Those interested in Sherlock Holmes may want to check out a couple of books I recently picked up.

The first is called The Science of Sherlock Holmes by E.J. Wagner. It’s a short (200 page) book that covers the forensic science behind the stories. It illustrates how many of the stories used (what was) cutting edge science. For those interested in forensics and/or Holmes, it’s worth checking out (though a bit pricey–see if you can find it used or at the library).

The second has actually been out for a year or two now, but I just picked it up. It’s called The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, edited by Leslie Klinger. There are three volumes in the set. The first covers the Adventures and Memoirs collections. The second covers Return, Last Bow, and Case-Book. The third (which I don’t have) covers the novels.

Good annotations can be wonderful editions to read, especially for older books. For those unfamiliar, an annotated version is basically the original text with a ton of side-notes. This helps a modern reader to understand older phrases or concepts that are no longer in widespread use. Very helpful if you want to learn more about the history surrounding a writing.

Now these books are gigantic. Volume One is over 750 pages and Volume Two is over 1800 pages! And the paperbacks are trade, meaning that they are the same size as the hardcover editions. Not pocket books, that’s for sure! You can find the hardcover editions for about $60 on Amazon, and they are well worth the price. However, I was able to pick the set up from the Quality Paperback Book Club for only $20 (with free shipping)! It’s an absolute steal at that price. Not only do you get all of the short stories, but you get annotations and many illustrations, too.

If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I highly recommended picking up these books–especially the New Annotated set.