SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF SABINA HALL

Though much less impressive than Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Raleigh Legacy, this second Baker Street pastiche is again faithful yet unpedantic, atmospheric yet crisp--with only a few touches (sexual subject-matter, tastefully treated) that Conan Doyle's Watson would never have allowed himself. As a favor to a university-chum, Holmes and Watson set off for bleak, isolated Sabina Hall on the Bristol coast--where tight-fisted old coal merchant Silas Andrews, probably dying, is in need of a live-in doctor. But just moments before our heroes' arrival, Silas expires. Of natural causes? Holmes thinks not, noticing a strange smell--indicative of poison--on a medicine spoon. And the wretched, virtually unheated manse positively teems with suspects: Silas' long-suffering sister-in-law/housekeeper Bertha Garth, who now gloats nastily about her huge inheritance; servant-relatives Joel and Belle Harper, who expected (erroneously) a legacy; Cockney housemaid Sally Kipp, a recent arrival (with secret motives) from London; ancient villager/handyman Neb, who wants vengeance for Silas' bygone mistreatment of coal-miners; and even sweet poor-relation Agnes Meredith, Aunt Garth's put-upon companion. Without the charm or rich plotting of Greenwood's debut, slightly talky and rather thinly predictable--but sturdy diversion for gothically inclined Holmes fans.