THE CANON PART NINE

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier - A soldier in the Boar War has mysteriously vanished. This is a skilfully written piece that creates a mounting terror in the reader and no actual crime is committed. Brilliant. 9/10

The Adventure of the Retired Colour Man- A man's wife has done a runner with his chess partner. This is a great story and Holmes is at last in a world that every much resembles the reality. 8/10

The Adventure of the Lion's Mane- A swimmer has been torn to death. There are problems in this story in that the character of Holmes seems odd. 5/10

The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger- A circus performer tells Holmes about an old crime. A poor story. 4/10

The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place- A racehorse owner is seen with a body. This was the last Holmes tale and it's such a pity it's a poor one. Holmes deserved a better end than this. 4/10


So that's it - the entire canon - 56 short stories and 4 novels. Reading them all over a space of a couple of months has left me jaded in places but it is evident how good some of these tales are. And of how much of a remarkable creation Holmes and Watson are - their influence was felt within months of their original publication - Sexton Blake had offices in Baker Street and would go one being felt forever. Agatha Christie owes much to Conan Doyle has do almost every crime writer out there.

So raise a glass to the first and the best - Mr. Sherlock Holmes

THE CANON PART EIGHT

The Adventure of the Creeping Man- A professor suddenly starts behaving strangely. This one is more fitting to Poe than Conan Doyle and very much flirts with horror and science fiction. It's a great story, though. 8/10

The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire- A mother is seen drinking the blood of her baby. Once again Doyle skirts around the borders of horror fiction. Once again it's a jolly good story, rattling off the chills. 9/10

The Adventure of the Three Garridebs- Holmes is asked to find a man with an unusual surname in this Red Headed League clone.One of the poorest stories too. 4/10

The Adventure of the Illustrious Client- A suspected killer is due to marry a rich and powerful young woman. There some social message in this story, Doyle seems to suggest that you can commit crimes with impunity if you are rich enough. Power to the people, Watson. 6/10

The Adventure of the Three Gables - An elderly woman is offered a huge sum for her house. A weak tale. 2/10

THE CANON PART SEVEN

The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans- A man with stolen submarine plans is found besides a railway line. This sees Holmes once again on the trail of stolen Government papers and the intrigue works well. 9/10

The Adventure of the Devil's Foot-Two men have gone mad and a woman lies dead in a remote Cornish cottage. There is some skilled writing in this one, particularly when Holmes and Watson experience an hallucinogenic experience. 10/10

The Disappearance of Lady Francis Carfax- A hated woman has vanished while visiting Europe. This is a fast moving tale that really grabs the reader, though there are moments where Holmes seems to have become a brute. 8/10

The Adventure of the Dying Detective- Holmes seems to be dying from a strange tropical disease and Watson is besides himself. The twist in this tale is so obvious it might as well be signposted but nevertheless it' a great story. Just spiffing, old man. 8/10

His Last Bow -Holmes is on the trail of a German spy and a Anglo-American traitor. This was written to bump up morale on the home front. At the time this was written,1917, German U-boats were a very real threat. Again excellent. 9/10

The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone- A crown jewel has been nicked. One of the weakest stories in the entire canon and such a disappointment after the great tales of late. 3/10

The Problem of Thor Bridge - A governess is blamed for the death of her mistress. This is the story in which Watson reveals that his papers relating to Sherlock Holmes are kept in a safety box at Cox & Co on Charing Cross, thus enabling many other authors to write fiction based around these so called paper. Its also a brilliant story - one of the very best. 10/10

THE CANON PART SIX

The Adventure of the Six Napoleons- A madman is smashing busts of Napoleon. This one is a tight story with a neat premise. 9/10



The Adventure of the Three Students- A Greek examination paper has been copied before the exam. I say, that's just not cricket. A nice off the wall story. 8/10

The Adventure of the Golden Prince-nez- A killer seems to have vanished into thin air. Another classic tale. 9/10

The Adventure of the Missing Three Quarter-Holmes is on the trail of a rugby player who vanished before a big game. 7/10

The Adventure of Abbey Grange- Robbers have killed an abusive wife beater. In the USA this was billed as being the last Sherlock Holmes story.8/10

The Adventure of the second skin-A letter that could lead to war vanishes. Holmes is operating on the world stage with all civilisation at stake. Great. 8/10

The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge-A guest wakes up in a hotel to find that everyone else has vanished. Alas Doyle seems to be flagging after a run of excellent stories and this one is ponderous. 4/10

THE CANON PART FIVE

The Adventure of the empty house - In which Holmes returns from the death after his plunge over the falls in the Final Problem. There's too much info dumped on the reader explaining Holmes' survival. But fans rejoiced in any case. Holmes was back. 6/10

The Adventure of the Norwood Builder - A solicitor is accused of killing his benefactor and burning the body. This story is notable for containing the first use of fingerprints and it's a cracking little thriller. 9/10

The Adventure of the Dancing Men - A wife harbours a guilty secret. The story itself is excellent but the climax is odd and seems tacked on. 7/10

The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist- A music teacher is being followed by a solitary cyclist. Not one of the better tales. 4/10

The Adventure of the Priory School - A young boy goes missing from a well known and exclusive school. 4/10

The Adventure of the Black Peter- A retired whaler is found dead, killed with a harpoon. The seafairing location makes this tale fresh and Doyle seems to be enjoying himself for once which means the reader does too. Excellent. 9/10

The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton- A blackmailer is at large. Doyle here tries to turn Holmes into a gentleman theif like Raffles but it seems odd and out of character. 6/10

THE CANON PART FOUR - THE NOVELS

It is in the short stories that Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes are at their best but there were also four novels about the great detective written by Doyle.


A Study in Scarlet - Originally published in 1887 in Beaton's Christmas Annual. This is the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes. The story is padded with much of the second half being redundant. However Holmes is a tremendous creation and springs fully realised from the page. 5/10

The Sign of Four - A major disappointment and Doyle seems not to have taken the story at all seriously. At one point we are told it is July and then the next moment we are in September and yet later in the story Holmes remarks it will be light at 3am which suggests we are back in mid-summer. Watson's war wound, always in his shoulder has here travelled to his leg. 4/5


The Hound of the Baskerville's - Perhaps the best known Holmes story and thankfully it holds together well as a longer work. Doyle takes his time in building up the narrative and more depth than usual is given to the supporting characters. It's also successful in creating the Gothic atmospheric that has made it one of the most filmed adventures.9/10

Valley of Fear- Essentially two novellas stuck together to make a longer work. The story works rather well and it is no wonder that many have called it the first hardboiled story. It is generally the most unpopular novel among Holmes fans but a favourite with casual readers. Personally I'd give it a 7/10

THE CANON PART THREE

The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet- Holmes must save a banker's reputation when a famous diadem goes missing. The exact date the story takes place is not specified but since Watson is still sharing room with Holmes it must have been before the doctor was married. Holmes' client is unnamed but it has been speculated he was based on Prince Albert, the second son of Queen Victoria. 8/10


The Adventure of the Copper Breeches- A highly paid governess fears for her safety in an eccentric country house. From this story we learn that Holmes smokes a long Cherrywood pipe when he is in a foul mood.This is not one of the better stories and Doyle seems to be merely writing by numbers. 4/10


The Adventure of the Silver Blaze -Holmes investigates the theft of a champion racehorse. Holmes' character is developed further in this story and it is revealed that he is a champion boxer but rarely takes exercise for its own good. 6/10

The Adventure of the Cardboard Box-A grisly case starts when a spinster receives two severed ears in the post. In this story Holmes buys a Stradivarius for the bargain price of 55 shillings. A great story, darker than most with a strong sense of atmosphere. 9/10

The Adventure of the Yellow Face- A husband hired Holmes to discover if his wife is playing away from home. This story is interesting in that it reveals the racism of the Victorian era but it doesn't really work otherwise. 3/10

The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Pipe - A city worker consults Holmes when he learns that two employers are actually the same man. A clever reworking of the plot from The Red Headed League. 8/10

The Adventure of the Gloria Scott- A friend of Holmes' from his student days reveals that is father is under danger from a mysterious stranger. This is an odd tale, more swashbuckler than crime drama. Still it sheds some light on Holmes' youth and it is interesting for this.7/10

The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual-Holmes investigates the disappearance of a butler and maid. This is one of the more famous stories and one of the very best. 10/10

The Adventure of the Crooked Man -A colonel is murdered and his wife is the main suspect. We learn that Holmes has a working knowledge of the bible. A workmanlike story. 6/10

The Adventure of the Resident Patient-A wealthy man with a heart condition fears for his life. Another great story with bags of atmospheric doom.9/10

The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter - A Greek interpreter is coerced into interviewing a restrained man. Holmes talks about his brother, Mycroft and his appearance lifts the story. Once again excellent. 10/10

The Adventure of the Naval Treaty - A top secret treaty goes missing from the foreign office. Another great story. 9/10

The Adventure of the Final Problem- Fed up with his creation, Doyle kills Holmes off. Perhaps revitalised because he thought this would be the final Holmes story, Doyle turned in a powerhouse of a tale. 10/10