Sherlock Holmes: The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes Review

After the success of the Jonathan Barnes-penned "The Adventure of the Perfidious Mariner" in 2012, Big Finish gave Barnes the keys to the kingdom of Sherlock Holmes. The first of Barnes' contributions since was "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes", a four-hour box-set with stories set throughout the Holmes cannon. And, I'll put my cards on the table right now - these might be my favourite Sherlock Holmes stories in any medium, be it film, TV, prose or audio. They have the true heart and soul of the original Conan Doyle stories, but feel fresh and new and exciting, and together they make for something very, very special.

The first story, "The Guttering Candle" goes to a period that, to my knowledge, has never been explored before - the period of Holmes and Watson's lives before their first meeting in "A Study in Scarlet". While Watson finds his services called upon in a most unusual way, Holmes makes the acquaintance of Inspector Lestrade, while investigating the body of a strange man washed up in the Thames. What seem like inauspicious events will cast a long shadow, however, on the lives of both men... "The Guttering Candle" makes for quite a low-key start to "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes", but it's importance to the narrative is not to be understated. It's a strange tale, though, as Holmes and Watson's storylines remain separate, and, as such, there's none of the regular badinage that defines the tales of Sherlock Holmes. However, this unusual choice works well here, as we see two young men making choices they believe to be correct and honourable, all the while not realising what is really going on behind the scenes. It's also notable for being the story that depicts the meeting between Holmes and Lestrade, and it's really nice to see how the mutual respect between the two characters grows and develops across the story. Watson, meanwhile, has to care for an injured man, and his passages are some of the most lyrical and beautiful in the whole set. The descriptions of Afghanistan paint a vivid picture of this ruggedly beautiful land, and we get a chance to see how, even this early in his life, Watson is a beacon of true virtuosity and morality. This story also touches upon contemporary issues too, and helps reinforce the idea of this being a modern take on Sherlock Holmes. While a lot of the questions and mysteries this story poses are left unresolved, it doesn't feel at all frustrating, and the story promises that these will be resolved at a later date without labouring the point. Overall, "The Guttering Candle" is a good start to the box-set, doing something that few Holmes stories have ever attempted. It's a low-key start to the epic to come, but works perfectly at setting up the ongoing storylines for the set, as well as showing a period of Holmes and Watson's lives we've never really touched on before.

The second story, "The Adventure of the Gamekeeper's Folly", moves us forward in time to a point where Holmes, recently returned from the dead following "The Final Problem", is at the height of his powers. A gamekeeper comes to him with a problem involving his daughter, an author of lurid fiction and a strange affliction that blights them both. Holmes and Watson are initially dismissive, but, when they finally visit the gamekeeper and his daughter, they find that something terrible is amiss... and the case will have far-reaching consequences for them both. "The Adventure of the Gamekeeper's Folly" is, without question, one of the finest Sherlock Holmes stories in the whole history of the cannon, and a testament to the legacy of Conan Doyle's works. The idea of finally exposing Sherlock Holmes' hubris and vanity has often been contemplated and considered by writers, often ending up verging into the realms of melodrama, or away from the character laid down by Doyle. This story, however, does it in exactly the right way, with a small-scale story where what makes it so important is not the mystery at hand, but the effect Holmes and Watson's deductions have on the secondary players. The everyman of Jim Hinderclay is the perfect character to have his life destroyed by Holmes' vanity, and you really feel for him when his life falls apart. Hinderclay reminds us that there are real people in these tales of grizzly murder and terrible crime. Often in Sherlock Holmes stories, the secondary characters become merely vessels for the advancement of the plot, and, beyond the story needs, they don't really have a life of their own. This isn't the case in any of "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes", and each one challenges the main characters in different ways. The events of this story frame a completely different perspective on the first episode, and we see everything that first episode presented in a different light. What's important about this set isn't so much the individual mysteries (as well-written and fun to work out as they are), but the overall story, and the mystery that runs throughout each of the stories. But, ultimately, what makes "The Adventure of the Gamekeeper's Folly" such a notable story is the idea of looking at Holmes and Watson's failings and vanities, and how their responsibilities can lead to people getting killed. For that alone, this deserves its place as one of the greatest Sherlock Holmes stories of all time.

All that, however, is eclipsed by the third story in the box-set, "The Adventure of the Bermondsey Cutthroats", which is, hands down, the best Sherlock Holmes story ever written. Murders are taking place all across London, and they seemingly have a connection to Sherlock Holmes. As more and more people fall victim to this terrible conspiracy, Holmes finds himself facing the consequences of his actions in the most terrible way. By the end, Sherlock Holmes will be a changed man... If you've heard Jonathan Barnes' previous Sherlock Holmes audio "The Adventure of the Perfidious Mariner", you'll know that, towards the end of his life, Holmes retired to the South Downs after some huge tragedy that shook his faith in his own ability. This story shows what that tragedy was. It's amazing that this kind of story was never considered by Conan Doyle, as it seems a perfect fit for Sherlock Holmes, and gives us a chance to examine his actions throughout his many cases. Linking back through the history of the Holmes cannon, this is a story for die-hard fans through and through, as well as developing the ongoing story of the box-set in some hugely surprising ways. There's at least three massive twists in this story that I didn't see coming, and it's a roller-coaster ride as each one is unveiled. To say any more would invite spoilers, but it pushes Holmes into as dark a place as it is possible for the character to go. There's a moment, at the climax of the drama where Nicholas Briggs' performance literally sent shivers down my spine, that's how powerful it was. The villain's motivation for what they are doing to Holmes is believable, and it reminds us of that theme brought up in the second story to great effect: the theme of consequences to Holmes' actions. Honestly, it's hard to talk about this episode without spoiling it completely, so let me just say this - go and listen to "The Adventure of the Bermondsey Cutthroats". Just go and listen to it now. Because it is a story that I have, no doubt, that Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle would have very much approved of. It's got everything you would want from a Sherlock Holmes story - and so much more besides. Forget Basil Rathbone's "The Hound of the Baskervilles". Forget Jeremy Brett's "The Speckled Band". Forget Benedict Cumberbatch's "The Reichenbach Fall". "The Adventure of the Bermondsey Cutthroats" is the single best Sherlock Holmes story ever - and I do not exaggerate with that statement.

The final story, "The Sowers of Despair" pushes Big Finish's Sherlock Holmes range into uncharted territory - going beyond Conan Doyle's final chronological story "His Last Bow", and depicting what happened to Holmes and Watson after the conclusion of the First World War. A new country has been born out of the chaos and strife of the Great War - a happy and prosperous nation. But an old enemy of Holmes and Watson is in charge, and soon, the pair find themselves meeting someone who has been watching the two men throughout their careers... "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes" comes to a more thoughtful and sombre conclusion than that you might be expecting, considering the preceding episodes. However, it perfectly suits a Sherlock Holmes story, as we find out the truth behind what has been really going on throughout the set. Like all good mysteries, the clues were there from the very beginning, and it will be interesting to see if listening back to the set will put a different light on the first three episodes. But, suffice to say, "The Sowers of Despair" ties together all the threads of the previous stories, as well as acting as a semi-sequel to "The Adventure of the Perfidious Mariner". It's not necessary to have heard that story, but a working knowledge would be pretty useful, I feel. You'll understand the inciting incident of this episode a lot better I feel, although there's enough explanation to carry those along who haven't heard that story. I also found it a fascinating experience listening to Holmes, not Watson, narrate this adventure, as, while it's somewhat more clinical than Watson's style, what makes it interesting is the similarities the two narrators share. It just reminds the listener, one more time, of how similar the two men are, and how much of a positive influence Watson has had on Holmes. When you compare and contrast the Holmes of "The Guttering Candle" with the Holmes of this episode, you can really see just how far the character has come. One small issue I did have with this story, however, (and it is a small one) was one aspect of the ending. Now, I shan't give too much away for fear of spoilers, but there was one element that seemed to be resolved incredibly suddenly, with what seemed like only a cursory explanation. Now, I get that it was maybe one twist too far, but I think it could have been handled better than it was. That being said, it is only a minor complaint, and the only one I have with this final story. Bringing the whole box-set together, "The Sowers of Despair" is a fine final story for this set, and as good a complete summation of the Holmes/Watson relationship as anyone could hope to manage.

Once again, the production on this release is as exemplary as any you'd find in a Big Finish production. From acting to directing to post-production, these elements are absolutely first-rate, and help to build the atmosphere of Victorian London, the plains of Afghanistan, the rural wildness of Norfolk and the rugged cities of post-war Europe in the listener's ear. A lot of the actors appear throughout the set, such as Michael Cochrane, Blake Ritson, Eve Karpf, John Banks and Derek Carlyle, and they all bring so much to the parts, lifting them beyond what was on the page. Some, like Ken Bones and Caroline Keiff, may only appear in the one episode, but they make a memorable impression on the story. Of course, the whole thing is held together by Nicholas Briggs and Richard Earl as Holmes and Watson respectively, both of whom live and breath these parts now. It's hard to say that any version of Holmes and Watson is absolutely definitive: after all, the parts have been played by so many different people. However, I would say that Briggs and Earl are perhaps the closest any modern interpretation has come to capturing the original vision for the characters Conan Doyle had. The dynamic between the pair of them is less 'super smart detective and dunce assistant', but rather more a pair of equals who compliment and balance out the worst excesses of each other. All of this is aided by the direction of Ken Bentley, who brings out wonderful performances from the cast, as well as making sure the soundscape works for the listener. Finally, Howard Carter brings the worlds of Sherlock Holmes to life with some truly wonderful sound design. The soundscape sounds totally authentic to the Victorian era, and helps transport the listener out of their everyday reality. The music is cinematic and helps bring out the tension, excitement, danger and emotion in the stories. All told, the production on this set is as standout as any Big Finish production, and highlights just how much Big Finish put into their audios, and why they are such a highly regarded company for the attention to detail they have to each and every story.

Overall, then, "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes" is probably one of the finest takes on the great detective in modern times. The combination of four fantastic scripts, some great actors and some peerless post-production work makes for a incredibly compelling box-set. Two of these stories are some of the finest Sherlock Holmes material I have ever come across, while, as a whole, the arc storyline pulls you in and makes you want to listen to the whole thing in one go. I had a blast listening to "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes", and I really would recommend it to everyone - whether you're a die-hard fan of the Holmes cannon, a more casual lover of the films and TV shows or even a complete Sherlock Holmes virgin, you'll get something out of this. "The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes" is Jonathan Barnes' Holmes masterpiece, and I would honestly say that it's one of my favourite box-sets Big Finish have ever released. This is seriously good stuff.