The Execution of Sherlock Holmes and Other New Adventures of the Great Detective

Review: This is the third collection of Sherlock Holmes tales by this author and it is by far the most entertaining of the three. The Secret Cases of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes and the Voice from the Crypt (UK: Sherlock Holmes and the Running Noose) contained tales that involved Holmes in historical mysteries of the 19th and 20th Centuries. This present collection contains tales specifically oriented towards Holmes, that involve familiar characters from The Canon. Each of the novellas included here is a Sherlockian tale from start to finish.

The Execution of Sherlock Holmes details the events surrounding the arrest, trial and imprisonment of Holmes for the murder of Charles Augustus Milverton. The arresting authorities seem to be a consortium of old enemies of Holmes, including some most unpleasant surprises. The story given here is drawn from documents involving real events and persons and it is quite an impressive narrative. Holmes displays his genius for observation and for deduction as well as his control of his mind and body.

The Case of the Greek Key provides a compelling alternative to His Last Bow. Although it lacks the drama of the Canonical version, it seems to be much more in line with the realities of espionage during the days that led up to the Great War. It is well-known that the British Espionage Service, which had achieved real renown under Dick Whittington and others in the 17th and 18th Centuries, had been allowed almost to disappear by late Victorian times. It hadn’t even begun a comeback during the Reign of Edward VII. In the few short years of The Great War, it rose from practically nothing to become the Service that perpetrated the Zimmerman Telegram Hoax and successfully matched wits with all the undercover groups in the world. Perhaps Holmes provided the jump-start it needed, as shown here.

In The Case of the Peasenhall Murder, Holmes undertakes an investigation to clear the murder charges that have resulted twice in hung juries for a man convicted in the Press by public gossip of a gruesome murder. This tale seems much more realistic and vivid that the usual Canonical tale, even though it does not discover the murderer or clear up the details of the crime. The characters include the usual village cast; the unworldly vicar, the innocent maiden, the loutish lotharios and the opinionated pot swillers. Into this classic mix, Holmes brings the light of reason and logic, to clear away conjecture and to silence speculation. It is The Great Detective at the height of his powers.

The Case of the Phantom Chambermaid is classic Holmes. A girl has been dismissed from her position as chambermaid in a Hotel for entering a guest’s room when she was actually at home, asleep. Her parents and her Minister bring the case to Holmes and these facts lead him to uncover a murder plan based on a peculiar habit of the guest and the diaries of a French Officer from the beginning of the Century.

In The Queen of the Night, Holmes uncovers a plot to steal jewelry during the Coronation ceremonies of His Majesty, Edward VII. Colonel James Moriarty is making an effort to settle an old, old score and to embarrass the Crown and the entire British Nation, as well as Holmes and Watson.

Donald Thomas has studied and written about the world of British Crime to the point where his understanding of the subject is encyclopedic. His characters and situations are drawn from life and he uses Holmes as no other writer could to track down and foil the very real sorts of criminals he depicts.

For historical buffs, Mr. Thomas is also the author of Prince Charlie’s Bluff, a Novel of the Kingdom of Virginia, a long-time favorite of mine.

Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, May, 2007