Baker Street Irregulars, edited by Michael A. Ventrella and Jonathan Maberry, features thirteen authors—including Gail Z. Martin, David Gerrold, and Jonathan Maberry—who come together to pen short stories innovating Sherlock Holmes, adapting and revolutionizing the iconic character (available March 21, 2017).
Read an excerpt from Baker Street Irregulars, then make sure to sign in and comment below for a chance to win a copy of this wonderful Sherlock-inspired anthology!
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic and lasting figures in literature. His feats of detection are legendary, and he continues to capture audiences today in stories, movies, and on TV. In this new anthology, Baker Street Irregulars, authors present the celebrated detective in more than a dozen wildly entertaining new ways. In Ryk Spoor’s thrilling “The Adventures of a Reluctant Detective,” Sherlock is a re-creation in a holodeck. In Hildy Silverman’s mesmerizing ”A Scandal in the Bloodline,” Sherlock is a vampire. Heidi McLaughlin sends Sherlock back to college, while Beth Patterson, in the charming “Code Cracker,” turns him into a parrot. The settings range from Russia in the near-future to a reality show, from a dystopian world to an orchestra. Without losing the very qualities that make Sherlock so illustrious a character, these authors spin new webs of mystery around their own singular riff on one of fiction’s truly singular characters.
“Delta Phi”
by Heidi McLaughlin
The knock on my door startles me. I sit anxiously, waiting to see if it happens again. It’s not often that people come to visit me and I’d rather not get excited by the prospect only to find out that it’s a student bumping their way down the hall, inadvertently hitting my door. I focus my attention instead on the crime scene report I downloaded from the local police server. I’ve been hacking into their system since I arrived in Burlington, Vermont, and quickly started offering them subtle clues to solve their petty crime cases. As morbid as it is, I’m waiting for a murder to occur so I can hone my craft in the field of investigation. Of course, being a college student, my work is never credited.
Ron Smith is the local police chief. He considers me a thorn in his side. He’s not a fan of me, especially when my eighteen-year-old self discovers inconsistencies in his police work. More accurately, when my dorm was pranked as part of the Delta Phi fraternity initiation, his responding officer couldn’t find the offenders, stating that the evidence was inconclusive. The fact that Delta Phi was pasted to the outside wall by way of wet toilet paper apparently wasn’t a big enough clue. I bested the police department when I showed them the handprints left behind matched those of one Roger Stallworth, the center for our basketball team, who has the largest hands on campus.
The knock sounds again, but this time it’s louder and more defined against the metal door. Closing my laptop and sliding the investigation report into my file cabinet, away from the prying eyes of whoever lurks outside, I open the door with luster, acting calm and collected as if I have visitors every day. The person on the other side of the concrete box that I reside in doesn’t need to know otherwise.
“Lock Holmes?” she questions. I nod, but stand still against the doorjamb, preventing her from entering. My name is Sherlock, but I go by Lock. It’s more hip and easier to play off with my hippie parents. My mother, in all her peace-loving ways, couldn’t decide on a name for me, and ended up combining my grandmother’s name, Sheryl, with the nickname of Lock for the tiny tuft of hair I was born with. Sadly, my father never disagreed and forever branded me with the eccentric name that throughout childhood labeled me as an outsider.
The lady in front of me, dressed in a pinstriped suit, is nervous even though she’s trying to maintain a professional look. She forgot her watch this morning when she dressed. The tan line indicates that she wore it all summer, not caring about sunblock or the odd white block of skin she’d leave showing if she were to forget it, like today. The imprint left on her skin says she wears a women’s Timex—cheap and easily found in every discount store in America.
“I’m Professor MacAfee. Chief Smith suggested I come to you for some help.” Her dark hair rests on her shoulders and is curled forward, giving onlookers the illusion that she’s younger than she presents. She hides the gray hairs easily from those who aren’t paying attention. I rack my brain, trying to recall exactly who she is. My photographic memory never fails—her image reminds me that she’s head of Ecological Agriculture.
Professor MacAfee looks to her right and then left—watching for someone to come down the hall, perhaps? I could step aside and let her into my sanctuary, but I’m cautious. There’s a reason I room by myself—it’s easier than dealing with odd looks and minimizes comments being made behind my back. In boarding school, I couldn’t escape the mandatory requirement that I room with someone. For years my name was whispered among my peers as they talked about how different and observant I am, as if knowing your surroundings is a crime. For college, I forged my own path and made sure my roommate application was filled out meticulously so I could room by myself. It’s laughable how the administration never asked for my medical records when I stated I was allergic to everything.
“May I come in?”
Copyright © 2017 Michael A. Ventrella & Jonathan Maberry.
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Baker Street Irregulars Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at https://www.criminalelement.com/stories/2017/03/baker-street-irregulars-new-excerpt-comment-sweepstakes beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) March 20, 2017. Sweepstakes ends 9:59 a.m. ET March 27, 2017. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
To learn more or order a copy, visit:
Michael A. Ventrella writes witty adventures and edits two major anthologies: Tales of Fortannis and Baker Street Irregulars (co-edited with NY Times Bestselling author Jonathan Maberry)
His short stories have appeared in various collections as well.
Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times bestselling and five-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. He was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold to more than two-dozen countries.
Interesting line-up of authors. Count me in as interested!
Like to try a new take on Holmes!
Love me some Holmseian pastiches…
Ah! The “Unoffical Force”!
Sign me up.
Count me in.
can’t wait to read this book!!! So many great authors!
thanks for the chance!
Can’t wait to read this!
Love Holmes!
Love Sherlock Holmes!
Looking forward to reading these stories… Thank you for the excerpt and the entry opportunity!
Looking forward to reading these stories… Thank you for the excerpt and the entry opportunity!
Would love to win!
This is a book that I would love to read!
Would love to read this title!!
Love this series!!
Count me in! Love to read!
Count me in! Love to read!
Hippy parents who chose their child’s name lackadaisically couldn’t be further from the original Sherlick’s heritage. An auspicious introduction to what promises to be an engaging anthology.
Intriguing, Promises to be a very eclectic read.
I’ve been a Holmes fan for years – this sounds like awesome fun!
I’m a Sherlock afficianado…this would be a treat!
Captivating and wonderful.Thanks.
Any Sherlock is great.
Sounds like it could be fun.
Sounds like it could be fun.
Looking forward to reading the entire book. A free copy would be most welcome.
This would be a real treasure.
Great!
Please enter me in this sweepstakes.
Thanks —
I’d like to read the rest of the Sherlock the hacker story.
Sherlock Holmes seems to be a blueprint that many authors have made interesting modifications to. I would like to see these alterations to the myth.
Interesting. Would love to read.
What a marvelous story… I love everything Sherlock Holmes in all of its incarnations.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so they way. I’m sure it’s demonstrated here in the very best sense!
Alternate history is a favorite genre – are alternate versions of a fictional historical detective a sub-genre? Whatever the answer is, I enjoy these type of stories and look forward to more.
Count me in for anything Sherlock!
That sounds fun!
Fun! Can’t wait to read it.
Sounds good
I have to have a copy of this. I love Sherlock Holmes!
Sign me up to win a copy, please.
I would love to read the book.
the game is afoot!
the game is afoot!
Love the short story collections!
Sounds like a great read!
The excerpt, was very entertaining and had me hoping to read more. I do enjoy reading but not everything will hold my attention long enough for me to finish the book.
Need some more Holmes in my life!
Sounds great
Would love this book! Thanks for the chance.
Would love this book! Thanks for the chance.
Would love to read these stories
modern take on Sherlock Holmes is always interesting.
modern take on Sherlock Holmes is always interesting.
Wonderful list of authors, and the excerpt is fun. “Lock,” indeed.
Why all the repeated comments? Glitch or impatience?
sounds like a fun one
fun
Hope to win !
Looks good. Always like the pastisches.
Been a fan of Sherlock Holmes, like, forever. Wish me luck!
Sounds like a book I would love to read!
I love the Sherlock renaissance.
Huge Fan
Count me in, please!
Can’t wait to read more.
Fascinating – love to win and read.
I try to read almost anything that even mentions Sherlock, count me in!
I LOVED IT A SHERLOCK HOLMES FAN SINCE AGE 18.I WANT A FREE COPY
Awesome!
easy hand sell to Holmes fans
count me in
Sounds like a fun read.
count me in
Poor girl, stuck with that name!
I have enjoyed TV series featuring Holmes & Watson (“Elementary” and PBS excellent “Sherlock”) and look forward to the 13 authors in anthology “BakerStreetIrregulars”
Holmes is such a great character and universe to build around.
Love short mystery stories!
I would like this.
Love this
So I skim the article, thinking there’s nothing new anyone can do with Sherlock Holmes. Then I get to ‘vampire’ and ‘parrot.’ Could be trying too hard for novelty or could be interesting — not sure at this point.
I want to read it right now.
This looks very entertaining!
I’d love to read some Sherlock stories! 🙂
Sherlock Holmes was always a favorite, would like to see the new take on it.
love the original Sherlock Holmes. this should be a fun read. thanks
Would love to win this book!
short mystery stories sounds great
This sounds interesting, I would definitely like to read this.
It seems Sherlock is endlessly inspiring.
Love it!
Very enjoyable post, thanks.
Thank you for this sampling, great read. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
Would love to read this
Can never get too much Sherlock, a great book.
Sounds great!
I love to read any thing related to Sherlock. Send it.
I love all things Sherlock and would love to read some new stuff.
Would love to read this!!~
Would love to read this!!~
Looks like a fun book
Can’t go wrong with Holmes!
thank you for the chance to win!
sounds great sign me up
pick me..
Thanks for the chance
You have the best giveaways!
thanks for this great chance
would love this, thanks
would love this, thanks
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I think this would be an interesting read! Love Sherlock stories!
This sounds great.
This would be a mystery right up my alley of interest.
This young person deals well with serious afflictions.
I want this book, hope I got it 🙂