Sherlock Holmes is at it againâŚ
In âThe Adventure of the Jeweled Falconâ, Holmes tracks down an ancient priceless statue, but others are looking for it, too.
In, âThe case of the Violin Savantâ, using clues found in the sophisticated musical compositions of a celebrated but mute nine year-old violin savant, Holmes and Watson attempt to discover where and why the boy and his parents vanished.
In, âThe Bizarre Challenge of Strange Mr. Kâ, a mysterious man visits 221B Baker Street late one night, confesses to committing a crime then challenges Holmes to solve the case so that he can turn himself in to Scotland Yard, but all Holmes has to go on is the strange man himself and a little luck.
In, âThe Adventure of a Thousand Stingsâ, the horribly violent death of an eccentric apiarist pits Sherlock Holmesâ extraordinary deduction skills against an insect that has practiced and refined its deadly, swarming version of warfare over millions of years.
and several more stories....
Sherlock Holmes is at it againâŚ
In âThe Adventure of the Jeweled Falconâ, Holmes tracks down an ancient priceless statue, but others are looking for it, too.
In, âThe case of the Violin Savantâ, using clues found in the sophisticated musical compositions of a celebrated but mute nine year-old violin savant, Holmes and Watson attempt to discover where and why the boy and his parents vanished.
In, âThe Bizarre Challenge of Strange Mr. Kâ, a mysterious man visits 221B Baker Street late one night, confesses to committing a crime then challenges Holmes to solve the case so that he can turn himself in to Scotland Yard, but all Holmes has to go on is the strange man himself and a little luck.
In, âThe Adventure of a Thousand Stingsâ, the horribly violent death of an eccentric apiarist pits Sherlock Holmesâ extraordinary deduction skills against an insect that has practiced and refined its deadly, swarming version of warfare over millions of years.
and several more stories....
The corpse lay on its back in the dark of the alley off of Wardour Street. It was just after dusk and a brisk April breeze cut through my coat, chilling my bones as I busily searched through the contents of an open briefcase that lay on the pavement near the dead man. The victim had been a tall, thin man in life, impeccably dressed and groomed. His long face betrayed the first signs of middle age around the mouth and forehead. His head was bald except for a wide shock of neatly trimmed brown hair that extended from the ears and around the back of his head. His arms and legs were splayed out, palms up, hands open, as if heâd been caught utterly by surprise by his attacker. A black bowler cap sat by his left foot, the top of which had been punched in.
A handful of constables guarded the two ends of the alley as Holmes, down on one knee, leaned over the corpse, his long slender fingers flitting through pockets, feeling along wrinkled folds of clothing, searching for any clue that would help solve the mystery of the murdered manâs death. Detective Inspector Lestrade stood beside Holmes, holding a brightly lit lamp over the corpse but remained respectfully quiet as Holmes did his work.
âThis man has been murdered twice,â Holmes stated.
âMurdered twice?â Lestrade repeated in disbelief. âHow can that be?â
âLook for yourself, Detective Inspector,â Holmes offered. âShot once in the belly with a small caliber weapon and then strangled so violently with a wire garrote that his head is nearly decapitated.â
Lestrade stretched his own neck out, took in the bloody scene, then pulled himself back. âSeems like overkill to me. Why would a man shoot and then strangle his victim?â he asked.
âBecause a man didnât do this, Detective Inspector,â Holmes replied. âTwo men did, working in concert with each other to make sure the job was done correctly.â
Lestrade scratched his chin. âHmmm. A powerful man whoâd made powerful enemies, wouldnât you say, Mr. Holmes?â
âPerhaps, Lestrade,â Holmes said. âWe wonât know for sure until Watson finishes going through the manâs belongings.â
âYes,â I said, picking up Holmesâ subtle urging in his voice for me to hurry with my search. âIt seems that this manâs attackers were looking for something particular...theyâve left quite a mess all over the alley.â
Discovering nothing of value during my inspection of the manâs briefcase, I expanded my search to the papers that were scattered all around the alley, some were invoices and receipts for items such as snow globes, childrenâs dolls and gold tie clips, nothing of such worth to incite murder. Others were business contracts written in French. The man was a salesman of some kind.
Apparently impatient with the pace of my thorough inspection concerning everything I discovered, Holmes aptly joined me in raking over the alley. It wasnât long before he found something.
In a depression under a brick at the bottom of a wall on the east side of the alley, Holmes pulled out what looked like a leather billfold. It had obviously been thrown away and lost during the attack. Holmes held it up to Lestradeâs lamp and opened it. âExcellent,â he said victoriously. âNo money but Iâve found a business license. Our victimâs name is Montague Caprice and heâs a pawn shop owner in Paris, a place called Bonne Affaires â Good Bargains. Hereâs his return ticket to France, aboard the British steamer Reliant. Caprice was supposed to be aboard at half past six.â Holmes checked his pocket watch. âThe ship has long since sailed.â
âHe must have had business to tend to here in London, but ended up murdered before he could get back to his ship,â Lestrade mused aloud.
Precisely, Detective Inspector,â Holmes agreed. âBut that leaves two questions; was Mr. Caprice buying or selling and what exactly was he buying or selling?â
âSomething worth his life, unfortunately,â Lestrade said.
âAnd if itâs worth one life, that means itâs worth a hundred lives,â Holmes said worriedly. âWe must find the object and those who stole it before more murders are committed.â
I used to tell would-be fiction writers, there are only about 13 stories. Every tale is a mix and match of basic scenarios that drop yin-and-yang knowledge about the Seven Deadly Sins â pride, greed, anger, lust, gluttony, envy, and sloth. Or, the Catholic Virtues â prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope, and love.
That is what makes C.G. Rosenquistâs Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Jeweled Falcon and Other Stories a work for readers new to MX publications' vast Sherlock line, or a fan that reads anything tied to the âworldâs first consulting detectiveâ or the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle legacy. They will find this collection of reprint and original short stories as rich and fulfilling as a Saturday night buffet. That said, mystery mavens who prefer Holmes served hot, with a puzzle of almost unfathomable flavor, will want more.
Now, donât get me wrong. The ten-story volume offers a number of clever twists. The collection is imaginative.
Consider, âThe Mystery of the Last Martian,â a real surprise. The Sci-fi/Mystery mashup pits the brain power of Doyleâs Baker Street heroes against the tentacled Martians in H. G. Wellâs War of the Worlds. Yes! Originally published in Adventures in the Realm of HG Wells, Volume I, the result will intrigue readers, but is way outside the canon. Outside is not always a bad spot.
âThe Adventure of the Portable Exo-Lungâ, describes an incredible late 19th century contraption that turns Professor Moriarty into a late-day Darth Vader. When Londoners are plagued by arson, burglary, kidnap, and extortion the sinister level is high. The mayhem turns out to be bait for Holmes and the genius nemesisâ vengeance for Reichenbach Falls. Originally published in Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realm of Steam Punk, the dark tale churns with intrigue expected in a Holmes and Watson foray.
âThe Adventure of the Jeweled Falcon,â is also vaguely reminiscent for those into Dashiell Hammett or Humphrey Bogart. It was first printed in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, Part XIV; 2019 Annual, 1891-1897. As much as I wanted to dislike the Holmes version, its plot is âthe stuff that dreams are made of.â
The volume even conjures the inevitable Holmes fan nightmare. âThe Adventure of the Last Case,â is as it says. He retires to weed and write in Sussex. That is no spoiler, nor is it the end.