"the high opinion formed of him by his contemporaries." [VALL]

When the first Sherlock Holmes short stories came on the scene, they were something of a novelty: non-serialized, self-contained tales that put the Strand Magazine on the map.

As with any success story, this one inspired imitators. These contemporaries of Sherlock Holmes inhabited the pages of the Strand and many other magazines of the day. Author Michael Cohen has stepped forward to catalog and categorize them from the years 1891 to 1914. This surprising array of characters includes those who were consciously not trying to be Sherlock Holmes, ranging from the occult to females, bumbling detectives, doctors and scientists, the criminal class and more.

In The Golden Era of Sherlock Holmes and His Contemporaries, Cohen gives us a handy and valuable resource; its subtitle indicates it is a Mystery Guide and Finding List. For readers interested in detectives in this golden era, this book is an essential companion to help identify and locate these sometimes famous, sometimes obscure detectives.

We also take a quick look at Sherlockian societies in "The Learned Societies" segment, Madeline Quiñones tells us about her absolute favorite Sherlock Holmes podcast in "A Chance of Listening," and the Canonical Couplet quiz tests your knowledge with a reward of a copy of The Golden Era of Sherlock Holmes and His Contemporaries for one lucky winner. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock .com by March 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.

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