The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927)

With the exception of The Problem of Thor Bridge, this final collection of Sherlock Holmes stories has little too recommend it. Doyle did go for a bit more variety, trying third-person, narratives by Holmes himself, and sci-fi horror, but there's also poor storytelling and some of the most offensive passages in the entire Sherlock Holmes canon. ( )

I agree with the many who state that this collection is the weakest of the Sherlock Holmes Canon. These stories are more rushed, pulp like and lack the ethereal poetic flow of the older Holmes adventures. ( )

This product comprises a collection of 12 short detective stories across 8 CDs. This means that a story may begin and/or end in the middle of a CD. I listened to them in the car (on the daily school run) – and this didn’t particularly bother me or my daughter.

As it happens we were both new to these stories (though we are avid fans of the modern tv show - Sherlock). As newcomers to the works of Conan Doyle, we were neither particularly impressed with the stories, nor disappointed with them. Homes remains an irritatingly smug character and Watson annoyingly servile; but the stories are well enough crafted and sufficiently different from each other to be interesting. Though I would say that the original isn’t a patch on the TV version!

However we were disappointed with the reading by Derek Jacobi. Perhaps I had unrealistically high expectations but I would have expected that he could do more than one distinct upper class English accent. As it was, we found the voices of Sherlock and Watson hard to distinguish from one another. ( )

Now that I've finished the canon, three general reflections on Doyle's Holmes stories:

1) Short stories are the best medium for Holmes. This is more because none of the novels is really satisfying than anything else. In a way, Doyle approaches the stories like Holmes himself might: The detection is essentially elementary, not requiring, nor inviting, long explanation. So the stories are short, and the plots - even the most intricate ones - explained directly. One can imagine Doyle not taking them too seriously, though he respected his characters and readers.

2) The best book is The Return of Sherlock Holmes. By that time, Doyle knew what he wanted to do with the two main characters and had accepted what his readers wanted.

3) The real story Doyle is telling is of a lifelong relationship between two well-suited partners.

In this book, I was a little sad when I read that Watson moved out of 221B Baker Street again. In one story, Holmes - serving as narrator in one of two stories in the entire series - reveals the Doctor married again, although Watson never mentions it himself. In fact, Holmes clearly misses Watson, and Watson knows it. I assume Doyle didn't think it was appropriate for two bachelors to settle down together for life.

The Case-Book once again includes many great moments of Holmesian deduction, and a satisfying portion of adventure. I thought I would be put off by Doyle's use of Holmes as narrator in two of the tales, but it was actually a pleasant diversion from the usual formula. Doyle also uses these stories to clear up a few of the details about Holmes's career and life, including what he does after he retires from "practice."

Two key moments in these stories are as follows:

First, I love the part at the beginning of "The Adventure of the Creeping Man" when Watson describes his role in Holmes's life as the detective's career winds down: "The relations between us in those latter days were peculiar. He was a man of habits, narrow and concentrated habits, and I had become one of them. As an institution I was like the violin, the shag tobacco, the old black pipe, the index books, and others perhaps less excusable. When it was a case of active work and a comrade was needed upon whose nerve he could place some reliance, my role was obvious. But apart from this I had uses. I was a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him. He liked to think aloud in my presence. His remarks could hardly be said to be made to me--many of them would have been as appropriately addressed to his bedstead--but none the less, having formed the habit, it had become in some way helpful that I should register and interject. If I irritated him by a certain methodical slowness in my mentality, that irritation served only to make his own flame-like intuitions and impressions flash up the more vividly and swiftly. Such was my humble role in our alliance."

Second, and most important, is the moment in "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs" when the two protagonists confirm their love for each other. As the plot of Killer Evans is revealed, the criminal pulls a gun and abruptly shoots Watson. Holmes immediately overpowers him and rushes to Watson's side, saying: "You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!" Watson's response releases all the emotion his Victorian reserve has contained for 20 years:

"It was worth a wound--it was worth many wounds--to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation."

But Watson doesn't dwell on it: "It's nothing, Holmes. It's a mere scratch," he says.

Thus their relationship returns to normal. Although to me, the residue of that moment underlies the final few stories. I'm happy for Watson, and I appreciate Holmes all the more. ( )

The Final 'Sherlock Holmes' collection riddled with well known stories throughout. 'The Problem of Thor Bridge' I found hard going because I must have seen the Jeremy Brett TV version at least a dozen times.

This anthology doesn't have the same level of quality to it as earlier collections, but still plenty to enjoy.

3.5 Stars ( )