Sherlock Holmes is the world’s most famous private detective. He is the creation of British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and first appeared in print in 1887. He resides at 221b Baker Street, in London, England, during the late Victorian and Edwardian Eras. He is usually accompanied by his partner and recorder of his cases, Dr. John Watson. I fell in love with Sherlock Holmes as a child reading mysteries in elementary school. In a whole new way, I rediscovered and re-fell in love with the character after being recruited by editors associated with the Doyle Estate to write new canonical tales and thus reread the entire body of works as research.
I write two types of Sherlock Holmes tales. The first type are strictly canonical mysteries. These follow the original stories in style and content, time and place. These do not alter in any way the characters or tone of the original tales, nor do they include the many various permutations of the character that have occurred over the last century plus on stage, TV, or film. The second type are free of canonical restraint and usually deal with adventures set in various types of subgenres, such as Lovecraftian horror or Steampunk.
I sometimes refer to my own Victorian Era characters in these course of these tales, such as Dr. Jonathan Darke or Lady Incognita.
Here is an example of a canonical Sherlock Holmes tale.
Here is an example of a canonical sequel, “A Mercy Unwilling to Trust.“
Here is an example of a non-canonical Sherlock Holmes tale, “Treasure of the Dragon.“
A few of the Sherlock Holmes books in which I have the honor of being included.