Dibdin

1978 · réf. DIBDINMI004694 — Jonathan Cape London. 1978. First edition. Octavo. 192 pages. We have just come across Peter Jolliffe's description of a copy he catalogued in 1997. It is presented below for those who remember one of the greatest bookmen of his generation.'The author's brilliant albeit flawed Sherlockian first book - e.g. on the night Watson discovers Sherlock Holmes is Jack the Ripper whoops a little bit of the plot given away - my apologies S.H. tries to get rid of Dr. W. by telling him to fetch the police whilst he S.H. goes after the ripper. Dr. W. however does not go for the police but shadows S.H. instead. Now why does not S.H. notice the clod-hopping Dr. W. following behind. We are told elsewhere that S.H. is accoutred with the finest reactions and senses and that he could shake off any shadower with ease. Surely the still clod-hopping Dr. W. would have been meat and drink to him. But that is a mere quibble - there is a far graver flaw. S.H. tells Dr. W. to fetch the police as he feels that the ripper is about to strike. Dr. W. instead of going for the police follows S.H. and consequently witnesses a dreadful murder - accomplished by S.H. ! Why does not S.H. the following day say to Dr. W.: ''So what happened to the police - they never arrived - nor for that matter did you.'' Why were his suspicions about the activities of Dr. W. the previous night not severely roused And if the police and Dr. W. had arrived S.H. would have been finished anyway. There's also a major flaw in the final scene at the Reichenbach falls but I've forgotten what that is.'Fine in fine price-clipped dustwrapper. Jonathan Cape, London. unknown