The Secret Diary of Mycroft Holmes: The Thoughts and Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes’s Elder Brother, 1880-1888

by S.F. Bennett, Derrick Belanger (Editor), Brian Belanger (Illustrations)

"If Samuel Pepys could fill nine years' worth of journals with tales of arguments with his wife, visits to the theatres, fire and plague, then I am fairly confident I should be able to achieve a similar feat - with the exception of the plague, that is." Thus begins Mycroft Holmes's valiant, if irregular, attempt to chronicle his doings. Rediscovered in 1976 and now fully translated from an obscure code, Mycroft's diaries reveal that a brother's lot is not always a happy one, especially when that brother happens to be London's only consulting detective. In this humorous look at the world of Sherlock Holmes through Mycroft's eyes, between avoiding amorous cleaning ladies and eccentric family members, appeasing hopeless artists and budding novelists, keeping the peace at the Diogenes and minding doting dogs, one question always remains: will Sherlock ever get a proper job? Devon-based journalist and lecturer, S.F. Bennett has written for the Baker Street Journal and the Journal of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, amongst others. This is the author's first novel.

Genres: Mystery

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2017

Reviews

[Netta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious little book which unexpectedly left me wishing for more.

[cheska · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was genuinely so funny i laughed out loud so many times?!?! s.f bennett you understand sherlock and mycroft in ways nobody else has been able to achieve. as well as sherlock and watson for that matter. i need to read MORE

[sarah williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Amazing! Great story telling!

I loved this book. I should like to read more. I laughed out loud every other page. I loved Mycroft's views on his brother Sherlock. How wonderful to see how frustrating he was to a relative eyes. I loved the other asides of the Holmes family. Little glimpses here and there of how they interact. Pray this author keeps writing! Wonderful! Thank you! Read and enjoy!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable. Very funny. I had the pleasure of reading the book to create the audio version which is now on sale.
Many retakes where necessary due to me having to chuckle at the content.

[Maryellen Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and true to the canon

I was really looking fwd to reading this, since I've enjoyed some other early Mycroft novels. This series of stories ("journal entries") was, in one way, disappointing: The author leaned heavily on a lethargic, almost cynical Mycroft, without drawing out any nuances to his character and history. It's true that Mycroft would never reveal his govt work in a private journal, so perhaps that constraint led to the lack of drama. Even so, I enjoyed seeing the world, and especially Sherlock, through Mycroft's eyes.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed very much Written so well

When I read the title & thought of this switch I was intrigued and very glad I gave it a chance because I loved it. It came from the outside looking in??? Mycroft character was left as a mystery but this is done quite nice. As usual I did not want it to end. I would have wanted more, even though I can't imagine what more to include!! If you are a fan you will enjoy this choice.

[Lee Hotchkiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another “gem” of a book. Totally surprised with the sibling rivalry and humor it wrought! The perspective from Mycroft is a treat and made me laugh so hard….well you know. Also the additional insights on the Holmes family enriched the whole story line. Please, please write quicker!! We need more interesting, humorous literature - especially now!

[Dane Wooster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Special

This is a remarkable book, comedic and thought provoking and, dare I say, presenting a worthy characterization of Mycroft Holmes. I only wish that the typos were in less abundance, as they tend to break the otherwise immersive flow of the text. Otherwise, this is one of the better modern Sherlockian texts I've read.

[Nishant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything Sherlock.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not funny. Not even in a sensible chuckle kind of way. Unless you find dogs peeing on police officers leg funny, you're probably not going to like it.

[Rania · Rating 1 out of 5]

مملة ملل مفيش بعد كده

[Cindy]

great

[Danny · Rating 1 out of 5]

May have been the reader mangling words far too often, but this fell way short of expectations.

[Kevin Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, if you love Holmes and can't get enough of him, you may enjoy this. Otherwise I'd skip it. Some careful research went into it, but the writing skill is so-so.

[Thomas Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devon-based Sherlockian S.F. Bennett, the author of several excellent short stories for MX Publishing and Belanger Books, has taken on the task of editing the long-lost diaries of Mycroft Holmes. Her initial volume (let us hope the first of many) begins in 1880. At 33, Mycroft has already founded the Diogenes Club and is well on his way to becoming both curmudgeon and gourmand. However, he is not yet the éminence gris at Whitehall that he will soon become. At this stage, therefore, Mycroft’s diary entries focus not on great events but on retaining his position, avoiding the marital ambitions of his cleaning lady, and surviving the variable offerings of his club’s chef. Naturally, it is his feckless, financially dependent brother (still “playing the game for the game’s sake” in the Montague Street years) who comes to dominate the diary. Ms. Bennett skillfully traces the often prickly—but invariably amusing—relationship between the siblings, as Sherlock glibly defends his amateur status (“What value can a man assign to knowledge?”), Mycroft glumly hosts the redoubtable Toby (“I am not my brother’s dog’s keeper”), and senior bests cadet in “our usual game of observation and deduction.” Occasionally, they must unite to fend off other members of the Holmes clan, for Mycroft and Sherlock are (remarkably!) the least eccentric of the lot. By the time the volume ends in 1888, it is evident that both their characters have grown. Mycroft may empathize with Mrs. Hudson over her tenant’s many faults, but he also rebukes Lestrade’s ingratitude at receiving Sherlock’s aid. Our emotionally aloof detective makes a touching gesture to spare the feelings of his first true friend, whose merits Mycroft has already recognized. Along the way, they combine their talents to solve at least two cases, including the Melas affair that marks Mycroft’s first appearance in the Canon. Now that her groundwork has been laid so well, we can trust Ms. Bennett to treat the manifold crises of the 1890’s, and Mycroft’s political and diplomatic work at Whitehall, with the same humor and knowledge of her characters that she exhibits in this book.