Sherlock Holmes and the Texas Adventure

This is a first fictional Sherlockian publication for this author. His earlier book was "The Case of the Grave Accusation" and it was a loosely fictional investigation of the inspiration for "The Hound of the Baskervilles." This short novel is an outright Sherlockian pastiche set in Texas of the early twentieth Century.There are several instances where the story makes assumptions that are not always warranted. In this Texas, the German attitude that led to the Zimmerman Telegram fiasco was actually that of the German Foreign Ministry and not an artifact of British Intelligence. The time difference between the equipping of smaller shipping vessels with radio and the retirement of Sherlock Holmes is also a bit confusing. On the other hand, the residual resentment of Mexican-born Texans to the blatant land-grabbing performed on Spanish Land Grant properties was still very much alive and active.The author has created an interesting story, based on a number of special local attitudes, practices and history. His execution is less than stellar. The story is interesting, but the characters mostly do not come alive. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson may as well have been Charles Holburn and John Watley. More attention to color and personalities should produce a better story in his next effort. The travels, places and vehicles are well-described. The main characters are merely sketched in.This does remain an interesting tale and it is worth reading, but the author needs to fill in more of the details and paint more recognizable characters in future. Getting the events described is only half the job. Engaging the readers’ interest in the people portrayed is also important.Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, May, 2013