Book Reviews..

Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder

Gyles Brandreth
Reviewed by Jerry Handspicker

Gyles Brandreth is a man of many parts: a BBC broadcaster, a former Member of Parliament, a biographer of royals. But the part of interest to Sherlockians is his being a biographer of Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). Now he has used his knowledge of the Edwardian era in general and of Wilde in particular, to craft a fascinating mystery weaving historical characters into believable fiction. But why is this of interest to Sherlockians? Because Wilde was a friend of the literary agent (1859-1930), a fan of the Master, and in this story uses Sherlockian methods to solve a shocking series of crimes.

The story is narrated by Robert Sherard (1861-1943) an English writer and journalist, and the first biographer of Oscar Wilde. It begins with a dinner of the Socrates Club (founded by Wilde) at which seven members and their guests are present. It is customary, after the final course, to have a game in which all participate. Wilde proposes they play “murder.” Each person writes on a slip of paper the name of whom they would most like to murder. Alphonse Byrd, the “secretary” of the club then collects them in small velvet bag. He selects one at a time, reads it, and the members attempt to guess from which of them it came.

The members include eleven historical figures: Oscar Wilde, Robert Sherard, and Arthur Conan Doyle; Abraham (Bram) Stoker (1837-1912) Irish novelist and author of Dracula; Walter Sikert (1860-1942) a German-born English impressionist; Willie Hornung (1866-1921) the author of the “Raffles” series who married Arthur Conan Doyle’s sister, Constance; Edward Heron-Allen (1861-1943) a Renaissance man who wrote short stories (with a supernatural or fantasy twist), books on the violin and palmistry, and was both historian and archaeologist; Charles Brookfield (1867-1913) an actor, playwright, and journalist who was also the first actor known to portray Sherlock Holmes on stage; Lord Alfred Douglas (1870-1945) author and translator and lover of Wilde; Lord Percy Douglas, Lord Drumlanrig, the elder brother of Alfred and third son of the Marquess of Queensbury, who later urged the government to prosecute Wilde for his homosexual relationship with Alfred.

This group is augmented by three fictional members: Alphonse Byrd, already mentioned as secretary; the Honorable, the Rev. George Daubency, a clergyman who was sued by his fiancée for breach of promise; and David McMuirtree, a boxer and advocate of the Queensbury rules.

Shock and wonder hit the members as the names of proposed “victims” are read off. Yet Wilde insists Byrd continue reading. Arthur Conan Doyle counsels them to remember that “It’s just a game.” However, the very next day the “game” takes an ominous turn when one of the chosen “victims” becomes a real victim. Others victims follow (including an odious parrot) and then the “game is afoot.” Wilde and some of the members get involved in various areas including politics, literature, the theater, and boxing, as they seek to find the culprit (or culprits) and stop the killing.

Robert Sherard’s narration of their escapades is a “page-turner.” Our interest is caught by the characters and their relationships. But we are taught a great deal about Edwardian England as we follow them in their pursuit. And we are treated to some of Wilde’s choice wit as we travel. The story’s stitching together history and fiction is so tightly done we do not notice the seams at all. Brandreth is master of both genres and we are beneficiaries of his mastery.

A Slight Trick of the Mind
Mitch Cullin
Reviewed by Chuck Putney

Right after the war (World War II, if you can believe it) Sherlock Holmes is an aged beekeeper who depends on two canes to get about his apiary and on a regular basis go down to the beach.

Mitch Cullen, in his pastiche, mixes in several stories. The first is his reminiscence of an old case where he met another “woman” for whom he still grieves. The second is a post-war trip to Japan where he tours the country looking at war damage and ocean-side plants. The third is his relationship with his housekeeper and her son, who serves as an apprentice in the apiary.

There it is. There are not very many incidents in the story, and certainly not much of anything to interest the kind of reader who loves the canon.

What there is, in abundance, are pages of Sherlock Holmes’ reflections, interior regrets, emotional limitations, and aged mental fumblings. I hate to put books down half read, but I should have done it this time.

Sherlock Holmes is a man of action and thinking. He is very much “of the moment” doing little planning other than short-term strategies for accomplishing his next end. While there is short-term regret for the loss of a client or some other misadventure, there is little of the internal angst we expect from some contemporary detectives in fiction.

My observation is that as people age their adult behaviors become more pronounced and unvarnished. A Holmes who has descended into self-reflections and questioning is not only unappealing, but unlikely.

[ Top of Page ]


	Home Meetings Meeting Information Meeting Archives Conference Wrap-up Photo Gallery About Us Club History Newsletters Sherlockian Events Sherlockian Events Book Discussion Series Fun Information Chat Room Articles Quizzes Book Reviews Mysteries Links Contact Book Reviews.. The Book of Murder The Big Over Easy / A Nursery Crime A series you'll wish never ends: The Merrily Watkins Mysteries. The Oriental Casebook of Sherlock Holmes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder A Slight Trick of the Mind Oscar Wilde and a Game Called Murder Gyles Brandreth Reviewed by Jerry Handspicker Gyles Brandreth is a man of many parts: a BBC broadcaster, a former Member of Parliament, a biographer of royals. But the part of interest to Sherlockians is his being a biographer of Oscar Wilde (1854-1900). Now he has used his knowledge of the Edwardian era in general and of Wilde in particular, to craft a fascinating mystery weaving historical characters into believable fiction. But why is this of interest to Sherlockians? Because Wilde was a friend of the literary agent (1859-1930), a fan of the Master, and in this story uses Sherlockian methods to solve a shocking series of crimes. The story is narrated by Robert Sherard (1861-1943) an English writer and journalist, and the first biographer of Oscar Wilde. It begins with a dinner of the Socrates Club (founded by Wilde) at which seven members and their guests are present. It is customary, after the final course, to have a game in which all participate. Wilde proposes they play “murder.” Each person writes on a slip of paper the name of whom they would most like to murder. Alphonse Byrd, the “secretary” of the club then collects them in small velvet bag. He selects one at a time, reads it, and the members attempt to guess from which of them it came. The members include eleven historical figures: Oscar Wilde, Robert Sherard, and Arthur Conan Doyle; Abraham (Bram) Stoker (1837-1912) Irish novelist and author of Dracula; Walter Sikert (1860-1942) a German-born English impressionist; Willie Hornung (1866-1921) the author of the “Raffles” series who married Arthur Conan Doyle’s sister, Constance; Edward Heron-Allen (1861-1943) a Renaissance man who wrote short stories (with a supernatural or fantasy twist), books on the violin and palmistry, and was both historian and archaeologist; Charles Brookfield (1867-1913) an actor, playwright, and journalist who was also the first actor known to portray Sherlock Holmes on stage; Lord Alfred Douglas (1870-1945) author and translator and lover of Wilde; Lord Percy Douglas, Lord Drumlanrig, the elder brother of Alfred and third son of the Marquess of Queensbury, who later urged the government to prosecute Wilde for his homosexual relationship with Alfred. This group is augmented by three fictional members: Alphonse Byrd, already mentioned as secretary; the Honorable, the Rev. George Daubency, a clergyman who was sued by his fiancée for breach of promise; and David McMuirtree, a boxer and advocate of the Queensbury rules. Shock and wonder hit the members as the names of proposed “victims” are read off. Yet Wilde insists Byrd continue reading. Arthur Conan Doyle counsels them to remember that “It’s just a game.” However, the very next day the “game” takes an ominous turn when one of the chosen “victims” becomes a real victim. Others victims follow (including an odious parrot) and then the “game is afoot.” Wilde and some of the members get involved in various areas including politics, literature, the theater, and boxing, as they seek to find the culprit (or culprits) and stop the killing. Robert Sherard’s narration of their escapades is a “page-turner.” Our interest is caught by the characters and their relationships. But we are taught a great deal about Edwardian England as we follow them in their pursuit. And we are treated to some of Wilde’s choice wit as we travel. The story’s stitching together history and fiction is so tightly done we do not notice the seams at all. Brandreth is master of both genres and we are beneficiaries of his mastery. A Slight Trick of the Mind Mitch Cullin Reviewed by Chuck Putney Right after the war (World War II, if you can believe it) Sherlock Holmes is an aged beekeeper who depends on two canes to get about his apiary and on a regular basis go down to the beach. Mitch Cullen, in his pastiche, mixes in several stories. The first is his reminiscence of an old case where he met another “woman” for whom he still grieves. The second is a post-war trip to Japan where he tours the country looking at war damage and ocean-side plants. The third is his relationship with his housekeeper and her son, who serves as an apprentice in the apiary. There it is. There are not very many incidents in the story, and certainly not much of anything to interest the kind of reader who loves the canon. What there is, in abundance, are pages of Sherlock Holmes’ reflections, interior regrets, emotional limitations, and aged mental fumblings. I hate to put books down half read, but I should have done it this time. Sherlock Holmes is a man of action and thinking. He is very much “of the moment” doing little planning other than short-term strategies for accomplishing his next end. While there is short-term regret for the loss of a client or some other misadventure, there is little of the internal angst we expect from some contemporary detectives in fiction. My observation is that as people age their adult behaviors become more pronounced and unvarnished. A Holmes who has descended into self-reflections and questioning is not only unappealing, but unlikely. [ Top of Page ]