4.01 POPPYLAND

The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes from 2014 is the fourth box-set in Big Finish‘s range of Sherlock Holmes adventures that star Nicholas Briggs as Sherlock Holmes and Richard Earl as Doctor Watson.

In release terms, it follows on from The Ordeals of Sherlock Holmes but, as with just about all Sherlock Holmes adventures, the story is set at a specific time in Holmes’ life and so knowledge of the previous set is not required.

Big Finish always try to do something a little different with their Sherlock Holmes adventures.  The previous Ordeals box-set was an adventure that spanned four decades of the detective’s life, from beginning to (almost) end. The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes occurs during a time of his life that we know almost nothing about.

When Conan Doyle tired of his most famous creation, he created Professor Moriarty – a character we would probably describe today as being “ret-conned” into the life of Sherlock Holmes.  He was there to serve one purpose – to be of such great threat that the only way Holmes could deal with him was to risk, and sacrifice, his own life at the Reichenbach Falls.  The story that concluded the first “era” of Holmes adventures was that of The Final Problem, set in 1891.  This was published in 1893 in The Strand and later concluded The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes 12-story collection.

4.02 THE GATES OF SHAMBHALA

The demand for more Sherlock Holmes saw Conan Doyle resurrect him in 1903 for The Adventure of the Empty House.  Set some three years after Holmes’ apparent “death”, it was this story in which Conan Doyle effectively resurrected his title character in an explanation suggesting that only Moriarty had succumbed at the Falls.  This allowed for particular conceits such as the preservation of Holmes & Watson’s Baker Street lodgings by Holmes’ brother, the only man to know that Sherlock was still alive, and that Watson now a widower and so well placed to rejoin Holmes on his adventures once he resumes his previous life

The missing three years between 1891 – 1894 isn’t covered in any great detail by the author, leaving a gap into which other writers/authors can set their own adventures.  With The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes, writer Jonathan Barnes fills in a little of that unknown period shortly after Holmes’ apparent death.  This begins with the acknowledgement of Colonel Sebastian Moran (who would later prove to be the primary antagonist in the canonical return of Holmes in The Adventure of the Empty House).  This is only the beginning, however, and Barnes puts the 4-hour duration of this adventure to good use.

4.03 THE MAN IN THE MOONLIGHT

Out of necessity, Holmes and Watson cannot meet in this adventure because Watson is to spend the next three years believing of his friend’s demise.  This is used well in the story, particularly during a long occasion of the villains trying to get Holmes’ location out of Watson (something Watson cannot reveal, because he believes Holmes to be dead).

To alleviate the issue of the partners not meeting, great use is made of Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s brother, someone upon whom Watson calls during a time of crisis.  At various points in the adventure, Watson is ably assisted by his wife, and Inspector Lestrade, and is instrumental in uncovering spies where, he presumes, they’d previously gone undetected.

Inspector Lestrade is also allowed to escape from his usual box during the story, which helps to expand the character a little more than usual.

Sherlock Holmes, himself, becomes embroiled in a plot that not only threatens to topple the British government, but also aims to instigate a war between countries.  A plot reveal that is gradual throughout the story, building at just the right pace until the final episode culminates all that came before.

4.04 THE TRAGEDY OF PARGETTER SQUARE

There are occasions in which there’s a little too much talking and, as usual, Sherlock Holmes’ observational detective skills are all too obvious in that they’re missing for almost the entire duration of the adventure.  Rather than being a traditional Sherlock Holmes detective story, these Big Finish adventures are more like Boys’ Own historical tales set in the Holmesian atmosphere featuring some of our favourite Victorian characters.

The bottom line is that here we have four hours in the company of the wonderful voices of Nicholas Briggs and Richard Earl, perfectly capturing the spirit and authenticity required to bring Holmes & Watson to life.  The writer has successfully weaved an engaging plot, making excellent use of the extended running time to present us with a story of sufficient scale and grandeur that it fits right in with what Conan Doyle may well have decided his characters had been doing at this point.

If you’re familiar with previous adventures in this range, then you’re not going to be disappointed by The Judgement of Sherlock Holmes.