The Sherlock Holmes Handbook, Ransom Riggs

The Sherlock Holmes Handbook: The Methods and Mysteries of the World's Greatest Detective. Quirk Productions, Inc. 2009. ISBN 978-1-59474-429-7. 221 pages.

From the Introduction:

Amidst the vast breadth of works written about Sherlock Holmes, the volume which you hold in your hands is unique. It seeks both the instruct the aspiring investigator in the ways of the master and to serve as an entree for the casual reader into the fascinating milieu, brilliant methods, and unorthodox habits of the world's most famous consulting detective.

Riggs' amusing and interesting book is written as if to instruct the reader in the essential knowledge needed to become a Victorian consulting detective. Examples from the Holmes canon illustrate how The Great Detective used these techniques in the course of his investigations.

Along with the forensic techniques such as analyzing footprints and bullet evidence, the author provides us with information not normally found in handbooks of detection. For example, without this book you might not otherwise know "How to Outwit a Criminal Mastermind," "How to Fake Your Own Death," and "How to Survive a Plunge over a Waterfall." And since he is using The Great Detective as his model, we also learn "How to Stage a Dramatic Entrance."

This is a fun book to include in your library of Sherlockian materials. It is as much instructive as it is amusing and might prove to be a nice introduction to Holmes for a reluctant reader.