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We each have our own preferred genres of choice. Kate loves horrors and thrillers, really anything that will keep her up at night! And Serena enjoys escaping through hidden doors into realms of magic and adventure. We also read mysteries, historical fiction, graphic novels, etc. etc. And that’s not even counting the multitude of sub-genres contained within each greater genre. In this series, one of us will present a list of our favorites from within a given sub-genre of one of our greater preferred genres.
There is an entirely different subgenre of mystery fiction that is focused on detectives more broadly and then gets more nuanced from there (hardboiled, noir, etc.). But I’m an unabashed Sherlock Holmes fan, so I’m just skipping over all of those (to potentially be covered later) and just going straight to my favorite version of the genre: Sherlock/Watson re-tellings or re-imagings.
At a certain point, Holmes has become such the quintessential mold of what a mystery book detectives look like that all clever detectives start to look like him. But while Holmes himself is an excellent character, I think the true appeal of the original stories was the dynamic created between both Holmes and Watson. That being the case, I’m going to focus on stories that more directly re-tell or recreate this relationship. There are tons of examples out there, but I’m going to draw from a few of my personal favorites, as well as some of the more creative takes on this famous duo!
Book: “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice” by Laurie R. King
I believe this was my first exposure to a re-telling of Sherlock Holmes! It’s also one of those crazily impressive series where I remember picking up the first book when I was in high school and yet there are still new books coming out today! Admittedly, I’m very behind on the series as a whole, but this still remains high on my list of recommendations for readers looking for a new version of the classic duo. It is also one of the more-closely-tied series to to the original, serving more as a sequel to the classics than as a re-imagining overall with the story starting out on a Sherlock Holmes who has been long retired. He goes on to meet the main character of the story, Mary Russell, who becomes his apprentice and, fairly early in the series, his wife. However, the romantic relationship is very, very far down the list of focal points of the series, with the stories more often centering around the partnership of equals that forms between Russell and Holmes. As it is a long running series, there are definite highs and lows to be found, but the first 8-10 books were all solid entries from my memory!
Book: “Shadows Over Baker Street” edited by Micahel Reaves and John Pelan
While I haven’t read this entire collection, the short story version of “A Study in Emerald” (which we read for bookclub a few months ago) is included within. Like that story, the collection mashes together classic Sherlock characters and plots alongside aspects of H.P. Lovecraft’s horror worlds. It’s such a strange concept, but sometimes the more odd the mash-up, the more exciting the creative result is in the end! If you’re looking for a more wild take on the classic detective, than this might be a collection worth checking out!
Book: “A Study in Charlotte” by Brittany Cavallaro
This YA book plays around with several aspects of the original. Instead of following the original characters, the story jumps forward several generations, taking place in a contemporary setting and following Jamie Watson as he is thrown into the path of Charlotte Holmes, the great-great-great granddaughter of the original Holmes. Of course, it must contain a mystery at its heart, and this time the duo must not only solve a murder, but also clear their own names, for they are the primary suspects! This is a great introduction to the world of Sherlock Holmes, especially for younger readers who may feel more comfortable picking up a story set in the modern era.
Book: “Jackaby” by William Ritter
This is probably the furthest removed from the original story as any of the books. I could probably create an entirely separate list that is just mystery novels with duos who read as Sherlock and Watson without being directly tied to that series in any way. This is one of those examples. The story takes place in a fantasy world, and the famous detective in this version is a man named Jackaby. However, the book follows the “Watson-like” character, a young woman named Abigail Rook who becomes his assistant as they investigate the supernatural. There are several books in this series, and I very much enjoyed the ones I read. This is definitely a good read for those looking for “Sherlock” vibes, but who are willing to follow the story into brand new territory!
Book: “A Study in Scarlet Women” by Sherry Thomas
No one who reads this blog will be surprised to see this one here! I’ve read a bunch of Sherlock Holmes stories (including everything on this list), and this one is definitely my favorite! Thomas masterfully captures the tone, setting, and style of mysteries that is found in the originals. But she also manages to re-imagine many of the characters into gender-swapped versions of themselves, all while remaining true to the core concepts of their identities. Charlotte Holmes is very much her own character, but at the same time, she is also immediately identifiable as much like the original Holmes. Similarly, the gender-swapped Watson is also fantastic. I can’t say enough good things about this series. And if any readers have been delaying reading it for fear of how much the gender-swapping would impact the characters, do yourself a favor and check it out immediately! I think it will surprise you!
Book: “Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson” by Lyndsay Faye
To now go full circle, we will round off the list with a book that follows the original characters largely written as they were first introduced. The twist, of course, is that they are now solving the Jack the Ripper killings. There is much to like about this book, but one of my favorite aspects it the way that Faye returned to the style of Watson recounting the events of the plot itself. This book is also great for how much attention and detail went into the historical aspects of the story. It’s a great read for both fans of Sherlock Holmes as well as those who enjoy Jack the Ripper stories, with an emphasis on historical accuracy.
What are some of your favorite Sherlock/Watson stories ? Let us know in the comments!
The Library Ladies 
That last book about the ripper killings would be interesting. I remember reading somewhere that Arthur Conan Doyle based his Sherlock Holmes character on a real life doctor he knew. That doctor apparently claimed to have discovered the identity of Jack the Ripper, put the name in the envelope and set it to the police. After that, Jack the Ripper was never heard from again!
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