Written by Ken Greenwald
Adapted from the original radio plays by Denis Green & Anthony Boucher
Illustrations by Alfredo Alcala
SUMMARY:
First published in 1989, Barnes & Noble Books issued this 200-page hardcover reprint in 1993. Transcribing the original dialogue from thirteen long-lost radio plays that Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce had recorded between 1945-46, Ken Greenwald fleshes them out into short story form. Starting with an introduction from ‘Dr. John H. Watson,’ the mysteries (presented in non-chronological order) are the following:
- The Adventure of the Second Generation. Dr. Watson and a retired Holmes encounter Irene Adler’s daughter.
- The April Fool’s Adventure. Watson is persuaded to help prank his new roommate, Holmes, but the joke soon goes too far. Note: This ‘prequel’ reveals Holmes & Watson’s first meeting with a familiar nemesis.
- The Case of the Amateur Mendicants. In 1887, Watson’s late-night emergency house call precipitates a dangerous predicament within a bizarre charity organization.
- The Adventure of the Out-of-Date Murder. During a much-needed vacation, in late 1900, the detective duo makes a grisly discovery deep inside an underground cave.
- The Case of the Demon Barber. In the winter of 1896, Holmes & Watson aid a desperate actor worried that he is unconsciously living out his stage role as razor-wielding serial killer Sweeney Todd.
- Murder Beyond the Mountains. Holmes confides in Watson details of an international incident that occurred in Tibet during his mysterious three-year sabbatical.
- The Case of the Uneasy Easy Chair. Holmes, Watson, and Inspector Lestrade investigate a wealthy tycoon’s death, as a most unusual murder weapon is deployed.
- The Case of the Baconian Cipher. In 1889, Holmes & Watson, along with a visiting French colleague, probe a dire message coded within a newspaper’s personals column.
- The Adventure of the Headless Monk. In late 1896, the detective duo teams up with an occult expert to investigate sightings of a legendary headless ghost.
- The Case of the Camberwall Poisoners. In 1887, the watch from a victim of a brutal homicide may be Holmes’ only chance of determining who the culprit is.
- The Adventure of the Iron Box. On the New Year’s Eve leading into 1900, Watson’s elderly friend needs Holmes to help him collect his long-delayed family inheritance.
- The Case of the Girl With the Gazelle. In late 1887, Holmes possibly tangles with Professor Moriarty again during an excursion into the world of fine art.
- The Case of the Notorious Canary Trainer. Watson conveys to his literary agent, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, details of an odd homicide case that a retired Holmes dealt with in 1908. Note: The story’s last two pages reveal a secret Watson hints at in his introduction.
REVIEW:
Keeping in mind that Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce recorded 220 radio episodes together, these thirteen tales represent a hodge-podge: the good, the bad, and the middling. Bolstered by excellent publication values and some terrific premises, author Ken Greenwald makes it easy to imagine Rathbone & Bruce acting out each tale. Yet, without their voices persuasively selling these mysteries, a recurring problem is how weak the plotting actually is.
For instance, tales like “Murder Beyond the Mountains,” “The Case of the Baconian Cipher,” and “The Adventure of the Headless Monk” are particularly contrived. Specifically, there isn’t enough plot to establish actual clues, let alone time for readers to make fair deductions of their own. It isn’t Greenwald’s fault, as he is faithfully retelling the stories that Denis Green & Anthony Boucher had devised decades before. Rather, one is reminded of the necessity in radio show plots where entertainment must supersede plausible depth. Despite this handicap, Green & Boucher’s creativity still often lived up to Conan Doyle’s standards, even if this particular collection isn’t sufficient proof.
Aside from some inauthentic details (i.e. as a British citizen, Watson wouldn’t be celebrating Thanksgiving), the tales are, at a minimum, committed to delivering nostalgic fun. Greenwald, in that sense, ensures that this book is a welcome homage to Conan Doyle’s legacy. All that’s really missing are the old radio show’s frequent plugs for its various sponsors, i.e. Petri Wine … and the campy organ music the show relied upon to stoke its suspense cues. As a gift option for old-school Holmes buffs, The Lost Adventures of Sherlock Holmes may prove a welcome treat.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Along with a table-of-contents, both the original radio airdate and whatever Conan Doyle tale that inspired each new story are identified. From September 1988, Greenwald’s sentimental foreword explains why the discovery of these lost radio shows inspired him to take on this project.
Drawn by artist Alfredo Alcala in 1989, a black-and-white illustration depicting an upcoming scene leads off most of the stories. Alcala, for his part, renders the likenesses of Rathbone & Bruce relatively well. The last page consist of brief author synopses.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
