The Men Who Were Sherlock Holmes

I love reading anything Sherlock Holmes related so I was intrigued to read the real life backstory behind my favourite detective.

This fascinating read about the famed Ardlamont murder case, if indeed it was a murder, of the late Victorian era would be worthwhile if it were limited strictly to the case, one which was huge at the time, a classic fatal shotgun incident. The author gives us the amazing detail allowing us to reckon the characters of the main players: the naivety of the victim’s family and their financial issues; and the hustling ambition of an array of shady characters trying all manner of schemes to extract advantage often leaving a trail of destruction behind them. Everything is murky and deeply suspect.

With this we have two medical men at the height of their abilities, Upright Victorian rationalists holding senior positions using all their experience and intelligence to assemble forensic evidence and counter competing expert witnesses. Description of their advancing and even inventing much on the the crossover between the medical and legal is another success of the book.

And here we have another interesting connection. Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle studied under both of these mentors and put much of them into his famous character. Holmes thus weaves  his way through it all, so that we feel almost as if he is investigating the Ardlamont case in spirit. One does not need to be a Holmes fan to enjoy this.

Reading the Holmes stories I always felt his consistent criticism of the police was a bit of snobbish flaw in an otherwise honorable character. Now I think I was wrong. This was the early days of the police when professionalism was only starting top be built up and Holmes was in fact reflecting expert opinion.

I have only a minor criticism. Too many mentions that something spectacular is coming without saying what it is. No need, I was hooked already. The book manages to be an easy read despite the amount of detail and scope. Recommended.