A New, Previously Forbidden Sherlock Holmes Adventure Series

The first of a series of Sherlock Holmes forbidden-to-be-published adventures, presented under the Imprimatur of the Conan-Doyle Estate. After relating the discovery of a cache of unpublished Holmes tales recorded by Watson, and discovered more than 50 years after his death by his grand-nephew, the first “deciphered” tale begins: Holmes and Watson are engaged by the very-attractive wife of an Oxford Don Expert on Shakespeare who has disappeared. It transpires that the Don had become connected with the marketing of an arbitrarily rare set of documents comprising the Bard’s legendary Lost Folio. These documents were alleged to be a set of lost plays which, because of their antiquity, were worth millions irrespective of their quality. (Some of these had actually been played before limited audiences before being misplaced or destroyed, leaving only a lingering hint as to their titles and plots, one of them ostensibly connected to Cervantes’ Don Quixote.) A note abruptly appears, demanding a staggering and numerically peculiar price for the Lost Folio and the return of her husband, along with a riddle that appears meaningless. Holmes and Watson are put through a multiplicity of trials, taking them all over England: Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, No. 10 Downing Street, Southampton, and, of course, Stratford upon Avon, etc., all triggered by some aspect of the ransom note, e.g., the Southampton trip is to check on the nature of the paper used for the note, which proves to be of a special “Diplomatic Grade” that includes erasure sensitivity, and is doled out only to people high in government circles. Each sheet holds a concealed series number that can be used to determine to whom it had been allotted. Mathematical overtones of the Lost Folio price implicate someone in either the Queen’s Artillery, versed in calculating ballistic tables, or in the Admiralty, concerned with navigational calculations. Holmes and Watson engage in burglary of the home of a n’er do well suspect, son of a royal personage with disquieting results. Word comes that the Don’s wife has been brutally murdered, crushed by a falling stone at Stonehenge, causing much consternation. Holmes requests an audience with the Prime Minister in order to secure records needed for the investigation, and engages in a verbal sparring match with the gentleman. Holmes prevails, and secures almost ministerial powers over the records office, to the awe of the functionaries there. They trace the Don’s wife’s path prior to her death ( which she took in response to a threatening letter) to Piccadilly Circus, where, amongst ladies of the afternoon/evening, she would have been noticeable. Holmes, who turns out to be well known to the ladies (not as a customer, but as someone sensitive to their station in life, and willing, without charge, to help right wrongs inflicted upon them). They learn that she met with a man who forced her into a hansom cab, then the identity of the driver, who is later found dead. In the meantime, the Don is found drowned in the Thames, bound with nautical knots. An autopsy, performed by one of Watson’s old school chums, the Don proves to be (mechanically) impotent, suggesting that his ravishing wife may have taken a lover, who might have been involved in the machinations of the Lost Folio. He proves, in fact, to be a Duke, an officious snob until Holmes braces him with the incontrovertible reasoning leading to him. It is learned that it was indeed he, at the behest of the Don’s wife, who chose to underwrite the purchase of the Lost Folio, and that he was being blackmailed because of it. Holmes begins to consider the Don and his wife as having been more involved in the nefarious scheme surrounding the Folio, and the fine hand of Moriarty becomes evident. A trap is laid, then sprung.

The second of a series of Sherlock Holmes forbidden-to-be-published adventures, presented under the Imprimatur of the Conan-Doyle Estate: There are two major, intertwined plot lines in this book: 1. A voyage to China at the sponsored behest of a wealthy and desperate father to rescue his head-strong daughter who has become incommunicado 2. The discovery while en route, of a complex and highly dangerous plot to destroy the silk trade, involving the ship and much of its crew and many others, bankrolled by the “Silk Merchant” in England who proves (eventually) to be a disgruntled relative of the Queen. The plot lines are interdependent because of the urgency of the first (it unfolds that she and a travel companion have been kidnapped by pirates who are active in the Oriental/Arabic flesh market so they are in danger of being sent to the Middle East without a trace) and a similarly urgent need to scotch the silk plot before it is irredeemably executed (a parasite that destroys the mulberry plant essential to the silk worm is planned to be introduced to China, and once unleashed would be unstoppable.) Holmes and Watson find themselves in double jeopardy, with the pirates and the silk plotters (independently) intent on killing them on board the ship and then in China, where life and death are cheap, and afterward as well. Subplots include: a) The behavior of a perfidious Chinese police Inspector assigned to aid in the search for the kidnapped young ladies, who turns out to be in league with the pirate activity b) The unexpected behavior of the young lady’s companion, who prefers not to be rescued (and who much later proves to have become an estimable force in a Sheikdom) c) A somewhat mysterious woman also being held by the pirates, who aides Holmes and Watson and proves to be a key (through a powerful and vengeful uncle) to inhibiting the silk plot at the Chinese end. (He also arranges for the elimination of the treacherous police Inspector) d) The unexpected romantic escapades of the rescued young lady amongst the adult children of the multi-national diplomatic corps in Shanghai e) The repeated, increasingly ingenious attempts by the silk plotters upon the lives of Holmes and Watson during their land route (roughly tracing Marco Polo and the Orient Express in reverse) return to England. Holmes and Watson wrestle with many difficulties, e.g., Watson’s mal de mer, a typhoon at sea, the unusual encipherment of the missing captain’s private writings, the baffling concealment of his absence implying mutiny, and the frisky behavior of the young lady, to which their considerable life experience provides no antidote. Upon return to England, the Queen’s relative is properly (though privately) punished, and the tentacles of the silk plot are carefully quashed. The Queen, who proves to have been an avid reader of Watson’s accounts of past adventures, prevails upon him to postpone release of this tale for generations. She also becomes a very private patient of the Doctor. (The story itself unfolds much more smoothly than this staccato rendition.)

The third in a series of Sherlock Holmes forbidden-to-be-published Adventures under the Imprimatur of the Conan-Doyle Estate: A single, strong plot line dominates the story, but it has many tangled tributaries. It may be useful to list the names and attributes of new characters introduced: [An (X) denotes those who are killed in the story] Cardinal Vecchio: A sinister cleric conspiring to win the Papacy Father Duncan: Watson’s Vatican-appointed attorney Dr. John Dougherty (X): Watson’s friend and Afghan-campaign comrade at arms, later known to have been a spy for the British Government. Vesuvia (X): A prostitute who sets up Dougherty to be murdered Madam Fortini: Vecchio’s Mistress Dr. Cobb: Discoverer of Dougherty’s unique murder Dr. Corona: A Dougherty enemy who becomes Holmes’ helper A Sicilian (X): A specialist in the Vatican Cryptographic Chamber who alerts the Black Hand to Holmes suspicions Brenta (Vesuvia’s Twin): (in the same profession) Enraged at her sister’s murder, she becomes very helpful with introductions to the Don’s wife The Don: (Capo de Tutti Capi) Boss of the Roman Black Hand; orders Vesuvia’s jealous lover’s death The Don’s Wife: Helpful in engaging the Don’s assistance Captain Kartini: Perfidious member of the rural policia who attempts to get Watson killed Maury: Unlikely nickname for Mauritzio Cartoglia, an old carabineri acquaintance of Holmes Professional Assassin (X): Kills the Sicilian and Vesuvia and perhaps another. Unique Venue at the time: Because the Vatican is a City State within Italy, it has its own laws, courts, jail/prison, morgue, etc., therefore criminals/suspects must undergo extradition to be taken into custody by the Roman policia or the carabineri. It could legally try, convict, and if called for, execute individuals. Italy, and therefore Rome still observed the Napoleonic Code of justice, forcing the accused to prove their innocence. The Plot in brief: Attending a Coroner’s Convention in Rome, Watson is accused of the murder of Dougherty because he was the last person known to have seen him alive. He is arrested and thrown in the local jail, unable to communicate in Italian. Holmes eventually secures his release on the technicality that he was arrested on a site considered to be Vatican property, so he is bound over to the Vatican in Holmes’ custody, giving him the freedom to help in his defense, aided by Father Duncan. Using evidence found in Dougherty’s hotel room, they are led to confront Dr. Corona, who proves to be innocent, and becomes helpful. Vesuvia is identified as the result of a series of deductions; she admits setting up John, but is killed before she could testify. Watson, mistaken for Holmes, survives two assassination attempts. The Cardinal is implicated but offers a rational (though flawed) explanation for the perceptions. With all potential witnesses useless or dead, Watson is tried in court by an excellent prosecuting attorney, receives a brilliant defense by Father Duncan, but is convicted. As the death sentence is in the process of being delivered, Holmes upsets the court with an Amicus Curiae appearance and presents evidence involving Dr. Cobb. Holmes confesses to something so extraordinary that it is absolutely incredible to Watson.

A member of the British peerage is diagnosed with leprosy, a disease intolerable to the Crown because of its historical implications. Holmes and Watson, whose activities are known and respected, are asked (a virtual command) to convey the individual to the leper colony on Molokai, among the Hawaiian islands. The matter is so secret that royal physical and human assets cannot be utilized because of the risk of involving many people. The detectives are not allowed to restrain the gentleman, e.g., with handcuffs, because of his royal status. While he is very much against being exiled in this manner, he is not unreasonable, and such a lovely portrait of the colony is painted for him that he reluctantly deigns to go. (However, he backslides on this continually, creating many problems.) Several routes are considered, and the one selected partially involves the “colonies” because of the relatively recently completed transcontinental railroad, shortening the land travel duration from months to days. Subplots/activities include: a) The discovery of something by Holmes en route that makes him an assassination target for much of the trip. b) The maturation of Holmes and Watson’s charge as the result of events on the trip. c) Involvement in four wars. d) Learning to live off the land. e) Inventing a novel way to fight off savages. f) A modicum of disobedience to the Queen. g) The need for Holmes and Watson to learn the skills of Able-Bodied Seamen before the mast of a large sailing vessel. h) The process of Watson properly organizing the medical practices and medicinal supplies of a very large hospice and administering medical care to a multitude of patients under primitive conditions. i) Learning to ride for vast distances on steeds whose ancestry was traceable to Genghis Khan; similarly on Bactrian camels. Holmes and Watson wrestle with many difficulties, but Holmes, as usual, evidences his renowned deductive and inventive powers, observational skills and cool demeanor when lesser mortals panic. A surprising ending rights a terrible wrong.

Holmes and Watson are called upon to investigate a series of baffling murders taking place in Kronborg Castle in Elsinsor, Denmark, following the plot of Hamlet. (It is the castle that Shakespeare used as the model for the setting of Hamlet. It has moats, dungeons, torture chambers, huge spires, stately halls, the possibility of secret passages, and a bloody history of conflict. The deaths indeed mirrored the plot of Hamlet, but to what end? The King’s brother succeeded him on the throne and married his wife, ala Hamlet. (Denmark was a Constitutional Monarchy, with succession to the throne strictly limited to males in order of birth. Next in line to the new monarch would be the deceased King’s sons, with their sister out of the picture.) Hamlet was based upon 600 year old writings based in turn upon older oral histories. Sherlock and Watson are given the run of the castle, permitted to investigate anyone and everything, above and below stairs (which they do). Five suspects emerge. As they begin their investigations, a Shakespeare Festival begins, a tradition that began in 1816, in respect of Shakespeare’s death 200 years before. Sherlock and John resolve to become part of the casts. (Imagine Watson playing Juliet’s mother [in Shakespeare’s plays, men often masqueraded as women in his plays]. Attempts to dispatch both men mar the performances. A mysterious, threatening letter arrives, and a huge tower clock plays a major role in saving the life of an intended victim, and provides more clues to the puzzle. Applying inspired logic, Holmes finally concludes that he and Watson were being used, in order to distract suspicion from the schemer, plotter and murderer, whom Holmes finally exposes, to Watson’s chagrin.