The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part VI: 2017 Annual

MX New Sherlock Holmes Stories #6

by David Marcum (Editor), Thomas A. Turley (Contributor), Narrelle M. Harris (Contributor)

2017 is the 130th anniversary of the publication of A Study in Scarlet, the first recorded adventure of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson. What an amazing journey it's been! In addition to the pitifully few sixty tales originally presented in The Canon, published between 1887 and 1927, there have been literally thousands of additional Holmes adventures in the form of books, short stories, radio and television episodes, movies, manuscripts, comics, and fan fiction. And yet, for those who are true friends and admirers of the Master Detective of Baker Street, where it is always 1895 (or a few decades on either side of that!) these stories are not enough. Give us more! In 2015, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories burst upon the scene, featuring stories set within the correct time period, and written by many of today's leading Sherlockian authors from around the world. Those first three volumes were overwhelmingly received, and there were soon calls for additional collections. Since then, the popularity has only continued to grow. Two more volumes were released in 2016, and this the first of two planned for 2017 - with no end in sight! The thirty-five stories in this volume - now bringing the total number of narratives and participating authors in this series to well over one-hundred! - represent some of the finest new Holmesian storytelling to be found, and honor the man described by Watson as "the best and wisest . . . whom I have ever known." All royalties from this collection are being donated by the writers for the benefit of the preservation of Undershaw, one of the former homes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Part VI: 2017 Annual features contributions by: Bob Byrne, Julie McKuras, Derrick Belanger, Robert Perret, Deanna Baran, G.C. Rosenquist, Hugh Ashton, David Timson, Shane Simmons, Stephen Wade, Mark Mower, David Friend, Nick Cardillo, Roger Riccard, S. Subramanian, Carl L. Heifetz, Geri Schear, S.F. Bennett, Jennifer Copping, Jim French, Carla Coupe, Narrelle Harris, Arthur Hall, Craig Janacek, Marcia Wilson, Tracy Revels, Molly Carr, Keith Hann, David Ruffle, David Marcum, Thomas A. Turley, Jan Edwards, C. Edward Davis, Tim Symonds, and Daniel D. Victor, with a poem by Bonnie MacBird, and forewords by David Marcum, Nicholas Utechin, Roger Johnson, Steve Emecz, and Melissa Farnham.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Detective

679 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2017

Reviews

[Shubhra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First 30 Cases are Good, Last 5 are Not

Overall, an interesting addition to the collection of Holmes pastiches, and for the most part a worthy entry. It is a definite improvement on Part V - Christmas Adventures.
Most of the works are good, right from 'The Adventure of the Murdered Spinster' to the 30th case 'The Problem of the Holy Oil'. However, the next few cases are a bit of a let down, particularly 'A Scandal in Serbia', which meanders all over the place, tampers with the canon and tries to reintroduce a particularly popular and elusive character. 'The Curious Case of Mr. Marconi' and 'Die Weisse Frau' are very pedantic, while 'Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson Learn to Fly' is amateurish. 'A Case of Mistaken Identity' is a poor attempt to re-knit historical events and another author into a Holmes case, and thus falls through the cracks.

In short, enjoy the first 30, avoid the last 5.

[Thomas Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a contributor reviewing the latest volume of MX Publishing’s anthology of traditional Sherlock Holmes pastiches, let me remind readers that all royalties from this venture go not to the publisher, editor, or authors, but to the Stepping Stones School for special-needs children, now housed in Undershaw, the former home of Conan Doyle. Besides, I have been a fan of this series from its start. Editor David Marcum has assembled a recurring cadre of veteran Sherlockian writers, along with talented newcomers to keep each volume fresh. All contributors are united by a common goal: to write new tales that come as close as possible (in plot, style, period, and characterization) to those in the original Canon. Within that basic format, the anthology has shown remarkable variety, and Part VI is no exception. Chronologically, it covers half a century: from Holmes’ last Montague Street days to the height of the Jazz Age. Historical and literary personages (Shakespeare, Edison, Marie Antoinette, Marconi, and Fitzgerald) are involved in many of the stories. Two tales recall “The Five Orange Pips” and The Sign of Four, while others remind us of Holmes’ interest in bees, adders, and Dogs Who Do Something in the Daytime. In keeping with our detective’s regrettable misogyny, wicked women are a common theme. We encounter envious sisters, vengeful wives, rival ladies-in-waiting, pretty spies, and rejected schoolgirls. Happily, two Canonical heroines, Mary Morstan and Irene Adler, arrive to help restore the balance. The majority of Part VI’s offerings are pure detective stories, with Sherlock Holmes exhibiting deductive brilliance that occasionally surpasses Doyle. The volume’s final tales immerse Holmes and Watson in the “Great Game” of espionage, into which Mycroft recruited them before and during the Great War. Just as our heroes have lost very little to the years in their new century, so the MX anthology (six parts in) is still alive and well. With at least three more volumes on the way, it is reassuring—and a considerable accomplishment—that the stories’ quality remains as high as ever.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Holmes than ever!

My thanks go out to Steve and Timi at MX Publishing for my copy of this book. You have been unbelievably kind and generous!

This, the 6th volume in this ongoing outpouring of new Holmes stories, contains 36 new takes on Arthur Conan Doyle’s super sleuth! Readers of this series will be pleased to see many returning authors. David Marcum not only edits the volume but has a short story to share. Also returning are Derrick Belanger, Hugh Ashton, Geri Scher, Molly Carr and David Ruffle, and many more!

Holmes has many new cases and takes on some of the “mentioned but unrecorded” cases from the Canon. Old enemies sometimes return, and new malefactors are in great supply. Watson is sometimes married, (like as not to someone previously unmentioned,) working hard at his practice, or fully or partially retired. Holmes is fully or semi-retired, still taking cases, or being exploited by Mycroft for affairs of the Kingdom.

I think that the tales are often strong adherents to the Conan Doyle blueprint of writing. A few do explore new avenues, but all are Holmes and Watson still playing the game.

I give “The Adventure of the Apothecary’s Prescription” by Roger Riccard the title of “Best in Book! We desperately need new stories that connect to Professor Moriarty! A close second is “The Adventure of the Cat’s Claws” by Shane Simmons, a new look at Doyle’s “The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger.” The story I give “Worst in Book” is Jim French’s “The Adventure of the Apothecary Shop” by Jim French. Egad! I hate trying to read plays!

Each volume of the MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes stories promises adventure and solving mysteries by deductive reasoning! This is Volume six and the promise continues to be kept!

I gladly give this volume five stars plus! I am looking forward to more such volumes to come!

Quoth the Raven…

[Sharon Sims-king · Rating 5 out of 5]

More volumes please

These are great stories in the ACD mode. The only problem is the mass of Americanism, perhaps a good editor could help here. After all ACD would not have included them. I read with great enjoyment.

[Wayne A. Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterful set of stories.

Clear, concise and in the framework of Doyle. As short stories easy to read with few surprising endings. A most enjoyable read.

[Tekbrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book delivers exactly what it promised. As good as the first 5 in the series and here's hoping they continue to please with each new release.

[Alex Budris · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think you'll like it, you'll prob like it. As always with this series, an excellently curated collection of stories.