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Best 2020 Sherlock Holmes Books, Movies, DVDs, & More
By Randall Stock, November 1, 2020 (History)
Sherlock Holmes is more popular than ever, which means there are lots of new books, movies, and Sherlockiana. The reviews and recommendations below can help you focus on the best ones from 2020. If you're just getting started with Holmes, see the Top 10 Choices for New Fans. This site also reviews newer Sherlockian items to consider.
New in 2020: Top Holmes Items
| Category | # of Items |
|---|---|
| 2020 Holmes Fiction | 6 |
| 2020 Holmes DVDs, Movies, and Related | 3 |
| 2020 Books About Holmes & Conan Doyle | 5 |
Newer Recommended Sherlockiana and the Best Holmes books, DVDs, & Blu-Ray from other years
Best 2020 Sherlock Holmes Books – Fiction
The year's best fictional Holmes books published in 2020. Listed in order by author, see also About the Choices and E-books.
Prices as of November 2020; subject to change.
The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars by Anthony Boucher
Five members of the BSI go to Hollywood in 1940 to help with
a new Sherlock Holmes movie, but are soon involved with an impossible murder
where they are suspects. Filled with clues from the original Holmes tales,
this twisty and humorous fair-play mystery is a must-read for Holmes fans.
Boucher wrote this classic while the BSI was still in its infancy. You don't
need to know anything about the BSI to enjoy it, but having read all the Holmes
stories will make it even better. This delightfully fun and funny mystery has
been newly reprinted.
($15.95 SRP; Amazon US listing $13.89)
The Great Shelby Holmes and the Haunted Hound by Elizabeth Eulberg
Middle-schooler Shelby Holmes and her friend John Watson investigate a haunted apartment building in Harlem. Young readers will find relatable characters, albeit with a bit too much political correctness, and some reasonable clues and deductions. However, older Sherlockians will enjoy how the author adds allusions to the original tales beyond the many character names. The first in the series, The Great Shelby Holmes, provides some useful backstory especially for younger readers. ($16.99 SRP; Amazon US listing $15.99)
Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King
King continues to offer some of the best-written stories
involving Sherlock Holmes, with interesting characters and good pacing. The
latest in her long-running
Mary Russell series is somewhat better than the last installment, but there
is still a bit too much of Holmes and Russell meeting famous historical
figures. However, King does a fine job of evoking the era and exotic setting. Series
newcomers should start with The
Beekeeper's Apprentice, or at least read The Murder of Mary Russell to
better appreciate the role of Mrs. Hudson in Riviera Gold.
($28.00 SRP;
Amazon US listing $19.39)
Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove
In the days before Christmas, Holmes and Watson investigate a murder and a haunting that threatens the sanity of a young heiress. A good book to read by the fireplace on a cold winter's night, this Christmas mystery features atmospheric settings, some clever deductions, and occasionally dialogue in the best Conan Doyle style. Lovegrove delivers a solid pure pastiche without the fantasy elements of his prior Holmes- Cthulhu crossover or his steampunk Stuff of Nightmares. Although the resolution is only average, the echoes from The Hound of the Baskervilles and other Holmes stories add to the enjoyment. ($19.99 SRP; Amazon US listing $15.99)
The Devil's Due by Bonnie MacBird
A serial killer with a flair for exotic murders stalks London in 1890, and even threatens Mycroft Holmes. MacBird writes a fast-paced thriller that is hard to put down. She has a cinematic style and an action-packed approach that is a bit similar to the Robert Downey Jr. movies. Modern attitudes and language sometimes intrude, but not enough to distract. MacBird has an interesting take on Sherlock's relationship with Mycroft, and her street-savvy "irregular" orphan girl Heffie is fun and appealing. The series began with Art in the Blood, but you can read The Devil's Due on its own. ($16.99 SRP; Amazon US listing $15.93)
The Great Hotel Murder by Vincent Starrett
A man dies after switching rooms with another man at a great
hotel in 1930s Chicago. Was it suicide, a murder, or mistaken identity?
Reading this Golden Age mystery reminded me of that excellent 1934 movie
The Thin Man, with a bantering attitude and even a wire terrier.
While not a Holmes story, many consider Starrett to be the leading Sherlockian
of his time. He slips in a few Holmes references and allusions. The plot has
a few holes, but it remains an entertaining romp that is reissued for the first
time in over eighty years.
($15.95 SRP; Amazon US listing $15.82)
See also the current Year's Best Holmes fiction and the Best Holmes fiction from other years for more excellent choices.
Or search just this website using Google for other reviews of authors or book titles:
Best 2020 Sherlock Holmes DVDs, Blu-ray Movies, and Related
The year's best DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, videos, movie-related and audio items released in 2020. See also About the Choices.
Prices as of November 2020; subject to change.
The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes Starring Hans Albers (DVD / Blu-ray)
Morris Flint and Macky McPherson pretend to be Holmes and Watson in a marvelous mix of comedy, mystery, and adventure. Nothing is quite what it seems in this twisty and fast-paced escapade. With excellent production values and an appealing cast that includes one of Germany's top stars in the 1930s, this movie is solid entertainment for everyone, and a must-see for Sherlockians. The new Blu-ray provides fine picture quality and mono sound. Its optional English subtitles are so good that you almost forget the cast is speaking German. No other extras; also released as Two Merry Adventurers. ($19.95 SRP; Amazon US listing $12.49 DVD, $19.49 Blu-ray)
Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards
You can play whist at the Bagatelle Card Club with these
cards, or Texas Hold 'em with your friends, but the real highlight comes via
the full-color artwork on the face of each card from Holmes movie posters,
books and magazines. Each card is different, so you get 54 (including the
jokers) high-quality images. Most of them come from movie posters, with many
featuring foreign films or foreign versions of American productions. For a
limited time the vendor will ship multiple decks to the USA for a flat price.
(£6.00
SRP; not on Amazon, see vendor website)
Miss Sherlock (Shen tan Xialuoke xiao jie) Season One Starring Yuko Takeuchi (DVD)
Take three parts BBC Sherlock, one part Elementary, and one part original Canon. Cast women as both Holmes and Watson. Set the series in modern Japan. Shake (don't stir) and you get HBO Asia's Miss Sherlock. It has some good points, but the main appeal comes from the Japanese culture and settings. Simplistic English subtitles lack nuance or imagination. The 3-disc DVD set (released in 2019) is hard to find, but try searching both title variants at your library or UPC# 9555499413158. You can probably watch it on-demand from HBO or download it from this Amazon US listing ($19.99).
Not Yet on Disc
Enola Holmes Starring Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill
While streaming video is convenient, discs generally offer a better experience. Many Sherlockians have praised this movie, but I will wait for the Blu-ray. In the meantime, you can read about Sherlock Holmes's teenage sister in the Enola Holmes mysteries by Nancy Springer, starting with The Case of the Missing Marquess. The movie is based on that book. If you cannot wait a year, you can watch Enola Holmes now on Netflix.
See also the current Year's Best Holmes DVDs & movies and the Best Holmes movies from other years for more excellent choices.
Or search just this website using Google for other reviews of movie/TV material:
Best 2020 Books About Holmes & Conan Doyle
The year's best books about Holmes or Conan Doyle published in 2020. Listed in order by author, see also About the Choices and E-books.
Prices as of November 2020; subject to change.
The Annotated White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle; ed. by Doug Elliott and Roy Pilot
Critics generally agree this tale of knights and adventure
was the best of Conan Doyle's historical novels. More descriptive and denser
than his Holmes tales, this edition provides context and explanations that will
help you better understand and appreciate the story. Other highlights include Nicholas Meyer's foreword, full-page
color illustrations by N. C. Wyeth, and other drawings by George Willis
Bardwell. It would be better as a hardcover with a larger gutter that would
lay flatter for easier reading, but it remains an impressive work of
scholarship.
($48.95 SRP; not on Amazon, see Wessex Press website)
Commissionaire by Sonia Fetherston
Most Sherlockians know the names of Morley and Starrett.
Many have heard of Edgar W. Smith. But when it comes to that critical third
generation of leadership where groups and businesses tend to falter, few know the
full story of Julian Wolff. In this highly-readable combination of traditional
biography and oral history, Sonia Fetherston delves into the enigmatic Julian
Wolff and covers important moments in BSI history. I do wish it had an index,
but the anecdotes alone are worth your time and money.
($21.95 SRP; not on
Amazon, see the BSI website)
Conan Doyle's Wide World: Sherlock Holmes and Beyond by Andrew Lycett
Conan Doyle wrote multiple books about his world travels, as
well as many essays, articles and stories that provide a unique sense of time
and place. He visited the Arctic, Africa, Canada, America, Egypt, Australia,
New Zealand, Switzerland, and more. Lycett produced an excellent Conan Doyle biography, and in
this new book selects some of the best and most interesting examples of Conan
Doyle's writings about places around the world. Many also reveal something of
Sir Arthur's attitudes and personality. You can read it a chapter at a time
and in any order.
($28.00 SRP; Amazon US listing $12.49)
Mysterious Obsession by Otto Penzler
While operating the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City,
Penzler built an amazing collection of mystery, crime, suspense, espionage, and
detective fiction. He tells the story of that collection, as well as
bookselling and literary adventures, through anecdotes about key items in it.
While he does not feature any Holmes books, he does mention a number of great
Sherlockian collectors. If you collect books, or if you're interested in
bookselling and the world of books, you will love Mysterious Obsession.
($40.00 SRP; not on Amazon, see Mysterious
Bookshop website)
The Worst Man in London by Daniel Stashower and Constantine Rossakis (eds.)
Conan Doyle borrowed heavily from a Raffles story when writing "Charles Augustus Milverton," but he produced a far more memorable tale. As with other BSI facsimiles, this volume reproduces his original manuscript with a transcription and detailed annotations, along with the history of its writing and ownership. Other essays discuss Watson's role, TV adaptations, a source for Milverton, illustrations, unanswered questions and anomalies in the tale, and much more. ($39.95 SRP; not on Amazon, see the BSI website)
See also the current Year's Best Books About Holmes & Doyle and the Best Books About Holmes & Doyle from other years for more fine choices.
Or search just this website using Google for other reviews of authors or book titles:
This site first published its "Best of Year" reviews and recommendations in 2009. See the current Year's Best Sherlock Holmes books and movies and the Other Years' Best Sherlock Holmes books and DVDs. People just getting started with Holmes should see the best choices for new Sherlockians.
This page's 2020 list was first posted on November 1, 2020.
About Kindle and Other E-books
A Kindle version of most of these books is available, but I don't list the e-book or its price unless it's hard to find on Amazon. Typically the Kindle Edition will be listed in the Formats box to the right of a book's cover photo.
When a book is available in both print and e-text, I review the print edition.
Return to Holmes Fiction or to Books About Holmes & Doyle.
My choices are based on 30+ years of reading and collecting Sherlockiana. I'm a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, have written numerous Sherlockian articles, and have spoken about Conan Doyle rarities for conferences at Harvard and the University of Minnesota.
I limited the number of items in order to make this list easier and faster for people to use. Items released near the end of 2020 may not be on this list, so be sure to check my 2021 recommendations as well. And see these details on my selection process and criteria.
In most cases I've given both the U.S. suggested retail price (SRP) and the price at Amazon as of November 2020; those prices are of course subject to change.
The 10 Best Gifts for New Sherlock Holmes Fans
The Current Year's Best Sherlock Holmes books and DVDs / Blu-ray
Best Sherlock Holmes books and DVDs / Blu-ray from prior years
The 10 Best Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes Movies and DVDs
The Best Sherlock Holmes Stories
The Top 10 Quotes from the Sherlock Holmes stories
Other Top 10 Lists for Sherlock Holmes and Conan Doyle
Vers. 2.1bx-RN Original work
Copyright ©2020
Randall Stock. All Rights Reserved.