Customer Reviews
Just plain BAD! - By: Alessandro di Francia, 17 Sep 2008 
I don't know what the reviewers who gave this book more than two stars have read, but NOT this book!
As a SH fan, collector & reader I was drawnin by the positive reviews on this website, & bought the book; well, it was money badly spent.
The plots are half-cooked at best, there is little to no background, most of the times the stories start off with dialogue & go on like that, & little to no description is given of the places & atmosphere of the story.
Sorry but this is a BIG no-no.
Facts are correct - By: Miss A Non, 28 Sep 2007 
To respond to Mr Hoyis, below, I did a bit of research:
Mr Stockell cannot be faultedin the matter of photography. The story which revolves around a jigsaw photograph is setin 1890. In 1844 Henry Fox Talbot wrote the first book on photography &in 1884 the magazine Amateur Photographer was founded to serve what had become a very popular hobby. Plate cameras were commonplace from the 1860s &in 1884 flexible celluloid film was introduced followed by the box camerain 1888. In any case nobody said it was not a professionally taken photograph.
The story which features a telephonein Golders Green is setin 1895. The year is not stated but it may be deduced from the sporting events mentioned. Whilst Wilf Baddeley won Wimbledonin 1891, 1892 & 1895 & Oxford also won the Boat Racein those same years, Aston Villa won the FA cupin 1895 & Jem Smith took the title against Pritchardin 1895. Thus the story is setin that year. The first telephone directory of London was publishedin 1880 but of coursein those days Golders Green was a village on the outskirts of London. Whether houses there were connected to the telephone system I know not but it is clear from the story that the housein question does not possess one & that it is fake installed by the crooks as part of their con game.
Mycroft Holmes left his club to visit 221b Baker Streetin The Greek Interpreter & twicein The Bruce Partington Plans. In the latter story he also sallied forth to the Gloucester Road to sitin Mr Oberstein's house. He also has a home & an officein which he spends a great part of his time.
I hope that clears up your queries, Mr Hoyus.
Sensible stories nicely written - By: H. Wojtczak, 27 Sep 2007 I found the storiesin keeping with Conan Doyle's original style & enjoyed reading them. It's a great book for people who have read & read the originals & long for some new tales. And as a previous reviewer said, it sure beats all those ridiculous & far-fetched Holmes-meets-Dracula nonsensical stories. Well done Mr Stockwell, may your pen never run dry!
An unmissable collection of ingenious Sherlock Holmes stories - By: Jean A. Morgan, 24 Sep 2007 
In this, his expanded volume of 17 stories, Alan Stockwell presents the reader with a rich diversity of intriguing tales, as narrated by Dr. Watson. Buy this book with confidence that you will have an exciting & entertaining read ... & please, Mr. Stockwell, give us more!
Disappointing - By: Hoyus, 17 Sep 2007 
Inspired by the reviews of others, I bought this book, & felt sadly let down by it. I have read other Holmes pastiches before - the finest were those produced by Adrian Conan-Doyle, a relative of Arthur. The storiesin this books feature less well drawn characters, & was it really true that Holmes would have encountered ("20 years earlier") amateur photography & a rural telephone service? And what chance Mycroft leaving the confines of his club? Not great stories either - sorry, Mr Stockwell - my summation is tries hard, could do better.
