SHERLOCK HOLMES
Blood to the Bone
By Andrew Salmon
A Fight Card book.
89 pages
Among today’s writers of New Pulp fiction, two men have
risen to the top of their generation’s class in writing new Sherlock Holmes
mysteries. One of these is Canadian Andrew
Salmon, the other is British and I’ll let you guess at his identity. Last year, after having penned a half dozen
traditional Homes and Watson tales for Airship 27 Productions best selling
series, “Sherlock Holmes – Consulting Detective,” Salmon accepted an offer from
Paul Bishop, the creator of the popular Fight Card series, to write a Sherlock
Holmes boxing story. The result was “Work
Capital,” one of the finest Sherlock Holmes tales this reviewer has ever
enjoyed. That it went on to be nominated
for several publishing awards came as no surprise to anyone who had had the
pleasure of reading that novella.
Now Salmon and the Fight Card crew have given us a sequel
that is as good, if not better, than its predecessor in “Blood to the Bone.” Again, as he did before, Salmon digs deep
into the history of British bare-knuckles fighting and offers up an amazing
plot heavily dependent on the incredible fact that that form of pugilism was
not confined to men. I had never heard
of the fairer sex’s participation in this rough and tumble sport and reading
through the story was truly amazed at this revelation. As he did in “Work Capital,” Salmon cleverly
puts forth authentic facts and then weaves his elements of fiction around them
so that the two become symbiotic. Thus
leaving the reader with both having experienced a wonderful read while at the
same time expanding his or her education on the history of boxing.
Eby Stokes and her husband, Richard, are boxers who work for
a traveling circus and often fight together in tag-team fashion taking on
challengers from the audience, both men and women alike. When Richard goes missing just prior to their
new engagement just outside of London,
Eby seeks out the aid of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his faithful chronicler, Dr.
Watson. Watson is quick to point out
that Holmes’ interest in the manly art of fisticuffs was of a scientific nature
and he relished any opportunity to study the martial sport and increase his own
considerable abilities in that field.
In short order, Holmes and Watson find the missing boxer
only to have him snatched away and murdered within a matter of minutes of their
locating him. If Richard Stokes disappearance
had piqued the Great Detective’s curiosity, the man’s cruel murder instantly
stokes that flame into an obsessive flame.
Having established a warm rapport with the lovely Eby Stokes, Holmes
devotes himself to solving the murder and bringing her husband’s killers to
justice. But to do so, he will have to disguise
himself as a professional fighter and Eby’s new partner in the circus
bouts. Something dear old Watson objects
to soundly.
I’ve always believed that one of the greatest challenges in
writing Sherlock Holmes isn’t so much detailing his exploits and understanding
Dr. Watson. All too often, less
accomplished writers forget Watson is very much his own man and his
relationship with the bachelor sleuth wasn’t always smooth sailing. Such is the case in this adventure and the
contentious head-butting between the two companions is what makes the book
especially entertaining. Salmon channels
the stodgy old Afghan veteran brilliantly and in doing so brings us intimately
into his tale. We are spellbound from the
first page to the last.
“Blood to the Bone,” is a magnificent addition to the Holmes
canon and should be in the library of every Holmes enthusiast in the
world. Yes, it is that good and I
honestly believe Conan Doyle would have truly loved reading this book. I know I did and believe so will you
too. Thanks Andrew Salmon and Fight
Club. This book is a treasure.
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