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The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes Hardcover – 7 Mar. 2017


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Internationally bestselling author Lyndsay Faye was introduced to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries when she was ten years old and her dad suggested she read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band." She immediately became enamored with tales of Holmes and his esteemed biographer Dr. John Watson, and later, began spinning these quintessential characters into her own works of fiction--from her acclaimed debut novel, Dust and Shadow, which pitted the famous detective against Jack the Ripper, to a series of short stories for the Strand Magazine, whose predecessor published the very first Sherlock Holmes short story in 1891.

Faye's best Holmes tales, including two new works, are brought together in The Whole Art of Detection, a stunning collection that spans Holmes's career, from self-taught young upstart to publicly lauded detective, both before and after his faked death over a Swiss waterfall in 1894. In "The Lowther Park Mystery," the unsociable Holmes is forced to attend a garden party at the request of his politician brother and improvises a bit of theater to foil a conspiracy against the government. "The Adventure of the Thames Tunnel" brings Holmes's attention to the baffling murder of a jewel thief in the middle of an underground railway passage. With Holmes and Watson encountering all manner of ungrateful relatives, phony psychologists, wronged wives, plaid-garbed villains, and even a peculiar species of deadly red leech, The Whole Art of Detection is a must-read for Sherlockians and any fan of historical crime fiction with a modern sensibility.

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Review

Praise for The Whole Art of Detection:

"One of the best examples of [Sherlock Holmes pastiche] that this die-hard Sherlockian has encountered . . . Faye perfectly captures the tone and spirit of the Conan Doyle originals."--Adam Woog, Seattle Times

"A great pastiche requires an uncanny ear for Watson's voice as well as a talent for a compelling story. Fortunately, Lyndsay Faye has plenty of both gifts, as she already proved in her near-perfect Dust and Shadow. For those who despair that Arthur Conan Doyle only gave us 60 stories of Holmes, rejoice! Here are 15 more treasures!"--Leslie S. Klinger, editor of The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

"The Whole Art of Detection is a great look at the Victorian world and the criminal goings on that gave us Sherlock. The London of the late 19th Century is awash with would be criminal masterminds who must be contained. It's a great look at the London of Holmes and the threats that emerge from an active criminal underground."--Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, author of Mycroft Holmes

"As full of wit as it is of twists, The Whole Art of Detection is a clever collection of deeply satisfying stories that capture the essence of Doyle's work while marking an impressive addition to the Holmes canon."--Graham Moore, author of The Sherlockian and The Last Days of Night

"The Whole Art of Detection belongs on the top shelf with the very best of Doyle's Holmes stories. Author Faye has captured the language, locutions and inventiveness of the original tales as well or better than any author I can think of it. It is absolutely essential reading for any--and every--aficionado who cherishes the real thing."--Nicholas Meyer, author of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

"A new Lyndsay Faye book is always noteworthy but for those Sherlockians among us who take our pastiches seriously, The Whole Art of Detection is a special cause for celebration. Faye's mastery of Watson's narrative voice and skilled plotting are, at this point, to be expected; as is her period research, which manages to be dazzling and unobtrusive at the same time. But it's how she treats the Holmes/Watson relationship that is unique. The humor, the familiarity, the deep affection, the occasional arguments and hurt feelings--Lyndsay Faye is matchless at rendering the very human people at the center of the most famous partnership in fiction. Truly, The Whole Art of Detection is a textbook of friendship."--Curtis Armstrong

"If Lyndsay Faye's byline weren't on the cover, readers might deduce that the Sherlock Holmes mysteries in The Whole Art of Detection actually came from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Her 15 short stories expertly re-create the style and substance of the originals in every way."--Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX)

"Terrific . . . The feat that Lyndsay Faye has pulled off with The Whole Art of Detection is nothing short of amazing . . . It's not so much that she's paying tribute to Sherlock Holmes, but more like she's directly channeling the spirit of the late, great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."--Bookreporter

"Edgar-finalist Faye . . . presents pitch-perfect Watsonian narration . . . [An] outstanding collection . . . All impressively add psychological depth to the friendship, plausibly exploring personal dynamics in the wake of traumas such as the loss of Watson's wife and Holmes's apparent return from the dead, in a way that will resonate especially with fans of the BBC's Sherlock."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Faye's wonderful collection of pastiches is rooted in a little-understood fact about the Holmes canon: the stories are not about Holmes; they're about Watson observing Holmes . . . There are mysteries here and razzle-dazzle deductions . . . but the real attraction is the power of these 15 stories to make the originals glow even brighter. For Holmesians to read, then treasure."--Booklist (starred review)

"The impressively varied puzzles not only provide the detective the chance to display his famed powers of deduction, but increasingly humanize Holmes by putting him more and more on the side of the angels, giving him the chance to free women from perilous unions and save innocents from deception and fraud. Faye also restores Watson to Holmes' side and allows the relationship between the detective and his biographer to mature and mellow without altering either man's essential character. It's refreshing to see Holmes be Holmes. Fans and neophytes alike should cheer Faye's reinvigoration of Conan Doyle's hero and his panoramic world."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Purely delightful for fans of the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson . . . These capers are as entertaining as the originals, but even more wonderful is the new depth Faye brings to the characters--and their complicated and exceptional friendship."--Shelf Awareness

"Faye's prose seduces readers with familiar cadence and beautiful imagery, all while briskly unraveling story after story with clever plots and colorful characters . . . The Conan-Doyle touch is in full bloom in The Whole Art of Detection. Faye has a true gift for style and a fun eye for story . . . Throughout, the writing shines. Faye's effortless prose mirrors Conan Doyle's poetic sensibility and his flowing, elongated sentence style."--New York Journal of Books

"Sherlockians will be delighted, as will Faye's many fans."--Library Journal

"All [15 tales] have the distinctive style and creativity of Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories. It is a book Sherlock Holmes devotees will want to savor with small samplings."--Mystery Scene"Readers will delight in these beautifully told tales about the beloved duo of Holmes and Watson, and will surely find themselves returning to this collection again and again."--Bookish"A stunning collection . . . Faye expertly channels Watson's voice as official biographer of the famous detective, and this collection would not be out of place among the very best stories of Sherlock Holmes . . . Lyndsay Faye's wit blends charmingly with Conan Doyle's style, bringing a new voice to the timeless tales of Sherlock Holmes . . . Absolutely a must read for anyone with an interest in Sherlock Holmes or mysteries set in Victorian London."--Criminal Element

"A thrilling collection for Sherlock fans . . . Faye easily captures the essence of Holmes and Watson, both in voice and style."--BookPage

"Faye has a grasp of Watson and Holmes' partnership that few authors manage to bring to life on the page in quite the same way . . . An amazing collection."--John H. Watson Society

"When you combine a gifted storyteller and a penchant for authentic pastiches, you produce a book such as Faye's latest . . . Well worth reading."--Canadian Holmes

"This short story collection . . . truly has all the wit and intrigue that you would expect from Holmes."--Crime by the Book

About the Author

Lyndsay Faye is the author of five critically acclaimed books: Dust and Shadow, The Gods of Gotham, which was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel, Seven for a Secret, The Fatal Flame, and Jane Steele. Faye, a true New Yorker in the sense that she was born elsewhere, lives in New York City with her husband, Gabriel.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 7 Mar. 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 388 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802125921
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802125927
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 572 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 3.56 x 23.11 cm

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Lyndsay Faye moved to Manhattan in 2005 to audition for theatre work; she found her days more open when the powers that be elected to knock her day-job restaurant down with bulldozers. Her first novel Dust and Shadow: an Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H Watson is a tribute to the aloof genius and his good-hearted friend whose exploits she has loved since childhood. Faye's love of her adopted city led her to research the origins of the New York City Police Department, the inception of which exactly coincided with the start of the Irish Potato Famine. The Gods of Gotham, Seven for a Secret, and The Fatal Flame follow ex-bartender Timothy Wilde as he navigates the rapids of his violently turbulent city, his no less chaotic elder brother Valentine Wilde, and the perils of learning police work in a riotous and racially divided political landscape. The first book of the trilogy was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel and has been published in 14 languages. Her lasting affection for Jane Eyre led her to re-imagine the heroine as a gutsy, heroic serial killer in Jane Steele.

After growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Lyndsay worked as a professional actress throughout the Bay Area for several years, nearly always in a corset, and if not a corset then at the very least heels and lined stockings. As her roles ranged from Scrooge's lost fiancée in A Christmas Carol to Lavinia DuPlessy in Andrew Lippa's world premiere of A Little Princess, whalebone prevented her from drawing a natural breath for a number of years. She is a soprano with a high pop belt, if it interests you. Her performances were generally reviewed well, with adjectives ranging from "soaring" and "delightful" to "sausage-curled."

Lyndsay and her husband, artist Gabriel Lehner, live in Queens with their cats, Grendel and Prufrock. During the few hours a day Lyndsay isn't writing or editing, she is most often cooking, or sampling new kinds of microbrew, or thinking of ways to creatively mismatch her clothing. She is a very proud member of AEA, MWA, ASH, GWN, and BSI (Actor's Equity Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes, Girls Write Now, and the Baker Street Irregulars, respectively).

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 March 2017
    After 40 years of collecting Sherlock Holmes 'pastiches', I can say that Lyndsay Faye is the absolute best, she has no equals, she combines her understanding and love of the original characters with her own imaginative story telling, adds a touch of spice and creates stories that are like nectar, each line to be savoured. This author clearly sits on the top table of Sherlockian authors on the right hand of Conan Doyle.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 March 2017
    I received an e-ARC of this collection of short stories through NetGalley and Grove Atlantic. Thank you.

    I'm a real Sherlock Holmes fan and am almost always disappointed when I stray into the area of authors penning their own versions of the Holmes/Watson adventures. I'm very glad to say I found good entertainment value in this collection of 16 stories. The main problem I see for readers is, if you have followed the writings of Lyndsay Faye in her Holmes variations, you may already have read some, most or all of the stories gathered here. I don't remember where I read it, but the first story was familiar to me. Luckily I had not seen any of the remaining stories. I especially liked two journal entries presented from the viewpoint of Sherlock. One was concerning the problem he was working on during the first week Dr. Watson was traveling to Baskerville Hall - it was nice to think this second criminal exercise might have been what kept Holmes from traveling with the party when they left for Dartmoor. The second journal entry was of particular interest because it gave me a view of how Holmes valued Watson from what can be considered his personal standpoint.

    So here are the story titles and pertinent information presented in the Credits segment provided by the author. Most of the stories were published in The Strand magazine.

    The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness - 2009 (Appeared in Sherlock Holmes in America)
    The Adventure of the Magical Menagerie - 2015
    The Adventure of the Vintner's Codex - 2011
    The Adventure of the Honest Wife - 2009
    The Adventure of the Beggar's Feast - 2009 (previous title The Case of the Beggar's Feast.)
    Memoranda Upon the Gaskell Blackmailing Dilemma -2013
    The Lowther Park Mystery - 2011
    An Empty House - 2014 - (Out of the Abyss)
    The Adventure of the Memento Mori - 2012
    Notes Regarding the Disappearance of Mr. James Phillimore - 2014
    The Adventure of the Willow Basket -2015 (The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories volume II)
    The Adventure of the Lightless Maiden - 2012
    The Adventure of the Thames Tunnel
    The Adventure of the Mad Baritone
    Notes Upon the Diadem Club Affair - 2015 (published as Notes Upon the Diadem Club Affair, #47)
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2017
    I received it for free from Netgalley, and was really very much impressed and pleased. Not knowing it wasn't a Conan Doyle's book.
    The writing of the author is so similar than Sir Arthur's one, it is really astonishing! The dialogues, the atmosphere, the vocabulary, ... give you the feeling you are reading an undiscovered story by the great master!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2017
    Lyndsay Faye is absolutely perfect in capturing the essence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This novel is perfect and it fills the gaps between the original stories very well. I’m very happy that I got to read an advanced copy!

    The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of short stories written by Dr. Watson about his dear friend and world famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The novel is divided in three parts: “Before Baker Street”, “The Early Years” and “The Return and Years Later”, giving a glimpse of the past of this extraordinary mind and the years until his death at the Reichenbach Falls.

    I loved every minute of this reading, couldn’t put it down, couldn’t stop feeling astonished of the depth and pure brilliance of the author. I could hear the voice of Jeremy Brett, the great Sherlock of 1984 to 1994. Faye captures all that defines Doyle and Sherlock, from the immaculate Victorian style of writing, the characters, the complexity of the plots and the perfect power of deduction that are so known in the stories of Sherlock Holmes. I couldn’t possibly pick one or two favourite stories, every single one of them is particular, unique and addictive. Other famous characters also join the plots, like Mycroft Holmes and Inspector Lestrade.

    I really enjoyed reading the growth of Dr Watson in the stories, from the newbie side-kick to an essential part of the mystery-solving business. I always enjoyed reading his perspective of Sherlock and how he tries to define him, ending up being surprised by the others actions or words that remind him of his friend’s humanity.

    I can say with all heart that Lyndsay Faye did a spectacular job in continuing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, filling in the gaps with information that all Sherlock fans will appreciate. I highly recommend this novel to all the fans of Mr. Holmes!

    ​This review was originally published on NetGalley.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2017
    I have read quite a lot of Sherlock Holmes stories written by authors than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Some good, some less than good. However, this collection is one of the finest I have ever read and the stories really feel like they were written by Conan Doyle himself.

    The book's stories are both before he met Watson and both before and after his "death". All stories are high in quality and some are easier to solve than others. I especially like the dynamic relationship between Watson and Holmes. Sometimes, Watson is made out to be a stumbling buffoon, but in this collection is Watson more a fitting partner to Holmes. They work well together, and they are very good friends.

    In this book, we meet damsels in distress, murders, thieves, etc. One story that comes to mind is one that takes place during The Hound of Baskerville because it's told through Holmes point of view, and also because it explains why Holmes stayed back in London while Watsons traveled to Dartmoor with Sir. Baskerville. And, that is just one story among many good.

    It's a splendid collection, and now I want to read Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Karo Lin
    5.0 out of 5 stars “Excellent!" I cried.
    Reviewed in Germany on 21 November 2017
    Eindeutig einer der besten Pastiches, die ich je gelesen habe. Mal ganz davon abgesehen, dass Lyndsay Faye Sir Arthur Conan Doyles Schreibstil beinahe perfekt imitiert, ist es vor allem die Liebe zu den Charakteren, die hier besticht. Diese ungewöhnliche und wunderbare Freundschaft zwischen Mr. Holmes und Dr. Watsons wird perfekt in Szene gesetzt und strahlt noch stärker als in den Original-Geschichten. Ein Must-Read für Holmes-Enthusiasten!
  • C. Leighton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be proud
    Reviewed in the United States on 14 February 2017
    I really did love this book! Lindsay Faye is the very best writer of Holmes pastiches. She captures the setting, atmosphere, Watson's narrative voice, Holmes' narrative voice and the overall style of Conan Doyle's original tales with uncanny mastery. I don't want to spoil it for anyone else, so I'll just add that "Memoranda Upon the Gaskell Blackmailing" was one of my favorites because it fills in the gaps of Holmes' absence in The Hound of the Baskervilles, has Holmes fussing about Watson's forgetting to pack his muffler and having it posted first thing in the morning, and, like "The Adventure of the Thames Tunnel," characterizes Holmes as emphatically not misogynistic. He's as kind, protective, sympathetic and gallant to women as he is the original stories. "The Adventure of the Beggar's Feast" and "Notes Upon the Diadem Club Affair" both illustrate Holmes' compassionate care for children-his band of Irregulars; it's an insightful inference I believe Conan Doyle would be pleased with. I don't agree with those authors who have condemned the detective for callous exploitation of these poor children. I find such negligence to be completely out of character. "Notes Upon the Diadem Club Affair" gives Watson the opportunity to neatly put Holmes in his place and also clears the detective of that appearance of avarice Conan Doyle included in "The Adventure of the Priory School." It also introduces a version of Sir Percy Blakeney, another of my all time favorite characters of fiction, whom I was delighted to see quite at home in this environment in a clever twist at the end. Like Dust and Shadows, this is a real treat for Holmes fans. I'm hoping for more soon!
  • Perceptive Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Awesome!
    Reviewed in India on 26 September 2021
    Lyndsay Faye is one of the greatest Sherlockians of our times. In these fifteen pastiches, she comprehensively proves it. Here she provides riveting interpretations of those tantalising references left by the author regarding Darlington substitution scandal, Red Leech, Mendicant Society etc. Also, with her distinctive style dripping with wit and irony, she infuses new life in the canonical relationship between the Great Detective, his 'Boswell', and the Police, esp. Lestrade.
    My favourites were~
    1. The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness
    2. The Adventure of the Honest Wife
    3. Memoranda upon the Gaskell Blackmailing Dilemma (simply uproarious)
    4. An Empty House
    5. The Adventure of the Memento Mori
    6. The Adventure of the Willow Basket
    7. The Adventure of the Thames Tunnel
    8. Notes upon the Diadem Club Affair
    Ms. Faye's next collection of Sherlockian tales is scheduled to be released by the end of this year. To say that I am eagerly waiting for it would be an understatement. Salivating might be a more apt description.
    Highly recommended!
  • Alwyn Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book. Almost can't believe that it wasn't actually ...
    Reviewed in Canada on 4 August 2017
    Amazing book. Almost can't believe that it wasn't actually written by Arthur Conon Doyle. I've read several Sherlock Holmes spinoff novels and none of them are as good as this one.
  • Mr. Robert C. Bonds
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Legend of Holmes Continues!
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 July 2019
    The author Lyndsay Faye has done an excellent job in writing in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Faye has picked up the story of Sherlock Holmes a few years after Holmes' demise battling Professor Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. We find that Dr. Watson has married and is currently mourning the death of his wife of a few years. Watson is so despondent that over the double loss of his best friend and now his wife that he wishes to leave London behind. As a depressed Watson is saying his final goodbyes to Inspector Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson the keeper of 221B Baker Street as he prepares to go to sea as a ship's surgeon; he is quickly brought back to his senses in receiving word that indeed Holmes is alive and has returned to Baker Street.

    As Faye reunites Holmes and Watson, we find a subtle change in Holmes, in how perceives his friend Watson and the criminal world in London. Yes, a slight softening of the acerbic wit of Holmes is noticed. Faye picks up the timeline of the Holmes and Watson as it ended with the disappearance of Holmes at Reichenbach Falls. She continues the timeline into the early 20th Century, not bringing the legendary exploits of the inhabitants of221B Baker Street to an end but allowing for a continuation of the saga.

    Faye's story writing is very good and she brings into to her series of Holmes adventures Inspector Lestrade, the Baker Street Irregulars and the familiar environs of London.

    I have been a life long Sherlock Holmes fan and I recommend this new compilation of adventures to those who enjoy the exploits of the greatest fictional detective of 19th Century England.