The Chronicles of Sherlock Holmes

The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes #2

by Paul D. Gilbert

In the tradition of Holmes pastiche, travel to Baker Street to finally hear the full stories of The Baron Maupertius, The Cutter Alicia , The Remarkable Disappearance of James Phillimore, The Red Leech, The Aluminium Crutch, The Abominable Wife, and The Mumbling Isadora Persano. What is the connection between an impoverished dowager, an attempt on Mycroft's life, and Holmes' deadliest adversary? Can Holmes discover if a ship really disappeared in a patch of mist or if his client's father is insane? Who or what is the red leech?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Detective

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2008

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a Sherlockian you simply MUST read the offerings of Paul D. Gilbert. THE BEST Sherlock pastiches I have ever read and that I cannot recommend highly enough.

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these second offering of Sherlock Holems short stories. With the first story(Baron Maupertuis contunied from the lost files) becoming my faverite short story along with the empty house. On thing that I found that was a really clever idea was at the end of a couple of cases there is a post script of how the characters cope after the case been setteled. I would like to see more off these in future book. Another theme I noticed was the the last story in a book, is mentioned in the first story of the next book. I will be intersted to see is the first story of the next book takes place right after the Giant Rat of Sumatra.

[Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories. The first short story relates somewhat to the last story in the previous collection.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful collection of Holmes pastiches. Gilbert based his Holmes on Jeremy Brett's Holmes, which makes him a top Holmes pastiche author in my book. Gilbert also has a good grasp of Watson's voice. I own a copy and consider it money well spent.

The stories are based on the tantalizing hints Arthur Conan Doyle dropped in his Holmes stories. I didn't give this a five because a couple of these stories' topics have been done better than others. the disappearing ship was my favorite.

I'd love to know how the publishers got permission to use a doctored image of Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes for the cover.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Baron Maupertuis.
Lady Beasant late husband was a bad businessman and was swindled by the Baron. She wants him brought to justice. Meanwhile Mycroft's right hand man, Naismith, has been murdered. He wants Sherlock to investigate.
2. The Remarkable Disappearance of James Phillimore
And the unsolved case of the disappearance of James Phillimore, as Montague Phillimore is found hanged.
3. The Affair of the Aluminum Crutch
Watson's friend Stamford summons him to a meeting at The Holborn, only to discover him murdered.
4. The Adventure of the Abominable Wife
1890 Mr Clarke, proprietor of a circus engages Holmes to prove that his knife throwing act called Ricolett did not kill his wife
5. The Adventure of the Cutter Alicia
1895 Mildred and Edward Lomas approach Holmes as they fear for their father's sanity as he claims to have observed the Alicia on her fateful voyage.
6. The Adventure of the Red Leech
Randall Crosby wishes for Holmes to trace his brother because of financial concerns.
7. The Mystery of the Mumbling Duellist.
Isodora Persano, journalist and duellist, is thought missing in Central America. Instead he is in an insane asylum in England. Holmes investigates.
A selection of interesting and enjoyable mysteries.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul D. Gilbert continues to impress me as a vigorous and inventive teller of Sherlock Holmes stories. These shorts are all inspired by passing references to Holmes cases that Watson mentioned in the original Doyle stories. I'm sure other Doyle imitators have done it before, but Gilbert's versions come off as natural and inspired. If you like Sherlock Holmes, you should give these a whirl.

[William]

Excellent

Seven very will written Sherlock Holmes novella mysteries. The story lines are complicated with lots of misdirection leading to the unexpected conclusion. I would recommend this series to any Sherlock Holmes fans. Enjoy reading 2020

[Adelais · Rating 3 out of 5]

Збірка пастішів про справи, які згадуються в історіях про Холмса, але Конан Дойл далі не йде, тому довелося ентузіастам. Досить цікаво, щось таке в них проглядає холмсівське. Серед іншого про алюмінієвий костур і шхуну "Алісія" теж є.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several outstanding stories having Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are involved with a quite entertaining collection and with just enough twist and turns to keep you going beyond any time limit you may have set

[Scott P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice second gen reading

Using these obscure references from the canon is inspired. Good voice capture. Plots are uneven but generally good. Will read more Gilbert.

[Rose L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Good writing by Paul Gilbert. Liked his use of descriptive detail regarding Holmes and others. Recommend this for fellow sherlockians.

[Ashwini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the same as the original stories. I found them laboured. Not even a spark of brilliance of the original.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson short stories. Very authentic feel.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite poor. The author seems to have a limited number of phrases that are trotted out again and again. I wish these writers would stop trying to write stories based on mysteries that were only mentioned in the original stories. If I have to read another story featuring a red leech I think I will shoot myself. Fan fiction and published fiction has been doing this for decades. They've all been done - many times. It just makes the story sink without trace amongst the rest like a sprig of parsley in a pat of butter on a hot day.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Holmesian.

Gilbert does a solid effort in capturing Watson's narrative style with a handful of new adventures. I like this series.Check it out.

[Hayden Trenholm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for Holmes pastiches so looked forward to this one. It was ragged -- patches of quite clever plotting combined with a purple verbosity that sounded more like "Doyle" than Doyle ever did. Some of the stories clipped along fairly nicely -- especially the shorter ones -- but the longer ones tended to drag and I occassionally found myself skimming. More than 2 stars but less than three. Probably only for the diehard Holmes fans.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice ideas, but ultimately disappointing. The author's style is somewhat repetitive, and I have to admit that I have read fanfic much better than this. The best thing about it is that Gilbert's Holmes is very much of the Brett model, which fits with the cover illustration.

[Jean Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to read really enjoyed reading it