How about that, I got approved for an ARC of this book on NetGalley! I must admit that I started to read this book the very same evening I got the approve mail.

Here is some thought about each story from the collection:

Holmes on the Range by John Connolly - 5 stars

Despite having read this story before did I have no problem reading it again. But, then again, this is one of my favorite stories, written by one of my favorite authors. And, it's still just as funny as it was the first time I read it.

Irregular by Meg Gardiner - 2 stars

This story just didn't work that well for me: I found quite bland and when the suspect was revealed could I not for a moment place him, despite the stories short length. Yes, I read part of the story walking my cat, but honestly, I usually remember the characters better if they make an impression. I just didn't find the story intriguing

Where there is honey by Dana Cameron - 3 stars

A bit better than the previous story, but still not a favorite in the book. I found Dr. Watson a bit caddish in the book and it felt odd to think of him having had a relationship with Mrs. Hudson. However, he did seem to be smarter than he sometimes is portrayed and that I liked.

Before a Bohemian Scandal by Tasha Alexander - 3.5 stars

This story, however, is one that I like very much since it gives us the story about how Irene Adler came to meet the crown prince and how she ended up with the photo of them both that he so desperately wanted back. I especially liked how Irene is portrayed as not a cunning shrewd woman out to deceive the crown prince.

The Spiritualist by David Morrell - 3 stars

Interesting story with Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle getting a surprise visit that makes him question his belief in the spirit world.

Mrs. Hudson Investigates by Tony Lee & Bevis Musson - 1 star

A comic that tries to be funny, but felt more and less like a tiresome way of showing how clever Mrs. Hudson is. As a deeper story and not a comic perhaps it would have been better, but honestly, I doubt that since it was way too silly.

The Adventure of the Dancing Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan - 3 stars

Ah, this story was actually quite amusing to read. I see great potentials with both the characters and the story. This would make a lovely cozy mystery series with "Holmes" & "Watson" solving crimes. I quite liked it, it was easygoing to read.

Raffa by Anne Perry - 3.5 stars

Such a sweet and heartwarming story. This I could see as a real book as well with an actor playing Sherlock Holmes solving real case beside his acting job. Pretty cool!

The Crown Jewel Affair by Michael Scott - 3 stars

Not bad at all, but this is a story that would have been better if it's been longer and more fleshed out since I quite liked the idea of a female thief/bordello madame.

Understudy in Scarlet by Hallie Ephron - 3.5 stars

I quite liked this story about an aging actress that thinks that she is getting the young Irene Adler part, but as it turns out is a bit wrong. Feels a bit like Murder She Wrote episode, but without Jessica Fletcher of course...

Martin X by Gary Philips - 2 stars

Not a story that made a big impression on me.

The Painted Smile by William Kent Krueger - 2 stars

This one also was a bit bland.

The First Mrs. Coulter by Catriona McPerson - 3 stars

This one at least had a clever ending that I at first missed but got when I re-read the ending to see what the point of it was.

The Case of the Speckled Trout by Deborah Crombie - 2 stars

Not my cup of tea. it seems that the best stories came first in this collection.

The Adventure of the Empty Grave by Jonathan Maberry - 2 stars

Started off interesting and then my interest was promptly lost.

Limited Resources by Denis Mina - 2 stars

Same as the story before. I liked the twist to the story, but I can't say I really cared that much about the whole story. Mostly because I couldn't see how any motive to murder, Well, of course, being a crazy murderer doesn't really mean that you have to have a motive other than being crazy...

The Adventure of the Extraordinary Rendition by Cory Doctorow - 1 star

DULL! The one story in the collection that I mostly skimmed just to get through.

Final thoughts:

When it comes to anthologies have I never, as far as I know, read one where all the stories work for me. However, I had high hopes for this one and it started off great with Holmes on the Range by John Connolly a favorite story of mine, one that I read before and didn't mind reading again. Then, the stories varied quite a lot with some quite good, and some less interesting to read. For me, some were really interesting because I could see the potential for longer stories, or even a series of stories. Others were even hard to read, despite being novellas and not novels.

I want to thank Pegasus Books for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

This selection is better than some of the others in the series, with some excellent stories from a very wide range of angles and perspectives. Very enjoyable. ( )

I read this during a travel some months ago, and promptly forgot everything about it. Yes, it IS that forgettable. But then, I only have me to blame, as this kind of shamelessly baiting has already got me hooked before, with [b:In the Company of Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon|20729839|In the Company of Sherlock Holmes Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon|Laurie R. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1413752015s/20729839.jpg|40053865], which I think I forgot to review, too.

The stories are written, mostly, by people who usually write other detectives, and that's the only tenue link to Holmes' stories. And, shame on them, the short stories aren't even really interesting.

If you're looking for Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, do it elsewhere. They are not here.
( )

Short stories are hard and Mixed-author anthologies are exceptionally hard to rate because there are always some authors and stories that work for a reader and some that don't. This is probably closer to a 3.5—there were no 5-star stories, but nor were there any 1-star stories—but it's not quite consistent enough to round up to four=stars. ( )

Mostly good short stories; some quite good by Perry, Kent Kreuger, Alexander and Connolly. ( )