This is, hands down, the best book I have read attempting to pin down the "historical" Sherlock Holmes based upon history and a strict, meaningful exegesis of the Canon. Hall pins down, convincingly, I think, the heritage, birthplace, and education of Sherlock Holmes. He discusses his family, his early career, and he expertly explains why Watson repeats himself in two stories. Hall's scholarship is expert, he writes as if he was a Victorian/Edwardian historian of old (perfect for a Holmes scholar), citing his evidence in convenient footnotes and sticking to the Canon as if it truly was Scripture. This book is a must for any lover of the Holmes stories, especially for anyone who plays the Game. He does take some guesses here and there, that may stray too far, but still he has made some thought-provoking points. ( )

LK: Carefully researched and interesting studies of many canonical topics, with extensive indices and tables of case references. Addresses such topics as SH's Schooling, Love Life, etc.