The Dogs of Sherlock Holmes

Review: This book is a collection of short narratives by dogs mentioned in the Canon. In general, each is a narrative of events in a case as seen through the eyes of the dog in question. The twenty narratives included here do not always agree with the events as recorded by Dr. Watson. In fact, the general impression of these tales is that Watson and Holmes didn’t always get to the heart of the matter.

The included statements are short and quite straight-forward, as befits the viewpoints of the narrators. They are also difficult to fault, as the dogs seem to be without artifice or guile. If these tales are true, students of the Canon have a lot to learn.

Both Curly, Dr.Mortimer’s Spaniel, and The Hound have statements to make about the events in The Hound of the Baskervilles. As The Hound (Schmiergeld) belonged to Charles Augustus Milverton before being bought by Stapleton, he also has comments to make about The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.

Two dogs, the one at King’s Pyland and the one at Mapleton have comments on the events recorded in Silver Blaze. The observations of Lady Beatrice Falder’s spaniel put an entirely new face on The Adventure at Shoscombe Old Place and a different spaniel, Carlo, adds some light to events and personalities in The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire. A second Carlo, this one a Great Dane, clarifies some details in The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.

And so it goes. Trevor’s bull-terrier expands on The ‘Gloria Scott’, a welsh terrier describes the real events of The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane and Professor Presbury’s dog, Roy, reveals a number of lies involved in The Adventure of the Creeping Man. The Cunningham’s dog supplies some intersting details about The Reigate Squires and Breckinridge’s Jack Russell Terrier adds color to The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle.

Watson’s bull pup, mentioned in A Study in Scarlet, relates his own sad tale and Mrs. Hudson’s rescued stray from the same story gives his history. Toby, from The Sign of Four, clarifies the events involved in tracking down Small and his companion and the dog of Armstrong’s coachman, from The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter, tells how Holmes dealt with threats. Pompey, from the same story, tells about the search for Godfrey Staunton and Lady Eva Brackenstall’s dog lets us see the real brains behind events in The Adventure of the Abbey Grange. Finally, Josiah Amberley’s dog provides the complete explanation of “TheAdventure of the Retired Colourman.”

These tales are interesting and thought-provoking. The alternatives they present certainly cast doubts on events recorded in the Canon and bring Holmes’ skills and credulity into question. A thoughtful book, for all its apparent simplicity.

Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, July 2006.