The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of 12 short stories. I've seen a few reviews for this particular collection saying that it is the worst of all the Sherlock Holmes cannon, so I lowered my expectations - and was pleasantly surprised. It's not my favourite of the collections, but I enjoyed and was intrigued by the majority of the stories. It also felt shorter than the others, there was the same amount of stories (actually more than "His Last Bow") but I think the stories themselves were a bit shorter in general.
The stories are:
- The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
- The Problem of Thor Bridge
- The Adventure of the Creeping Man
- The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire
- The Adventure of the Three Garridebs
- The Adventure of the Illustrious Client
- The Adventure of the Three Gables
- The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
- The Adventure of the Lion's Mane
- The Adventure of the Retired Colourman
- The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger
- The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place

I only have one book left now - "The Hound of the Baskervilles" - which is sad, but I think I saved the best for last!

Po zapoznaniu sie ze wszystkimi dziewięcioma tomami opowieści o Sherlocku Holmesie mogę z niemalże całkowitą pewnością stwierdzić, że Sherlock jest fruity

A tak serio to nie wiem co teraz zrobie jak już przeczytałom wszystko, chyba zaczne czytać od nowa

Poslednja antologija avantura slavnog detektiva, vredna pažnje i pohvala.
I sa ovim naslovom, ispunila sam svoju misiju da pročitam sva dela o Šerloku Holmsu

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a writer I count among my favorites, and I've been a Sherlock Holmes fan since my boyhood. However, although I've read all four of Doyle's Holmes novels, there are still a number of the short stories in the canon that I haven't read; and except for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, this is the only one of the author's own collections I've read. This volume collects the last dozen stories Doyle wrote about Holmes (his preface states his intention not to write any more of them), all set before "His Last Bow," which takes place at the outset of World War I, though they were written after it. (Some of the story settings are given exact chronological dates, and some aren't.) Stylistically, they're very much of a piece with any of the earlier ones that I've read. Holmes solves cases by the rigorous observation of details and the application of deductive logic, in a coldly intellectual fashion that the Neoclassical writers would have approved; but Doyle's essentially Romantic approach shows in the appeal of the tales to the emotions, and the frequent use of outre and exotic motifs and sometimes Gothic atmosphere. Most of the stories here, unlike the majority of modern mysteries, don't involve murder (and some don't actually involve criminal behavior at all). Usually Holmes' faithful sidekick Dr. Watson narrates the tales, but one story here is told in third person, and the great detective himself narrates two of them.

Most of the stories were new to me in written form, though I'd previously read "The Adventure of the Creeping Man," which appears in the excellent Southern Illinois Univ. Press collection The Best Science Fiction of Arthur Conan Doyle; the Holmes stories avoid use of actual supernatural elements (though Doyle wrote supernatural fiction with other characters), but this is a good example of the few that use science fictional elements. (I also realized, while reading the book, that I'd previously read "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client" and "The Problem of Thor Bridge," because I recognized remembered passages of dialogue in both of them; but those reads were long ago and I'd forgotten almost all of the plots.) In a few cases, I'd also seen an adaptation of a story years ago on the outstanding PBS series Mystery!, whose wonderful Holmes episodes feature Jeremy Brett, whom I consider THE definitive cinematic Holmes. But the adaptations were different enough from the written stories (and I'd forgotten enough of most of them!) to not be spoilerish.

One of these adaptations was the main source of my interest in this particular collection. The two-part episode The Last Vampire (which is actually feature-film length, and which I taped on VHS and re-watch occasionally) was based on one of the stories here, "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire," and I've wanted to read the latter ever since seeing the TV version. The two, however, are actually significantly different. A literal adaptation of the story wouldn't have run for more than an hour (half an hour might have done it). Both story and film are set mostly in rural Sussex, though the latter develops the setting more; the dynamics of the Ferguson household in the film are (mostly) also in the story, and a couple of plot elements are the same, but used differently. But two of the best-drawn characters in the film, Stockton and the vicar, as well as the villagers, are absent from the story, as is the background about the St. Clair family and their ruined mansion, and the whole theme of psychic vampirism is lacking as well. Also, the film version is darker, more suspenseful, and more emotionally impactful. I won't say the story was a disappointment; it's a good yarn for what it is. (But it's nowhere near as ripping good as the TV "adaptation!" Viewed strictly as a adaptation, I'd have to give the latter a D-; but taking it on its own terms just as a piece of cinema in its own right, I'd give it an A+, five stars, and two thumbs up.)

In some cases here, Holmes doesn't have to do much deduction; and in other stories, I was able to figure out the basic nature of the solution to the mystery pretty quickly. (That didn't preclude enjoying the stories, however.) Doyle's leading female characters are often morally courageous, emotionally strong women of admirable character, although we also have one nasty villainess here (and it isn't Kitty Winter, despite her "fallen" status!). "The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger" is perhaps the most emotionally evocative of the twelve stories here, and "the Adventure of the Lion's Mane" perhaps the most imaginative. A couple of caveats are in order about ethnic stereotyping. One of the minor villains in "The Adventure of the Three Gables" is black (and a police inspector refers to him by the infamous "n-word," though Holmes and Watson don't), and in "The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place" it's mentioned more than once that a number of Sir Robert's creditors are Jews, though the principal one is a Gentile. But Doyles's criminals are generally white; there's no suggestion here that blacks are commonly criminals, or that Steve is a criminal because he's black. (Blacks have the same range of moral possibilities as any other ethnic group; for writers to always feel self-consciously obliged to portray them as saintly doesn't really represent an embrace of the idea of racial equality, in the actual meaning of the term.) And although the legal and ecclesiastical rules against Christians charging interest on loans (which had meant that in the medieval and early modern eras, only Jews engaged in commercial money-lending) had been done away with by Holmes' time, the traditional pattern in the financial industry still persisted to a degree --most Jews weren't money-lenders, and a number of money-lenders were Gentiles, but a disproportionate number of them were still Jewish. (Doyle doesn't suggest that the trade is in any way dishonorable, or that those who follow it, Jewish or Gentile, are at all out of line in expecting to be repaid money that they loaned in good faith!)

All in all, I think this collection would appeal to any Holmes fan. Mystery fans in general, provided they don't avoid short stories as such, should also enjoy these; the diction isn't particularly challenging, nor archaic. IMO, though, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or one of the first two novels, A Study in Scarlet or The Sign of Four, might be a better first introduction to the character of Holmes, if you've never actually read any of the canon. But that may be just me, and reflecting the fact that those were the first Holmes books that I read!

"Das Notizbuch von Sherlock Holmes" enthält einige der weniger bekannten Fälle des größten Privatdetektivs aller Zeiten. Einige der Geschichten werden von seinem Freund Dr. Watson erzählt, andere von Holmes selbst. Holmes ist der Superheld meiner Kindheit, daher habe ich dieses Buch bereits ein paar Mal gelesen, aber einige der Handlungsstränge habe ich glücklicherweise vergessen.

Diesmal habe ich mir ein Hörbuch auf Deutsch angehört, um mein Deutschverständnis zu verbessern – und damit zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe geschlagen: Unterhaltung und Bildung.;)

❤

The weakest of Doyle's story collections, and several sections are utterly reprehensible by today's standards. The racism, anti-Semitism, and misogyny are very much in keeping with some late-Victorian, early Edwardian sensibilities but alarming to encounter over 100 years later.

1.5 stars

*Bill Hader voice* It's got everything: "Good for Her" moments, suspected supernatural creatures, a really elaborate scam, a bunch of wild animals and some really creepy murders. Good times.

“And so, reader, farewell to Sherlock Holmes! I thank you for your past constancy”. —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

[ESP]
No sé ni qué decir en esta reseña. No tanto porque terminé el libro, si no porque aquí concluye la aventura de mi detective y doctor favoritos de la literatura y la ficción. Cuatro (4) novelas y 56 relatos cortos después, no puedo si no agradecer a Doyle por su Canon Holmesiano que sin duda forman parte vital de mis inicios como lectora.

Todavía más agridulce es que esta fuera mi colección de relatos favoritos, donde más que misterios policiales son mini estudios de personaje, donde se ven lo mejor y lo peor de las personas, y un lado más humano y émpatico de nuestro Holmes. Resaltan como mis favoritos The Sussex Vampire, The Three Garridebs y The Creeping Man, aunque en general disfruté de la diversidad de esta colección.

Y sin más que decir… ¡Hasta luego, Sherlock Holmes! No cabe duda que algún día volveré a releer mis novelas y relatos favoritos, pero hasta entonces… ¡Adiós!

Canon Holmesiano: Check! ✔

[ENG]
I don't even know what to say in this review. Not so much because I finished the book, but because here concludes my adventure of my favourite detective and doctor in literature and fiction. Four (4) novels and 56 short stories later, I cannot but thank Doyle for his Holmesian Canon, which is certainly a vital part of my beginnings as a reader.

Even more bittersweet is that this was my favourite collection of adventures! Where more than police mysteries are mini character studies, where you see the best and the worst in people in certain situations, and a more human and empathetic side of our Holmes. Standing out as my favourites are The Sussex Vampire, The Three Garridebs, and The Creeping Man, although overall I enjoyed the diversity of this collection.

And without further ado. . . See you later, Sherlock Holmes! No doubt that someday I will reread my favourite novels and stories but until then. . . Farewell!

Holmesian Canon: Check! ✔

Now that I’ve finally finished reading the very last story (something I deliberately postponed) my time with Sherlock Holmes has drawn to an end! What a pity, I surely wouldn’t have minded reading more stories. But I’m satisfied with this collection as being the last ever. Although the cases in this collection might not be the most refreshing or clever ones, I think what makes the stories different from those before is that they add some final depth to Holmes, Watson and their relationship. There are so many great quotes that confirm what up until now the reader could only guess or assume. And although Holmes writing two stories felt out of character, reading his point of view was a nice way to get to know him even better. Probably for this reason my favourite collection of stories!

My favourites:
(contains spoilers!)
1. The Illustrious Client
Such a thrilling case with a terrible, seemingly untouchable villain who even attacks Holmes. This time Holmes trusts Watson (more or less) by letting Watson exaggerate his illness rather than faking it for Watson as well. And the Chinese pottery added fun to the story!

2. The Three Garridebs
Being seemingly based on a trivial thing like names, I really wondered about the motives. But why I really loved this story was the danger part and what it revealed about Watson:

n  "This is a more serious matter than I had expected, Watson," said he. "It is fair to tell you so, though I know it will only be an additional reason to you for running your head into danger. I should know my Watson by now. But there is danger, and you should know it."n

and Holmes:

n  'You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt?'
It was worth a wound - it was worth many wounds - to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. n

3. The Mazarin stone
A bit weird that it was written in third person... but I just really loved the setting of the story. Holmes is in serious danger, but he has everything under control. I really loved the dummy trick with the violin play. And of course, Holmes “can never resist a dramatic situation” :)

It makes me a little sad to have not finished my reread of the Sherlock Holmes series. I found myself not enjoying it somewhere around the halfway mark, and then I completely bailed on The Valley of Fear and The Casebook. I simply can't recreate the magic of reading it when I was 12, and that is ok. I still love Holmes and Watson and the novelty of the earlier short stories. These latter stories feature a lot of rehashed plots, and as a reader I am getting as tired of it as Doyle was. Probably will rewatch some Jeremy Brett TV episodes instead. ;)

"Your life is not your own. Keep your hands off it."



n  12 stories but not the best of Sherlock Holmes.n
45. The Illustrious Client.
46. The Blanched Soldier.
47. The Mazarin Stone.
48. The Three Gables.
49. The Sussex Vampire.
50. The Three Garridebs.
51. Thor Bridge.
52. The Creeping Man.
53. The Lion's Mane.
54. The Veiled Lodger.
55. Shoscombe Old Place.
56. The Retired Colourman.

I'm not a big fan of all of these. They could have been much better. It feels like Watson worked harder for those cases. Sherlock was just arrogant as usual and I will prefer Poirot forever.