the victim's paintings sold, but are having difficulty doing so and are advised to talk to a big-time art dealer nobody can say where he is or say they just missed him, Hmm. Something's very fishy. They're not getting too far until Watson meets a beautiful woman in what seems to be her uncle's art gallery and she modeled for the victim. Not only is he smitten, but she'll eventually divulge what she knows when she feels she can trust them.
I have a painter friend who was intrigued when I shared the history of the word sincere, which means without wax in Latin. Roman sculptors would secretly use wax to cover mistakes or imperfections and so they were not sincere in their artistry. I've wondered since if he's titled his new self-portrait Sincere and maybe made his painting look like it's really a statue.
Fun novel that kept me immersed. I question something about the murderer, but it's not a dealbreaker. I hope you mystery lovers will check it out, especially if you're of an artistic nature!
When Holmes is asked by a nervous landlady to find her missing tenant, a well-known painter in Victorian London, it didn't seem to promise an interesting case, but after examining the artist's empty studio/house, it was evident to him that murder had happened.
Holmes and Watson visit art museums to find where the victim's paintings sold, but are having difficulty doing so and are advised to talk to a big-time art dealer nobody can say where he is or say they just missed him, Hmm. Something's very fishy. They're not getting too far until Watson meets a beautiful woman in what seems to be her uncle's art gallery and she modeled for the victim. Not only is he smitten, but she'll eventually divulge what she knows when she feels she can trust them.
I have a painter friend who was intrigued when I shared the history of the word sincere, which means without wax in Latin. Roman sculptors would secretly use wax to cover mistakes or imperfections and so they were not sincere in their artistry. I've wondered since if he's titled his new self-portrait Sincere and maybe made his painting look like it's really a statue.
Fun novel that kept me immersed. I question something about the murderer, but it's not a dealbreaker. I hope you mystery lovers will check it out, especially if you're of an artistic nature!
August 27, 2025
Would Conan-Doyle be proud to know that Sherlock Holmes lives long past his death? Probably not, but are other readers and I are pretty happy to continually find stories which provide a similar level of nostalgia and sleuthing? Yes, I think I can say we are. Though it doesn't quite hit the mark with feeling exactly like an original Sherlock and Watson mystery, it's similar enough that I can suspend belief and feel as though these familiar detectives are on the case.
This case starts as Sherlock is bored as usual and the snow is piling up outside the window. A landlady approaches the duo to ask them to find a missing tenant who was previously always on time with his rent and now he seems to have vanished. Sherlock and Watson find themselves drawn into the world of art and art dealings as the missing painter is found dead by nefarious means and it seems he may have known something about potential art fraud. As with most cases, there are lots of twists and turns and red herrings along the way. All of which make a great mystery to follow along with our sleuths. I do love that Sherlock tries his hand at painting to see if he can figure out the formula used to make a new painting seem old; I thought it was a very clever experiment.
Though this case is presented as either genuine or a forgery, I like the possibility of it being plausible even if I don't believe Conan-Doyle wrote this particular story. However, if you like the lengths they will go to solve their case, I recommend you give this one a chance.
This case starts as Sherlock is bored as usual and the snow is piling up outside the window. A landlady approaches the duo to ask them to find a missing tenant who was previously always on time with his rent and now he seems to have vanished. Sherlock and Watson find themselves drawn into the world of art and art dealings as the missing painter is found dead by nefarious means and it seems he may have known something about potential art fraud. As with most cases, there are lots of twists and turns and red herrings along the way. All of which make a great mystery to follow along with our sleuths. I do love that Sherlock tries his hand at painting to see if he can figure out the formula used to make a new painting seem old; I thought it was a very clever experiment.
Though this case is presented as either genuine or a forgery, I like the possibility of it being plausible even if I don't believe Conan-Doyle wrote this particular story. However, if you like the lengths they will go to solve their case, I recommend you give this one a chance.
August 26, 2025
I first discovered Nicholas Meyer’s Sherlock Holmes pastiches about a year ago, starting with The Seven Percent Solution. Since then, I’ve devoured the others, so I was thrilled to see this new release appear on NetGalley. Meyer’s series remains a must for any devoted Sherlockian.
This entry plays cleverly with the very idea of a pastiche: imitation versus originality. Just as the book itself imitates Conan Doyle’s style, the case examines questions of authenticity in the art world. If two works look identical, why do we prize the “real thing” more? And how do we even decide which is which?
The story is set during an unusually brutal London winter, with Holmes and Watson confined indoors and restless—until a woman appears seeking their help to find a missing tenant, an artist behind on rent. That disappearance soon pulls the pair deep into a world of forgeries, hidden motives, and the blurred lines between copy and creation.
Meyer sprinkles in Easter eggs for Holmes fans, including a visit to the Diogenes Club and the ever-formidable Mycroft. The style is so faithful that at times it feels like hearing Doyle himself.
The narration by David Robb (with Nicholas Meyer adding his own touch) is spot-on, perfectly evoking the Victorian chill and Holmes’s razor-sharp wit.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This entry plays cleverly with the very idea of a pastiche: imitation versus originality. Just as the book itself imitates Conan Doyle’s style, the case examines questions of authenticity in the art world. If two works look identical, why do we prize the “real thing” more? And how do we even decide which is which?
The story is set during an unusually brutal London winter, with Holmes and Watson confined indoors and restless—until a woman appears seeking their help to find a missing tenant, an artist behind on rent. That disappearance soon pulls the pair deep into a world of forgeries, hidden motives, and the blurred lines between copy and creation.
Meyer sprinkles in Easter eggs for Holmes fans, including a visit to the Diogenes Club and the ever-formidable Mycroft. The style is so faithful that at times it feels like hearing Doyle himself.
The narration by David Robb (with Nicholas Meyer adding his own touch) is spot-on, perfectly evoking the Victorian chill and Holmes’s razor-sharp wit.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 19, 2025
Nicholas Meyer’s latest Sherlock Holmes ‘case history’ brings Holmes into the world of art, specifically the business of art. A large cast of characters including a beautiful young lady with whom Dr. Watson finds himself in a tizzy over, fills the pages, and the twists and surprises make “Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing” an enjoyable read. This Sherlock Holmes pastiche is a worthy member of the series of Holmes stories by Meyer, whose first, “The Seven Per Cent Solution” was a huge best-seller and hit movie. The case begins with an artist gone missing, and his landlady comes to Holmes, curious about the disappearance, but also seeking the past due rent. Soon, there is a rising count of dead bodies associated with the missing artist. Holmes, until then not well-versed in old world art and the business of art - including restorations, forgeries - finds himself immersed in learning all he can to solve the mysteries that only began with an artist’s disappearance. The sub-story of Watson and Miss Juliet Packwood is an interesting path off the main story, and one but can’t help to root for Watson and this relationship to grow and prosper. Not a distraction to the main story, but indeed an integral part in some ways, and how and if their relationship develops adds further interest and even mystery to this latest tale from the case stories of Dr. John H. Watson. The twists and surprises push this to 4 stars.
August 21, 2025
As a huge fan of Sherlock’s, this was a pleasant surprise. Meyer brings back the famous consulting detective and his sidekick in a new adventure that could have been published in The Strand. The author introduces the story as a lost manuscript, with the understanding that Holmes and Watson were as real as Houdini. Then, David Robb narrates the story, creating all the different voices and bringing the characters to life. I loved the throwbacks to the original canon, it was fun catching the Easter eggs and figuring out the original source. Even newbies and non-Sherlock fans will enjoy the story. Robb’s audiobook performance gave the two leads and the rest of the supporting male characters distinctive voices. I wasn’t a huge fan of the female voices, but they were different enough that it was not hard to know who was speaking. The plot was clever, entertaining and easy to follow. Much like Sir Arthur’s originals, there are no supernatural elements, and everything is pretty elementary once Holmes explains it. The author never falls into the temptation of modernizing the story and the fact that the mystery is about art made me like it even more. A delight for Sherlock’s fans.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Highbridge Audio.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Highbridge Audio.
August 31, 2025
I’ve been mixed on Nicholas Meyers’ Holmes books as while they are quick and easy to read, the mystery of them wasn’t entirely there. “West End Horror” felt the most like a mystery (I haven’t read “Peculiar Protocols” or “Return of the Pharaoh”) but it feels very forgettable to me and more of Meyer playing around by having Holmes meet Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker.
“The Seven-Per-Cent Solution” is his most unique but I wasn’t as blown away as I initially wanted to me. The revised script for the movie, however, did tie together the last great threads the novel needed.
“Canary Trainer” was a real whatever story for the main reason that it’s a retelling of “Phantom of the Opera” with a less useful Holmes.
“Telegram from Hell” is more of a spy story in WWI than a classic Holmes mystery but it was fun to see Meyer throw in more historical figures for Holmes to interact with.
“The Real Thing” though, I found the mystery fascinating! The dynamic between Holmes and Watson was more catty with several sarcastic moments between the two but almost always resulting in funny moments between the two. The callbacks to other stories by Doyle and Meyer made this feel more important as the final story Meyer will write and I’m happy to have read it! If all goes well, I am excited for when I can attend a book signing of this in two weeks and am eager to read the other two Holmes novels he wrote.
“The Seven-Per-Cent Solution” is his most unique but I wasn’t as blown away as I initially wanted to me. The revised script for the movie, however, did tie together the last great threads the novel needed.
“Canary Trainer” was a real whatever story for the main reason that it’s a retelling of “Phantom of the Opera” with a less useful Holmes.
“Telegram from Hell” is more of a spy story in WWI than a classic Holmes mystery but it was fun to see Meyer throw in more historical figures for Holmes to interact with.
“The Real Thing” though, I found the mystery fascinating! The dynamic between Holmes and Watson was more catty with several sarcastic moments between the two but almost always resulting in funny moments between the two. The callbacks to other stories by Doyle and Meyer made this feel more important as the final story Meyer will write and I’m happy to have read it! If all goes well, I am excited for when I can attend a book signing of this in two weeks and am eager to read the other two Holmes novels he wrote.
September 19, 2025
This has been a week with not just one, but two very readable riffs on the Holmes canon. The first was The Return of Moriarty; Sherlock Holmes and the Real Thing is the second. Set in the art world this title pokes at big issues—what makes something art? What is the difference between a copy and a forgery? If you tell the difference between the two what does that mean in terms of the value of each?
Holmes and Watson's case begins when a landlady asks for help in finding a tenant who hasn't paid rent in three months. Her concern isn't really the money—it's just the way he seems to have disappeared without explanation. This beginning leads the two men into an investigation of the financial end of the art world.
The case has some rewarding twists, and even when all seems resolved, there's still a bit of surprise left. The author effectively captures the personalities and methods of the consulting detective and his companion. We learn a bit more about each than was provided by Conan Doyle—and the new material expands upon the original in ways that are interesting, rather than presumptuous.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title; the opinions are my own.
Holmes and Watson's case begins when a landlady asks for help in finding a tenant who hasn't paid rent in three months. Her concern isn't really the money—it's just the way he seems to have disappeared without explanation. This beginning leads the two men into an investigation of the financial end of the art world.
The case has some rewarding twists, and even when all seems resolved, there's still a bit of surprise left. The author effectively captures the personalities and methods of the consulting detective and his companion. We learn a bit more about each than was provided by Conan Doyle—and the new material expands upon the original in ways that are interesting, rather than presumptuous.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title; the opinions are my own.
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