In the Company of Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon
ed. Laurie R. King & Leslie S. Klinger (Pegasus, 2014); audiobook read by various narrators (Blackstone, 2014)
A decidedly mixed bag, ranging from enjoyable pastiche through tenuously related meh efforts down to faux-clever, rather failed experimental narratives. John Lescroart’s “Dunkirk” is the pick of the bunch, albeit more a war story (plus elderly Sherlock) than a traditionally Holmesian piece.
Rusputin’s Revenge
by John Lescroart (Dutton, 1987); audiobook read by Tim Baltz (Brilliance Audio, 2011)
A mystery rich in period detail but lacking a detective. Set in the Russia of Tsar Nicholas II, narrated by naïve French spy Jules Giraud and nominally featuring the son of Sherlock Holmes, this muddles along nicely enough until its absurd dénouement.
Son of Holmes
by John Lescroart (Dutton Books, 1986); audiobook read by Tim Baltz (Brilliance Audio, 2011)
The titular Son of Holmes lurks mostly in the background, while the French protagonist is narrated by an American too well versed in ‘Allo ‘Allo cod accents. Nonetheless, the mystery is quietly engaging and the denouement at least smacks of the Sherlockian.