Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Affair in Transylvania

Sherlock Holmes and the Affair in Transylvania
by Gerry O'Hara
Reviewed by Maria Fleischhack
The Baker Street Babes

Sherlock Holmes and the Affair in Transylvania is John Watson’s account of a case which leads him and Holmes to encounter Count Dracula. The beginning of the novel harks back to the beginning of the film “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes”. We learn that this affair belongs to a cluster of cases that were not fit for publication in the lifetime of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Therefore, the case of Count Dracula was disclosed fifty years after their deaths.

The case papers are narrated by John Watson in the usual fashion of a detailed account of events from his point of view. O’Hara’s Watson sounds quite a bit like Doyle’s, with few liberties on the author’s side, which are not at all detrimental to the story.

What we read is the story of Dracula in every sense of the word. While Holmes and Watson are away in Romania for a case, Watson receives a letter from his nice Mina, who lives in Budapest, and who is asking for help to find her disappeared husband Janos. Holmes and Watson travel to Hungary to meet Mina and her friend Lucy Westenra, and take on the case. Soon they find themselves on their way back to Romania and to Dracula’s castle.

What follows is a surprisingly entertaining retelling of the story of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. While some of the protagonists, like Mina and Lucy Westenra, are borrowed directly from the story, others, like Janos, are loosely based on the text’s original characters. Budapest serves as the equivalent of London and Sherlock Holmes himself takes on the role of Van Helsing.

The voices of Holmes and Watson are delightfully similar to Doyle’s characters and despite the fact that the adventure they experience is very familiar to everyone who has read Stoker’s Dracula, the novel manages to be suspenseful and surprising. This can be attributed to the new narrative perspective, which is limited to that of John Watson instead of the epistolary form of diary entries and letters in Stoker’s text. The familiar voice of John Watson guides the reader not only through the adventures, but also through Holmes’ deductions, effortlessly connecting the two literary worlds through the eyes of the narrator.

Sherlock Holmes and the Affair in Transylvania is an entertaining and smooth read. It is a new take on a familiar story which works surprisingly well. O’Hara constantly refers to past cases and therefore links his own story to Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories; so fans of the original Holmes will smile and nod to themselves when they find these references. And while it might not be a typical Holmes story for the many supernatural elements in it, it is nevertheless a book which caters to both fans of Doyle’s and fans of Stoker’s works. It is a funny, delightful and very intelligent retelling of two of the most beloved Victorian works of fiction and I can wholeheartedly recommend it!

You can buy the book in The Baker Street Babes Bookshop!

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: 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.

Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror

Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror

Expanded 2^nd Edition

By David Ruffle

Reviewed by Amy Thomas

The Baker Street Babes

Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror begins with an innocent excursion to a seaside town. Within a few pages, however, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves embroiled in a mysterious and horrible secret that threatens an entire city. Following this novella-length pastiche is a brief collection of Holmes-related short stories, some of which are Victorian pastiches and others of which are more loosely connected to the Holmes canon.

Throughout the main story and most of the shorts that follow, Mr. Ruffle uses Watson as his narrator, capably mimicking the style of the Conan Doyle originals. His Watson is sincere and trustworthy, his Holmes logical and abstruse. The book’s main story occasionally veers dangerously close to an overuse of Holmes tropes, but the awkwardness falls away as the plot intensifies, and Mr. Ruffle’s prose truly shines in moments of intense action.

A reader’s ability to enjoy this book largely hinges on an individual appreciation for supernatural elements in fiction, and, more particularly, in Sherlock Holmes-related fiction. The Conan Doyle practice of providing natural explanations for seemingly-supernatural phenomena is totally subverted here, and Mr. Ruffle does not shy away from including the paranormal in more than one story. The reader who enjoys these elements is likely to be pleased, as they are incorporated in a logical way, investigated in a legitimately Holmesian manner, and described in a convincingly Watsonian voice.

To this reviewer, the best moments of the book occur in its final third, when Mr. Ruffle ventures into the tricky world of short-story pastiches. Particularly in The Trumper Affair, an excellently-drawn case involving cricket and abduction, the narrative voice and plot progression are so pitch-perfect as to be almost indistinguishable from the canon. Also worth mentioning is the author’s obvious affection for the town of Lyme Regis, exemplified in his meticulous attention to the details of its history, appearance, and atmosphere throughout the book.

Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror is a successful book with occasional weaknesses in narration and editing, but one that ultimately provides an engaging Holmesian experience, particularly for those who appreciate tales of the paranormal. The quality short stories included in this edition provide touches of true excellence.

Buy it at our bookshop!

Sherlock Holmes Novel Packs & Deals For You!

The ‘Cope Until Series 3’ Pack
Like us you are probably depressed that the next series of BBC’s Sherlock is not due until 2013. There is however something you can do to limit the pain. Keep yourself busy with new Sherlock Holmes stories. With that in mind we have put together a bundle of eight of the most exciting new Holmes writers of 2011 with their debut novels. Start at the beginning of the stunning fantasy series from Tracy Revels with ‘Shadowfall’, the Holmes vs criminal masterminds series from Kate Workman with ‘Rendezvous At The Populaire’, take a look at the world of Holmes through a lady’s eyes in ‘The Sign of Fear’ from Molly Carr - and for a bit of military action ‘Watson’s Afghan Adventure’.

Type ‘curly’ in the promo box to get $40 off the bundle while stocks last.

 The ‘Female Holmes Writers’ Pack
Seven books from the best female Sherlock Holmes writers in the UK and the USA.

Type ‘babe4’ in the promo box to get $40.66 off the bundle while stocks last.

• Barefoot on Baker Street
• Shadowfall
• Rendezvous At The Populaire
• The Sign of Fear
• A Study in Crimson
• In Search of Dr.Watson
• Murder in The Library

You can buy these and more at The Baker Street Babes Bookshop, which is full of pastiches, Sherlock Holmes travel guides, memoirs, and more!

Major thanks to our partners at MX Publishing for putting together these amazing deals! We have more coming, so stay tuned!

Baker Street Babe Amy To Publish Sherlock Holmes Pastiche!

That's right! Our very own Amy is publishing her own Sherlock Holmes pastiche named The Detective and The Woman: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes by MXPublishing.

England’s greatest detective and the woman who outsmarted him are thrown together by a criminal plot with implications that stretch across the Atlantic. Their investigation leads them to south Florida, where they meet legendary inventor Thomas Edison and employ disguise, wit, and courage to outsmart a diabolical villain.

The first time I met Sherlock Holmes, I was about eight or nine. I enjoyed the stories, but I was too young to understand the subtle humor or fully appreciate the cleverness of the plots. A few years later, a friend bought me a copy of The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King, and I was introduced to the concept of Sherlock Holmes pastiches--works that place Conan Doyle's characters into new stories and contexts. The BBC's Sherlock series inspired me to re-read the the original Holmes canon in 2010, and I realized how much wittier and more engaging the stories and characters were than I remembered. National Novel Writing Month in November 2011 gave me a chance to try my hand at writing my own pastiche, an homage to the Baker Street detective and The Woman herself, Irene Adler. 

The Detective and The Woman: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes will be out on April 16th, 2012, and will be available through pre-order. You'll be able to pick it up online and in stores near you.

Review: Mycroft Holmes & The Adventure of the Silver Birches

Mycroft Holmes & The Adventure of the Silver Birches 
By David Dickinson
Reviewed by Amy Thomas

The Baker Street Babes 

The beginning of The Adventure of the Silver Birches alerts the reader to the vacuum created by the retirement of Sherlock Holmes, and his absence sets the tone for a story in which his elder brother, Mycroft, is called on to do things far outside his comfort zone in order to ensure the safety of the British nation. As is the case with many stories in the original canon, the tale is briefly told through a few key characters, a short investigation, and a climax with a surprising resolution.

One of the story’s strengths is the portrait it paints of Mycroft, a picture rich with details about his lifestyle, habits, and associates. He is a believable extension of the original Mycroft Holmes—more fleshed-out, but certainly compatible with his persona as conceived by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Inspector Lestrade, too, is a strong presence, and his dogged, uncreative policework is capably contrasted with Mycroft’s subtler methods.

Mycroft’s assistant, a young man known only as Tobias, is an intriguing original character with a complex personality. Tobias is to Mycroft what Dr. Watson is to Sherlock, but he in no way resembles the army doctor of the original stories. Instead, Tobias is cerebral, witty, and academic, and his dryness accounts for some moments of wry humor in the narrative.

The mystery itself is straightforward and fast-paced, and the ending manages to be unexpected. As with most short stories, the action is boiled down to the barest necessities, but enough information is present to immerse the reader in the case.

The story contains several references to original stories and characters that are sure to delight canon-lovers, but at the same time it also provides new perspectives to enjoy. Sherlock, no longer resident in London, is nevertheless frequently mentioned, and the contrast between his personality and Mycroft’s is aptly preserved.

Short-story pastiches face many challenges, not the least of which is the fact that most of the Conan Doyle stories were short, and therefore comparison is inevitable. The Adventure of the Silver Birches employs the format capably and presents an interesting picture of Mycroft Holmes at the helm of a case that his brother would certainly have tackled in a very different way.

Mycroft Holmes & The Adventure of the Silver Birches can be bought in Kindle format UK and USA

Published by Endeavour Press 

Three Episodes?!

Provided no one gets pneumonia or loses their head, The Baker Street Babes Podcast will have THREE EPISODES THIS MONTH!

That’s right THREE EPISODES IN ONE MONTH!! And they are…

Episode 5: Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes

Episode 6: Lyndsay Faye & The Pastiche (http://www.lyndsayfaye.com/)

Episode 7: Paget & The Art of Sherlock Holmes

Will probably think of more exciting titles later. But yes! Three episodes in one month and it’s going to be incredible.

We can’t tell you yet… but we have a truly amazing guest coming on in the future. Like… ohmygodyouactuallywanttocomeonomg. So we’ll just tease you with that.

Also, please take a look at our new store!! See our new fancy bar up above? That's right, we have a ton of new navigation!

If you want to be an affiliate, please, let us know! We're still updating, so if you're not on there right now or immediately, don't fret, we're just bums.