Welcome

Welcome! Like the book of the same name, this blog is an eclectic collection of Sherlockian scribblings based on more than a half-century of reading Sherlock Holmes. Please add your own thoughts. You can also follow me on Twitter @DanAndriacco and on my Facebook fan page at Dan Andriacco Mysteries. You might also be interested in my Amazon Author Page. My books are also available at Barnes & Noble and in all main electronic formats including Kindle, Nook, Kobo and iBooks for the iPad.

Friday, March 7, 2014

How About a Good Book?


What have I been reading lately? I'm glad you asked that question!

You probably don't need a review of  The Maltese Falcon or The Big Sleep, but I'm going to tell you about four other books I've read recently. They have several things in common: All fit the theme of this blog, all are from MX Publishing, and all are available all the usual e-book and online sources.

Here goes:

The Norwood Author, by Alistair Duncan, was on my to-read stack for far too long. It's the definitive book about a brief but important period in the life of Arthur Conan Doyle - his Norwood years. Many fine biographies look at this protean man's whole life, but this is a close-up of one influential part of it.

Watson is Not an Idiot, by Eddy Webb, is a story-by-story analysis of the Canon. In just over 200 pages, the author offers a lot of interesting insights. The title may be obvious to us Watsonians, but the book isn't.

Never Meant to Be, by Stephen Seitz, takes some familiar elements - time travel, Jack the Ripper, Watson in love - and weaves them into a compelling story. It's a short book that seems longer - in a good way.

A Few Lessons From Sherlock Holmes is a book of quotations from Sherlock Holmes (and a quite few other wise people), systematically arranged to produce lessons. Take these lessons to heart, and you'll be wise, too.   

3 comments:

  1. I just ordered one of your recommendations.
    Thanks for the reviews.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Webb's 'Watson is Not an Idiot' (MX, 2013) not only has a great title and great cover art, but is also an excellent introduction for those up-and-coming Sherlockian enthusiasts who are just beginning to look beyond the Canon (and most likely BBC 'Sherlock') into the exciting world of Sherlockian scholarship. I can't help but consider Webb's book a 21st century Dakin, deserving a place on the shelves (virtual or otherwise) of Sherlockian neophyte and devotee alike. My only complaint so far is in regard to the chapter The Death of SH/FINA where Webb unequivocally states (sans citation) that "thousands of people wore black armbands in mourning" upon reading of the presumed death of Holmes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for your kind comments about The Norwood Author

    ReplyDelete