A Sherlock Holmes Novel

[Hylie]

Ok then. This isn't a story by me but by my father. I feel it needed showing. He told me he was writing a Sherlock holmes based novel so I asked him to drop me a sample of it. After reading through it, I was quite supprised at the quality. I always liked Sherlock Holmes and to know that my dad has wrote this, I am rather proud of him. Anyway, let me know your thoughts on these few pages. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE AND NOT THE ENTIRE STORY.


Sherlock Holmes
By David Ruffle

It was late May 1896 and the day dawned bright after heavy overnight rain which had woken me on more than one occasion. I bestirred myself and dressed for any inclement weather I might encounter and headed somewhat optimistically for that bastion of all that is good in England, Lords Cricket Ground.

Play commenced late but it was a stirring example of the cut and thrust of county cricket. A match destined for a draw was brought to a result by the vagaries of the English weather and fine play. Middlesex's opponents were the redoubtable Yorkshire and although they were behind on the first innings the combination of a drying pitch and the artistry of Bobby Peels bowling did for Middlesex and Tunnicliffe and Brown hit off the 147 runs needed to win as the sun beat down.

All of the above I was doing my best to relate to Holmes who was languishing with his thin, long form curled up in the recesses of his arn chair. My best efforts to engage my friends attention and interest were met with a singular lack of success and the only outward signs he had indeed heard a word I had uttered were the occasional grunts which emanated from his direction. With a sudden lithe movement he sprang to his feet " My dear fellow, your attempts to regale me with tales of sporting prowess are most entertaining but alas of little or no interest to me".

" But Holmes" I remarked " I am describing to you a sweet and healthy world." He put a long thin hand up " Yes, Watson I am sure you are right in what you say but insofar as the sporting world does not impinge upon my professional activities, then it must remain a subject in which I cannot share your evident enthusiasm". Determined not to be browbeaten by my friend I soldiered on " But surely Holmes, cricket stands for all that we love in this country, honour and an inherent sense of duty and fair play".

"Tsk Watson, show me fifty cricketers and I will show you at least ten who disregard that fine code you mentioned and cheat, subtle though their ways may be"

Holmes had remarked before that I possessed a grand gift of silence, I now exercised that gift and settled down to read the newspaper, knowing as always that no good would come of pursuing an argument with my companion.

As Holmes resumed his languishing and silence I glanced through the times noticing how Holmes had ringed several items in the agony columns which he always turned to eagerly. On many occasions the whole tide of cases he had been working on turned because of what he had read and deduced from the guarded and frankly mystifying messages in its columns. Nothing today had seemed to spark his interest and exercised his immense intellect. Without a case to utilise his talents he was prone to lying around motionless and inert with barely a word passing his lips, at times like this I was concerned for his well-being as both his friend and physician and I could not help but glance to the leather bound morocco case there on the mantlepiece and would fervently pray that my friends ennui would not drive him once more to that seven percent solution which he found so stimulating.

My reverie was interrupted by Holmes " If you care to look on the breakfast tray you will find a letter there for you" I was not surprised the letter should have ended up on the tray amongst the remains of breakfast, indeed, I was only too pleased that my unopened correspondence had not ended up like Holmes' own, affixed to the wooden mantlepiece by a jack-knife.


A little while later my thoughts were again interrupted by Holmes " I rather think Watson that a trip to Lyme Regis to see an old friend from your university would be a capital idea"

" By all thats sacred Holmes" I cried " Have you read the contents of a private letter to pull off this mind-reading trick, if so, it is in very poor taste indeed and not worthy of you".

"Really Watson I would hope you know me better than that my old friend. No my deduction which has obviously hit the mark was based on observation pure and simple".

" I cannot see what I could have possibly done to enable you to make such a deduction" I replied.

" My dear fellow, you always remain perplexed at these little parlour games of mine and yet when I explain my reasoning as revealed to me by your features and movements you will no doubt declare it to be most elementary"

" Nevertheless Holmes I would be grateful if you could reveal to me the workings of that fine intellect" Holmes was entirely susceptible to flattery and my well-chosen words would bring forth his explanation with a flush of pleasure.

" Very well Watson, after reading through the contents of the letter you sat back and smiled with the countenance of one recalling their youth, you glanced up at your diploma from the University of London, thereby alerting me to the fact that this was almost certainly a missive from a friend of those days, you then walked to the bookcase and opened up a copy of Jane Austens' overly romantic novel Persuasion and opened it to a page which equates to an episode where one of her chief characters foolishly jumps down some steps on the buttress known as The Cobb in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, as you returned to your seat your hand briefly lighted upon the Bradshaws, at which point I interrupted your thoughts to your consternation and surprise"

" Remarkable Holmes"

" Elementary Watson, I would be a dullard indeed if I could not interpret that evidence"

" Have you decided whether to take up your friends kind invitation ? " Holmes continued.

"I think I shall Holmes, the letter is from my old friend Godfrey Jacobs of whom I have the happiest memories from out joint studies and also our occasional rugby matches for Blackheath under the captaincy of Stokes". I saw my friend wince at yet another mention of sport so I moved on quickly " He is now in practice in Lyme Regis as you correctly guessed " I said slightly mockingly as I knew my friend would take umbrage at my use of the word.

" Tch tch Watson, you of all people should know I never guess" Holmes snapped back.

" Yes I know guessing is destructive to the logical faculties but if I were to guess or rather deduce I would you say you have no case in hand at the moment"

" We shall make a detective out of yet Watson" Holmes answered cheerily. " No I have no case in hand at the moment, no perplexing problem to probe, hence the listless being you see before you, stagnating daily. The crimes that do come my way are so exceedingly commonplace that even the most dull-witted of the Scotland Yarders would solve them easily".

" Well Holmes" I began......

" The question you are about to propose is most transparent Doctor and the answer I fear must be no".

I knew of course my friend would see where my mind was going but I was not one for giving up. " But Holmes, think, a well deserved break, fresh sea air and Dorset is surely one of our lovelier shires, just what the Doctor ordered or at any rate this particular Doctor".

" I appreciate your concern Doctor" he said stressing the last word. " But you know how my absence from the capital excites members of the criminal classes, I fear your trip to Lyme Regis will have to take place without me".

" But, Holmes" I protested " You yourself said that crime is commonplace these days, there are no Moriartys or Morans to engage you in a battle of wits"

" What would you have me do Watson, sit and gaze upon the sea like a retired Major with no purpose in his life, I need work, I need problems for this engine of mine to operate correctly"

" I have heard you speak of William Buckland latterly Dean of Westminster and how much you admired his speculative intelligence and non-conformity".

" Yes indeed Watson I believe he is a man that we can all learn from and as a scientist was I believe unique although that did not prevent him from going mad".

" Among the points in the letter you did not guess, I am sorry Holmes, deduce". I corrected myself, smiling " was the information that there is an exhibition of this fellows work in Lyme Regis at present".

" A distinct touch Watson" Holmes laughed in that peculiar silent fashion of his " You have cast your bait like bread upon the water and you have succeeded in reeling me in, very well Lyme Regis it is my friend".



Although Holmes had no cases to occupy him at that time there were still ramifications to be dealt with from his last investigation which had resulted in the round up of the notorious Charles' gang of Middleton Cheney in one of our Northern shires. Holmes' brilliance in this case was a marvel to behold and one day the full story may be told.

In the days before we set off on what I termed a holiday and what Holmes no doubt saw in other terms, I had further correspondence with Jacobs. He was now possessed of a young family and as his cottage was but a small one, he had arranged accomodation for us at a local boarding house under very favourable terms. This establishment was run by a Mrs Heidler and Jacobs assured us that we would be very well looked after should we wish to avail ourselves of those terms. I wired Jacobs that they woud be perfectly acceptable and we looked forward to meeting Mrs Heidler.

On the appointed day we said our farewells to Mrs Hudson and set off in a Hansom cab to that great terminus Waterloo......................


The station was a hubbub of noise and activity and I could not help but be reminded of my return to the Metropolis after being invalided out of the Army after being wounded at the Battle of Maiwand and my subsequent illness. On that previous occasion I had arrived here after a lengthy railway journey from Portsmouth full of hope and optimism in picking up my life again in spite of my health being ruined irretrievably. As I took in the sights sounds and smells my hand involountarily stole towards my shoulder where sixteen years before a Jezail bullet had shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery....but how my life had changed since those days.

It was a fine morning and Holmes was busying himself puchasing newspapers for the trip, I could see his tall gaunt figure, looking even taller and gaunter in his Inverness cape and ear-flapped travelling cap.

We found a carriage to ourselves and Holmes immediately applied himself to a diligent and thorough perusal of the morning newspapers and when each one had been completed he would then roll it into a ball and stuff behind the cushion, under the seat or upon the luggage rack. It was indeed a lovely spring day, the sun was bright overhead and even Holmes appeared to be entranced by what he saw as we rolled through the countryside. Yet I knew he saw not the beauty I did and looked instead behind the superficial beauty of the scattered rural houses and farms and looked at them from his own particular viewpoint and saw the impunity with which crimes may be committed there.It was his belief as he stated to me once that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.

My own reading material was slight, in addition to a yellow-backed novel I had brought along I also had a gazeteer and a brief history of Lyme Regis and its environs.

" I think Holmes" I ventured " that we will find much to occupy ourselves in the town, it has a fascinating history including being besieged by the Parlimentarians in the Civil War and of couse the Duke of Monmouths' fateful rebellion of 1685".

" I, for my part will confine myself to the exhibition of Professor Bucklands' work and also a study of the local geology which I am given to understand is quite singular" Holmes replied. " The Dorset dialect also presents some points of interest to me and has much in common with the rhythyms of the trading language of the early Phoenicians, indeed, I hope to be able to establish a link between Lyme Regis and those far off islands".

Has there been research into this field previously Holmes" ? I enquired

A little yes but I hope to be able to produce the definitive work on the subject, as you know Watson, language and its use is a hobby of mine and I have published a monograph on ancient English dialects which I commend to you, it is reckoned to be the final word on the subject"

I resumed my reading and Holmes lit his pipe and all too soon the carriage resembled our study at Baker Street in minature with clouds of acrid smoke permeating into all the nooks and crannies. Holmes seemed to have a special gift of turning wherever he was into a home from home, as was the case here with papers strewn carelessly around and outer clothes in a heap where they had fallen after being discarded.

As the train rumbled on the seasonal warmth of the sun through the window and the gentle motion of the wheels on the tracks soon found me in the arms of Morpheus. I was awakened by Holmes who informed me that we would soon be arriving in Axminster. I gathered both my thoughts and my belongings and said to Holmes as I looked out of the window " You are right Holmes for I observe we are now travelling at the rate of twenty five miles per hour only". Holmes glanced at me quizzically, "The telegraph poles are sixty five yards apart Holmes, it is but a simple calculation". Holmes gave me a withering look, " Upon my word Watson, you never fail to amaze me old fellow" Chuckling to himself he gathered his scattered belongings together.

[Big Bro Davidia]

I read the whole thing, and enjoyed it (I wouldn't have read it all, otherwise, especially since my lunch is almost over).

I wrote out some thoughts, but lost them because my comp restarted....stupid thing.

Anyway, first off, I thought your Dad did pretty well in his usage of the older English. I wonder, though, if it would be easier for a foreigner to imitate the language usage of the late 19th century than it is for a countryman.

I liked how he always refers back to things that fans will be familiar with and comfortable with. I am interesting in seeing how andi would like it. We two are both avid Holmes readers.

One thing, though. Was Watson living with Holmes in 1986? 2 years after the return of Holmes, I am pretty sure that Watson's 1st wife was still alive and that Watson had his own practice out of his home and Holmes was at Baker St. Am I right? If so, it needs to be made more clear that Watson had VISITED Holmes at the beginning, and also the last couple paragraphs I see that Watson refers to Holmes' abode as "our study".

But let him know that I appreciate it.

I wrote a lab based on Sherlock Holmes, but it wasn't in the same league as this one ;0)

[Hylie]

Elementry my dear BBD.

Don't quote me, but i believe you may be right. Watson should have still been living away from holmes at this point. With his wife still being alive, why would he be living with holmes. I'll ask my dad.

Thanks for the input. xP

[Big Bro Davidia]

You're very welcome. :0)

I think it's great that your Dad is continuing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It's too bad Doyle isn't around any more to "Christen" or "Canonize" them.

[Hylie]

Originally Posted by Big Bro Davidia

You're very welcome. :0)

I think it's great that your Dad is continuing the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It's too bad Doyle isn't around any more to "Christen" or "Canonize" them.

You sound like you know what you're talking about so, who needs Doyle when Big Bro Davidia is at hand. Doyle would have been cool obviously but hey. xP

I'll see if i can get another chapter off my dad and post it. 8)

[Big Bro Davidia]

Aight, cool. If he won't let you, at least you can PM it to me *steals* :0P''

[Hylie]

Lol. No problem. I think he would be happy someone is reading it. He emailed it to all my family but no one is giving any feedback. I'll get the next chapter, you can count on that.

[lymelight]

Thanks for the positve vibes all on my Sherlock Holmes novel.....to clear up one point.....in most accepted dating of the canon.....Watson sold his practice and moved back to Baker Street in 1894 following the death of his wife. Cheers !!!!

more to come by the way !!!

[Hylie]

Originally Posted by lymelight

Thanks for the positve vibes all on my Sherlock Holmes novel.

Oh, if you hadn't all guessed yet, Lymelight is my dad. He sent me a few more chapters of the novel so once they are put in order and arranged, they will be posted here.

Welcome to ZU dad. xP

EDIT: Actually, if you're sticking around dad, your quite welcome to take this thread over yourself. Up to you. 8)

[lymelight]

Here goes then.....next chapter :


CHAPTER TWO


The station was a hubbub of noise and activity and I could not help but be reminded of my return to the Metropolis after being invalided out of the Army due to being wounded at the Battle of Maiwand and my subsequent illness. On that previous occasion I had arrived here after a lengthy railway journey from Portsmouth full of hope and optimism in picking up my life again in spite of my health being ruined irretrievably. As I took in the sights sounds and smells I found my hand involuntarily stole towards my shoulder where sixteen years before a Jezail bullet had shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery.

It was a fine morning and Holmes was busying himself puchasing newspapers for the trip, I could see his tall gaunt figure, looking even taller and gaunter in his Inverness cape and ear-flapped travelling cap.

We found a carriage to ourselves and Holmes immediately applied himself to a diligent and thorough perusal of the morning newspapers and when each one had been completed he would then roll it into a ball and stuff behind the cushion, under the seat or upon the luggage rack. It was indeed a lovely spring day, the sun was bright overhead and even Holmes appeared to be entranced by what he saw as we rolled through the countryside. Yet I knew he saw not the beauty I did and looked instead behind the superficial beauty of the scattered rural dwellings and farms and looked at them from his own particular viewpoint and saw the impunity with which crimes may be committed there.It was his belief as he stated to me once that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.

My own reading material was slight, in addition to a yellow-backed novel I had brought along I also had a gazzeteer and a brief history of Lyme Regis and its environs.

" I think Holmes" I ventured " that we will find much to occupy ourselves in the town, it has a fascinating history including being besieged by the Parlimentarians in the Civil War and of couse the Duke of Monmouths's fateful rebellion of 1685."

" I, for my part will confine myself to the exhibition of Professor Bucklands's work and also a study of the local geology which I am given to understand is quite singular." Holmes replied. " The Dorset dialect also presents some point of interest to me and has much in common with the rhythyms of the trading language of the early Phoenicians, indeed, I hope to be able to establish a link between Lyme Regis and those far off islands."

" Has there been research into this field previously Holmes ? " I inquired.

" A little, yes Watson, but I am hopeful of producing the definitive work on the subject, as you know,language and it's usage is by way of being a hobby of mine and I have published a small monograph on ancient English dialects which I commend to you, it is reckoned to be the final word on the subject."

I resumed my reading and Holmes lit his pipe and all too soon the carriage resembled our sitting room at Baker Street in miniature with clouds of acrid smoke permeating into all the nooks and crannies. Holmes seemed to have a special gift of turning wherever he was into a home from home, as was the case here, with papers strewn carelessly around and outer clothes in an untidy heap where they had fallen after being discarded.

As the train rumbled on, the seasonal warmth of the sun shining through the window and the gentle motion of the wheels on the tracks soon had me in the arms of Morpheus. I was awakened by Holmes, who informed me that we would shortly be arriving in Axminster. I gathered both my thoughts and belongings and said to Holmes as I looked out of the carriage window, " You are right Holmes for I observe we are now travelling at the rate of twenty five miles per hour only."

Holmes glanced at me quizzically.

" The telegraph poles are sixty-five yards apart Holmes, it is but a simple calculation." said I.

Holmes gave me a withering look, " Upon my word, Watson. you never fail to amaze me old fellow." Chuckling to himself, he gathered up the scattered debris of his belongings and headed for the corridor.

[Hylie]

Now that's what I call a result. It's been a few months waiting but, it was worth it. XD


I'm gonna drop BBD a pm and let him know the next chapter is up. Nice work dad. Keep them coming.

Oh, and because it's a work showcase thread, you can double post the chapters if no one critiques them after a few days. Not straight after each other though. xP

[Big Bro Davidia]

I haven't eaten a thing past an early breakfast, but even my voracious appetite couldn't pull me away from the opportunity to read up on the Holmes novel. :0)

First note: It would satisfy me greatly as a reader if you were to tell me that there would be some later connection between Watson's seemingly routine recall of his war history and the mystery which is to unfold. Perhaps someone is involved whom he knew back then? (just a suggestion from a fan)

Second note: As I was reading, I said to myself, "I hope he includes the word 'monograph' in this!!" haha, you did, and it fit perfectly and was very satisfying.

Third note: "...and all too soon the carriage resembled our sitting room at Baker Street in miniature..." <-- On this: It has been a while since I read your 1st installment, but I think I hold enough of it in my mind (though not a steel trap as is Holmes') to sense a de ja vous about this reading. Have you used it before? Or, is it so very close to another Doyle phrase? If so, perhaps changing a key word (like "miniature") would fix the catch. It's a beautiful turn of phrase, but again it's either been used by your own self very recently or it is very recognizable as a Doyle saying that goes a bit beyond the bounds of "Watson's mind" and into the plagiarism realm.

Keep it coming! I hope you don't mind my comments :0) I could never hope to weave a Sherlock Holmes mystery as you are so well doing.


EDIT: haha, darn it.... no WONder .. forget that part about "Third note"... I looked back at your original post and, yes, I HAVE seen that phrase before... IT WAS ALREADY POSTED!! haha. Silly me. Where's the next chapter, gosh darn it? :0P''' (Hey, at least your book is so memorable that months later I still recall your word usage!! haha)

[lymelight]

CHAPTER THREE


Jacobs had arranged the provision of a dog-cart to meet us and bring us the six miles down into Lyme Regis but we could see no sign of him as we waited outside the station, there were one or two families also awaiting some form of transport, the children looking so excited to be this close to the sea and who could fail to be moved by the joy on their faces, tiny hands clutching buckets and spades.? I motioned Holmes to observe the scene and he did so with barely a smile on his face, his machine-like countenance seemingly unmoved by the rapture that was provoked in me by these children and their sheer happiness. I had never lost my love for the sea and I remembered with great pleasure holidays spent with my Father and Mother together my brother Henry at Southsea. Thinking of my poor brother, I patted my inside pocket which contained a watch which had once belonged to my father and had been handed down to my brother and thence to me after his untimely and sad death. Holmes noted my movements and gave me a smile which spoke volumes for his humanity, at times like these I would be willing to swear he had the ability to read my innermost thoughts. Indeed, he very often did just that.

" I was just reminiscing Holmes, revisiting my childhood." I said by way of explanation.

Holmes looked at me, his eyes shining and he nodded sagely, " I understand Watson and I envy you those happy memories you possess in abundance, even when those self same memories have the ability to cause you sadness and pain."

It was not long after my brother's death that sweet Mary Morstan came into my life, she shared my burden of sadness and the feelings of irrational guilt that I should be living while my brother lay in his grave, and now, she was gone too,taken from me three short years ago.It was a time when I was truly alone having believed like the rest of the world that Holmes himself was dead, having fought his bitter duel with Moriarty to the end and beyond, culminating in the deaths of the most dangerous criminal and the foremost champion of the law of their generation in the swirling waters of the Reichenbach Falls.Then as the whole world knows, Holmes came back from the 'dead' and my shattered life began to be rebuilt slowly but surely and Holmes remained the one constant in my life, my one loyal and trusted friend.

A gnarled old man had alighted from a dog cart and approached us, bewhiskered and lugubrious looking with a somewhat hesitant manner " Er....Would you be the gentlemen from London for Master Jacobs ?" he asked slowly. When Holmes replied in the affirmative, he proffered his own name " I am William Curtis, Master Jacobs has sent me to collect you Sir."

" Capital" said Holmes " Very good my fellow, let's be off." With that we threw our luggage into the back of the cart, clambered in ourselves and set off for Lyme Regis. The ride took us through Axminster with it's fine old church dominating the town, within minutes we were in open countryside, trotting through leafy lanes which gave way to rolling fields and the dotted cottages of a hamlet or two.Curtis was greeted pleasantly by a few people we passed, and indeed there seemed an air of friendliness emanating from this area. As we passed through the village of Uplyme I was pleased to see that most English of sports taking place, a game of cricket, played for the love of the game with no thought of reward. Barely a mile later, we arrived at Lyme Regis and began a descent which afforded us views of the sea beyond the houses and cottages.

Curtis addressed us for the first time since leaving Axminster "Master Jacobs has asked me to convey you gentlemen directly to Mrs. Heidler's as he is with one of his patients."

" Thank you Curtis, that will be admirable." said I.

We turned to the left and descended another hill down to a narrow street that Curtis identified for us as Coombe Street.
We passed over a narrow bridge with a small river below and within yards Curtis pulled up outside a cream-coloured house.

" This will be Mrs. Heidler's then gentlemen." Curtis said. " She is expecting you."

We dropped to our feet, retrieved our luggage as Curtis drove off. I knocked the door and it was opened by a sallow looking youth, who said not a word to us, merely stared in a frankly mystifying manner.

" My name is Doctor Watson and this is my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes, we are given to understand that Mrs. Heidler is expecting us, will you please let her know that we have arrived."

As a response, he opened the door wider and with a sweep of his arm, motioned for us to enter. We followed him down a long passageway and from there into a small parlour. There, seated at a table was the lady of the house, she rose and came over to us " Welcome to Lyme Regis Mr. Holmes and Doctor Watson, I am Mrs. Heidler." As she said this she had come into the light given off by an adjacent gas lamp and for a brief moment I thought I was going to faint for only the second time in my life, with her blonde hair and large blue eyes and such a sweet and amiable expression she was the very image of my own sweet Mary. Holmes must have noticed my discomfiture for he placed a hand on my elbow as if to steady me.

"Thank you Mrs.Heidler for your most warm welcome." and then to me, in an aside " Are you alright Watson ?" he asked " I must admit I too was struck by the resemblance to the good Mrs.Watson." " Yes, quite alright now Holmes and thank you." I, too offered my greetings to Mrs. Heidler and hoped that my confusion was not apparent to her.