~ Stephen R. Covey

Sherlock Holmes and the Lyme Regis Horror is a collection of Sherlock Holmes pastiches penned by David Ruffle.

I read a lot of Sherlock Holmes books, some good, some bad. This one is definitely in the 'good' category. The majority of the stories stray away from the confines of the Canon, and run along more of a supernatural style. Normally I prefer Sherlock Holmes pastiches that have the more traditional set up, but the author did his job very well and my interest in the stories didn’t wane for a moment.

The majority of the collection is comprised by a novella which goes by the same title as that of the book. 'The Lyme Regis Horror' is an exceptional piece of work, a story which builds up at a steady pace and the interplay between Doctor Watson and Mrs. Heidler very well handled.

The rest of the book is made up of short stories and vignettes, for me the pick of these is ‘The Trumper Affair’, a short story that mirrors Conan Doyle’s style of storytelling very well. In fact it’s the kind of story I could imagine Conan Doyle himself writing. All in all, it’s a very good book, well researched and well written – I’d recommend it to all Holmes enthusiasts.

This little book is a fun way to awaken your inner philosopher. Pessin's style is lighthearted and the material is suitable for everyone. There are 60 short gems in the book covering everything from the nature of God to whether you really are what you eat. It's playfully presented and easy to understand, but will also challenge your assumptions and lead you to some serious thought. I've always believed there's no such thing as the "present moment." Now I have proof!---Or do I? Read #40 and decide for yourself. Ever regretted a decision that determined your life's direction? Read #10, where you will discover there is no such thing as "the path not taken." (I found this discussion particularly comforting.)I've had a lot of fun with this book, and also started looking at my world and my life just a little bit differently.