Beds headteacher’s Number 1 hit Sherlock Holmes book
Added: (Tue Mar 23 2021)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
A Bedfordshire headteacher has made up for the disappointment of being pipped at the post in Mastermind by taking Sherlock Holmes to number one.
Alex Prior, who finished runner-up in Junior Mastermind 35 years ago, decided during lockdown that the world’s most famous detective required some fresh challenges.
And his masterful The Lost Case Files of Sherlock Holmes has just gone straight to the top of Amazon’s historic literature chart.
Alex’s debut publication has also been rewarded with almost entirely five-star reviews from dozens of appreciative readers.
The 50-year-old admits his attention to late 19th century detail as well as Conan Doyle’s distinctive style has won over fans of the historic detective.
Alex, who is a former media producer and scriptwriter, said: “The idea for writing The Lost Case Files of Sherlock Holmes came from the almost visceral disappointment that there aren't more truly authentic Holmes stories than those Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had written.
“I spent a lot of time making the stories historically accurate and plausible, and all the facts, places and some events did happen, but perhaps in a slightly different way.
“I was very conscious that Holmes aficionados are extremely well informed and sticklers for accuracy - in the best possible way - so everything had to be spot on in every respect or it wouldn't work for them.
“I wrote the majority of it during the evenings of the first lockdown, school and remote learning still kept me fully occupied during the days - I decided that I was determined to do something constructive with my complete lack of social life.”
The Lost Case Files of Sherlock Holmes contain six new thrilling adventures for Holmes and Dr John Watson, all written in the style, structure and language of Conan Doyle.
Staying true to the original stories has been appreciated by reviewers, who have posted, ‘the author has most definitely captured the mood and language of Arthur Conan Doyle and late Victorian London’, ‘authentic and, even more importantly, well-written’, and ‘a joy to read and a triumph by the author’.
Lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan James Kerr said: “This is a fantastic collection and it really does feel as if it is written by Doyle himself.
Another reviewer said: “This author is a serious talent. And going by this book, he is unsurpassed in capturing the ALL of the authentic Holmes and Watson. He is quite simply the best I have ever read
Alex admits the response to, and sales of, The Lost Case Files of Sherlock Holmes have convinced him to write a further collection of stories featuring the world-famous detective.
But he wants to finish his current sci-fi project first.
The father-of-two added: “The reaction to the collection has been overwhelmingly positive,
“As it has all been so positive and gained excellent, and rather humbling, reader reviews, I feel pretty sure there will be a second volume in due course as I have no shortage of ideas.
“Having definitely caught the writing bug I am currently working on a sci-fi rollercoaster of an adventure for teens to adults though, so I'll aim to complete that first.”
For more details, visit Amazon and search for Alex Prior, where the paperback and Kindle formats of The Lost Case Files of Sherlock Holmes are both available.
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