The Book of Extraordinary New Sherlock Holmes Stories: The Best New Original Stores of the Genre

by Maxim Jakubowski

Overview

Holmes and Watson return in new detective stories by David Stuart Davies, Lavie Tidhar, Mark Mower, and more: “Highly recommended.” —Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher novels

This cornucopia of dark deeds, deduction, and derring-do contains never-before-published stories featuring Sherlock Holmes and other favorite Conan Doyle characters—written by some of today’s best mystery and thriller writers and collected by one of the genre’s eminent editors. Contributors include:

Jon Courtenay Grimwood * Lavie Tidhar * David Stuart Davies * John Grant * Rose Biggins * David N. Smith * O’Neil De Noux * Rhys Hughes * Catherine Lundoff * Mark Mower * Matthew Booth * Martin Daley * Jan Edwards * Ashley Lister * Keith Brooke * Naching T.Kassa * Phillip Vine * Bev Vincent * Keith Moray * Nick Sweet

“Lavie Tidhar provides a tantalizing puzzle in ‘The Adventure of the Milford Silkworms,’ in which a female client appeals for help understanding the connection between an assault on a botanist and goats acting oddly. Bev Vincent’s ‘Bloody Sunday’ posits a clever plot behind one of the most notorious real-life riots of the Victorian era.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sometimes a brief zap of great writing is just what you’re in the mood for or have time for. That’s when anthologies like his are ideal...intellectually outstanding.” —New York Journal of Books

“The best short mystery and crime fiction of the year.” —Leonard Carpenter, author of Lusitania Lost

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781642504330
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	11/24/2020
Series:	The Series of Extraordinary Mystery Stories
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	307
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Maxim Jakubowski is a novelist and editor. He was born in the United Kingdom and educated in France. Following a career in book publishing, he opened the world-famous Murder One bookshop in London in 1988. He compiles two acclaimed annual series for the Mammoth list, Best New Erotica and Best British Crime. He is a winner of the Anthony and Karel awards, a frequent TV and radio broadcaster, crime columnist for the Guardian newspaper, and Literary Director of London's Crime Scene Festival. He lives in London, United Kingdom.

Read an Excerpt

From “The Case of the Missing Sister”by Jan Edwards

Holmes frequently ridiculed my efforts as chronicler of our exploits, and chose to ignore the fact that they were the reason he had become the most famous detective in these islands. But the lovely Miss Adler seemed to have disturbed his composure in that regard far more than any case we had previously tackled. I was mentally forming the best answer for this when Mrs Hudson bustled in. “A letter for you, Dr Watson,” she trilled. “May I clear breakfast now?”

“You may, thank you,” Holmes said, when I did not reply.

I barely noticed her exit. The postmark told me all when that Scottish town had brought my family nothing but sorrow. I tapped the paper rectangle against my knee and stared into nothingness.

“Since you apparently know who the missive is from, and it plainly poses you a question, throwing it away unread would seem a pointless act my dear chap.”

I could feel Holmes’s gaze on me; those piercing eyes glittering with curiosity and anticipation. He could deduce what I would only presume, and had appeared to have already done so.

“You're right of course, Holmes.” Sliding my nail beneath the seal I extracted the single sheet of paper and read quickly.

“Bad news?” Holmes enquired.

“Of the highest order,” I replied. “I shall read it to you, if I may?” Holmes nodded his assent and I sat back to angle the watery April sunlight directly onto the page.

Dalleth House, Perthshire,

10th May 1888

My dear Uncle John,

Please forgive my presumption in writing. I've followed your exploits with Mr. Sherlock Holmes ever since cook brought your stories to my attention. You write with such humanity I am absolutely certain that you will help me, despite our never having met.

There is no delicate way to write this so I shall be direct. My mother, your sister Elspeth, is missing. My father refuses to involve the police, and does not know that I am writing to you now. You and I have never met, but I beg of you to set aside the past and help me find her.

I have taken the liberty of enclosing train tickets for yourself and Mr. Holmes, and also a reservation at the White Stag Hotel.

With all good wishes and looking forward to meeting you very soon.

Your respectful niece,

Abigail Dalglish

Holmes held out his hand and I passed him the missive. He examined it minutely, turning the page over and back and peering at the envelope for a full minute. “A child with some strength of character to write so directly,” he said.

“She must be more than twenty years old, so hardly a child.”

Holmes inclined his head. “I was not aware you had a sister, far less a niece,” he said at last. “But then I know very little about your family.”

“You deduced that my watch had belonged to my father and thence my elder brother.” My hand strayed to touch the watch chain across my waistcoat and I smiled at a small triumph. “Unlike you to miss a clue.”

 “You told me that you have no living kin in England.”

“No living relatives in England.” Even to my ears my reply was churlish.

Holmes lit his pipe, wreathing his features in smoke to almost but not quite hide his amusement. “I do understand your reticence. We neither of us wish to be defined by our beginnings. My own brother is known to you only because he made himself known.” Holmes lowered his chin to regard me suspiciously. “Who has the honour of being your brother-in-law?”

“Alexander Dalglish. I was still a boy at school when he whisked our dear Elspeth away. It broke my mother’s heart.”

Holmes nodded slowly. “I am sorry,” he said, with surprising gentleness. “Do you intend answering this cri de coeur?”

“My only niece?” I replied. “How can I refuse?”

“Then it is settled. If we leave immediately we will make the one o'clock train.” He rose abruptly, consulting his pocket watch and returning it to his waistcoat with a flourish. “Mrs Hudson! My laundry if you please!”

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
Maxim Jakubowski

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MILFORD SILKWORM
Lavie Tidhar

THE LANCELOT CONNECTION
Matthew Booth

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MISSING MASTER
Phillip Vine

THE NEW MESSI
Nick Sweet

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLOOMSBURY PICKPOCKET
David N. Smith

BLOODY SUNDAY
Bev Vincent

THE CASE OF THE CURSED ANGEL TEARS
Ashley Lister

THE CASE OF THE AIR THAT WAS TAKEN
Keith Brooke

THE CHANDELIER BID
Rose Biggin

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND A CASE OF HUMBUG
Paul A. Freeman

THE RECALCITRANT RHYMESTER
Mark Mower

WHAT THE DICKENS!
Rhys Hughes

THE DULWICH SOLICITOR
Martin Daley

HE WHO HOWLS
O'Neil De Noux

THE ADVENTURE OF THE MISSING FIANCÉ
Catherine Lundoff

THE ADVENTURE OF THE TALKING BOARD
John Grant

THE TELL-TALE LEAVES
Keith Moray

THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLACK KEY
Naching T. Kassa

THE WORLD IS FULL OF OBVIOUS THINGS
Jon Courtenay Grimwood

THE TALE OF THE MISSING SINGER
Jan Edwards

THE CASE OF THE TERRIFIED TOBACCONIST
David Stuart Davies

ABOUT THE EDITOR

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"A giant of the genre...highly recommended.”
―Lee Childs, author of the Jack Reacher novels