“I listen to their story, they listen to my comments” [STUD]  Trial lawyers are supposed to be experts in conducting interviews and interrogating witnesses. Yet Stephen Chahn Lee discovered that such skills were hardly universal. Yet there was one shining example he could point to for questioning witnesses and getting to the truth. As you've already guessed, it is Sherlock Holmes. But then Lee turned his analysis and research to an eyewitness who he claims misled us—a central character...

“no ghosts need apply” [SUSS]  'Tis the season! The season for monsters and ghosts, that is. And who better to treat us with a discussion of monsters, ghosts, and various biblioventures designed to make our skin crawl than Ed Pettit from The Rosenbach? It's not just the ghosts of Charles Dickens and the monsters of Robert Louis Stevenson, though. Ed also does a deep dive with us on Bram Stoker's Dracula and the wonderful connection between him and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We also bring you...

“the summit of St. Paul’s” [SIGN]    After one episode, we find ourselves back in Minnesota — this time, talking with longtime author Larry Millett about his latest Shadwell Rafferty book, Mysterious Tales of Old St. Paul. Those who have followed the nine previous books will have a good sense of this 1890s-era saloon owner who perished in the ninth book (no spoiler there, as it was titled Shadwell Rafferty's Last Case).  This latest volume gathers three novellas, casting back to Rafferty’s...

“You are here as a spy” [ILLU]  In Spy Hunter, it’s 1914 and Sherlock Holmes has been murdered. Nobody knows who did it, but Wiggins, former Baker Street Irregular and Holmes' protégée, suspects a German spy. This is where H.B. Lyle's fourth installment in his Irregular series picks up. Ben joined us to share his journey as a writer focused on historical fiction, and how easily the ringleader of Holmes's street urchins turned to spycraft. The early days of MI5 and MI6 hold particular...

“two tickets for the theatre” [BRUC]    Jeffrey Hatcher, BSI ("The Five Orange Pips") and Steve Hendrickson have teamed up for a new Sherlock Holmes play in which we find one mystery, separated by 25 years. Holmes has the first crack at it, followed by Hercule Poirot decades later.  Appropriately enough, it is called Holmes Poirot. And it premieres in St. Paul, Minnesota in October 2024. Hatcher is known to Sherlockians for his screenplay for Mr. Holmes as well as two other Sherlockian...

“there appeared a long telegram” [SECO]  Nicholas Meyer's first Sherlock Holmes book, The Seven Per-Cent Solution, became and remains the high-water mark for Sherlock Holmes pastiches. So when he edits another one of Dr. Watson's recovered manuscripts, it's always worthwhile. The latest is Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell, published by Mysterious Press, and it takes Holmes and Watson across the Atlantic, dodging German U-boats in pursuit of a coded telegram from Berlin to an...

“culminated in that moment of revelation” [3GAR]    As an educator, Tracy Revels makes sure her students have fun learning. Which would explain why at her college, students can take one of her classes about Sherlock Holmes. But Tracy's own love of learning and reading gave rise to another outlet for her fascination with Sherlock Holmes: writing. Her Shadow trilogy (, , and ) find Sherlock Holmes in the world of the occult, and her series of 41 short stories, previously published in...

“we have our story-teller here” [SIGN]  Glen Miranker is always good for a story. And more times than not, his stories involve fascinating items from his extensive collection. In this episode, we had a chance to talk with Glen about This Work of Storytelling: Arthur Conan Doyle's speech to the Authors' Club, London, June 29, 1896, published by Wessex Press. The book consists of a facsimile manuscript of the speech, together with other letters and documents, essays, and commentary from a...

“quick insight into character” [BERY]     As Americans, it is always a joy to meet an Englishman, and doubly so if he portrays Sherlock Holmes. Luke Barton has done that not only on stage but in audiobooks as well. Our conversation with Luke explores how he has prepared for his many appearances as Holmes on stage — including one production in which he alternated the roles of Holmes and Watson. His insights into the deeper aspects of the detective are admirable, and his skill is evident....

“remarkably rich tenor voice” [VALL]     Following the feedback we got from our previous , we thought we'd continue with another. This time, it's James Montgomery, BSI ("The Red Circle"), who was a frequent correspondent with Smith. Montgomery played an important role in the development of the   — a role whose effects are still felt until this day. His tenor voice graced many dinners of the Baker Street Irregulars and other Sherlock Holmes societies, and his scholarship still stands...

“we turned our faces westward” [SIXN]     While Sherlock Holmes is a perennial British subject, his influence in and by America cannot be denied. Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes were admirers of the United States, and A West Wind, a recent BSI Press book, delves into that relationship.  Co-editors Ray Betzner, BSI ("The Agony Column") and Tom Horrocks, BSI ("Colonel Sebastian Moran") join us to talk about this remarkable book. We're also joined by a contributor of the book who offers...

 “seventeen years of age” [SIGN] Mycroft Holmes spoke for all of us in "The Greek Interpreter" when he greeted Dr. Watson with the fateful line: “I hear of Sherlock everywhere since you became his chronicler.” And yes, in our minds, we'll always hear that line in the voice of the inimitable Charles Gray in the Granada series — a sound clip that serves as the opening for our podcast introduction. Little did we know when we began the podcast on June 14, 2007 — exactly 17 years ago today —...

“do but get into the clutches” [BOSC]     We've held off a bit on the traditional interview with the editor of the BSI Manuscript Series this season — not for any lack of interest, but simply for scheduling reasons — but we hope it's worth the wait. Steve Doyle, BSI ("The Western Morning News") is the editor of Clutches of a Fiend, the BSI Manuscript entry for "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client," and he joined us to talk about this book. It's something personal for Steve, as he has...

“I wanted to speak with Mr. Smith” [SIGN]     This is the third in our series on Legends of the Baker Street Journal; we've previously explored publisher Ben Abramson (Episode 269) and BSI founder Christopher Morley (Episode 272). This time, we'll be looking at wordsmith and able administrator, Edgar W. Smith. It was Smith who deftly managed the operations of the Baker Street Irregulars and whose own interest in Sherlockian scholarship (his own and others) caused him to promote books and...

“That was the curious incident” [SILV]     From time to time, we see analysis and debate about whether Sherlock Holmes was autistic, had , or is in some other way on the spectrum. As neurodiversity becomes more understood and accepted in the 21st century, it seems natural to explore this not only with Holmes, but with other characters in the genre as well.  In The Autistic Sleuth, Christopher Chan and Patricia Meyer Chan, Ph.D., test the question: Is the entertainment industry...

“I am one of the hounds” [STUD]   The golden age of Hollywood brought us stars like William Powell and Myrna Loy, and of course Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. In Elizabeth Crowens' new novel Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, we find them (and Dashiell Hammett) intervowen in a story that begins with the disappearance of Asta from The Thin Man movies, and Rathbone's own lost pup. Young private detectives Babs Norman and Guy Brandt team up with him to dig up the reasons behind these...

“some short sketch of the essentials” [BLAC]     What are the essential volumes that every Sherlockian should have in their library? John Bennett Shaw had an idea with what became known as . But a more modest and attainable version was needed. In stepped Peter Eckrich and Rob Nunn, BSI (“Elementary”). IHOSE listeners may recall Peter and Rob from their previous work, . This time, they collected individuals who had a strong view as to which Sherlockian books ought to be part of every...

“to Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman” [SCAN]  This is a fascinating episode that brings us closer to the inside story of "The Woman" — an honor bestowed every year by the Baker Street Irregulars — and a bit of personal history from one of those very women. Beverly Wolov is a longtime Sherlockian and is well-known by the Sherlockian community as a longtime companion of Peter Blau, BSI ("Black Peter"). You've heard from Peter on four episodes previously (links to those below), but...

“a most complete and remarkable woman” [LION]    It's odd to think that the Mary Russell series predates this show, yet we've never spoken with Laurie R. King, BSI ("The Red Circle") specifically about her most acclaimed series. The 18th book in the Mary Russell series, The Lantern's Dance, is available on February 14, and Ms. King joined us to talk about her creation. Her familiarity with Sherlock Holmes is far from typical, and this unusual pairing of Ms. Russell and Mr. Holmes, which...

“those week-end parties” [SOLI]    The Baker Street Irregulars just marked their 90th anniversary with the BSI Weekend, filled with events for Sherlockians of all kinds. If you weren't able to make it to New York — or even if you were! — tune in to hear about some of the events, people, books, and more that were part of our experience. And plan ahead for other events in the year ahead. After all, it's meeting up with other kinsprits that make this little hobby so special. Our...

“you have a good dossier there” [LAST]    There were supernatural elements in the original Sherlock Holmes stories. Elements of gothic intrigue like voodoo, a possible vampire, a family curse, and a spectral hound come to mind. So when Christian Klaver looked at the intersection of his interests in sci-fi, fantasy, Sherlock Holmes, and writing, it was only natural to find some existing and contemporary examples and bring them to life. Thus was born series from Titan Books. Christian...

“I’ve read enough of the slush” [VALL]    Following our , we revisited Christopher Morley's wonderful introduction to the Baker Street Irregulars' edition of "The Blue Carbuncle" from 1948. For our Patreon supporters (and our PayPal supporters here) we have Burt's full reading of Morley's essay, followed by commentary and discussion with Scott afterward. You can hear a sample here.   You can listen to the full version if you're  for as little as $1 a month. Or if you'd prefer to ,...

“a line of books” [NOBL]    Derrick Belanger is one half of the duo responsible for Belanger Books, one of the prominent Sherlockian publishers, founded in 2015. His passion for Sherlock Holmes began uncommonly — in a way we can't ever recall hearing from a guest before. But that passion fueled the founding and direction of Belanger Books, which focuses on traditional Sherlock Holmes pastiches as well as the Solar Pons stories. Many of the titles on Belanger Books began as Kickstarter...