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kayteeem's review
The stories in this book weren't as evenly good as the ones in the first volume, to the point where there were a few that I didn't like at all, either because they didn't capture the tone of their genre, or just seemed to me to be vignettes rather than complete stories.
I did like the stories with close ties to ACD originals, because it gave me an excuse to go back and re-read those.
The three stories I liked the best were "Dunkirk" (very visceral, with well-drawn characters), "The Problem of the Empty Slipper" (because a graphic story in the middle of the book was unexpectedly fun), and "By Any Other Name" (because I found the conceit amusing, though I can see how some might see it as an excuse to show off knowledge of the writers of the era.)
I did like the stories with close ties to ACD originals, because it gave me an excuse to go back and re-read those.
The three stories I liked the best were "Dunkirk" (very visceral, with well-drawn characters), "The Problem of the Empty Slipper" (because a graphic story in the middle of the book was unexpectedly fun), and "By Any Other Name" (because I found the conceit amusing, though I can see how some might see it as an excuse to show off knowledge of the writers of the era.)
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the stories were interesting. One in particular, told in the format of social media posts, I enjoyed very much for the novelty (I didn’t pick up on the format for a while in the audio version). Many pushed the connection to the Holmes stories to an almost unrecognized limit.
Audio version, readers were very good.
Audio version, readers were very good.
elizafiedler's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
reillykid7's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ila_mae's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
margardenlady's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Lots of Sherlock inspired stories but accomplished authors. Quite a variety of styles and genres!
smellbelle's review against another edition
2.0
I was a little disappointed with this because it gave the impression from the blurb that it was a collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories written by rather well regarded authors. It is a collection of short stories inspired by Holmes, but not necessarily about him.
After realising that this wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, I enjoyed most of the short stories for their own sake and found them rather well written.
After realising that this wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, I enjoyed most of the short stories for their own sake and found them rather well written.
bookhound's review against another edition
I read selected stories from this collection because another reviewer said they were much stronger than the others. I found these to be enjoyable: The Curious Affair of the Art Dealer, the Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman, Dunkirk, the Problem of the Empty Slipper, and Lost Boys.
morgandhu's review
3.0
In the Company of Sherlock Holmes, edited by Laurie King, is a rather entertaining anthology of short fiction inspired by the Conan Doyle stories. There us, of course, a wide range of approaches, some of which feature Holmes and Watson themselves, others which reveal the exploits of characters based on Holmes and his venerable associate, or other key characters from the stories.
Some are very closely inspired indeed - such as “The Memoirs of Silver Blaze,” by Michael Sims, a close retelling of “The Adventure of Silver Blaze” from the point of view of the horse in question - while others draw on the spirit of deduction to create a completely new set of characters and situations. Some I found less than inspiring, such as “Doctor Watson’s Casebook,” by Andrew Grant, a reworking of Hound of the Baskervilles as a series of entries in a social media app. And for me, one story - “The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman” by Jeffery Deaver - delivered the brilliance and unexpected twist - though without the supernatural elements - of Neil Gaiman’s brilliant “A Study in Emerald.”
Some were profoundly moving, including John Lescroart’s “Dunkirk,” a taught narrative of one of the many small boats that took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, this one with a volunteer crewman, an old but still hale civilian named Sigerson, of Sussex Downs. And then there’s the heart-breaking “Lost Boys,” by Cordelia Funke, that imagines an all-too-likely reason behind so many of the peculiarities, and defenses, of Holmes.
All in all, a decent collection, with, I expect, something for everyone who loves Holmes.
*This anthology contains 15 stories, five written by women, nine written by men, and one written by a woman and a man.
Some are very closely inspired indeed - such as “The Memoirs of Silver Blaze,” by Michael Sims, a close retelling of “The Adventure of Silver Blaze” from the point of view of the horse in question - while others draw on the spirit of deduction to create a completely new set of characters and situations. Some I found less than inspiring, such as “Doctor Watson’s Casebook,” by Andrew Grant, a reworking of Hound of the Baskervilles as a series of entries in a social media app. And for me, one story - “The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman” by Jeffery Deaver - delivered the brilliance and unexpected twist - though without the supernatural elements - of Neil Gaiman’s brilliant “A Study in Emerald.”
Some were profoundly moving, including John Lescroart’s “Dunkirk,” a taught narrative of one of the many small boats that took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, this one with a volunteer crewman, an old but still hale civilian named Sigerson, of Sussex Downs. And then there’s the heart-breaking “Lost Boys,” by Cordelia Funke, that imagines an all-too-likely reason behind so many of the peculiarities, and defenses, of Holmes.
All in all, a decent collection, with, I expect, something for everyone who loves Holmes.
*This anthology contains 15 stories, five written by women, nine written by men, and one written by a woman and a man.
andmarstan's review against another edition
3.0
The Crooked Man: 3 stars
The Curious Affair of the Italian Art Dealer: 5 stars
The Memoirs of Silver Blaze: 3 stars
Dr. Watson's Casebook: 3.5 stars
The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman: 5 stars
Art in the Blood: 3 stars
Dunkirk: 3.5 stars
The Problem of the Empty Slipper: 4.5 stars
Lost Boys: 5 stars
The Thinking Machine: 4 stars
By Any Other Name: 3 stars
He Who Grew Up Reading Sherlock Holmes: 3 stars
The Adventure of my Ignoble Ancestress: 4 stars
The Closing: 3.5 stars
How I Came to Meet Sherlock Holmes: 3.5 stars
The Curious Affair of the Italian Art Dealer: 5 stars
The Memoirs of Silver Blaze: 3 stars
Dr. Watson's Casebook: 3.5 stars
The Adventure of the Laughing Fisherman: 5 stars
Art in the Blood: 3 stars
Dunkirk: 3.5 stars
The Problem of the Empty Slipper: 4.5 stars
Lost Boys: 5 stars
The Thinking Machine: 4 stars
By Any Other Name: 3 stars
He Who Grew Up Reading Sherlock Holmes: 3 stars
The Adventure of my Ignoble Ancestress: 4 stars
The Closing: 3.5 stars
How I Came to Meet Sherlock Holmes: 3.5 stars