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Secret Sherlock Holmes #1
The Secret Files of Sherlock Holmes
As many fans of Sherlock Holmes will recall, "Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid." Tantalizing information, this - mentioned in passing by the good doctor, perhaps literature's most celebrated chronicler, at the start of one of the adventures he shared with the immortal Holmes. Yet, until now, the contents of this alluring repository have been completely lost to literary history. Out of the blue - in 1939, in rooms at All Saints College, Oxford - a certain Miss Adelina McWhirter paid a visit to another Dr. John Watson, leaving behind, after an exchange of money, a beat-up metal box full of old papers. But the volatile political circumstances of the day (the bombing of Britain, etc.) kept this second Watson, himself a Sherlockian scholar, from then publishing what he had fortuitously acquired. There are no such obstacles in the present day. And thanks to Aubrey B. Watson, heir to the precious cache, seven heretofore untold cases investigated by Sherlock Holmes with the assistance of the always estimable Watson can be laid before the expectant public: The Case of the Vanishing Head-Waiter, The Case of the Amateur Mendicants, The Case of the Remarkable Worm, The Case of the Exalted Client, The Case of the Notorious Canary-Trainer, The Case of the Itinerant Yeggman, and The Case of the Abandoned Lighthouse. It would be impossible to exaggerate the thrill that each reader will experience when encountering these extraordinary rediscoveries. Most important, each reader will also come to realize why the original Watson decided that these utterly engrossing files needed, at the time of their occurrence, to remain...secret. Until now.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1990
28 people are currently reading
1237 people want to read
About the author
June Thomson
70 books22 followersJune Thomson, a former teacher, has published 24 crime novels, 18 of which feature Detective Chief Inspector Jack Finch and his sergeant, Tom Boyce. She has also written six short story collections of Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Her books have been translated into many languages. She lives in St Albans in Hertfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 31, 2023
“Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co, … there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch box … ”
Fans of literature’s most famous and best loved consulting detective know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s canon of Sherlock Holmes’ exploits is filled with passing references to cases, the details of which, for one reason or another, were never published by Dr Watson. The adventure of the giant Sumatran rat and the disappearance of Mr James Phillimore come quickly to mind. Ms Thomson uses the clever device of the discovery of the tin dispatch box referred to in the opening sentence of THE PROBLEM OF THOR BRIDGE, as a basis for revealing six of those untold stories.
Each of the stories is an admirable pastiche that catches the flavour of Watson’s typical narrative style quite well and discloses the reasons that the story was never published in Holmes’ or Watson’s lifetimes. THE CASE OF THE NOTORIOUS CANARY-TRAINER, for example, is a rather grittier, more somber and much darker tale about human trafficking, prostitution and sex slavery. Watson ultimately reveals their decision to withhold the telling of tale in a Victorian England whose “present day moral climate is not yet ready for the publication of the truth”. Watson grudgingly admitted that he and Holmes were “anxious not to offend the sensibilities of [their] readers, most particularly the fair sex and those gentlemen of a refined and sheltered upbringing to whom such revelations would be an all too shocking exposure of some of the worst aspects of [] society.”
Highly recommended easy and enjoyable reading for Sherlock Holmes fans.
Paul Weiss
Fans of literature’s most famous and best loved consulting detective know that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s canon of Sherlock Holmes’ exploits is filled with passing references to cases, the details of which, for one reason or another, were never published by Dr Watson. The adventure of the giant Sumatran rat and the disappearance of Mr James Phillimore come quickly to mind. Ms Thomson uses the clever device of the discovery of the tin dispatch box referred to in the opening sentence of THE PROBLEM OF THOR BRIDGE, as a basis for revealing six of those untold stories.
Each of the stories is an admirable pastiche that catches the flavour of Watson’s typical narrative style quite well and discloses the reasons that the story was never published in Holmes’ or Watson’s lifetimes. THE CASE OF THE NOTORIOUS CANARY-TRAINER, for example, is a rather grittier, more somber and much darker tale about human trafficking, prostitution and sex slavery. Watson ultimately reveals their decision to withhold the telling of tale in a Victorian England whose “present day moral climate is not yet ready for the publication of the truth”. Watson grudgingly admitted that he and Holmes were “anxious not to offend the sensibilities of [their] readers, most particularly the fair sex and those gentlemen of a refined and sheltered upbringing to whom such revelations would be an all too shocking exposure of some of the worst aspects of [] society.”
Highly recommended easy and enjoyable reading for Sherlock Holmes fans.
Paul Weiss
August 3, 2025
I’d call this book a decent but uneven addition to the ever-growing world of Sherlock Holmes pastiches. It’s one of those books where, depending on the story, you might either lean in with interest or start glancing at the clock. There are four stories in this collection, and for me, it broke down pretty cleanly: two were good, two were kind of forgettable.
Let’s start with what worked. The good stories really did capture that foggy, gaslamp-lit feeling of classic Holmes. Thomson has clearly spent time studying Conan Doyle’s style. The language is formal without being overly stuffy, and Watson’s voice is mostly consistent with what we expect. She doesn’t try to reinvent the character or force any modern quirks onto them, which I appreciated. When she’s in the zone, Thomson can build up a solid little mystery that pulls you along nicely. There were moments where I found myself nodding and thinking, “Okay, this does feel like a lost case Watson might have tucked away in a drawer.”
The first of the stronger stories had a solid hook and a satisfying little twist at the end. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was comfortably familiar in the way a good Sherlock story should be. The other standout one had a really clever setup — I won’t spoil it, but it involved some social dynamics and misdirection that felt very true to the spirit of Holmes’s world. Those two stories hit the right tone: clever enough to keep me curious, not too convoluted, and with enough atmosphere to feel immersed.
Now, on to the weaker half of the collection. The other two stories just didn’t do much for me. They weren’t bad exactly, but they lacked punch. The plots felt a little limp, and the resolutions were either too obvious or didn’t quite land. One of them took way too long to get moving, with pages of buildup that didn’t really pay off. The other felt more like a character sketch than a full story, and the mystery itself was pretty thin. I wasn’t mad at them, just kind of underwhelmed.
Another thing I noticed — and maybe this is just me being picky — is that the pacing in this collection felt uneven. Some scenes were drawn out more than they needed to be, while others rushed through key moments. It created this start-and-stop reading rhythm where I’d be really into one part and then feel like I was slogging through the next. I think some tighter editing might have helped the weaker stories feel more alive.
Tone-wise, Thomson plays it straight. There’s no tongue-in-cheek humor, no winks to the reader. It’s clear she has a lot of respect for the original material, and she’s not trying to modernize or twist it. I like that. If you’re someone who enjoys Holmes stories that stick close to the original formula, you’ll probably appreciate that consistency.
One thing I do want to praise is her attention to setting. She does a nice job with Victorian atmosphere — the foggy streets, the dimly lit sitting rooms, the rustle of carriages outside. Even in the less compelling stories, the world feels believable and lived-in, which helps anchor the stories in the right place and time.
So where does that leave me? I’d say this is a decent pick if you’re a Holmes fan who’s working your way through all the pastiches and wants something familiar and respectful of the source material.
It’s not a must-read, but it’s not a waste of time either. Call it a light snack in the world of Sherlock Holmes fiction — not a full meal, but satisfying enough if you’re hungry for a few more cases from Baker Street.
Let’s start with what worked. The good stories really did capture that foggy, gaslamp-lit feeling of classic Holmes. Thomson has clearly spent time studying Conan Doyle’s style. The language is formal without being overly stuffy, and Watson’s voice is mostly consistent with what we expect. She doesn’t try to reinvent the character or force any modern quirks onto them, which I appreciated. When she’s in the zone, Thomson can build up a solid little mystery that pulls you along nicely. There were moments where I found myself nodding and thinking, “Okay, this does feel like a lost case Watson might have tucked away in a drawer.”
The first of the stronger stories had a solid hook and a satisfying little twist at the end. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was comfortably familiar in the way a good Sherlock story should be. The other standout one had a really clever setup — I won’t spoil it, but it involved some social dynamics and misdirection that felt very true to the spirit of Holmes’s world. Those two stories hit the right tone: clever enough to keep me curious, not too convoluted, and with enough atmosphere to feel immersed.
Now, on to the weaker half of the collection. The other two stories just didn’t do much for me. They weren’t bad exactly, but they lacked punch. The plots felt a little limp, and the resolutions were either too obvious or didn’t quite land. One of them took way too long to get moving, with pages of buildup that didn’t really pay off. The other felt more like a character sketch than a full story, and the mystery itself was pretty thin. I wasn’t mad at them, just kind of underwhelmed.
Another thing I noticed — and maybe this is just me being picky — is that the pacing in this collection felt uneven. Some scenes were drawn out more than they needed to be, while others rushed through key moments. It created this start-and-stop reading rhythm where I’d be really into one part and then feel like I was slogging through the next. I think some tighter editing might have helped the weaker stories feel more alive.
Tone-wise, Thomson plays it straight. There’s no tongue-in-cheek humor, no winks to the reader. It’s clear she has a lot of respect for the original material, and she’s not trying to modernize or twist it. I like that. If you’re someone who enjoys Holmes stories that stick close to the original formula, you’ll probably appreciate that consistency.
One thing I do want to praise is her attention to setting. She does a nice job with Victorian atmosphere — the foggy streets, the dimly lit sitting rooms, the rustle of carriages outside. Even in the less compelling stories, the world feels believable and lived-in, which helps anchor the stories in the right place and time.
So where does that leave me? I’d say this is a decent pick if you’re a Holmes fan who’s working your way through all the pastiches and wants something familiar and respectful of the source material.
It’s not a must-read, but it’s not a waste of time either. Call it a light snack in the world of Sherlock Holmes fiction — not a full meal, but satisfying enough if you’re hungry for a few more cases from Baker Street.
January 25, 2019
The Secret Files of Sherlock Holmes (1990) by June Thomson is another collection of Holmes stories purporting to be from that battered tin dispatch case mentioned by Watson in "The Problem of Thor Bridge." Just imagine how big that case must have been (or how many separate pieces of that case there were)...given all the "discovered" stories that have appeared over the years. Thomson takes on the task of providing the world with the details behind Mr. James Phillimore's strange disappearance upon going back into his house for an umbrella; the secrets of the Amateur Mendicants; the case of Isadora Persano and the remarkable worm; and the real activities of the Notorious Canary Trainer...among others. Thomson gets a great many things right with these short stories--the relationship between Holmes and Watson, historical detail, and Watson's voice as narrator being the most notable. She does come up a bit short on story delivery in about half of these, however. Out of seven stories, one isn't solved at all and two are only half-solved. Not a great percentage for one of the greatest detectives of all time. And quite honestly there are only two solutions that I agree were necessary for Watson to keep quiet about--and only one due to national security. Given the great air secrecy shrouding these stories in the Canon, one can be forgiven for feeling a bit disappointed when the reasons for the delayed publication don't quite meet the level of caution implied in Watson's original accounts.
This was an amusing read, but not quite the knock-out Holmes pastiche that I expected. I had read enthusiastic reviews of her work featuring Holmes and looked forward to strong stories. It looks like this was her first collection of Holmes stories--perhaps her later collections are stronger.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Pleaser request permission before reposting. Thanks.
This was an amusing read, but not quite the knock-out Holmes pastiche that I expected. I had read enthusiastic reviews of her work featuring Holmes and looked forward to strong stories. It looks like this was her first collection of Holmes stories--perhaps her later collections are stronger.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Pleaser request permission before reposting. Thanks.
March 14, 2023
Ganska typisk holmsiana, inga övernaturligheter, inga konstigheter. Ibland var de amerikanska uttrycken lite störande, men inte så mycket att jag ville sluta läsa.
February 11, 2016
How should I start?
Picked this up since I am always up for anything Sherlock - except when it comes to RDJ (no offence, but I hate his portrayal of Sherlock I'd like to pretend that the movie never exists).
Halfway through, I am bored. The way this author writes the cases is definitely interesting, but somehow there's no Sherlock-ish(?) feeling to the characters.
Eventually I fast forwarded the last few chapters because although the cases are nice read, it just didn't feel like it was solved by Sherlock Holmes.
Picked this up since I am always up for anything Sherlock - except when it comes to RDJ (no offence, but I hate his portrayal of Sherlock I'd like to pretend that the movie never exists).
Halfway through, I am bored. The way this author writes the cases is definitely interesting, but somehow there's no Sherlock-ish(?) feeling to the characters.
Eventually I fast forwarded the last few chapters because although the cases are nice read, it just didn't feel like it was solved by Sherlock Holmes.
October 9, 2016
A small selection of 7 Sherlock Holmes mysteries first published in 1990. In other words, a pastiche based around some pretext explaining why they were withheld for so long. They are quite nicely done despite having a small amount of self parody (Holmes expresses surprise in a sarcastic way when Watson is unable to meet him due to a prior appointment with a patient) and possibly a little to much modern hindsight. An enjoyable bit of fun.
July 4, 2025
It's hard to imagine any Holmes/Watson fans not enjoying this book. The interactions of the two leads are comfortably familiar and the mysteries they confront here, while not completely original, do provide welcome twists on the tantalizing snippets that A. C. Doyle provided many, many decades ago. I raced through this work and will certainly be reading more of Ms. Thomson's efforts in the future.
4 stars
4 stars
March 29, 2022
A good collection of Sherlock Holmes written in a style that almost perfectly imitates Conan Doyle, the original creator of this well-known character. Especially little references to other stories in the ACD universe very much support this. The stories themselves are a good mix of different crimes and circumstances, never boring and rather original. A nice read!
August 27, 2017
Only two of these stories really qualify as mysteries; the rest are merely adventures. Also, I don't think the author has quite mastered Holmes' way of speaking, and her Lestrade drops far too many h's. However, her Watson is completely convincing and overall I enjoyed the book.
December 27, 2020
A few good turns and twist.
With a few more adult overtones than usual in Sherlock Holmes stories I found pleasure in reading these stories. In spite of my relative enjoyment I never was wowed. Solid stories with minor mysteries.
With a few more adult overtones than usual in Sherlock Holmes stories I found pleasure in reading these stories. In spite of my relative enjoyment I never was wowed. Solid stories with minor mysteries.
February 28, 2022
Very good.
The first collection by this author but the second one I have read.
Seems to catch the style of the original books quite well, including the dry humour.
The first collection by this author but the second one I have read.
Seems to catch the style of the original books quite well, including the dry humour.
October 17, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
February 21, 2024
A small collection of seven short tales well worthy of the four stars. The stories ranged from good to great, I especially enjoyed this version of the Canary Trainer (so much better than the Nicholas Meyer offering) also the excellent version of The Politician, the Lighthouse and the Trained Cormorant was again vastly superior to the previous version offered in another compilation. Only one tale (no 4 The Case of the Exalted Client) was sadly deficient as it contained omissions and bloopers which left out the whole point of the blackmailed client's reaction to Holmes identifying her with his usual aplomb.
August 13, 2015
Recreates the Great Detective and his Loyal Biographer and their age perfectly.. the mysteries are not that impenetrable (nor were some of the original canon for that matter) but the pleasure of seeing Mr Holmes in action again far overtakes such issues. The only false note (to some extent) was a little cavalier treatment of Inspector Lestrade...
October 25, 2014
I think there was a review on this website that said "competent", and I have to agree. I'm not sure if it was Thomson's writing style, or some other factor, but I found the stories to be lacking something. Although, the cases did have some interesting and thought out details.
July 29, 2011
Ehn. Competent, if uninspiring, "missing" case files based off of references to undocumented cases in canon. A pleasant diversion but nothing grabbing.
February 28, 2024
Circulo de Leitores
February 24, 2016
This is a novel that should never end; much too short. An interesting perspective on what makes Holmes "tick."
August 18, 2016
More a 3.75
Still very interesting shorts. I like a good short because I like playing a long to see if I can get to the same conclusion as SH. I did OK on these stories.
Still very interesting shorts. I like a good short because I like playing a long to see if I can get to the same conclusion as SH. I did OK on these stories.
January 12, 2019
Interesting but not as good as the original Sherlock Holmes
August 10, 2016
Obviously republished as a consequence of the success of Sherlock and Elementary
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews