Series: The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Book Number: 17?
Read this book for: Holmes pastiche, Sherlock Holmes, alternate universe Sherlock Holmes, British mystery, Victorian mystery
Quick Review: The successor to the classic Speckled Band, with all the fun of classic Holmes, but tighter plotting; a great addition to the Holmes universe.
Sherlock Holmes acquires a new client when a beautiful young woman, Isabel Stone, faints on the steps of his Baker Street rooms. She has come to beg his assistance in reclaiming the priceless jewels kept from her by her tyrannical stepfather, Captain Grimbold Pratt. But shortly after agreeing to take her case, Captain Pratt comes to Baker Street, furious that Isabel is trying to deprive him of his fortune. Unsure who to believe, Holmes and his cousin, Dr Henry Vernier, must travel to Pratt’s estate, home to tigers, wolves and murderers, to unravel a family mystery dating back to the Indian Mutiny.
THE VENERABLE TIGER is a new Holmes pastiche in a great series from Titan Books that is steadily expanding the universe of Sherlock Holmes.
This is at least the 17th instalment in Titan Books’ “The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” series, penned by multiple authors, and at least the sixth Holmes novel written by Siciliano. Like the Holmes stories themselves, chronology does not make much of a difference to your reading enjoyment. However, if you are reading the Further Adventures series, there is a helpful note that places this story after The Moonstone’s Curse but before The Devil and the Four. In fact, there are a few references to the places and characters from The Moonstone’s Curse – including the main character, Dr. Vernier!
Wait – no Watson? Watson is mentioned as Holmes’ occasionally inaccurate biographer in this novel, but his role as narrator is filled by Holmes’ cousin Dr. Vernier. Vernier bears a number of similarities to Watson; he’s a doctor (albeit not one that had fought in the wars), he acts as Holmes’ right hand and offers a bit of physical protection, he follows a little quicker than Watson but he has his own opinions and is also emotional. Other than the name, Vernier’s stand-in for those accustomed to Holmes is not too jarring.
Some elements of the plot will also feel familiar to those who have read the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories – with its dangerous exotic animals, run-down country house, young lady in trouble from her stepfather, and the question of a hidden inheritance, this novel is a different spin on The Adventure of the Speckled Band. I have to admit to some bias here – I have a great fondness for Speckled Band, possibly one of the most ridiculous pieces in the Holmes canon. However, this version is far more tightly plotted, and benefits from that treatment to make it different from the piece that inspired it. In fact, the plot is quite interesting, and the characters are vivid.
And, even better, the spirit and tone of the classic Holmes adventure are alive and well in this instalment. A seemingly impossible problem, clever deductions, the Victorian country house, danger, and hidden treasures are all present here, and told with the same tone, pacing, and slight sense of amazement that Watson’s original narrations always brought.If you are a Holmes fan looking for some new adventures with the Great Detective, THE VENERABLE TIGER is one to pick up!