Michael Hardwick

Michael Hardwick was a British author who wrote several Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels during the 1970s and 1980s. His contributions to the Holmes canon focused on creating new mysteries that maintained Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style and atmospheric Victorian London setting. His 1979 novel "The Prisoner of the Devil" featured Holmes and Watson investigating a case involving French politics and the Dreyfus Affair. The book demonstrated Hardwick's ability to weave historical events into his fictional detective narratives. "The Revenge of the Hound" (1987) served as a sequel to Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and returned to the atmospheric setting of Dartmoor. The novel revisited several characters from the original story while presenting a new mystery. Hardwick also wrote adaptations of classic Holmes radio plays and contributed to other works related to the detective genre. His attention to period detail and careful preservation of established character traits earned him recognition among Holmes enthusiasts and pastiche writers.

Readers appreciate Hardwick's fidelity to Conan Doyle's writing style and Victorian atmosphere. Reviews note his historical research and accurate portrayal of Holmes and Watson's relationship dynamics. In "The Prisoner of the Devil," readers highlight the detailed integration of the Dreyfus Affair into the plot. One Amazon reviewer states: "Hardwick captures Holmes's deductive methods while teaching us about a fascinating historical event." Common criticisms include slower pacing than Conan Doyle's originals and occasional overemphasis on historical minutiae. Some readers of "The Revenge of the Hound" found the callbacks to the original Baskerville story excessive. Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "Prisoner of the Devil" - 3.7/5 (89 ratings) - Goodreads: "Revenge of the Hound" - 3.5/5 (124 ratings) - Amazon: Average 3.8/5 across his Holmes novels - LibraryThing: 3.6/5 overall author rating The limited number of online reviews and ratings suggests Hardwick maintains a niche but dedicated following among Holmes pastiche readers.

The Prisoner of the Devil (1979) Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate a complex case involving the historic Dreyfus Affair and French political intrigue, taking them from London to Paris.

The Revenge of the Hound (1987) A direct sequel to The Hound of the Baskervilles sees Holmes and Watson return to Dartmoor to solve another mysterious case involving familiar characters from the original story.

Nicholas Meyer wrote "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" and other Holmes pastiches that blend historical figures with detective fiction. His work maintains fidelity to Conan Doyle's characters while exploring Holmes's personal demons.

David Stuart Davies produced multiple Holmes novels including "The Tangled Skein" that pit the detective against supernatural threats. His stories incorporate Gothic elements while preserving the core investigation format.

June Thomson authored several collections of Holmes short stories that closely mirror Conan Doyle's writing style and structure. Her works focus on cases mentioned but never detailed in the original canon.

Laurie R. King created the Mary Russell series about Holmes's later life and partnership with a female apprentice. Her books expand the Holmes universe while maintaining period authenticity and investigative rigor.

John Gardner wrote three Holmes novels including "The Return of Moriarty" that explore the criminal underground of Victorian London. His work emphasizes the historical context and criminal elements of the Holmes universe.