The Quailsford Inheritance: A Memoir of Sherlock Holmes from the Papers of Edward Porter Jones, His Late Assistant

by Lloyd Biggle Jr.

Edward Porter Jones completes his apprenticeship to Sherlock Holmes when Holmes involves himself and Porter in something that exposes them to the strange Emmeline Quallsford, a young lady with a crushing burden

Genres: Mystery

278 pages, paper

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Biggle was born in 1923 in Waterloo, Iowa. He served in World War II as a communications sergeant in a rifle company of the 102nd Infantry Division; during the war, he was wounded twice. His second wound, a shrapnel wound in his leg received near the Elbe River at the end of the war, left him disabled for life.

After the war, Biggle resumed his education. He received an A.B. Degree with High Distinction from Wayne State University and M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan. Biggle taught at the University of Michigan and at Eastern Michigan University in the 1950s. He began writing professionally in 1955 and became a full-time writer with the publication of his novel, All the Colors of Darkness in 1963; he continued in the writing profession until his death.

Reviews

[Adelais · Rating 3 out of 5]

Непоганий пастіш про Холмса на виїзді у сільську місцину, де все готичне і сталося вбивство. Доктора Ватсона тут немає, замість нього юний ученик з Irregulars; Холмс звично для пастішів набагато менше дедукує, а все більше скрадається. Але все закінчилося добре.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historic fiction that captured the feel of the era. Biggle has modernized the tone in comparison to reading Doyle's stories about Sherlock Holmes but he does a very good job of depicting the era and classes. The special touch was the female protagonist. She was very well drawn as were the inherent prejudices against a woman's ability to plan or work effectively. Repeatedly Sherlock's apprentice Edward Porter relates in his reports the attitudes and actions of the village people in regard to the Quallsford siblings Emmeline and her murdered brother Edmund.
Yes there is another person relating the tale because Watson has become a staid family man who cannot go haring off when the game is afoot. Instead Sherlock has taken one of the Baker Street Irregulars as an apprentice detective and pass on his skills. Porter even shows his and Watson's rivalry by carping about Watson's never mentioning the work he Porter contributed to past cases. However he would not sink so low as to leave Watson out.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite interesting reading a version of Holmes that is so very different from the 'high functioning sociopath' that is popular right now. Biggle's Holmes is kind, gentle, and practically fatherly to his 'Watson'... former Baker Street Irregular made apprentice Edward Porter Jones.

He downplays the natural magic of Holmes' detective skills in favor of simply knowing what leg work to do and doing it, and having an amazing network of contacts.

As is usually the case when writers come up with their own Watson, the actual Watson is not involved in the case.. he makes a cameo at 221 Baker St., and gets the usual short shrift (though not as bad as some).

The story itself was decent, but not a great mystery.. I had it figured out pretty early on, and was a bit disappointed that I there was no cool twist to mislead me. I enjoyed reading it, but it didn' leave me wanting more of Edward Porter Jones or Mr. Biggle's version of Holmes.

[robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very respectable pastiche. Lacking a little in verve, but there's a solid plot, a feeling of the period, good characterization all-round, and Holmes is recognizably himself, despite the fact that the narrator is a new character, a young apprentice. Normally I hate to see new characters introduced into a well-established canon, but it was well done in this case.

This is an impressive first effort; I'm a little sorry he didn't do a Solar Pons and build a series of these.