In Re: Sherlock Holmes

The Adventures of Solar Pons, Book 1

By: August Derleth

Narrated by: Steve White

Once again in old London, "the game is afoot."

In these pastiches of the sacred writings, written when he was 19 and 20, August Derleth has recreated the London of Sherlock Holmes. It does not matter that the familiar name has become Solar Pons, or that the familiar Baker Street has become Praed Street - something of the nostalgic charm and fascination, of the remembered quickening of the pulse and the familiar settings of the original London of Sherlock Holmes, has been recaptured in these pages. And what intriguing titles there arc to these 12 pastiches, chosen from among a greater number!

Here are:

• The Adventure of the Frightened Baronet - about a spectral image of Siva seen at a country estate beyond London
• The Adventure of the Purloined Periapt - which is the purest of pastiches and perhaps the closest of all the tales in this book to the original spirit
• The Adventure of the Norcross Riddle - containing some of the neatest deduction in the book
• The Adventure of the Man with the Broken Face - a tale of "dark waters"
• and eight others....

©2018 Derrick Belanger (P)2019 Derrick Belanger

First Solar Pons Stories

These stories of Solar Pons, the Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street, were written by August Derleth and published by Mycroft and Moran. Excellent pastiches of Sherlock Holmes. The performances were also excellent.

Narration issues for me

Has some good stories, but to my American ears, at least, the narration was heavily accented. In some places I gave up trying to understand what was being said.

Disappointing

Mr, White’s narration is akin to the deliverance of an essay. It lacks the ability to draw in the listener.