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The Elementary Cases of Sherlock Holmes
(Alternate cover edition of ASIN B018GP8WFA.)
In this compelling collection of seven stories, the young Stamford joins Sherlock Holmes, the world’s first consulting detective to untangle a series of mysterious crimes.
The Record of the Tarleton Murders
The body of a woman in her late thirties is found in Seven Dials with a serene smile on her face.
The Honourable Clive Moreton-Ashbee is found dead in his family home in Oxfordshire also wearing a chillingly peaceful smile.
In light of these murders, Sherlock and Stamford travel to Sibberton Hall to find the connection between the fatalities but with Pennington, Sherlock’s biggest rival from the past, lost on an expedition to the Yucatan, this case will be no ordinary one.
Tension arises when another is found dead by the hearth. Will Holmes be able to solve these mysterious murders?
The Case of Vamberry, the Wine Merchant
Young Stamford invites Holmes to a dinner at his parents’ house where the Kentish Brewers’ Association, of which his father is President, is honouring a guest from France who happens to be a chemist.
Holmes suspects that one of the guests, Josiah Vamberry, a man with the largest store of top-class claret in the whole of England, is in a bad financial situation.
Following an awful argument between Mr Stamford and Mr Vamberry, the latter is found with his throat cut and Mr Stamford arrested. Holmes is desperate to save his friend’s father.
Mr Stamford is among the several investors whose finances took a severe knock with the failing of the chateaux but would financial ruin prompt him to kill?
Holmes sets out to prove the innocence of his friend’s father and a gripping case
unfolds.
The Adventure of the Old Russian Woman
After an absence from the Reading Room of the British Museum, Holmes returns to find his usual place occupied by a strange Germanic man with grizzled hair.
Holmes’ curiosity is aroused when the man lets out a deep-throated grunt, says that no one can frighten him and fiercely crumples a piece of paper in his hands.
When an old Russian woman empties the wastepaper baskets, the German leaves behind a piece of paper containing a strange symbol and beneath this symbol the letters ARX are written.
Can Holmes solve this seemingly impossible and perplexing case?
The Singular Affair of the Aluminium Crutch
Determined to make his own way in the world, Sherlock places a discreet advertisement in several newspapers offering his services as the world’s first consulting detective.
A young woman soon shows up at Montague Street asking for his help to find her crippled fiancée who, all of a sudden, disappeared from her life. As Holmes investigates he finds a mysterious laboratory, a crutch left behind, a large amount of strangely shaped ash and a distinct burning smell.
Can Holmes work out if this is a murder, suicide or death by misadventure?
Other stories include:
Mrs Farintosh and an Opal Tiara
Matilda Briggs and the Giant Rat of Sumatra
A Full Account of Ricoletti of the Club Foot
'A treat for any Holmes fan.' - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of 'Cold Kill'.
In this compelling collection of seven stories, the young Stamford joins Sherlock Holmes, the world’s first consulting detective to untangle a series of mysterious crimes.
The Record of the Tarleton Murders
The body of a woman in her late thirties is found in Seven Dials with a serene smile on her face.
The Honourable Clive Moreton-Ashbee is found dead in his family home in Oxfordshire also wearing a chillingly peaceful smile.
In light of these murders, Sherlock and Stamford travel to Sibberton Hall to find the connection between the fatalities but with Pennington, Sherlock’s biggest rival from the past, lost on an expedition to the Yucatan, this case will be no ordinary one.
Tension arises when another is found dead by the hearth. Will Holmes be able to solve these mysterious murders?
The Case of Vamberry, the Wine Merchant
Young Stamford invites Holmes to a dinner at his parents’ house where the Kentish Brewers’ Association, of which his father is President, is honouring a guest from France who happens to be a chemist.
Holmes suspects that one of the guests, Josiah Vamberry, a man with the largest store of top-class claret in the whole of England, is in a bad financial situation.
Following an awful argument between Mr Stamford and Mr Vamberry, the latter is found with his throat cut and Mr Stamford arrested. Holmes is desperate to save his friend’s father.
Mr Stamford is among the several investors whose finances took a severe knock with the failing of the chateaux but would financial ruin prompt him to kill?
Holmes sets out to prove the innocence of his friend’s father and a gripping case
unfolds.
The Adventure of the Old Russian Woman
After an absence from the Reading Room of the British Museum, Holmes returns to find his usual place occupied by a strange Germanic man with grizzled hair.
Holmes’ curiosity is aroused when the man lets out a deep-throated grunt, says that no one can frighten him and fiercely crumples a piece of paper in his hands.
When an old Russian woman empties the wastepaper baskets, the German leaves behind a piece of paper containing a strange symbol and beneath this symbol the letters ARX are written.
Can Holmes solve this seemingly impossible and perplexing case?
The Singular Affair of the Aluminium Crutch
Determined to make his own way in the world, Sherlock places a discreet advertisement in several newspapers offering his services as the world’s first consulting detective.
A young woman soon shows up at Montague Street asking for his help to find her crippled fiancée who, all of a sudden, disappeared from her life. As Holmes investigates he finds a mysterious laboratory, a crutch left behind, a large amount of strangely shaped ash and a distinct burning smell.
Can Holmes work out if this is a murder, suicide or death by misadventure?
Other stories include:
Mrs Farintosh and an Opal Tiara
Matilda Briggs and the Giant Rat of Sumatra
A Full Account of Ricoletti of the Club Foot
'A treat for any Holmes fan.' - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of 'Cold Kill'.
160 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 9, 2022
Seven mysteries concerning Sherlock Homes and the young Stamfords, a time before Dr. Watson.
An entertaining set of short stories.
An entertaining set of short stories.
June 23, 2017
Would have given it a 2.5 but no such ratings available, so a 2. The stories are good but the style is very jarring, almost choppy. Though portrayal of Holmes was quite good, May have been a 3 on another day
November 16, 2022
Note: The name of author on my copy from Amazon is Alfred Charnock
This collection of stories was a demonstration of Holmes’s career in the most common definition of the word “elementary.” It’s a place of beginning, of learning, of failure and success. Written from the perspective of the allusive Stamford, they were exciting and true to the Canon. The reason I have it 4 Stars was for editing. One story left an obvious plot hole, not necessarily one that ruined the story itself, but any acute reader about Sherlock Holmes would recognize it. The other, maybe because it was a Kindle version of the book, totally dropped off at the ending as if there was more to come in the form of summation.
This collection of stories was a demonstration of Holmes’s career in the most common definition of the word “elementary.” It’s a place of beginning, of learning, of failure and success. Written from the perspective of the allusive Stamford, they were exciting and true to the Canon. The reason I have it 4 Stars was for editing. One story left an obvious plot hole, not necessarily one that ruined the story itself, but any acute reader about Sherlock Holmes would recognize it. The other, maybe because it was a Kindle version of the book, totally dropped off at the ending as if there was more to come in the form of summation.
October 1, 2022
Early Sherlock Holmes
Before Watson, there was Stamford. But this group of cases has Stamford acting in Watson’s role more than in the Canon. Holmes also is not as enigmatic as in the Canon. A little dis appointing, but nevertheless the tales are interesting. The writing goes of kilter a bit but I still enjoyed it.
Before Watson, there was Stamford. But this group of cases has Stamford acting in Watson’s role more than in the Canon. Holmes also is not as enigmatic as in the Canon. A little dis appointing, but nevertheless the tales are interesting. The writing goes of kilter a bit but I still enjoyed it.
September 10, 2017
This book had an excellent range of stories. Sherlock working in London right through to the Sumatra rats. I enjoyed the novels and would read more of the author's work.
January 11, 2022
Cases from when before Sherlock knew Watson.
Fairly interesting.
Fairly interesting.
March 14, 2016
The Elementary Cases of Sherlock Holmes by Ian Alfred Charnock
My thanks to Georgina Cutter and the editors at Endeavor Press for my Kindle™ copy of this book for review!
This book is a series of short stories based around the unrecorded cases from the Sherlockian Canon. However, they are written up for the most part by Stamford, and take place before Watson, when Holmes had rooms in Montague Street.
“The Record of the Tarleton Murders”
Note: This story is mentioned in passing in MUSG.
There are a series of deaths that take place in which an outwardly healthy person has dropped dead unexpectedly. This would not be so unusual, except that each body has a peaceful smile. The skin still looks pink and is supple after being dead for two days.
The deaths center around a group of men known as the “Festive Hams”— the Honorable Clive Melvin Moreton-Ashbee, the Thomas Wriggleton and Count Bellaysarias of Oxford Collage. In fact both Moreton-Ashbee and Wriggleton are among the victims.
This story is pretty good and the murder weapon quite clever, but I’m wondering about the title. I am sure that in the original stories there would have been a much more expressive title. I give this story four stars.
“The Case of Vamberry, the Wine Merchant”
Note, this was also mentioned in passing in MUSG. Victor Lynch the forger is also mentioned in this story, referenced by Watson in SUSS. The investigation into Coal Tar Derivates is mentioned in EMPT.
Stamford’s father, a brewer of beer, has gone into business with Josiah Vamberry, an importer of French wine. At a party at Stamford’s home, Holmes meets Vamberry and M Louis Pasteur. Monsieur Pasteur tells of certain problems affecting the vineyards in France. Holmes suggests coal-tar derivates and goes to France to study.
The tale is interesting, but not stellar. I give it three stars.
“The Adventure of the Old Russian Woman”
Note, this tale is also referenced in MUSG.
Holmes is doing research in the British Museum Library when he notices a man who is being harassed as he studies, by pins place on his seat and strange notes being left. The man turns out to be Karl Marx, who is being shadowed by an old Russian woman who is a agent for the Tsar.
This one is quite good, but I do have to ding the author for a bad mistake. Mr. Charnock, mirror twins are identical twins that are just that, mirror images of each other. That much you got correct. It is impossible for them to be male and female, and still be mirror twins. It is for this that I must ding you two stars on what should have been a five star story!
“The Singular Affair of the Aluminium Crutch”
Note, this tale is also referenced in MUSG.
Eccentric inventor and electricity buff Algernon Berry has vanished in his laboratory. There is a smell of burning and a heap of ash at the fireplace. The man was crippled and got around by use of an aluminum crutch, which is found beside the ash.
The man’s fiancé Miss Delicia Ogilvy wants Holmes to solve the puzzle, but Lestrade arrests her on suspicion of the murder of Algernon Berry.
This story has an excellent plot twist! I give this one five stars!
“A Full Account of Ricoletti of the Club Foot”
Note, this tale is also referenced in MUSG.
Ricoletti despite his clubbed foot is a very successful boxer. After losing his last fight, which was rumored to be fixed, he left to travel the world. He is now back in London with his wife, running a small theatre. There are singer, comedy acts, and the display of a female “missing link” from Tibet.
To say exactly how Ricoletti’s wife is abominable would spoil a great story. I give it five stars!
“Mrs. Farintosh and an Opal Tiara”
Note: This tale is mentioned in passing in SPEC. Mrs. Farintosh is the friend who advised Helen Stoner to seek out Sherlock Holmes. Also mentioned is Wainwright the painter, mentioned by Watson in ILLU.
Mrs. Farintosh comes to Holmes because her Misstress, Isabella Eleanor Plantagenet Fleckingham’s Opal Tiara has gone missing. The Fleckingham Tiara must be present for Miss Isabella to marry her fiancé Count Noto-Palma. The arranged marriage is vital for the Fleckingham family.
However, Mrs. Farintosh is arrested and spends three days in jail for the theft.
This one is pretty good. The distinction between class in England is dealt with brilliantly! I give this one four stars!
“Matilda Briggs and the Giant Rat of Sumatra”
Note: This case is mentioned by Watson in SUSS as a story for which the world is not yet prepared.
The tale is told by “Surgeon Stuart,” apparently an alias of Professor Moriarty. The rats in question are about the size of dogs and extremely aggressive. The Matilda Briggs is found floating like the Mary Celeste with only one passenger and five huge rats with their tails tied together.
I rather like the idea behind this one. I give it four stars!
And the volume as a whole gets four stars as well.
Quoth the Raven…
My thanks to Georgina Cutter and the editors at Endeavor Press for my Kindle™ copy of this book for review!
This book is a series of short stories based around the unrecorded cases from the Sherlockian Canon. However, they are written up for the most part by Stamford, and take place before Watson, when Holmes had rooms in Montague Street.
“The Record of the Tarleton Murders”
Note: This story is mentioned in passing in MUSG.
There are a series of deaths that take place in which an outwardly healthy person has dropped dead unexpectedly. This would not be so unusual, except that each body has a peaceful smile. The skin still looks pink and is supple after being dead for two days.
The deaths center around a group of men known as the “Festive Hams”— the Honorable Clive Melvin Moreton-Ashbee, the Thomas Wriggleton and Count Bellaysarias of Oxford Collage. In fact both Moreton-Ashbee and Wriggleton are among the victims.
This story is pretty good and the murder weapon quite clever, but I’m wondering about the title. I am sure that in the original stories there would have been a much more expressive title. I give this story four stars.
“The Case of Vamberry, the Wine Merchant”
Note, this was also mentioned in passing in MUSG. Victor Lynch the forger is also mentioned in this story, referenced by Watson in SUSS. The investigation into Coal Tar Derivates is mentioned in EMPT.
Stamford’s father, a brewer of beer, has gone into business with Josiah Vamberry, an importer of French wine. At a party at Stamford’s home, Holmes meets Vamberry and M Louis Pasteur. Monsieur Pasteur tells of certain problems affecting the vineyards in France. Holmes suggests coal-tar derivates and goes to France to study.
The tale is interesting, but not stellar. I give it three stars.
“The Adventure of the Old Russian Woman”
Note, this tale is also referenced in MUSG.
Holmes is doing research in the British Museum Library when he notices a man who is being harassed as he studies, by pins place on his seat and strange notes being left. The man turns out to be Karl Marx, who is being shadowed by an old Russian woman who is a agent for the Tsar.
This one is quite good, but I do have to ding the author for a bad mistake. Mr. Charnock, mirror twins are identical twins that are just that, mirror images of each other. That much you got correct. It is impossible for them to be male and female, and still be mirror twins. It is for this that I must ding you two stars on what should have been a five star story!
“The Singular Affair of the Aluminium Crutch”
Note, this tale is also referenced in MUSG.
Eccentric inventor and electricity buff Algernon Berry has vanished in his laboratory. There is a smell of burning and a heap of ash at the fireplace. The man was crippled and got around by use of an aluminum crutch, which is found beside the ash.
The man’s fiancé Miss Delicia Ogilvy wants Holmes to solve the puzzle, but Lestrade arrests her on suspicion of the murder of Algernon Berry.
This story has an excellent plot twist! I give this one five stars!
“A Full Account of Ricoletti of the Club Foot”
Note, this tale is also referenced in MUSG.
Ricoletti despite his clubbed foot is a very successful boxer. After losing his last fight, which was rumored to be fixed, he left to travel the world. He is now back in London with his wife, running a small theatre. There are singer, comedy acts, and the display of a female “missing link” from Tibet.
To say exactly how Ricoletti’s wife is abominable would spoil a great story. I give it five stars!
“Mrs. Farintosh and an Opal Tiara”
Note: This tale is mentioned in passing in SPEC. Mrs. Farintosh is the friend who advised Helen Stoner to seek out Sherlock Holmes. Also mentioned is Wainwright the painter, mentioned by Watson in ILLU.
Mrs. Farintosh comes to Holmes because her Misstress, Isabella Eleanor Plantagenet Fleckingham’s Opal Tiara has gone missing. The Fleckingham Tiara must be present for Miss Isabella to marry her fiancé Count Noto-Palma. The arranged marriage is vital for the Fleckingham family.
However, Mrs. Farintosh is arrested and spends three days in jail for the theft.
This one is pretty good. The distinction between class in England is dealt with brilliantly! I give this one four stars!
“Matilda Briggs and the Giant Rat of Sumatra”
Note: This case is mentioned by Watson in SUSS as a story for which the world is not yet prepared.
The tale is told by “Surgeon Stuart,” apparently an alias of Professor Moriarty. The rats in question are about the size of dogs and extremely aggressive. The Matilda Briggs is found floating like the Mary Celeste with only one passenger and five huge rats with their tails tied together.
I rather like the idea behind this one. I give it four stars!
And the volume as a whole gets four stars as well.
Quoth the Raven…
January 15, 2016
Let me begin by saying I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes in all his many portrayals. I've read the Conan Doyle canon more than once. I've seen some of the old Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce movies. I was enamored of Jeremy Brett seeing him as Holmes personified via the BBC and PBS. Robert Downy, Jr.'s Holmes is awesome on so many levels. Ian McKellan's "Mr. Holmes" was a masterful look into the retirement of the consulting detective. Also not to be missed is Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes, and Lucy Liu as Watson on TV's "Elementary." Finally, Benedict Cumberbatch as a 21st century Sherlock hits on all the right notes. Oh, yes! Lest I forget, for my birthday, last October, I went to see "Sherlock in Love," a musical by Tony Macaulay. So quite naturally, when I came across THE ELEMENTARY CASES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, on Amazon, it was a must read for me.
Ian Charnock presents us with seven tales of Holmes, before Watson was his chronicler, in a manner and style reminiscent of the original tales in the canon by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He has the language of the Victorian writer down pat. This alone would be enough for a five star rating for any die-hard Holmes fan. However, I did have a bit of a problem with the transition from story to the final solution of these particular mysteries. It wasn't blatant disregard for how the story led Sherlock to his final deductions but more a subtle, nevertheless jarring, issue of how did we get here. Perhaps it is best described as a lack of smooth transition from the absorption of clues to the final solution. Therefore, my inclination would be to shave off half a star for this.
I thoroughly enjoyed this foray into the life of Holmes as a young man. I saw in it a bit of the panache that Steven Moffat and Mark Gadiss have brought to the BBC's "Sherlock," perhaps because I have also just seen episode one of Series 4, "The Abominable Bride" where the 21st century Holmes goes back to solve a 120 year old case.
If you, like I, love the whole concept of brilliance of mind that Conan Doyle gave us, do read this book!
Ian Charnock presents us with seven tales of Holmes, before Watson was his chronicler, in a manner and style reminiscent of the original tales in the canon by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He has the language of the Victorian writer down pat. This alone would be enough for a five star rating for any die-hard Holmes fan. However, I did have a bit of a problem with the transition from story to the final solution of these particular mysteries. It wasn't blatant disregard for how the story led Sherlock to his final deductions but more a subtle, nevertheless jarring, issue of how did we get here. Perhaps it is best described as a lack of smooth transition from the absorption of clues to the final solution. Therefore, my inclination would be to shave off half a star for this.
I thoroughly enjoyed this foray into the life of Holmes as a young man. I saw in it a bit of the panache that Steven Moffat and Mark Gadiss have brought to the BBC's "Sherlock," perhaps because I have also just seen episode one of Series 4, "The Abominable Bride" where the 21st century Holmes goes back to solve a 120 year old case.
If you, like I, love the whole concept of brilliance of mind that Conan Doyle gave us, do read this book!
January 18, 2016
Good Start to a Great Backstory!
I must admit that I was very lost at first. I didn't catch on the idea of Stamford, the narrator, was the central character in these stories. While I found that beginning odd and Stamford's ultimate rejection of Holmes "odd", I did enjoy the stories of Holmes cases and Stamford's recollection of them. A very absorbing read. But what was the deal with the last story? Why was Stamford posing in disguise as Surgeon Stewart? Why the deception? His implacable enemy? What had Stamford done to Holmes to make him run to India, yet speak so fondly of him? Maybe the author will clear up Stamford's indiscretions or Holmes failed logic. We shall see.
I must admit that I was very lost at first. I didn't catch on the idea of Stamford, the narrator, was the central character in these stories. While I found that beginning odd and Stamford's ultimate rejection of Holmes "odd", I did enjoy the stories of Holmes cases and Stamford's recollection of them. A very absorbing read. But what was the deal with the last story? Why was Stamford posing in disguise as Surgeon Stewart? Why the deception? His implacable enemy? What had Stamford done to Holmes to make him run to India, yet speak so fondly of him? Maybe the author will clear up Stamford's indiscretions or Holmes failed logic. We shall see.
June 9, 2016
Interesting stories
The author presents several cases as told by "young Stamford" in which he was involved. Although the stories were interesting, they didn't quite have a Sherlock Holmes feel to them.
The author presents several cases as told by "young Stamford" in which he was involved. Although the stories were interesting, they didn't quite have a Sherlock Holmes feel to them.
January 3, 2016
Some of the Sherlock Holmes remakes are better than others. Some of these stories were hard to follow & some were good.
January 4, 2016
Great read
I really enjoyed this book. The stories kept me guessing right up to the end. If you are a student Sherlock Holmes you need to read this book.
I really enjoyed this book. The stories kept me guessing right up to the end. If you are a student Sherlock Holmes you need to read this book.
December 30, 2016
A must for any Holmes aficionado
March 29, 2017
Kindle Unlimited One of several Sherlock Holmes stories by an assorted group of authors, wanted to go through them all. Liked it, just didn't love it, sort of the right style and all but....
May 1, 2017
This is the first non- Arthur Conan Doyle book of Sherlock Holmes I've read. It was interesting and enjoyable, however it took a while to become accustomed to young Stamford being the narrator.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
