Just Finished re-Reading: His Last Bow – Some Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (FP: 1917) [203pp] 

With this short collection we’re back to what ACD does best (with the notable exception of Baskerville) - short stories. Containing a reasonable 8 of varying quality this was both a fun and mostly rewarding experience. My favourite of the bunch was the last in the sequence and the title of the collection itself ‘His Last Bow’ actually published in 1917. This told of Holmes & Watson’s early involvement in the Great War uncovering a group of German spies just before the war itself broke out in Western Europe. Only running to a mere 17 pages I was convinced that with a bit of fleshing out it could’ve made a pretty good novel in itself as the merry duo tracked down each spy in turn and slowly followed the clues to uncover the head man before the hammer fell. But I guess that in 1917 people had other things on their minds and other things to do. 

The other story that really stood out to me was ‘The Adventure of the Dying Detective’ [1913] where Holmes is struck down by a serious Asian disease and pleads with Watson to persuade an expert in that affliction to visit him at Baker Street. I did honestly have real worries for Sherlock despite knowing there were many more stories left to be told. I think ACD was really using his medial knowledge and experience here. Interestingly the story hinted and both bioterrorism and strange incurable emergent diseases that we are more than familiar with in the 21st century.  

Most of other stories, competent as they were, follow the well-developed pattern we have long known and loved. There are mysterious deaths, mysterious house guests, mysterious symbols and most mysterious foreigners. International criminals, exiles or refugees seem to be popular also. I guess that the late 19th/early 20th century had many such individuals crossing the Atlantic or the English Channel and ending up in London or points South East. 

‘The Adventure of the Cardboard Box’ [1893] was an odd one. I picked up on the salient fact very early on (a mistaken recipient) but the rest of the story unfolded as Holmes investigated. It was both a rather mundane and sordid tale with a gruesome ending. As usual, it seems, there was a rather gothic entry with ‘The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot’ [1910]. Again, I’d figured out the likely delivery method for the murder ‘weapon’ but it was Holmes’ job to fill in the backstory and catch the killer. Again, he decided to use his own judgement as what to do with the information once the confession had been received. Homes, it would appear, is always more interested in justice than in law. 

Overall, I enjoyed this penultimate outing with the dynamic duo. Only one thing really disappointed me in that at no point, in any of the 8 stories, did we learn anything new about either character. The only possible addition insight into Holmes himself was an aside to the effect that he had never liked, nor trusted, a woman which puts paid to my theory that his attitude (I hesitate to use the word misogyny as Holmes may be prejudiced against women but he has admired a few and treats most of the rest with great curtesy) was due to an early disastrous relationship. Maybe we’ll find out in his last outing just before Christmas...? Recommended for all Holmes fans.