What to read after Sherlock Holmes?

[purple_fishy]

I just finished reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (which I got from MR, thanks MR library!) I am in the mood for another mystery but I am kind of picky. I don't want to read anything with sex scenes, violence, or gore. Someone I know recommended the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. Any other suggestions?

[anamardoll]

Asimov's classic "Lucky Starr" series is basically Sherlock Holmes + Science Fiction, if you're into that sort of thing (right down to Holmes and Watson expy characters!). I'm very fond of the series, but you can't get it in eBook form, such a pity.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Asimov's classic "Lucky Starr" series is basically Sherlock Holmes + Science Fiction, if you're into that sort of thing (right down to Holmes and Watson expy characters!). I'm very fond of the series, but you can't get it in eBook form, such a pity.

(If you can't get it in ebook, does it exist?)

Okay, what you need is....Judge Dee!

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/freeEbook.html

Free e-book!
The Chinese Maze Murders: A Judge Dee Mystery
Robert van Gulik

E-book Free! See below (about e-books)

Poisoned plums, a cryptic scroll picture, passionate love letters, and a hidden murderer with a penchant for torturing and killing women lead Judge Dee to the heart of the Governor’s garden maze and the answers to three interwoven mysteries. The Chinese Maze Murders was the first of van Gulik’s Judge Dee mystery novels.

(Despite the description, this book, written in the 1950s, should not contain any descriptions that will bother the OP. Or me. I get bothered easily...)

"Judge Dee belongs in that select group of fictional detectives headed by the renowned Sherlock Holmes. I assure you it is a compliment not given frivolously." - Robert Kirsch, Los Angeles Times"

This ebook, from this source, will be for the Sony EBRs. I suspect it will work on Nook, too. It's also available for Kindle on Amazon.

[vxf]

What about Agatha Christie?

Always a great read... I like both the main series, but the Miss Marple stories over Poirot.

http://www.goodreads.com/series/51138-hercule-poirot
http://www.goodreads.com/series/51798-miss-marple

[Namekuseijin]

you mean the famous genre "cozy mistery"? Agatha Christie for sure, most direct descendant from Conan-Doyle.

Have you read all the other Sherlock Holmes books? Yes, they are all in the public domain. You may find free copies everywhere, except on Amazon where they usually charge 2 dollars for any ebook, even public domain classics...

BTW, after I read on Holmes first book, A study in Scarlet -- where Watson mentions past works in the detective genre, most notably Poe's Auguste Dupin -- I immediately went on to check out those. So I read the first one -- The murders in the Rue Morgue -- but while interesting as a precursor, turned out too bizarre and inaccurate for current tastes. I heard The Purloined Letter is arguably the best out of the 3 Dupin stories and am looking forward for that...

[purple_fishy]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

you mean the famous genre "cozy mistery"? Agatha Christie for sure, most direct descendant from Conan-Doyle.

Have you read all the other Sherlock Holmes books? Yes, they are all in the public domain. You may find free copies everywhere, except on Amazon where they usually charge 2 dollars for any ebook, even public domain classics...

BTW, after I read on Holmes first book, A study in Scarlet -- where Watson mentions past works in the detective genre, most notably Poe's Auguste Dupin -- I immediately went on to check out those. So I read the first one -- The murders in the Rue Morgue -- but while interesting as a precursor, turned out too bizarre and inaccurate for current tastes. I heard The Purloined Letter is arguably the best out of the 3 Dupin stories and am looking forward for that...

I have read bits of the other books but I tend to try not to fly through a series so that U can make it last linger, if that makes sense. (Probably doesn't to anyone but me lol.)
Thanks for all the suggestions!

[jgaiser]

How about more Sherlock Holmes? There's more available here on MR, including a complete Holmes book.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by purple_fishy

I have read bits of the other books but I tend to try not to fly through a series so that U can make it last linger, if that makes sense. (Probably doesn't to anyone but me lol.)
Thanks for all the suggestions!

I understand this. I held back a Margaret Atwood book for two years because I didn't want to read it and have nothing left of hers to look forward to. Fortunately, she's still publishing at the moment.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

How about more Sherlock Holmes? There's more available here on MR, including a complete Holmes book.

Actually, one could spend a lifetime reading nothing but Sherlockian mysteries, taking into account all the pastiches out there. But when you run out of the real thing, look for more under the signature of Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr.

[purple_fishy]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Actually, one could spend a lifetime reading nothing but Sherlockian mysteries, taking into account all the pastiches out there. But when you run out of the real thing, look for more under the signature of Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr.

Thanks for the two suggestions. Are they Sherlock Holmes "spinoffs" or continuations? I know there is a huge movement of Austen spinoffs and sequels, I figure there might be some for Sherlock Holmes as well. Though they never really measure up to the golden standard, at least none of the Austen continuations do...

[purple_fishy]

Originally Posted by Harmon

(If you can't get it in ebook, does it exist?)

Okay, what you need is....Judge Dee!

(Despite the description, this book, written in the 1950s, should not contain any descriptions that will bother the OP. Or me. I get bothered easily...)


This ebook, from this source, will be for the Sony EBRs. I suspect it will work on Nook, too. It's also available for Kindle on Amazon.

Thanks! I just ordered the free copy, will be excited to read it.

[dreams]

How about The "Raffles" stories by E.W.Hornung, since you have just read the Sherlock Holmes ones?

"One of the things that Raffles has in common with Holmes is a mastery of disguise"
"As Holmes has Dr. Watson to chronicle his adventures, Raffles has Harry "Bunny" Manders"

A bit of background to the series, courtesy of Wikipedia [Warning: if you're not familiar with the stories, there are some minor "spoilers" here!]

Spoiler:

A.J. Raffles is a character created in the 1890s by E. W. Hornung, a brother-in-law to Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Raffles is, in many ways, a deliberate inversion of Holmes — he is a "gentleman thief," living in "The Albany", a very upscale address in London, playing cricket for the "Gentlemen of England" and supporting himself by carrying out ingenious burglaries. He is called the "Amateur Cracksman," and often, at first, differentiates between himself and the "professors" — professional criminals from the lower classes.

All of the above are parts from the upload page by HarryT here on MobileRead.
epub | Mobi/prc

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Actually, one could spend a lifetime reading nothing but Sherlockian mysteries, taking into account all the pastiches out there. But when you run out of the real thing, look for more under the signature of Adrian Conan Doyle and John Dickson Carr.

I was just about to suggest John Dickson Carr. And if you like the sheer puzzle aspect of the books, Ellery Queen is enjoyable. And of course, Dorothy Sayers' books about Lord Peter Wimsey.

[anjirlly]

Originally Posted by purple_fishy

Are they Sherlock Holmes "spinoffs" or continuations? I know there is a huge movement of Austen spinoffs and sequels, I figure there might be some for Sherlock Holmes as well. Though they never really measure up to the golden standard, at least none of the Austen continuations do...

My favorite continuation of Sherlock Holmes is the series by Laurie R. King. It starts with The Beekeeper's Apprentice. It envisions Holmes as a bored retiree who sets off on new adventures with a brilliant, teenaged American who moves to England after losing both parents. There is some violence, so I wouldn't characterize it as a cozy.

[purple_fishy]

Whoa, there are so many awesome books suggested here! I love this forum. I already uploaded the ones available here on MR, I will be hitting up my local used bookstores for the ones not available as ebooks. Thanks guys!