A lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan spins her own tales
IF Lyndsay Faye’s name weren’t on the cover, readers might deduce that the Sherlock Holmes mysteries in “The Whole Art of Detection” actually came from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Her 15 short stories expertly re-create the style and substance of the originals in every way.
These “lost” Holmes and Watson adventures are clever and exciting. And while the tales are altogether new, they also feel immediately familiar. That’s because the book is the work of a lifelong fan.
Faye first wrote about the Great Detective in her debut novel, 2009’s “Dust and Shadow,” which pitted Holmes against Jack the Ripper. She followed with four non-Holmes novels, including the Edgar-nominated “The Gods of Gotham” and “Jane Steele,” which reimagined Jane Eyre as a serial killer.
But all the while, she was writing her Holmes short stories. Ten of them, fittingly, were originally published in The Strand Magazine.
They’re all fun and faithful to the source material, but two in particular absolutely soar.
One is “The Adventure of the Honest Wife,” in which a contemptible client insists that Holmes investigate his unfaithful wife (although our hero has a very different agenda when accepting the case).
In the other, “The Adventure of the Memento Mori,” a woman held captive and hidden away sends Holmes a cryptic letter begging him to find her. But where in all of England shall he start?
Faye comes to Houston this week to read and sign “The Whole Art of Detection.” We chatted with her about the book and Sherlock Holmes.
Q: What compelled you to start writing Holmes mysteries?
A: I have read the original stories countless times. When the canon (four novels and 56 short stories) wasn’t enough, I read as many of the pastiches as I possibly could.
I’ve gotten to the point that, when reading the pastiches, if someone’s trying to emulate Dr. Watson’s voice and they don’t quite get it right, I can determine what’s wrong within two paragraphs. One day, I had picked up a new paperback and I started critiquing it in my head: “Oh, I like what the author is doing here and I appreciate this. But that! Ugh, no!” Then I thought, “If I’m so smart, why don’t I write one myself ? Isn’t it time I put up or shut up?”
Q: It’s remarkable that Holmes, who first appeared in print in 1887, is still phenomenally popular. What’s the secret to his staying power?
A: One reason these stories are special to me is the remarkable friendship that exists between Holmes and Watson. That’s why I read those stories. That’s why I write them. Because the idea of having an unconditional friend never goes out of style.
I’ve always said John Watson is the most important character in the series. Yes, Sherlock Holmes is iconoclastic and bohemian and amazing and quirky and weird and I love him. But John Watson is the reason we read the stories because Watson cares about Holmes the person, and he makes us care as well.
Q: What is your favorite classic Holmes story?
A: I don’t know if a lot of people would name this one, but I love “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans.” First of all, you have Mycroft and Lestrade, your two best guest stars, in the same story. But beyond that, it’s a brilliant, brilliant problem: a body tossed out of a window onto the roof of a train and it then falls off somewhere else when the train turns. It’s a genius idea for a story.
Q: How meaningful is it that the most glowing book-cover blurb you received is from Nicholas Meyer, author of “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution,” one of the greatest Holmes pastiches?
A: I love and respect “The Seven-PerCent Solution” so much. Before I read it, I was still in a place where I thought there were only 60 Holmes stories and I’d never get another one to enjoy. So discovering “The Seven-Per-Cent Solution” was very important to me. It was formative. When my publisher sent the book to Nicholas Meyer, I thought, “Give me a break. He’s not going to read this.” But he did, and I am grateful and extremely happy that he gave his stamp of approval.