On the case: My Sherlock Holmes moment

My Sherlock Holmes moment began after watching the brilliant BBC TV series, Sherlock starring the fabulously named Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman (from The Office).

The three part series is one of the best things I’ve seen on TV for a while.

Inspired by the TV series, I thought I should actually read the original Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. So I checked at my local library and as they were all borrowed I contemplated putting a reserve on them.

But after googling around I discovered these website that allow you to download the books for free:

http://www.mysterynet.com/holmes/sherlock-holmes-stories/

http://spellbreaker.org/~chrender/Sherlock_Holmes/?format=PDF&pagesize=Letter&sides=2#sherlock-file-format

So I’m off to download and print these books in preparation for series two of the Sherlock.

As I don’t do things by halves, I’m also reading Nicholas Meyer's The Seven-Percent Solution (1974). Meyer's book is a ‘modern Holmes novel’ which tells the story of Holmes pairing up with Sigmund Freud to overcome his cocaine habit and also solve a mystery in Vienna.


It's a fun read and structured as a 'lost manuscript' of the late Dr. John H. Watson. It reminded by of another great book I read featuring Freud as a key character involved in solving a crime: Jed Rubenfeld's The Interpretation of Murder (2006).




Rebenfeld's novel follows Freud and Jung's first visit to America and their involvement in solving the muder of a socialite. It's a compelling read and provides fascinating account of the relationship between Freud and Jung.

Oh I'm also off to my library to pick up Graham Moore's The Holmes Affair (2010) which look like a rollicking good read.



Moore's book has to two connected stories: In end of the Victorian era in England, Arthur Conan Doyle teams up with his friend, Dracula author Bram Stoker to investigate a seriel killer. While in the present day, Harold White a young Holmes devotee becomes involved in the investigation of a murder of a member of the Baker Street Irregulars - one who purportedly had a long missing and much sought after diary from Arthur Conan Doyle.