A master of detection and deduction, Sherlock Holmes has inspired countless books and movies since his first appearance over a century ago. Join me in reading the novels selected for the series, “Baker Street Irregulars.”
As before with previous discussion series, “A Taste of Murder” in 2011; “Unusual Sleuths”, “Unearthing Murder” and “A Little French Murder” in 2012; “Purr-fect Murders”, “Murder by Decade” and “Grande Dames of Mystery” in 2013; “Murder in the British Isles” in 2014, and “Armchair Sleuths” currently in progress, I invite readers of The Poisoned Martini to join me online in sharing their love of mysteries. Comment on this post with your favorite Sherlock Holmes mystery by his original creator or an author continuing his adventures or taking inspiration from them.
The series kicks off in August, beginning with the original stories. Read any Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The discussion will begin with
A Study in Scarlet and
The Sign of Four and continue through the rest of Holmes’ adventures throughout the run of the “Baker Street Irregulars” discussion series.
After this introduction to Holmes, for September, read
Good Night, Mr. Holmes by Carole Nelson Douglas. The only woman to ever outwit Sherlock Holmes in cannon lore becomes the central character and sleuth in this mystery series.
In October, discover Holmes’ protégé Mary Russell in the novels by Laurie R. King. Intrepid Mary Russell becomes the protégé—and later wife—of Sherlock Holmes in this imaginative and well laid out series told partially in memoir format. Read the first book in the series,
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice.
In November, Holmes’ adventures continue with
The Italian Secretary by Caleb Carr. The bestselling author of
The Alienist presents this further adventure of Sherlock Holmes. The safety of Queen Victoria may have been compromised by two bizarre murders, and Holmes is summoned to Edinburgh to investigate.
Finally, in December, read a modern mystery inspired by the Sherlock Holmes legacy. In Michael Robertson’s
The Baker Street Letters, brothers Reggie and Nigel Heath open their law offices in 221B Baker Street. A letter from an eight-year-old girl whose father has gone missing spurs the brothers to use their wits and solve the case
à la Holmes.
Discover these mysteries, starting in August. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out previous discussion series. Reviews for the books in the “Baker Street Irregulars” series will appear by the end of the month for which they’re selected. Look for them and share your thoughts on these Sherlockian reads!
