This is a bit of a cheat since this book will probably never be adapted for the big screen. Nevertheless it is a book of stories about Sherlock Holmes and since we got to watch a new Holmes movie this past Christmas (thanks Guy Ritchie!), I think I’m allowed to indulge in some Sherlockian fun.

First I’ll admit that I don’t remember reading any of Doyle’s books. I came to love the character by watching Jeremy Brett play Holmes on television in the 1980s and 1990s. Brett is my standard by which all other Holmes impersonators are measured, so you can imagine how I feel about Downey Jr’s and Cumberbatch’s turn at the pipe (except Cumberbatch doesn’t even smoke a pipe!) Arrgh!

*deep breath* 

A Study in Sherlock is an anthology of original short stories written by well-known crime/mystery authors like Alan Bradley and Thomas Perry. Even Neil Gaiman has thrown his hat into the ring. The stories can be categorized into three groups: ones with Holmes, ones without Holmes but with Holmes-like elements, and Other. All stories make references to the canon (except maybe for Other) which provide some back story for the present tales. I’m not familiar with the canon but I still enjoyed the stories, especially the essential twists and turns in the plot before the identity of the criminal is revealed. Not all of them turn out to be about murderers. For example, Gaiman’s story The Case of Death and Honey is set in China and revolves around beekeeping. I know, right? It is a deceivingly simple tale at the start but to say more would really ruin it for you. Read it yourself. I think it’s one of the best stories from the book because it is both Sherlockian and un-Sherlockian at the same time. Another story I liked is Laura Lippman’s The Last of Sheila-Locke Holmes. It is a story about a young girl who decides to play detective where she learns the very human consequences of searching for the truth.

Reading some of the Amazon reviews, diehard Sherlockians expecting this anthology to resemble the old Doyle tales were terribly disappointed. Modern times are hard on a man who wears an odd-looking cap and smokes a pipe. It is inevitable the character has to evolve, and ironically some of the stories in the anthology touches on this. If modern audiences can embrace Guy Ritchie and Steven Moffat’s recent incarnations, then so should those fans who have loved this character right from the start. I mentioned earlier about the Other category of stories—-in the print copy of this book, readers will come across a cartoon/graphic short story by Colin Cotterill about his process of creating a story for the anthology. See, it takes all kinds.

Rating: Entertaining read for all mystery lovers though some stories are better than others. Due to the complete lack of explosions, Downey Jr. fans will be very disappointed.