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NorburyChronicle
e-newsletter of the Holmesian Studies SIG of American Mensa
since ’88, Baker Street Irregulars scion since ‘95
"Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed." (Mark 4:22
Issue XLVIII Summer '16
In Facebook Group
Ápril Ænn has been accepted into our facebook group of members. A note to all who have
found out about us there. If you are a member of Mensa, please confirm the fact, so we can count you properly. Feel free to contribute.
From Facebook
Steve Emecz clued us in on the now four-volume MX Books of New Sherlock Holmes Stories.
Volume I
''Sherlock Holmes of London,” by Michael Kurland, a set of four quatrains that effectively invoke the place where “…it is always 1895.”, some more than others from what we can deduce from the blurbs.
“The Adventure of the Slipshod Charlady,” by John Hall, is the first effort I know of to tell the Untold Tale of “... a slipshod elderly woman” cited in STUD.
“The Case of the Lichfield Murder,” by Hugh Ashton, tells of the grisly case of “…Henry Staunton, whom I helped to hang,” cited in MISS.
“The Kingdom of the Blind,” by Adrian Middleton, shows the true reason for the Vatican’s Index Librorem Prohibitorem, the evils that these books stir up in the credulous,
“The Adventure of the Pawnbroker’s Daughter,” by David Marcum, gives us a glimpse of true evil, wrapped in an enticing package.
“The Adventure of the Defenestrated Princess,” by Jayantika Ganguly, shows us Holmes and Watson coping with the tribulations of a love-sick 16-year-old Princess, grimly determined to fulfill her duty to marry while pursued by five aged suitors grimly determined to secure her considerable dowry and her father’s political influence.
“The Adventure of the Inn on the Marsh,” by Dennis O. Smith takes me back to his “Chronicles” collections in what is, perhaps, his best tale yet.
“The Adventure of the Travelling Orchestra,” by Amy Thomas, deserved to be, at least, a novella. Her intense characters and their complications need more space to unfold than was available in this shortened format.
“The Haunting of Sherlock Holmes,” by Kevin David Barratt, vividly shows an important but neglected side of the Holmes/Watson relationship.
“The Allegro Mystery,” by Luke Benjamen Kuhns, tells the tale of Holmes’ effort to furnish Watson with a wife in the midst of a mystery.
“The Deadly Soldier,” by Summer Perkins, gives us a perfect picture of the meeting of The Professor and Colonel Sebastian Moran.
“The Case of the Vanishing Stars,” by Deanna Baran, introduces Holmes and Watson into the world of the Music Halls, where a widowed performer/owner is coping with a variety of problems.
“The Song of the Mudlark,” by Shane Simmons, is told by Wiggins, as he introduces us to the newest Irregular who is taking a giant step up from the occupation of mudlark.
“The Tale of the Forty Thieves,” by C. H. Dye, tells the Untold Tale of the Paradol Chamber as cited in FIVE and does so most imaginatively.
“The Strange Missive of Germaine Wilkes,” by Mark Mower, recounts Watson’s first introduction to the problem of Professor Moriarty.
“The Case of the Vanished Killer,” by Derrick Belanger, introduces “Buffalo Bill” Cody when Inspector Lestrade suspects some of the Wild West Show's Indians may have committed a double murder.
“The Adventure of the Aspen Papers,” by Daniel D. Victor, brings Henry James to ask Sherlock’s help with a problem that ultimately inspires him to write a novel.
“The Ululation of Wolves,” by Steve Mountain, poses an insidious locked-room Mystery for Holmes, with a pack of wolves thrown in to cloud the matter further.
“The Case of the Vanishing Inn,” by Stephen Wade, tells of a terrifying encounter with the Professor by Watson and Inspector Lestrade.
“The King of Diamonds,” by John Sherwood, involves Holmes and Watson in a poisoning case that the police have blamed on the obvious suspects on circumstantial evidence.
“The Adventure of the Urquhart Manse,” by Will Thomas, presents an “obvious” mystery then quickly wanders off into a strange byway.
“The Adventure of the Seventh Stain,” by Daniel McGachey explains in great detail both that problem and the investigation of “The First Adventure of the Second Stain (SEC1).”
“The Two Umbrellas,” by Martin Rosenstock, tells of an enigmatic encounter between Mycroft Holmes and Professor Moriarty over a matter of espionage.
“The Adventure of the Fateful Malady,” by Craig Janacek, involves Holmes and Watson with a recurrence of the Black Death and tells the Untold tale of his “professional service … for Sir James Saunders (SIRJ)” as cited in BLAN.
“The Bachelor of Baker Street Muses on Irene Adler,” by Carole Nelson Douglas, an interesting collection of verses that examines Sherlock’s attitude towards “The Woman.”
“The Affair of Miss Finney,” by Ann Margaret Lewis examines an oft neglected crime, rape, and displays the varying attitudes toward this crime in Victorian times.
“The Adventure of the Bookshop Owner,” by Vincent W. Wright Presents a complex murder rooted in an obscure past.
“The Singular Case of the Unrepentant Husband,” by William Patrick Maynard explains the identity of Mrs. Turner, who appeared in “A Scandal in Bohemia” (SCAN) and was never seen again. It also presents an apparently supernatural occurrence as well as an apparently similar comeuppance.
“The Verse of Death,” by Matthew Booth presents a locked room murder with a surprising history.
“Lord Garnett’s Skulls,” by J. R. Campbell combines mistaken gossip, old Victorian practices and inabilities to “listen” into a complex investigation for Holmes.
“Larceny in the Sky with Diamonds,” by Robert V. Stapleton tells us of the Professor’s last caper before he heads off to the Reichenbach to meet Holmes.
“The Glennon Falls” by Sam Wiebe tells of a shaping incident in Professor Moriarty’s past that helped lead him to the Reichenbach.
“The Adventure of the Sleeping Cardinal,” by Jeremy Branton Holstein, has Watson and Insp. Lestrade investigate a robbery for Mycroft during “The Great Hiatus.”
“The Case of the Anarchist’s
Bomb,” by Bill Crider, precedes “The Adventure of the
Empty House” by a month or so as Mycroft asks Watson to
investigate a bombing that killed an anarchist.
Volume
2
“The Riddle of the Rideau Rifles,” by Peter Calamai, originally appeared in an anthology devoted to adventure tales centered on the Rideau Canal Waterway. This updated edition tells of an attempt by Canadian unionists to stir up trouble with the USA. Lyndsay Faye’s
“The Adventure of the Willow Basket” tells of Lestrade’s feelings about “The Great Hiatus” and introduces a truly remarkable murder weapon.
“The Onion Vendor’s Secret,” by Marcia Wilson, introduces the reader to a remarkable brotherhood that grew up in England in the 19th Century and ties up some loose ends from “The Hound of the Baskervilles”.
“The Case of the Murderous Numismatist” by Jack Grochot introduces the reader to one of Holmes’ informers and to a remarkable policewoman as well as to a murderous coiner.
“The Saviour of Cripplegate Square”
by Bert Coules
was written as the fifth hour-long episode of the BBC radio series,
“The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.” These
episodes were written to tell Untold Tales and this is the tale of
“…the most winning
woman I ever knew….”
As cited in The Sign of Four. It is chilling, on several levels.
“A Study in Abstruse Detail,” by Wendy C. Fries clarifies several Untold Tales cited in the Canon. These include “The famous Smith-Mortimer succession case” cited in “The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez ,” “Venomous lizard, or Gila…” cited in “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire” and “...the case of Vamberry, the wine merchant...,” cited in “The Musgrave Ritual.”
“The Adventure of St. Nicholas the Elephant,” by Christopher Redmond tells of how Holmes solved a most puzzling murder on the grounds of an historic church using observation and deduction.
“The Lady on the Bridge,” by Mike Hogan tells of Holmes fostering “true love” by deterring a persistent, elderly suitor and aiding an eligible bachelor to marry a winsome French mademoiselle, or so it seems.
“The Adventure of the Poison Tea Epidemic,” professional chemist Carl Heifetz describes Holmes’
“…researches in Early English charters...” cited in “The Adventure of the Three Students” along with his findings.
“The Man on Westminster Bridge,” by Dick Gillman, has Holmes and Watson investigate a unique method of cheating in a Gentleman’s club at the request of Mycroft.
Volume 3
“Out of the Fog” and “The Art of Detection.” are two sonnets by Bonnie MacBird
“Harbinger of Death” by Geri Schear, has Holmes asked to help a young lady whose elderly aunt believes she is cursed to die on Friday the thirteenth.
“The Adventure of the Regular Passenger,” by Paul D. Gilbert, tells the tale of “… the peculiar persecution to which John Vincent Harden, the well-known tobacco millionaire, had been subjected” as cited in “The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist.”
“The Perfect Spy,” by Stuart Douglas, tells of murder and Boer spies in a world where unsuitable suitors and heiresses may not mix.
“A Mistress – Missing” by Lyn McConchie that tells of an odd client who asks Holmes to find a missing lady and then pays him in kind.
“Two Plus Two” by Phil Growick has Holmes exploring homonyms and their odd occurrences.
“The Adventure of the Coptic Patriarch” by Seamus Duffy that tells an Untold Tale cited in “The Adventure of the Retired Colourman.”
“The Royal Arsenal Affair,” by Leslie F. E. Coombs has Holmes asked by his brother Mycroft to investigate the theft of an unspecified apparatus from Woolwich Royal Arsenal.
“The Adventure of the Sunken Parsley,” by Mark Alberstat, tells an Untold Tale cited in “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons.”
The author assures me that this is entirely different than an earlier story on the same subject, published in “The Hounds Collection [#01].”
“The Strange Case of the Violin Savant,” by G. C. Rosenquist, has Holmes meeting a child prodigy violinist with communication problems.
“The Hopkins Brothers Affair,” by Iain McLaughlin and Clair Bartlett, has Holmes asked to find a missing ship by its captain’s brother.
“The Disembodied Assassin,” by Andrew Lane has Holmes asked by his brother Mycroft to solve a classic “locked room” mystery, which he does like clockwork.
“The Adventure of the Dark Tower” by Peter K. Andersson, has Watson discovering an historical mystery that seems to lap over into the present day.
“The Adventure of the Reluctant Corpse,” by Matthew J. Elliott, presents Holmes and Watson with a living man Watson previously declared dead. Later, his corpse shows up again and the real mystery begins.
“The Inspector of Graves” by Jim French recounts a grave robbery that never happened.
“The Parson’s Son” by Bob Byrne recounts the preliminary investigations by Holmes of the Edalji case which led him to ask Watson to bring it to Doyle’s attention.
“The Adventure of the Botanist’s Glove” is a short story by James Lovegrove that presents a most ingenious murder method.
“A Most Diabolical Plot” by Tim Symonds, tells of a truly complex plan by recently released Sebastian Moran to assassinate Holmes.
“The Opera Thief” by Larry Millet occurs after Holmes takes Watson to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for gall bladder surgery and is one of the most tragic tales in this collection.
“Blood Brothers,” by Kim Krisko, presents two sets of brothers whose actions declare which are the wealthier pair.
“The Adventure of the White Bird” by C. Edward Davis recounts some of the early aviation efforts to fly the Atlantic for Ortieg’s prize that ended with Lindbergh’s successful landing in Paris.
“The Adventure of the Avaricious Bookkeeper” by Joel and Carolyn Senter tells of Holmes and Watson's investigation of a puzzle for Mrs. Hudson’s niece as they meet again in Baker Street in the 20’s.
VIDEOS
From Kelly Anderson we were clued onto
http://www.acinemahistory.com/2016/05/sherlock-holmes-1916.html
She wrote “Today I'm watching something special for the very first time. It's the silent film of Sherlock Holmes with William Gillette. I've never had the opportunity to see this and it's on You Tube in perfect shape, so I thought I'd share it hear with my fellow Holmes lovers. Even though it's not Basil, it's still pretty cool to have this so available now.”
While researching my new book, The Curse of Sherlock Holmes, the sequel to Sherlock Holmes and the Mad Doctor I discovered the first film featuring Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur and Henry Marvin, "Sherlock Holmes Baffled" filmed in 1900 when Gillette was playing Holmes in New York.
MORE PUNISHMENTS' PUN-CHLINES
"Parlez-Vous Francais?" by Max Ehrlich: "Elle est 'Linoleum blown apart!'"
"Pennies from Heaven … and Elsewhere": "The lady is just going through her change."
"Plastic Fish" by Robert C. Burr: "[They're] the first people to use credit cods."
"Poor Lestrade" by Robert C. Burr: "The Adventure of the Copper's Breeches"
"Poor Miss Kitty" by Robert C. Burr: "You may lead a horticulture, but…"
"Pure Hogwash" by David Galerstein: "The pig squealed."
"Rah! Rah! Rah!" by Robert C. Burr: "[That's] a course of a different holler."
"Say Cheese!" by Robert C. Burr: "The spirit was willing but the flash was weak."
"Seek and Ye Shall Find" by William Ballew: "[They] had to search every crook and nanny."
"Ship Ahoy!" by Dr. Neil Taylor: "His barque was worse than his bight."
"Silver Blaze II" by Robert C. Burr: "[Call it] 'The Adventure of the Empty Horse'."
"Simpson's in the Strand" by Phillip K. Jones: "[We're] having a bad hare day."
"Singers? Yes. Fathers? Never!" by Robert C. Burr: "The castrati were cut out for their work."
"Skullduggery" by Rosemary Michaud: [The skull's] a seven percent Aleutian of Cancun."
"Soup's On -- But Not for Long" by Robert C. Burr: ""The soup was tried and found Won Ton."
"Soup's On!" by Robert C. Burr: "There's a soup in my fly."
"Soup's On" II by Robert C. Burr: "It looks to me like he's doing the backstroke."
"Soup's On" III by Robert C. Burr: "Our chef was at one time a tailor's apprentice."
"Speaking of Billy" by David J. Milner: "Promise him anything, but give him our page."
"Spying in the Bristol Channel" by Phillip K. Jones: "[They wanted] the pie rates of Penn's aunts."
"Stick out Your Tongue and Say 'Ah'" by Donald Aitcheson Redmond: "I simply looked at his Tonga."
"Stick with the Prose, Doctor" by Robert Brodie: "Rhyme does not pay."
"Sticks and Scones ..." by Robert C. Burr: "[He's guilty of] killing two bards with one scone."
"Tempus Fugit - So Does the Game" by Hugo Koch: "Ellie meant 'tarry', my dear Watson!"
"Terror in the W. C." by Robert C. Burr: "[Call it] 'The Case of the Old Woman Who Shivved in a Loo'."