I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
“Here is the key. You can look for yourself.” [GOLD] Imagine having the key to 221B Baker Street, and what it must feel like to open that door. And imagine being trusted to keep Holmes and Watson’s famous sitting room in good order. That rare honor belongs to Roger Johnson, BSI ("The Pall Mall Gazette") and Jean Upton, BSI ("Elsie Cubitt"), a well-known couple among the small community of married Sherlockians. Jean and Roger have preserved and maintained the sitting room at London’s Sherlock Holmes Pub for 30 years. Join us as we hear how the Northumberland Hotel evolved...
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“you could just fill that gap on that second shelf” [EMPT] If you discovered Sherlock Holmes when you were young, you might still recall the joy of your first reading. The world of Baker Street is fun, so much so that some adults still extend the Great Detective's career with their own stories. Many adults also enjoy LEGO as a nostalgic, relaxing, and creative outlet. That’s why we were eager to talk to LEGO Group Design Master Antica Bracanov and Graphic Designer Crisy Dyment about their creation of the LEGO Sherlock Holmes Book Nook. Joining us from LEGO’s...
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“a case for personal investigation” [SUSS] The number of Sherlock Holmes pastiches is endless. They include stories and novels set in any era, any place, and any time. They all bring the Great Detective to new audiences — so how do you go about selecting (just) fifty-two to explore? Join our conversation with Paul Bishop as we explore his new book, . Paul is the author of 15 novels and numerous TV and film scripts — and also a 35-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. Paul’s new book is a selection of Sherlockian pastiches chosen and recommended by the...
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“it's the king of diamonds” [MAZA] It took Laurie R. King six years to find a publisher for her first book, but it was worth the wait. She won the Edgar in 1994 for Best First Novel with A Grave Talent, which launched her Kate Martinelli series, set in San Francisco. That same year, The Bee-Keeper’s Apprentice introduced the impressive, young Mary Russell, who would meet and eventually marry the retired Sherlock Holmes — “the least marriageable man I knew,” according to Mary, in 1921. Since then, Russell and Holmes have traveled the world in eighteen novels, finding mystery and...
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“from Portsmouth at midday” [LAST] The Portsmouth Library is home to the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, largely made possible by the bequest of Richard Lancelyn Green. This world-renowned collection, the work of one of the foremost Doylean scholars, is a treasure trove for researchers, enthusiasts, and the public. The Collection preserves books, manuscripts, artifacts, and ephemera that illuminate Conan Doyle's life, his beloved Sherlock Holmes, and the cultural impact of his work. Laura Weston is the Education and Learning Officer for the Collection at the Portsmouth City...
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“You can file it in our archives, Watson” [RETI] North America is home to a number of public collections, libraries, museums, and archives that hold treasures related to Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Not least among them is the Toronto Public Library. Home to the famed Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, the TPL is a great friend to Sherlockians and Doyleans everywhere and regularly welcomes visitors to view and research its more than 25,000 items related to Conan Doyle. And curator Jessie Amaolo joined us to talk about the digital offerings of the collection. What...
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“we can bring it to a successful conclusion” [EMPT] When we discussed the Midwest Canonical Conclave in Episode 308, we weren't exactly sure what to expect. Organizer Steve Doyle, BSI ("The Western Morning News") gave us a general idea of what the aim was and what we might see there, but our expectations were blown away. Unlike any other Sherlockian event we've attended, the inaugural BSI Canonical Conclave (this of the Midwest variety) was a true delight. Burt and Scott reflect on the event and their experiences, consider the benefits of having attended, and muse on the...
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“good enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences” [SCAN] Don't care for Sherlockian chronologies? Well, you're not alone! Neither did our guest today, and he's written a number of books on the subject. Brad Keefauver, BSI ("Winwood Reade") is a member of the Sherlockian Chronologist Guild and author of Holmes In an Hour or Two: A Sherlock Holmes Fan's First Sherlockian Chronology, or Create Your Own Timeline of Sherlock Holmes's Life in the Shortest Time Possible. It's not a matter of simply picking dates or looking for discrepancies; creating a chronology can...
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“grazed the subclavian artery” [STUD] While the Baker Street Irregulars is the most well-known of Sherlockian societies, it is by no means the only one — nor even the most important. There are gatherings happening every week, in person and virtually, of Sherlockian societies. And just like the Sherlockian societies that sprouted up in those early years of the hobby, Steve Doyle, BSI ("The Western Morning News") thought it might be helpful to bring some of them together in a spirit of building Sherlockian community and creating connections. And that's taking the form of...
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“able to evolve from their own inner consciousness” [STUD] Now in its 12th year, 221B Con has become a mainstay of annual Sherlockian events, drawing people from all over the world to Atlanta every April. It was founded as a response to Sherlock on BBC, but has expanded beyond that to include the original stories as well as all forms of media. Last year, the founders announced that this year would be the final 221B Con. As we narrow in on that date, regular attendee and volunteer Johanna Draper Carlson isn't convinced that has to be the case. But the future isn't quite...
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It took Laurie R. King six years to find a publisher for her first book, but it was worth the wait. She won the Edgar in 1994 for Best First Novel with A Grave Talent, which launched her Kate Martinelli series, set in San Francisco. That same year, The Bee-Keeper’s Apprentice introduced the impressive, young Mary Russell, who would meet and eventually marry the retired Sherlock Holmes — “the least marriageable man I knew,” according to Mary, in 1921.
Since then, Russell and Holmes have traveled the world in eighteen novels, finding mystery and adventure everywhere from the English countryside to Palestine to California. Along the way, Mary’s partnership with Holmes has evolved, usually in plots that mix real events with suspenseful intrigue.
Now Knave of Diamonds, the nineteenth book in the series, brings Mary a case not even Sherlock Holmes could solve: the very real theft of the Irish Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle years before. It comes with the sudden return of Mary’s unprincipled Uncle Jake, traveling on a cloud of fabrications and falsehoods.
Laurie R. King was named a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master in 2022. Join us for a conversation about the Irish Crown Jewels, Laurie’s approach to storytelling, Mary’s background and her conflicting loyalties, and much more.
So you can see what’s coming, we share the first half of August in “The Learned Societies” segment. Madeline Quiñones is back with “A Chance of Listening,” and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your Sherlock Holmes knowledge, with a signed copy of Knave of Diamonds for the winner. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock.com by July 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.
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- MX Publishing has a number of new Sherlock Holmes books out by various authors. You'll want to check out the breadth of their offerings by visiting the site to learn more.
Links
- Knave of Diamonds
- The Mary Russell series
- Knave of Diamond reading group guide
- Laurie R. King's website
- Other episodes mentioned:
- Episode 281: The Lantern's Dance
- The Learned Societies: Sherlockian Calendar
- A Chance of Listening: Elementary, My Dears
- Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock.