Sherlock Holmes & The Twelve Thefts Of Christmas By Tim Major

This handsomely jacketed book is the third of York-based Tim Major’s novels extending Holmes’ adventures. The others – The Defaced Men and Back to Front Murders - have been well received, and not just among Holmes’ devotees.

It may seem a little late to be writing a review of a Christmas book in January, but in my defence I would say that it did not come into my possession until after the festivities were over. However, you may perceive from the title that twelve is a significant number and readers will be intrigued to find out whether Holmes will solve all the crimes.

I also wondered whether the crimes would parallel the song, for example would the first crime relate in some way to a ‘partridge in a pear tree’?. If it did, I could not figure out how.

Or are they crimes? Up against arch-nemesis Irene Adler, who is present throughout, yet hardly makes an appearance, Holmes and Watson are presented with a series of baffling puzzles (where would a Holmes’ story be without them?) that stretch the famous detective to the limit.

No updating of the milieu for Major: we are located firmly in late Victorian London with hansom cabs patrolling the streets and crowds thronging the Music Halls. This is where the novel is strongest – atmosphere and the spirit of the times. Further, the style is a pastiche of Conan Doyle’s occasionally pompous phraseology.

We rapidly encounter a Holmes out of sorts with himself. He is petulant and more than usually disagreeable. In his frustration he takes his annoyance out on Watson (no surprises here) and is even dismissive of Mrs Hudson, who plays an unusually prominent role in the narrative. Perhaps Major is foregrounding characters who are usually peripheral in order to explore how they might have developed under Conan Doyle’s pen.

Though colourful, a truculent Holmes is not the most attractive of propositions and so Watson takes over much of the heavy lifting. His level-headed wife, Mary, also becomes involved, engaging in the sleuthing action.

Irene Adler’s crimes range from art thefts, to purloined violin strings, to dog doping - the majority ingeniously solved. There are distractions on the way, one of which involves a Norwegian explorer. Some stretch the reader’s credulity (could the cerebral Holmes really master the practicalities of jewellery making?) but most are worked through to conclusions that would satisfy the majority of fans.

Pity I cannot recommend The Twelve Crimes of Christmas as a stocking filler, but it would make a good birthday present. Anyway, only eleven months to Christmas 2023!