Review: Raffles: A Perfect Wicket

Raffles: A Perfect Wicket

By Richard Foreman

Reviewed by Dawn

Guest Writer for The Baker Street Babes

Raffles: A Perfect Wicket, is the third story about Raffles and Bunny, written expertly by Richard Foreman.

During a dry spell in the nightly activities of thieving, Raffles is invited to a party at Lord Rosebery's by Lucy, whom Raffles met in Raffles: The Gentleman Thief. Rosebery, another real life person to feature in Foreman's stories, is a former Prime Minister, quite wealthy, and Raffles jumps at the chance to relieve him of some of his riches. However, one never knows Raffles' plans fully. It turns out to be a night of a few turns of events, including a surprise appearance by a well known inspector, and its not Mackenzie!

This is easily the funniest of the Raffles stories. Foreman shows his subtle humor through his characters' ironic comments about contemporary society, from the political scene to the growing women's movement around the late 19th century. Raffles and Bunny are the perfect neutral observers, and as an omniscient reader it is easy to see the parallels in today's society. Surprisingly, or maybe not, nothing much has changed.

The language is lush, even rather poetic at times. It's nice to see that Foreman has a knack of describing a beautiful scenery and not just the best method of lockpicking. I fear I'll end up repeating myself, but these stories fully live up to E. W. Hornung's original books, so if you like me cannot get enough of Raffles, Bunny and their adventures in cricket and crime (mostly crime), these new stories are worth all of your attention.

Download it [HERE]!

Review: Raffles: Bowled Over

Raffles: Bowled Over

By Richard Foreman

Reviewed by Dawn
Guest Writer for The Baker Street Babes

Raffles: Bowled Over is the title of Richard Foreman's second story about A. J. Raffles, amateur thief and professional cricketer. An apt title, since that's exactly how this reader felt.

In this second story which picks up where Raffles: The Gentleman Thief left off, Raffles takes on a job close to home. His new neighbor at the Albany is a famous banker whose fortune is only surpassed in volume by his obnoxious nature. Raffles' plans are in danger of being thwarted, though, when he meets the beautiful maid Mary, who might be stealing his heart. But, as often happens, things are not as they seem!

This story is not only a joy because of the wonderful characterizations of Raffles and Bunny, but the rest of the ensemble is both amusing and full of personality. I found myself often laughing with Raffles and cringing with Bunny at the various people they encounter. The casual mention of real people like H. G. Wells, Winston Churchill and the famous sportsman C. B. Fry—here a friend of Raffles—naturally brings authenticity to the story, and you really do feel like you're witnessing history first hand.

One small thing stands out, which has nothing to do with plot or the story as such, but brought a smile to my face. In E. W. Hornung's original stories he would every now and then introduce his readers to new inventions that saw the light of the day during the 19th century like the telephone, the torchlight, or the bicycle. Foreman hasn't missed the opportunity to honor this tradition as he has Bunny mention the new thing known as the escalator. It's yet another example of the many wonderful details Foreman puts into his stories and it's why they are such a pleasure to read.

Buy it on Amazon US or Amazon UK! For this weekend (April 21-22, 2012) it's FREE to download!

Review: Raffles: The Gentleman Thief

Raffles: The Gentleman Thief

By Richard Foreman

Reviewed by Dawn

Guest Writer for The Baker Street Babes

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This book is currently free to download from Amazon—click HERE for the UK edition, or check your country's Amazon store! Don't miss out!

A fan of Sherlock Holmes? Read E. W. Hornung's stories about the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles and his trusty sidekick Bunny, written lovingly and tounge-in-cheek by Conan Doyle's friend and brother-in-law. A fan of Sherlock Holmes and Raffles? Read Raffles - The Gentleman Thief, by Richard Foreman, because it is the perfect fandom mashup, as we fans would put it.

This new original story by Foreman sees our favorite amateur cracksman Raffles - famous cricket player by day, infamous jewel thief by night - hired by none other than Baker Street's most famous detective Sherlock Holmes. He is, of course, to steal something, a job Holmes characteristically just cannot be bothered with himself. Readers of Hornung's Raffles stories may have wondered where Holmes fits into this universe, if at all. Surely London's most famous thief wouldn't go unnoticed? In the BBC Raffles radio plays Holmes exists in an offhand comment, and in the TV series, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character in a book, which is obviously a reference for laughs. But in Foreman's short story he is very real. In fact, Holmes finds him more of a useful asset than a threat. Remember that Holmes never particularly cared for morals or political games, and that is exactly what saves Raffles when he is offered a job he cannot resist.

Foreman manages to write in the same spirit and atmosphere as the original Raffles stories, complete with Victorian foggy London, dirty alleys and the frivolous way of upper class life that Raffles despises and yet entertains so easily. He even adds a bit of social awareness, and perhaps a few observations about modern society too; with comments on growing tourism and the popularity of Madam Tussuad's wax museum on Marylebone Street. However, that doesn't take away from Bunny's reflections on the world around him. On the contrary, it's fitting. Raffles was, after all, a kind of unrecognized Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and, if not exactly giving to the poor (except the unfortunate Bunny), then at least ensuring his and Bunny's bachelor lives.

Apart from writing an aloof yet charming Raffles and a devoted and slightly self effacing Harry "Bunny" Manders, Richard Foreman manages to write Holmes and Watson as domestic as ever. They are, by nature of the story, observed by Bunny, who considers them an old married couple, and it shows in his perfectly canonical writing. I cannot recommend this enough for both Raffles and Holmes fans. It will leave you wanting more, and I for one am looking forward to his next instalment.