Sherlock Holmes and the Hentzau Affair

This is a novella mash up of Sherlock Holmes and Prisoner of Zenda. I love Sherlock Holmes and I love Prisoner of Zenda so it was a fun short read. There is in fact a follow up to Zenda called Rupert of Hentzau which is also very good though few people seem to have heard of it. This novella rewrites that end but it whiled away a relaxed and pleasant couple of hours.

Another Stuart Davis pastiche and, I have to confess, another that I enjoyed. There will always be those who turn their noses up at the non-ACD stories and if those readers want to stick to the original canon then fine. But with the great man nearly 80 years dead the chances of any real undiscovered manuscripts emerging are nil. So take this in the spirit in which it was written - a fun adventure featuring everyone's favourite detective and I think you'll enjoy it. Perhaps there is too much emphasis on adventure and not enough on detection but the story is short and great fun and there are far worse ways to wile away a winter's evening.

Just read the Prisoner of Zenda first. The synopsis given early on in the story doesn't do such a show more great work of literature justice (and nor can it be expected too). show less

Davies writes very much in the style of Conan Doyle,and in 'Sherlock Holmes and the Hentzau Affair' skillfully combines this with that of Anthony Hope,the author of 'The Prisoner of Zenda'.
In this story,Holmes is requested to help save Ruritania from anarchy,as Rupert of Hentzau attempts to wrest the throne from the legitimate monarch.
A 'Ripping Yarn' of the best sort. Great fun .

1895. Colonel Sapt needs the help of Sherlock Holmes. He is in the service of King Rudolf V of Ruritania. Due to an illness the help of the King's impersonator is needed again. But he has gone missing.
An enjoyable adventure story

This was such a good idea - Holmes and Watson heading for Ruritania. It is most unfortunate that the book is turgidly written and, while the author may know his Holmes, he certainly does not know his Anthony Hope.