Ms Holmes Of Baker Street

Was Sherlock Holmes really a woman?

There is something passing strange about Sherlock Holmes. As one of the most famous characters in popular literature, he strides into our imagination, deerstalker hat jauntily set on his head, pipe protruding from his mouth and a formidable intellect which painstakingly masters the mysteries he investigates. Clearly Holmes has a set of qualities that elevate him as a remarkable man . . . but is he?Everything that is remarkable about Sherlock Holmes is remarkable only for being found in a man. The qualities that set Holmes apart as a masterful sleuth are rather commonplace -- perhaps even universal -- in any woman. In a deep investigation of the literature of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, C. Alan Bradley and William A. S. Sarjeant uncover the surprising truth about Sherlock Holmes.

When the great Sherlock Holmes turned to Dr. Watson and said, “I have never loved, Watson, but if I did …” (“The Adventure of the Devil's Foot,” 1897), Holmes could not foresee that Elisabeth Sunderland would be waiting, desperate for his help, in his Baker Street sitting room fourteen months later. As Holmes saves Elisabeth from a fate worse than death in “The Adventure of the Warwickshire Ripper,” she falls in love with the redoubtable detective. Then the unthinkable occurs—subtle encouragement from Watson leads Holmes to realize that he returns Elisabeth's love, in his own way, and they are married in secret by the Archbishop of Canterbury, as described in “The Adventure of the Secret Bride.” The further adventures of Elisabeth Sunderland Holmes include a young, deaf woman who unwittingly discovers a criminal gang, a girl trapped by a lie in Cornwall, a government document that has fallen into the wrong hands, and a ghostly hoax. Although her existence is a secret carefully guarded by Holmes and Watson, lest she become a target of the criminal element, Elisabeth is a lively part of life at 221B Baker Street and later in Holmes's retirement in Sussex. Elisabeth's intelligence, wit, and artistic talents draw Holmes to her; her wry and sensitive observations of her husband, his colleague, and their life together are spiced by her own charming eccentricities. Her marriage was not an easy one—to Holmes, “women are a mystery in any case.” But Elisabeth's prediction on the eve of her wedding, that “my years with Sherlock Holmes would be the most interesting of my life,” proved true.

The amateur sleuths at the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop must call upon the powers of deduction in order to rid Baker Street of a ruthless killer Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are busy managing the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium on Baker Street and adjoining Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room in anticipation of the store’s upcoming book signing with the illustrious Renalta Van Markoff, author of the controversial Hudson and Holmes mystery series. But during the author Q&A session, dedicated Sherlockian Donald Morris verbally attacks Renalta and her series for disgracing Sherlock’s legacy, only to be publicly humiliated when the author triumphantly lashes back and gains the upper hand. That is until Renalta collapses on the table—dead. Donald insists he didn’t do it and pleads to his friends to clear his name. Fortunately, Gemma and Jayne have no shortage of suspects between author’s bullied personal assistant, her frustrated publicist, the hapless publisher, a handsome rare book dealer, an obsessively rabid fan, and a world of other Sherlock enthusiasts with strong objections to Renalta’s depiction of the Great Detective. It’s up to the shrewd sleuthing duo to eliminate the impossible and deduce the truth before the West London police arrest an innocent man in Body on Baker Street, the second Sherlock Homes Bookshop mystery perfect for fans of Miranda James and Kate Carlisle.

Moriarty meets Longbourn in this enthralling debut novel featuring the adventures of Mrs. Hudson and Mary Watson, perfect for fans of the Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series. Mrs. Hudson was always more than a landlady, and Sherlock Homes wasn't the only Baker Street resident with detective skill… After years of watching his habits, cleaning up his mess, and eavesdropping on interviews through a grate in the kitchen, Mrs. Hudson has learned a thing or two. So when Sherlock turns away the case of persecuted Mrs. Laura Shirley, she and Mary Watson resolve to help a fellow woman in need and take on the investigation themselves. Blackmail, libel, extortion, murder—Mary and Mrs. Hudson quickly discover that Mrs. Shirley is not the only woman at risk, and as they put together the pieces of an increasingly complicated and dangerous puzzle, the investigation becomes far bigger than either of them could have ever imagined. Enlisting the help of the Baker Street Irregulars and the infamous Irene Adler, she and Mary follow a trail of clues leading to the darkest corners of Whitechapel, where the feared Ripper is still rumored to stalk. But can Mrs. Hudson solve the case before it claims another life? Wildly compelling and told in Mrs. Hudson's intelligent, compassionate voice, The House at Baker Street is an extraordinary debut. Michelle Birkby brings to life a cast of strong, complex female characters every bit as captivating as Conan Doyle's protagonist. If it's true that behind every great man is a great woman, it is time for one of literature's finest to step into the spotlight.

A selection of the best fiction and non-fiction Holmesian writing from Canada, much of it from the pages of Canadian Holmes.

"When an anonymous note sends a newlywed wife looking for help, Miss Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Dorothy Watson work together to uncover the secrets surrounding a corrupt police inspector whose wives have a habit of turning up dead. But this Holmes and Watson face far greater challenges than bringing the cunning criminal to justice. Miss Holmes possesses one of the greatest deductive minds of her generation, but she chafes at the restraints imposed upon her by society and family. Dr. Watson struggles to make a difference at the only hospital in London that will hire female doctors. In a time and place where gender roles are rigidly defined, these unconventional women dare to challenge societal norms by providing an unusual, but necessary, service. Inspired by the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this theatrical "fan fiction" shines a new light on favorite characters from the canon, re-examining the Victorian world of Holmes and Watson by exploring the added obstacles faced by these two iconic characters if they were women."--Publisher's website.

When a traveler recently returned from the Far East enlists the assistance of her employer, master sleuth Sherlock Holmes, after nearly being killed under mysterious circumstances, housekeeper Mrs. Hudson and Flottie, a young orphan in her care, undertake their own investigation into the case, which may involve an exotic Sumatran curse.