Review: (Sherlockian) Christmas in July
July begins the second half of the year, and it’s a good time to start thinking about what to buy for people on your Christmas list. For most Sherlockians, books are always a welcome gift. Two yuletide-themed tomes recently caught my eye.
Sherlock Holmes: Have Yourself a Chaotic Little Christmas by Gwendolyn Frame is a frothy, charming advent calendar of Holmes stories, with one for each day of December. The tales range from serious to humorous, mysterious to comforting. Frame’s Holmes reads like the man as we might see him reflected in the flames of a warm holiday fire–touched with Christmas spirit and good cheer, without the sharper edges of his personality in evidence. The book would be an excellent stocking stuffer, or perhaps an entertaining decoration to adorn a book-lover’s coffee table during the holiday season.
Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Snowman by David Ruffle, with illustrations by Rikey Austin, is a Sherlockian children’s book as chock full of sweetness and warmth as a Christmas pudding. Just before Christmas, Sherlock Holmes is approached by a desperate little girl who can’t find the snowman she lovingly created and endowed with scarf and pipe. To Dr. Watson’s surprise, Holmes treats the mystery as seriously as any of his career, and the result is a story that could make even the Grinch crack a smile. The stunningly beautiful illustrations by Rikey Austin make this a can’t-miss gift for the budding young Holmesians in your life.
The books reviewed above were provided for consideration by MX Publishing.
Amy Thomas is a book reviewer, freelance essayist, and author of The Detective and The Woman mystery novel series featuring Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler, published by MX Publishing. She holds a degree in professional communication and is an avid knitter, geek, and grammar nerd. Amy blogs about Sherlock Holmes at Girlmeetssherlock.wordpress.com and can be reached for professional enquiries at nottinghillnapoleon@gmail.com. Connect with her on Twitter @Pickwick12.