The dispatch-box of Doctor John H. Watson, the faithful companion and
biographer of Sherlock Holmes, was the second such box to be sent to Hugh
Ashton, who has edited and commented on the adventures in this volume.
With two exceptions, these stories have appeared previously in print, in
the Dispatch-box series published by Inknbeans Press.
Here, though, for the first time in one edition, in homage to the original
style of The Strand Magazine, are the adventures of Sherlock Holmes in:
- The Affair of the Vatican Cameos
- The Reigate Poisoning Case
- The Reigate Poisoning Case: Concluded
- The Story of John Henry Augustus Clay (as told by himself)
- The Abernetty Horror
- The Adventure of the Finsbury House
- The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon
- An Account of the Victor Lynch Forgery (by Inspector Lestrade)
- The Russian Bear
- The Adventure of the Hand of Glory
- The Adventure of the Disappearing Spoon
- The Lichfield Murder
- The Case of the Two Detectives
- The Tarleton Murders
- The Case of the Abominable Wife
- Vamberry the Wine Merchant
- The Singular Affair of the Aluminium Crutch
- The Adventure of the Two Bottles
Hugh Ashton has been praised as being one of the authors who come closest
to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his depiction of the great detective and his
world.
"Hugh Ashton ... reproduces the Watson style very acceptably, and great
care is taken over the appearance of his texts." The District Messenger,
newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London.