A note of apology: We must ask your forgiveness concerning the non-occurrence of the June, 2008 edition of The Sherlockian E-Times. We can give a bunch of excuses, but our favorites are: 1) we took some time off to celebrate a family birthday and, 2) we were also delayed somewhat in awaiting the delivery of some new books for you (we have learned, over the years, that it is not a wise thing to advertise any product before we actually have it in hand!) so, before we knew it, June had just slipped away. We did want you to know that we really appreciated all the calls and e-mails we received asking what happened to the June edition - it is most gratifying to know that we were missed!! However, we shall make every attempt to be more punctual in the future. BTW, our artist is going to have to "finalize" the graphics for our 2009 Sherlockian calendar soon so that we can get the material to the printer's in a timely fashion. This will be the last time we will askyou to submit additional names and birthdates for the new calendar. So if you'd like to have your name and birthdate added to those of a few hundred of your Sherlockian fellows, please Email us. We have the deadline date of July 16 - after that we will be unable to alter the calendar copy.

We had thought this great book by the legendary David Stuart Davies to have gone out of print, but we uncovered a very few copies recently. This is THE indispensable reference book for every Holmes film buff. We have just a few! Please Click Here

Links to product pages on this site

Although it is pretty late to begin using a 2008 calendar, ours is still on line at CafePress and, with all due modesty, we think that the graphics are terrific. One might want to have a copy just for the graphics. If you're the one, Please Click Here. This will be the last time we will mention the 2008 calendar, but watch for the mention of the 2009 version soon! Please remember - July 16 is the deadline for adding new names and birthdates to the 2009 calendar.

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We sold completely out of our initial stock of The Quintessential Sherlock Holmes, but have now restocked a few more copies. We do invite you to take a look at this attractive volume, which is both readable and collectible! Please Click Here

We fear that we are actually out of stock with this item, but we think we can get more. Please take a look here! If you'd like a copy of "Voices," please just Email Us.

We have recently received a new shipment of our popular Reichenbach Falls Poster. We are most pleased to be able to offer these to you again after their lengthy absence from our web site. Please click here.

New pastiches on our site this month. Please
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New on our site this month. Please
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Please Click Here to avail yourself of a Canonical Cup (actually, its a mug).
A nice gift of a vanishing collectible. We have only seven of these mugs remaining in stock, and there will be no more (unless someone else makes them - our original supplier retired). BTW,
The mug looks a lot better than this picture represents.)

Just a couple of days ago (July 8) we received a phone call from London from our British friend, Antony Richards, who is, of course, the new owner and publisher of Breese Books. As most of you will know, the reading Sherlockian public has been heavily dependent on Breese Books as a most prolific publisher of Sherlockian pastiches. Dr. Richards informed us that he intends to continue this legacy under his new management. Dr. Richards sent us some pre-publication information about his forthcoming title, viz., Sherlock Holmes and the Three Poisoned Pawns! We expect to have copies of Sherlock Holmes and the Three Poisoned Pawns in house for delivery to you about the middle of August. Thanks for your patience.

About 18 months ago the same Dr. Antony Richards who now presides over Breese Books, sent us the photo of his son - the one you see here on your left. This week he sent the photo of the same young man, viz., James Antony Edward Richards - we thought you'd like to see how he has grown!

BTW, speaking of upcoming titles, Jeff Falkingham (of Sherlock Holmes and the County Courthouse Caper fame) tells us that he has another book in the works. This one he has entitled, Sherlock Holmes: In Search of the Source. Jeff has given us a glimpse into the plot. A wedding is in the offing. Shortly before nuptial date, the bride's father's (a noted anthropologist) life's work is destroyed in a fire; a body is discovered in the ashes. A member of the wedding party becomes implicated. Holmes and the groom set out to solve the mystery before the wedding can go on. We are looking forward to having this new work in time for Christmas.

Each month, Tom and Jan Biblewski, in their newsletter The Baker Street Dispatch, (click here to arrange for a subscription) offer a synopsis - a quick summary of plot and characters - of one of the canonical cases. Their distillation of the essence of each case is always succinct, precise and interesting. The most recent synopsis that we have is of "The Abby Grange." We reprint it here with their permission.

     "'The Abby Grange'", a 9,223 word story appeared in the 'Strand Magazine' in September 1904 and in 'Collier's Weekly' December 31, 1904. On a 'bitterly cold and frosty morning toward the end of the winter of '97' Dr. Watson chronicles this adventure for his followers. Bringing together elements that readers seek - romance, murder, superb deductions by Holmes and a perplexed lawman - the opening images of this story are among Dr. Watson's best. With the unforgettable line, "'Come Watson, come!' He cried. 'The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!'" After the two men leave Baker Street for the Charing Cross railroad station, soon, a baffled detective from Scotland Yard, Stanley Hopkins, will receive their assistance in the solution of the murder of Sir Eustace Brackenstall.
     "At times, this adventure crosses elements with 'The Dancing Men' and 'Thor Bridge,' As the British Empire evolves into an international power, its population reflects the many nationalities that emigrate and and reside within the borders. Migrating from South Australia, Mary Frazier met and soon afterwards wedded, Sir Eustace. Changing from a freer life style to one of 'proprieties' proved difficult for her. Compounding the stressful arrangement, Sir Eustace surrenders himself to the powers of alcoholism. Unable to change his dependency on alcohol, leave Abbey Grange, or divorce her husband, Lady Brackenstall and her personal maid, Theresa Wright, formulate a plan to end the arrangement.
    "Lending a hand to this plan is Jack Crocker, first officer of the liner 'Rock of Gibraltar' whom Mary first met while traveling to England from the native land. Perhaps manipulated by Mary or Theresa, or both, Jack sympathesized with Mary's plight. Dr. Watson paints a dreadful situation for the former Mary Frazer and the many other women who encounter marriages marred by violence, intimidation, and/or alcohol.
      "Despite Jack's role in Sir Eustace Brackenstall's death, Holmes withholds evidence from Stanley Hopkins that would have demonstrated Crocker's involvement. Holmes recognizes Lady Brackenstall's dire circumstances and acknowledges that British law would not permit her an annulment or grant her a divorce. Without a sufficient income, Lady Brackenstall's options were gravely limited.
     "Fighting his personal convictions, Holmes gives Hopkins several clues to identify the murderer. Unable to string the clues together, Hopkins is satisfied that the perpetrators have escaped and probably fled the area. Content that his obligation has been fulfilled, Holmes allows Jack Crocker to walk away
from the crime."

(Thank you Tom and Jan,)

BTW: Can you think of any other cases in which Mr. Holmes allowed the "perp" to go free?

While we were attending the fourth annual Gathering of Southern Sherlockians in Chattanooga this year we received a kind invitation to visit with our Sherlockian friends, David and Karen Milner in Greenville, SC. As it turned out, the regular meeting of the Survivors of the Gloria Scott was occurring during the tenure of our visit. We do have the honor of being members of the Greenville scion having been invested as "The Grice Patersons."

The Venue

Waiting for the meeting to start

Richard Mackintosh (center) prepares his most excellent report on the assigned canonical case, viz., "The Second Stain" in which he made a most cogent connection among the Sherlockian "spy" cases, i.e., "The Second Stain," "The Naval Treaty," and "The Bruce-Partington Plans."

The attendees pose for their "photo op." Left to right: Richard Mackintosh, Warren King (BTW, he is a former member of Cincinnati's Tankerville Club), Claudia Barbour, Doug Barbour, Carolyn Senter, Dave Milner, Tracy Revels, Dan Tollison, David Jones, Kim Jones,
Joel Senter.
(Karen Milner is taking the picture.)
Thanks, Survivors, for a really fun and informative meeting.

We have just been informed that the next meeting of the Survivors will be on July 14, again at Happy China. The assigned case for report and discussion is
"The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge." Subscribers to "The Gaslight Gazette" will be pleased to know that the latest edition is in the mail. Not a subscriber yet? Contact David Milner.

Sherlockian Salt and Pepper Shakers
each measures approximately 3" in height.
(US$19.95)

For collectors - miniature Sherlockian tea set (pot, two cups with saucers, sugar bowl, cream pitcher). You can't really serve tea in this one (unless you don't like tea very much). This teapot is only 2.5 inches tall (other items proportional in size).
(US$39.95)