Mammoth Books presents The Adventure of the Silver Buckle

Book 431: Mammoth Books

by Denis O. Smith

Genres: Mystery

Synopsis

It is becoming clear to Watson that unless Holmes is removed from Baker Street and the constant calls upon his time, which are inescapable as long as he he remains there, his health and strength are at the risk of failing. Watson takes Holmes to Kilbuie, Loch Echil, after reading Boswell's account of his journey there; he feels they should emulate the illustrious eighteenth- century man of letters. However, they arrive to find that all their Loch Echil acquaintances have experienced disaster or misfortune of late, and the owner of the castle atop Uffa Island just out to sea is missing his most precious family heirloom, the Macglevin buckle.

Release date: May 17, 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Print pages: 320

Sample

Holmes continued to throw himself into his cases as 1887 progressed and they did not become any easier. There was the loss of the British barque the Sophy Anderson. I have the details of this case but they are not in a sufficient state yet to present to the reader, though they again indicate the intensity of Holmes’s involvement. Soon after this he was involved in the case of the Davenoke family of Shoreswood Hall, a long-unknown case which was identified by the renowned Holmesian scholar Denis Smith, who also rescued the following story. After the Shoreswood Hall case, Holmes investigated the death of Mrs Stewart of Lauder. Although he resolved the murder to his own satisfaction he was not able to find the conclusive evidence needed to convict Sebastian Moran, whom Holmes was convinced was behind the plot. This frustration caused both Holmes’s spirit and energy to flag and Watson again became concerned for his health. It was at this stage that the case of the Grice Petersons on the island of Uffa, referred to in “The Five Orange Pips” occurred. Its facts have been unearthed by Denis Smith, who has produced other stories based on his research which I list at the end of this book.

It was in the late summer of ‘87 that the health of my friend, Mr Sherlock Holmes, gave further cause for concern. The unremitting hard work to which he invariably subjected himself allowed little time for recuperation from the everyday infirmities which are the lot of mankind, and from which even Holmes’s iron constitution was not immune. So long as he remained fit, all was well, but earlier in the year he had reached a point of complete exhaustion from which he had not properly recovered. Eventually it became clear to all who knew him that unless he were removed from Baker Street, and from the constant calls upon his time which were inescapable while he remained there, he might never again fully recover his health and strength.

By chance, I had at the time been reading Boswell’s account of his journey with Dr Johnson through the Highlands of Scotland to the Herbrides, and had been fascinated by the remoteness of the places they had visited. Thus inspired, I ventured to suggest to my friend that we emulate the illustrious eighteenth-century men of letters. Holmes’s only response was a laconic remark that our travels should be confined to dry land. Taking this to be the nearest to enthusiasm or agreement that I was likely to get, I went ahead at once with the necessary preparations, and, four days later, the sleeping car express from Euston deposited us early in th. . .