Sherlock Holmes

Holmes fans will love this collection of eight short dramatized readings chock full of sleuthing and mystery. These are programs that aired on BBC Radio with full casts. As the main characters, Clive Merrison (Holmes) and Michael Williams (Watson) do a marvelous job creating what could have been stock personalities. Instead, they give full-bodied readings that make this formidable duo real and accessible. The bumbling bobbies of Scotland Yard are treated respectfully, though Merrison does give us a verbal wink whenever he's about to trump one of them, and the rest of the cast performs with full conviction. The stories are short enough to follow, and the sound effects accentuate the action. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

Don't let the "new" in the title fool you--these are digitally remastered recordings of original radio dramas broadcast in the 1940s, complete with period ads and pleas to help the Italians left starving by WWII. Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes will be familiar from movies, and Nigel Bruce makes a convincing, if intentionally dim, Dr. Watson. The stories move along at a crisp pace, and the few sound effects and musical transitions are simple, but smooth and convincing. The biggest weakness here is the scripts. They are not based on Doyle's work directly, so the Sherlock Holmes evoked by Rathbone is less complex than the original. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

It is entirely fitting that the man who portrayed Dr. Watson on PBS's "Mystery" should perform these tales of Sherlock Holmes. After all, the stories are told by Watson. Edward Hardwicke's experience on both stage and screen is apparent as he effortlessly performs "The Crooked Man," "The Greek Interpreter," and "The Naval Treaty." His expressive and steady voice effortlessly gives Holmes an excited energy while Watson, the narrator, is more steady and deliberate. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

How could you go wrong with a cast like this? A beautifully realized production of the timeless classics of Sherlock Holmes is done as radio theater. With only the necessary addition of conversation to bridge the action between dialogues these 12 stories remain very faithful to the originals. The violin music, meant to be Holmes himself, I daresay, between each story does get a bit tiresome as it was meant to be coming out of radio speakers and not headphones. The cast is perfection; just to listen to John Gielgud would be pleasure enough, but each cast member is terrific. One other nice feature is the length of each story being one side per tape, which makes it easy to plan listening time. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

An aural essay of Baker Street is presented by the old bogeyman of British B movies. Listening to these tapes reminds this reviewer that every time he returns to the Holmes canon--and he has read many of the cases three and four times--they appear as fresh as if he had never read them before. Christopher Lee lightens his sepulchral voice to give us a fine rendition on par with the best in the overcrowded shelves of Sherlockiana on tape. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

The colorful prose of the Sherlock Holmes tales naturally lends itself to audio, but the BBC and Radio 4 have taken Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary creation a step further. In this segment of a new series of dramatizations, listeners are treated to a full cast of characters, musical accompaniment, and sound effects that elevate the recording to the level of top-notch radio drama. Even more thrilling is this particular story, which has Sherlock bewitched by an enchanting young woman who puts his sleuthing abilities to the test. These classic mysteries don't need much embellishment beyond the original text, but the fine work in this production makes listening a delight. R.A.P. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

A Pennsylvania mining town and a secret cult provide the background for this adventure that tests the wits of Sherlock Holmes. Clive Merrison and Michael Williams individually do fine work portraying Holmes and Watson, respectively. But taken together, the actors fail to alter their vocal tones and styles to distinguish the two characters. Likewise, the frequent flashbacks from London in the 1890s to America in the 1870s are not easily distinguished. Confusion aside, the BBC once again provides an exciting and entertaining dramatization, with a full cast, music, and sound effects that bring the story alive. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

Holmes and Watson draw upon their formidable investigative talents and encyclopedic knowledge in these tales set in Victorian London. Edward Hardwicke reads British accents and brogue with enterprising style, changing enunciation as each story demands. His rendition of the stricken schoolmaster in "Adventures of Priory School" rings with clipped, academic tones as he relates the disappearance of the 10-year-old lord left in his charge. His tone changes to coldly calculating when tracking down a notorious criminal in "The Red-Headed League." He sounds grimly determined to find a priceless gem and return it to the Countess of Morcar. An excellent listen for Sherlock Holmes fans on those congested commutes. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Hardwicke is sharp and precise as he portrays Holmes's acerbic wit when Holmes engages the intellect of an opera singer who may outmaneuver him in "A Scandal in Bohemia." Then he sounds emotionless as he retells the facts of murder and a missing horse in "Silver Blaze." In the last tale, "The Copper Beeches," Hardwicke conveys Holmes's caustic sarcasm, quickly changing to genuine concern as he listens to governess Violet Hunter relate strange requests and puzzling behavior from her employer, leading to a surprising conclusion. An engaging, well-portrayed delight for Holmes fans. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Family problems lie at the center of the two mysteries that comprise this casebook. "The Priory School" finds Holmes (and Watson, of course) searching for Lord Saltire, a little boy caught in a web of brotherly intrigue. In "The Man with the Twisted Lip," Holmes and Watson discover that fakery can indeed be very rewarding. Narrator John Barnes, with his proper, crisp British accent, vividly creates each unusual character from a well-written script. His pace is comfortable, yet full of energy. M.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Consummate British actor, writer, comedian, and all-round performer Stephen Fry delivers an audio experience to savor in this performance of the entire canon of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes works, beginning with A STUDY IN SCARLET and ending with HIS LAST BOW. However you consume it--during a marathon car trip or by dipping in and out--you'll be entertained and will learn something, for Fry has written introductions to each of the novellas, as well as the two volumes of short stories. We learn everything, including why Conan Doyle began to write about Holmes. (It involves Mark Twain.) Fry's Holmes is crisp and high-handed, his Watson enthusiastic and bemused, and the rest of the narration colorful without being mannered. Have fun. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine