Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Early Adventures Volume I

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Early Adventures #1

by David Marcum (Editor), Thomas A. Burns Jr., Derrick Belanger

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Early Adventures There is a persistent and incorrect idea, reinforced by countless film misrepresentations, that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were always staid and dull British chaps of middle years (or older), with Holmes a spry, cranky, and impatient eccentric, and Watson a white-haired and portly Boobus Brittanicus, a la Nigel Bruce. Students of the true and Canonical Sherlock Holmes know this to be a falsehood. When we first meet them on January 1st, 1881, Holmes is still 26 years old (although he will turn 27 in just a few days), and Watson, already a wounded war veteran, is only 28. During the three year period between early 1881 and late 1883, through all of the early adventures which cemented their lifelong friendship, Holmes was still in his twenties, with Watson just a little over a year older. This idea is difficult for many to accept as they cling to the image of Our Heroes as senior citizens. This volume, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor The Early Adventures, is an amazing collection of some of Holmes and Watson’s fascinating cases that occurred during those first three years in Baker Street, when Holmes was creating his unique profession of consulting detective, while Watson was still recovering from the war wounds that he’d received in Afghanistan and slowly returning to the business of being a civilian doctor. Included are 31 new stories in three companion volumes by some of today’s best Sherlockian pasticheurs, as well as an excerpt from the beginning of A Study in Scarlet, detailing the initial meeting of Holmes and Watson in early 1881, as well as possibly the most famous Canonical tale, “The Speckled Band” (occurring in April 1883) and “The Resident Patient”, with its original restored opening text, as it first appeared in The Strand magazine, indicating that this adventure occurred toward the end of the first year of Holmes and Watson’s residency at 221b Baker Street.Join us as we climb the seventeen steps to Our Heroes’ sitting room. You’ll find that they haven’t lived there quite as long in these early days, and possibly they aren’t as quite as old as you might have pictured them . . . .

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2019

Reviews

[Christa Saccullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it

Amazing how so I many authors kept the same voice. I thoroughly enjoyed this work. It's really easy to picture Holmes and Watson in the early years. The stories were refreshingly lighter than a typical Holmes story. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Christa

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable collection of 1 erudite Editorial Foreword, an excerpt from 'A Study in Scarlet' and 11 pastiches.
My favourites were~
1. Thomas A Burns Jr's "The Adventure of the Persistent Pugilist";
2. David Marcum's "The Two Bullets";
3. Robert Perret's "Brother's Keeper";
4. M.J.H Simmond' "The Inside Men";
5. Derrick Belanger's "The Adventure of the Modest Inspectors";
6. Deanna Baran's "The Case of the Melancholic Widow";
7. Mike Hogan's "Angelique" (undoubtedly the best story of this book).
With so many memorable stories, I am compelled to go full swing in terms of rating.
Highly recommended.

[Maryellen Lewis]

High quality collection!

The selection of stories is excellent. I will certainly look for other Holmes stories from these authors. Highly recommended to Sherlock fans.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1881
1. Study in Scarlet - Doyle - extract
2. The Adventure of the Persistent pugilist- Thomas A Burns Jr - The badly beaten body of Sir Aubrey Strongheart is discovered. But why and by whom was he killed
3. The Two Bullets - David Marcum - The consequences of solving a series of burglaries and a death
4. Brother's Keeper - Robert Perret - The brother of Watson's saviour in India, Murray has gone missing.
5. Bad Blood at Bart's - Harry DeMaioa - A death occurs at Bart's Hospital.
6. The Inside Man - M.J.H. Simmonds
7. The Adventure of the Villainous Victim- A man is discovered cobered in blood at Brighton train station - Chris Chan
8. The Cable Street Mummy - Holmes brings home the head of supposed murderer Able Abless from 1842. Is he guilty - Paula Hammond
9. The Picadilly Poisoner - Second wife Mrs Bertram Morgan nee Dinah Patel, is unwell, Watson believes she is being poisoned, but by whom and why - Roger Riccard
10. The Adventure of the Modest Inspectors - 18 members of the McLeod's gang have been captured, but not McLeod. Can Holmes find him - Derrick Belanger
11. The Case of the Melancholic Widow - Mrs Mellow, widow but is causing it - Deanna Baran
12. Angelique - Mrs Angelique Berenger has disappeared - Mike Hogan
A group of enjoyable short stories

[Christopher Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of adventures, especially the first few detailing Holmes at his most raw and young. One story in particular at the apartment Holmes lived in featuring a painting on the wall was especially interesting.

[P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of short stories, most of which are quite good.