Secrets from the Deed Box of John H. Watson M.D. - by Hugh Ashton (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The deed box of Dr. Watson, presented some time ago by a friend who rescued it from the archives of a London bank, continues to produce treasures. The stories in this collection, Secrets from the Deed Box of John H Watson MD, all represent some aspect of Holmes and his adventures that has previously been undiscovered. In many ways these are (with the possible exception of The Bradfield Push, which Watson left unpublished for personal reasons) somewhat darker in tone than the stories that he did release to the public and publish in the Strand magazine.
For some reason, Watson failed to date most of Holmes' adventures, and we must therefore make a guess at the chronology of these stories through their allusions to other cases.

The first of these tales, The Conk-Singleton Forgery Case, is mentioned by Watson. He gives no other details in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, and the story was presumably withheld from the public on account of Holmes' brush with the police as described here. The story provides excellent examples of Holmes' skill in deduction from seemingly trivial observations, as well as details of his methods of working a case.
The next story, The Strange Case of James Phillimore, is likewise mentioned in passing by Watson. James Phillimore is described as stepping into his house to retrieve his umbrella, never to be seen more in this world. This brief description implies a somewhat supernatural twist to things, but the truth of the matter is even more surprising. The open antagonism between Sherlock Holmes and some officers of the Metropolitan Police Force may come as somewhat of a surprise to those who have always regarded him as an unflagging ally of the official guardians of law and order.
In The Enfield Rope, we enter unknown territory.Watson never alluded to this case. The principals here were far too well-known to Watson's public to allow of this case's publication, even with pseudonyms, and re¬spect for the British Establishment would have restrained Watson in this instance. Holmes' sense of the dramatic is shown here, and his admiration and liking for a member of a part of society that was often shunned at that time shows a human, more attractive side to Holmes than is often portrayed by Watson.
The Bradfield Push is an early case of Sherlock Holmes, where Watson loses both his heart and his watch. Holmes can retrieve one, but not the other.

Review Quotes

"My goodness! I have never read a pastiche that felt so close to Doyle's style- that is, until today, when I discovered this marvelous book by Hugh Ashton. His 'Watson voice' is impeccable and so are his interactions between Holmes and Watson."

"The mood captured in the opening of this book was really perfect. Of course, I am devoted to the Canon, but I love a good pastiche. The trouble is good pastiches of the Sherlock stories are hard to come by. I think Mr. Ashton does an extraordinary job of making me feel like this could have been part of the original Canon."

"I hardly ever give 5 stars to any Sherlock Holmes pastiche because I don't believe that anyone can measure up to the master, A. Conan Doyle, but Hugh Ashton never disappoints me. His stories are always high quality in the style, structure and feel of the originals. I have read too many pastiches to mention and Hugh Ashton's stories would be at the top of the heap. Do yourself a favor, flop down a couple bucks and read this entertaining Sherlock Holmes story."

"...an exquisite piece of writing that does a superb job of recrafting a Holmes tale as one might read directly from Doyle's unpublished archives. Given the depth of characters in these stories, and the worldwide popularity they have achieved, this is a courageous and admirable feat, successfully managed by a supremely talented writer."