Sir Arthur Conan Doyle began his professional career as an eye doctor, and In many ways, Sherlock Holmes resembles Dr. Joseph Bell, one of Doyle's teachers at the medical school of Edinburgh University. Doyle was seventeen years old when he first met Dr. Bell, and the doctor left an indelible impression upon the young student. This is how Conan Doyle described Bell: A "thin wiry, dark" man, "with a high-nosed acute face, penetrating gray eyes, and angular shoulders. Dr. Bell would sit in his receiving room and diagnose the people as they came in, before they opened their mouths. He would tell them details of their past life; and hardly ever make a mistake." Doyle dedicated The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to Dr. Bell, writing to him "You are yourself Sherlock Holmes and well you know it." To this day, there are die-hard members of "The Baker Street Irregulars," who firmly believe that Holmes was a real person. Author Gene Grossman created his own version of Holmes, in the form of a twelve-year-old Chinese girl who is a brilliant computer whiz, solving cases for her legal guardian, an attorney. Like the Holmes Adventures, all twelve of Gene Grossman's stories are in the "Peter Sharp Legal Mystery Series," also available on Amazon.com. One of them, "The Magician's Legacy," has been called the finest locked-room mystery of this century. Details of all twelve can be seen at www.legalmystery.com
Edward Hardwicke, who played Dr. Watson to the late Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes in the celebrated television series, is in top form for this second installment of Conan Doyle's classic mystery stories. Hardwicke's narration is perfect as he again brings to life the lovable Watson and guides the listener through some of Holmes's most exciting and intriguing cases: the adventures of the Sussex Vampire, Creeping Man, Speckled Band, Crooked Man, Greek Interpreter and Naval Treaty. As the great detective gathering clues, utilizing his famed methods and unraveling each mystery, Hardwicke provides a superlative rendering of these treasured stories, which might leave listeners longing to hear Brett's Holmes reply to Hardwicke's Watson, and creates an audio book that will be adored by Holmes fans and provide newcomers with a compelling introduction to the gentlemen at 221B Baker St. (Aug.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
This is a nice but flawed entry in an already crowded field (a WorldCat search for Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle produces 137 records for audiobooks). Five of these six stories were written after Doyle resurrected Holmes following the character's death in "The Final Problem." While none are especially well known, all are worth hearing. Actor Edward Hardwicke, who played Dr. Watson in the BBC/PBS adaptation of these tales, does an excellent job narrating. Overlooking the omission of a portion of "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans," which makes for a confusing conclusion to the story, this fine production is recommended for all collections.--Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
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