Another discovery from the vaults of Cox and Co., the old London bank which had forwarded the Deed Box of John H Watson to the author last year.The Dispatch Box contains all manner of illuminating documents about Messrs. Holmes and Watson.Of particular interest are what the author refers to as The Affair of the Vatican Cameos, the Reigate Poisoning Case with a shocking conclusion, and a document apparently written by the man Holmes himself called 'the fourth smartest man in London', John Clay.

More From the Deed Box of John H. Watson MD: Further Untold Tales of Sherlock HolmesHugh Ashton has been digging deeper in the deed box that originally belonged to Dr Watson, the friend and colleague of the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. He has unearthed three more tales referred to in the original books, but never before released to the public: Colonel Warburton's Madness; the Paradol Chamber; and the Giant Rat of Sumatra. The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness is one of the few cases recorded by Watson as being one that he introduced to Holmes (The Engineer's Thumb being the other). Taking place in a seemingly innocuous suburban setting, it is nonetheless a tale of dark secrets and hidden evil. Holmes' skill at disguise is never seen to better advantage. Watson himself likewise shines as an investigator of more than average competence.The Mystery of the Paradol Chamber is strangely named, and the mystery itself is a strange one where Holmes' talents are needed to unravel a classic "locked room" murder puzzle. Religion plays a very minor role in most of the cases described by Watson - it is interesting to see here that Holmes claims to have memorised the churches and incumbents of all the Roman Catholic (at least) churches in the English Home Counties.Finally, the definitive story of The Giant Rat of Sumatra has come to light. There are obvious reasons why this story was withheld from the public for so long. Even with the pseudonyms that have been so obviously employed, this story could have shaken the respectable world of English politics to the core if released. The cooperation of the Royal Navy with Holmes in the solving of this bizarre mystery is another aspect that would also have been kept secret, possibly at the behest of Mycroft.These adventures of Sherlock Holmes are approved by The Conan Doyle Estate Ltd.From the AuthorEach of the tales I have selected to recount here was mentioned by Watson in previous adventures, but only in passing, and the sketchy references have long been a source of curious speculation by students of the work of Sherlock Holmes.These latest tales that I have unearthed will, I am confident, provide both enjoyment and instruction to all those who study and cherish the work of Sherlock Holmes. I hope to provide even more such tales, following further exploration of the contents of the deed box.

Dispatch Box [3]Further Notes From the Dispatch Box of John H Watson MD: More Untold Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 2The second box ("the dispatch-box") to be discovered in the vaults of Cox & Co. of Charing Cross has been the source of even more discoveries concerning the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. This collection includes a Foreword from consulting Sherlockian Dr. Philip C. Eyster, who writes, "I had only read a few pages of his initial story, when I knew that Mr. Ashton has not only the skill but also the deep-felt desire to faithfully add to the canon the same Sherlock as came from the pen of Author Conan Doyle over 100 years ago". Included in this volume are four tales, all referenced in the canonical originally published adventures: The Abernetty Horror. A bloody crime in a Welsh fishing village points to one seemingly obvious answer. Holmes brings his reasoning powers to bear on the parsley and butter to discover the true solution (mentioned in The Six Napoleons). The Finsbury House. "The shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland, that so nearly cost us both our lives." (The Norwood Builder) The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon. Mentioned in passing at the beginning of the Red Circle, this case is more light-hearted than many of Holmes' adventures.An Account of the Victor Lynch Forgery. An account of an early case of Sherlock Holmes, related not by Watson, but by Inspector Lestrade, in the form of a letter to the good doctor, following the events at Meiringen. Mentioned in both Study in Scarlet and the Sussex Vampire. The stories in this volume are authorized by the Conan Doyle Estate **

Dispatch Box [4]In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr. John Watson writes about Sherlock Holmes' "famous investigation of the sudden death of Cardinal Tosca--an inquiry which was carried out by him at the express desire of His Holiness the Pope." The express wishes of Sherlock Holmes, as expressed in a written note on the outside of an envelope, have been ignored, in order to bring this case before the public. "...sealed with a wax seal and the impression of a signet ring with the initial 'S'. On the back flap were written, in that splendidly sprawling but legible hand with which I am now familiar, the words 'Not to be opened before September 25, 2014'."  Hugh Ashton has written five highly acclaimed collections of Sherlock Holmes' adventures (the "Deed Box" and "Dispatch Box" series), as well as a Sherlock Holmes novel, The Darlington Substitution, all in the style of the originals by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to whom he has been favourably compared by critics. Grateful acknowledgment to Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. for permission to use the Sherlock Holmes characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.Review"Ashton seems to have a knack for hitting a very convincingly canonical mark, making his stories some of the most consistently plausible I've found. The Death of Cardinal Tosca may well be my favorite of those stories so far. The atmosphere feels warmly familiar, the mystery plausible, yet delightfully recherché,the historical aspects carefully researched and the canonical details thoughtfully upheld. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan who's read through the Canon and are aching for more, this is the book for you!" (Carrie Carlson - Stormy Petrels blog)"Mr Ashton's echoes of Conan Doyle's work build in volume and add resonance and depth to the characters, while not contradicting them. The reader gains insight into Holmes' and Watson's relationship and the relationship between Sherlock and his brother Mycroft. As is consistent with the originals, these insights are just tantalising hints, but careful readers will enjoy them." (Kelly Quinn) 

The deed box of Dr. John Watson, entrusted by him over a century ago to Cox & Co. of Charing Cross, and which made its way late last year to Hugh Ashton in Kamakura, Japan, continues to yield treasure.The box proved to have a false bottom, under which lay the manuscript of a full-length adventure of Sherlock Holmes, in which the great detective needs all his cunning and detective powers to unravel the mysteries at Hareby Hall.Mentioned in passing by Dr. Watson in his account of A Scandal in Bohemia, The Darlington Substitution is a tale of deceit, treachery, and murder most foul, set in the wild Border country of northern England. Holmes and Watson encounter a centuries-old legend which tells of the future extinction of an ancient noble family, and set themselves against one of the most ingenious and fiendish villains ever to cross the path of Sherlock Holmes.Holmes and his faithful biographer come to life again in this case, following in the tradition...

Mentioned by Dr. Watson in the Scandal in Bohemia, the story of the Trepoff murders now comes to light, discovered by the author in a deed box once owned by Sherlock Holmes' faithful chronicler. A Russian dignitary dies in London, and Holmes sets off to discover the circumstances behind his untimely, and politically unfortunate, demise. Originally told in true ACD fashion, as a serial, this brief novella is now exclusively available at Amazon for Kindle.

Dispatch Box [1]Notes From the Dispatch Box of John H Watson, MD: More Untold Adventures of Sherlock HolmesAnother discovery from the vaults of Cox and Co., the old London bank which had forwarded the Deed Box of John H Watson to the author last year. The Dispatch Box contains all manner of illuminating documents about Messrs. Holmes and Watson. Of particular interest are what the author refers to as The Affair of the Vatican Cameos, the Reigate Poisoning Case, and a document apparently written by the man Holmes himself called 'the fourth smartest man in London', John Clay. Grateful acknowledgement to Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. for permission to use the Sherlock Holmes characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.**

The much-loved Mapp and Lucia novels of E.F.Benson are sadly too few in number. The Tilling Smugglers is the fifth in Hugh Ashton's series which have satisfied the wishes of Mapp and Lucia fans around the world for more adventures of the famous pair. The first four books, written in the style of the originals, have been much praised and enjoyed.In this story, a new character from the theatrical world appears when Lucia is appointed to entertain a visiting Royal personage with a pageant.And at the same time, Major Benjy and Elizabeth Mapp-Flint make a surprising, but also disturbing, discovery.Join your old friends in Tilling: Georgie, the Padre and Evie, Major Benjy, Quaint Irene, dear Diva, and of course Elizabeth Mapp-Flint and Lucia, as they plot and scheme in their attempts to lead Tilling Society.

Hugh Ashton has been digging deeper in the deed box that originally belonged to Dr Watson, the friend and colleague of the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. He has unearthed three more tales referred to in the original books, but never before released to the public: Colonel Warburton's Madness; the Paradol Chamber; and the Giant Rat of Sumatra.The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness is one of the few cases recorded by Watson as being one that he introduced to Holmes (The Engineer's Thumb being the other). Taking place in a seemingly innocuous suburban setting, it is nonetheless a tale of dark secrets and hidden evil. Holmes' skill at disguise is never seen to better advantage. Watson himself likewise shines as an investigator of more than average competence.The Mystery of the Paradol Chamber is strangely named, and the mystery itself is a strange one where Holmes' talents are needed to unravel a classic "locked room" murder puzzle....

Mrs Emmeline Lucas, known to all as "la Lucia", is the undisputed social and cultural leader of the quiet, but refined country village of Riseholme. Together with her husband, and her devoted courtier Georgie Pillson, she leads her subjects in hunts for Roman remains and fossils. Meanwhile two very different visitors arrive in the village, and the balance of Riseholme power is temporarily upset.La Lucia looks at life in Riseholme before the start of the Mapp and Lucia novels by E.F.Benson, and is written in sincere tribute to these comic but yet sympathetic portraits of middle-class society in England in the 1920s and 1930s. It is the third book in Hugh Ashton's Mapp and Lucia series, following Mapp at Fifty and Mapp's Return, which have been enjoyed by fans of the original stories:

Dispatch Box [2]The Reigate Poisoning Case: Concluded forms a sequel to the adventure described in Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD and provides a full and satisfying conclusion to that story. It is not often that Sherlock Holmes made an error of judgement, but this is one case where he made such a fatal (literally) mistake. No wonder that he prevented Watson from publishing the case in his lifetime!Review"The Reigate Poisoning Case Concluded ... very cleverly turns the story [of the Reigate Poisoning Case] on its head."  (The District Messenger, newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London) From the AuthorIn the account of the adventure that I have edited and entitled The Reigate Poisoning Case, published by Inknbeans Press in the collection Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD, there was no mention of any character named Mlle. Carère, nor of a subsequent resurrection of the victim, let alone a reappearance and marriage in New York. I had therefore assumed that Watson had confused two cases, and attached the name of the principal of one to the events of another.It turns out that I was mistaken. Watson was correct in all the details that he had originally supplied as hints mentioned in his earlier story of Dartmoor. As I was searching through the dispatch box, I discovered an envelope into which was tucked another notebook, somewhat similar to the one in which I had discovered the story of Madame Montpensier. This was the totally unexpected sequel to the story that I had first discovered--a sequel that overturned my previous assumptions.The notebook contained what was perhaps a final copy of the second part of the manuscript describing the adventure, to be sent to the publisher, but later withheld, almost certainly at the request of Sherlock Holmes, given the content. Certainly there are very few corrections and additions to be seen in the manuscript, and the style is as polished as any other production from the pen of John Watson.I therefore present to you the second part of The Reigate Poisoning Case, which in my opinion, brings to a satisfactory close--as far as the plot is concerned, through many dubious moral aspects remain--those parts of the case that raised doubts in my mind when I was acquainted only with the first part of the story. This adventure is set some six months after the first, as the mention in Hound would imply.For those who have yet to read the initial portion, Holmes discovered that Mme. Montpensier, who had previously married a Mr. Stevens, was currently in a marriage which had been contracted bigamously by her current husband, under the name of Colethorpe. This Colethorpe, as she knew him, had suborned one of the maids into collaborating with him in a complex scheme that would trick the unfortunate Mme. Montpensier into providing her daughter, Miss Annabel Stevens, with a fatal dose of poisoned cocoa. At the autopsy, conducted by the local doctor, Henry Clifford (a former student colleague of Watson's) together with Watson and a lecturer at Bart's Hospital (Professor Menzies), it was discovered that the death of the victim had indeed been caused by poison. Though circumstances initially pointed to Mme. Montpensier as the administrator of the poison, it was deduced by Holmes that she had acted unwittingly, and the true culprit was Colethorpe, acting through his catspaw in the form of a kitchen maid, whom he had cajoled into acting as his accomplice. Colethorpe was found guilty and hanged, and the maid sentenced to many years' imprisonment.Grateful acknowledgement to Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. for permission to use the Sherlock Holmes characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Secrets From the Deed Box of John H Watson, MD: Book Three in the Deed Box SeriesThe deed box of Dr. Watson, presented to me some time ago by a friend who rescued it from the archives of a London bank, continues to produce treasures. The stories in this collection, which I have entitled Secrets from the Deed Box of John H Watson MD, all represent some aspect of Holmes and his adventures that has previously been undiscovered. In many ways these are (with the possible exception of The Bradfield Push, which Watson left unpublished for personal reasons) somewhat darker in tone than the stories that he did release to the public and publish in the Strand magazine.For some reason, Watson failed to date most of Holmes' adventures, and we must therefore make a guess at the chronology of these stories through their allusions to other cases.The first of these tales, The Conk-Singleton Forgery Case, is mentioned by Watson. He gives no other details in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, and the story was presumably withheld from the public on account of Holmes'brush with the police as described here. The story provides excellent examples of Holmes' skill in deduction from seemingly trivial observations, as well as details of his methods of working a case.The next story, The Strange Case of James Phillimore, is likewise mentioned in passing by Watson. James Phillimore is described as stepping into his house to retrieve his umbrella, never to be seen more in this world. This brief description implies a somewhat supernatural twist to things, but the truth of the matter is even more surprising. The open antagonism between Sherlock Holmes and some officers of the Metropolitan Police Force may come as somewhat of a surprise to those who have always regarded him as an unflagging ally of the official guardians of law and order.In The Enfield Rope, we enter unknown territory.Watson never alluded to this case. The principals here were far too well-known to Watson's public to allow of this case's publication, even with pseudonyms, and re¬spect for the British Establishment would have restrained Watson in this instance. Holmes' sense of the dramatic is shown here, and his admiration and liking for a member of a part of society that was often shunned at that time shows a human, more attractive side to Holmes than is often portrayed by Watson.The Bradfield Push is an early case of Sherlock Holmes, where Watson loses both his heart and his watch. Holmes can retrieve one, but not the other.These adventures of Sherlock Holmes are approved by The Conan Doyle Estate Ltd.From the AuthorOne of the joys of the exploration of the Holmes papers has been the increasing knowledge I have gained of the character and accomplishments of John Watson. Often regarded as little more than a sidekick to his more illustrious companion, it is interesting to see how often he serves as an accomplished investigator in his own right, while remaining modest about his abilities. Indeed, Holmes very often seems to rely on Watson's work in order to achieve the solution of a case. In the Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes remarks to Watson,"It may be that you are not yourself luminous,but you are a conductor of light." I would contradict Holmes' opinion here, and maintain that Watson, though by no means the shining beacon exemplified by Holmes, nonetheless still manages to provide sufficient illumination to shed light on the mysteries presented to his more famous friend. There are still more sealed envelopes in the deed box awaiting perusal, but the papers are becoming brittle in the Japanese climate, and Watson's handwriting seems to have deteriorated over time. It may be a matter of a few months before I am able to decipher more of the stories lurking at the bottom of the box.From the Back CoverThe first of these tales, The Conk-Singleton Forgery Case, is mentioned by Watson. He gives no other details in his reference in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, and the story was presumably withheld from the public on account of Holmes' brush with with the police as described here. The story provides excellent examples of Holmes' skill in deduction from seemingly trivial observations, as well as details of his methods of working a case.The next story, The Strange Case of James Phillimore, is likewise mentioned in passing by Watson. James Phillimore is described as stepping into his house to retrieve his umbrella, never to be seen more in this world. This vague description implies a somewhat supernatural twist to things, but the truth of the matter is even more surprising. Likewise, the open antagonism between Sherlock Holmes and some officers of the Metropolitan Police Force may come as somewhat of a surprise to those who have always regarded him as an unflagging ally of the official guardians of law and order.In The Enfield Rope, we enter unknown territory. Watson never alluded to this case. The principals here were far too well-known to Watson's public to allow of this case's publication, even with pseudonyms, and respect for the British Establishment would have restrained Watson in this case. Holmes' sense of the dramatic is shown here, and his admiration and liking for a member of a part of society that was often shunned at that time shows a human, more attractive side to Holmes than is often portrayed by Watson.Finally, The Bradfield Push was presumably locked in the deed box by Dr Watson because it showed a side of his emotional life prior to his marriage that he would sooner have kept hidden from Mary. An entertaining story of detection, with Holmes displaying his characteristic powers of observation and deduction.

Three previously unknown accounts in the case files of Sherlock Holmes, discovered and transcribed by Hugh Ashton: The Odessa Business, the Case of the Missing Matchbox and The Case of the Cormorant.

Product DescriptionDavid Slater, a conscript in the 1920s Army of the Confederacy, faces a dilemma. When he and his regiment were shipped to Germany to help stage a coup there, his Limey fellow-soldier Brian was acting strangely. David now has the choice of reporting his best friend to his commanding officers, or keeping quiet and just doing his job: preparing for the arrival of Bismarck, the giant Zeppelin flying Hitler and his Nazi cohorts to meet their new allies, the Confederates. Beneath Gray Skies follows the adventures of David and those around him in a past that never happened-where the Civil War never took place, and the Confederacy survived as a pariah slave-holding nation into the 20th century. Confederates, Unionists, British and Germans plot and counterplot in a tightly woven tale of espionage, treachery and romance. The cast of Beneath Gray Skies includes rogue British agent "Bloody Brian" Finch-Malloy, hard-drinking Henry Dowling, and Christopher Pole, a slave who escapes from the hell of the Confederacy-living against a backdrop that includes real historical characters. Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering, and Dr. Hugo Eckener, the brilliant anti-Nazi Zeppelin captain, all live again in this "extraordinarily well-written piece of mind candy that becomes more and more difficult to put down" (Christopher Belton). Almost without realizing what has happened, David finds himself part of a conspiracy within the Confederacy that includes "Bloody Brian", which is working to prevent the airship's arrival in Georgia, to seize the mysterious priceless treasure on board the Bismarck, and to halt the spread of slavery to Europe. As David Slater and his President, Jefferson Davis III, confront each other on the doomed dirigible, David must ask himself once again where his loyalty lies: to his country, or to a higher morality. Beneath Gray Skies is the first published novel by Hugh Ashton, a British-born writer and journalist currently living in Kamakura, Japan.