I'm not sure how the writer of tepid Lovecraft pastiches can be the same person who also created these excellent Holmes-inspired mysteries, but this is exactly the case. I could not have been more surprised. I enjoyed these stories so much that I actually had a hard time putting down this book to go and do other things such as sleep, work, etc.

Derleth himself said, "Solar Pons is Sherlock Holmes," and the resemblance is obvious. The characters are identical. My only question is why he bothered to change the name. All of the Baker Street usuals are included: there is a Watson substitute (Dr. Lyndon Parker) a Lestrade proxy (Inspector Jamison), and a dependable housekeeper (Mrs. Johnson). We even see a version of Moriarity (Baron Kroll).

The mysteries themselves are inventive and definitely NOT paint-by-number Holmes. I was taken by surprise by the conclusion of almost all of them.

Highly recommended for lovers of mysteries, and especially for all Holmes fans.