A Most Diabolical Plot - Six Compelling Sherlock Holmes Cases

This is a fine selection of stories, which mostly take place during Holmes' later years in which he has retired to spend time beekeeping in the Sussex countryside. The title story features a bold attempt on the great detective's life, the second features zeppelins in World War One, the third is a murder mystery with an ingenious solution (solved by Watson himself!), the fourth and fifth are both interesting explorations of technology during the Great War while the last tale returns to Queen Victoria's jubilee (in 1897) for a combined crime caper which keeps the reader guessing. Tim Symonds has a really sure hand with the relationship between the much loved duo as well as the period details: if you enjoyed the original stories, you'll almost certainly like these too. I've not read the author's longer adaptations yet but will pick one up on the strength of these stories.

If you like Sherlock, this will appeal.

I especially enjoyed the short story format for reading on my travels. Two aspects I particularly liked were the wry humour between Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes and the interweaving of historic fact and fiction. Each story took me on unexpected travels . In ‘The Mystery of the Missing Artefacts’ the story commences in a Turkish prison and takes Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes to the Battle of Hastings via the British Museum. ‘The heavy door of my cell swung open. Rather than the surly Turkish warder bringing a once-daily bowl of watery grey soup, a visitor from the outside world. stood there,’ wrote Watson.