Many thanks to Benedetta Cinquini for her excellent article about my Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Series, which appeared recently in The Italalian Strand Magazine. Here is the English translation, which will be added to my Website shortly.
STRAND MAGAZINE- Benedetta Cinquini.
Irene Adler-The Woman.
Undoubtedly, she is one of the most emblematic characters in the entire Canon, despite her single appearance in the story " A Scandal in Bohemia." She is a figure upon whom many authors of apocryphal works, films and television series have elaborated stories that fit more or less with the little we know about her, often ignoring Watson's words, which reveal that in reality, by the time of the Bohemian King's case, Adler had already passed away.
On film, The Woman had had many faces, more or less known (Gayle Hunnicutt, Charlotte Rampling, Anne Baxter, Anna Chancellor, Rachel McAdams, Laura Pulver and many others), with just as many interpretations, each coloured by the unique personality of the actress, and the imagination of the screenwriters. On paper, however, with some exceptions, such as the series by Carole Nelson Douglas and Alessandro Gatti (which focus more on Adler's past rather than post-Scandal), the portrayal often adheres to a pattern that is difficult to deviate from, and in some respects, somewhat distorts the image of the audacious adventures offered by Doyle...she and Holmes almost always meet during the Great Hiatus, and the detective finds himself facing not his formidable adversary but a wounded and disillusioned widow, due to Godfrey Norton, the man she hurriedly married, believing him to be much better than those she was used to, who instead turned out to be a real monster after her fortune. After this prelude, the two unlikely allies find themselves solving one or more cases together, eventually entering a romantic relationship. This is the case in Amy Thomas's tetralogy and, more recently, KD Sherrinford's saga, which has not yet been translated into Italian but has already collected awards and recognition since its debut.
This English author always passionate about writing, started publishing her apocryphal works about the relationship between Holmes and The Woman in 2022. The first in the series is " Song for Someone", nominated for the prestigious Crimson Quill Award, a finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards-The Chatelaine, and awarded the Editors Gold Seal. In this apocryphal story, as per tradition, the two meet during the Hiatus. Holmes is on the run, and Adler finds herself unwittingly embroiled in a dangerous case inherited from her late husband, which brings an old enemy back into the picture. The two must team up and embark on a daring escape that leads them to the Fiesole countryside, where most of the action takes place. During the months spent together, they gradually develop a mutual attraction that greatly influences both the resolution of the case and the choices they will have to make once it's concluded.
What sets this apart from the cliches of previously mentioned apocryphal works is the centrality the author gives to the relationship between Holmes and The Woman, the predominant element of the novel and, in general, the saga. The feelings between the two are extensively explored by Sherrinford, who almost always writes from Adler's point of view, analysing her reactions and sensations in various situations. Holmes himself, when in The Woman's company, is very different from the character readers are used to, showing moments of great tenderness and sensitivity and unusual compared to Watson's portrayal.
The saga continues with " Christmas at The Saporis," a short Christmas pastiche in which the mystery takes centre stage. For the first time, we see the children born from the relationship between Holmes and Adler described in more detail. Set in the detective's Sussex farmhouse, the family gathers during the Christmas holidays, and although the analysis of human relationships still plays a significant part in the plot, the second story also features a bit of Doyle-inspired detective work.
The latest volume, published, is " Meet Me in Milan," once again set in Italy and a true example of romantic mystery. There's the mystery and suspense, but, above all, there'll be the focus on the feelings of the Holmes-Adler couple, who must face the challenges of an unconventional married life as only theirs can.
The author also reveals that she has almost completed the draft of her latest work, which will shift the focus to the couple's children, but the rest remains shrouded in mystery.
In summary, the new sage aims to explore how a positive relationship between The Woman and the detective could have worked without treading on the Canon. In this sense, the work is truly well-executed. Those who read it will find a much more human, much more sentimental Holmes, yet still brilliant and always ready with a solution to the cases. As mentioned, one cannot expect to see a predominance of Doyle-style detective work. Still, it's undoubtedly an interesting read and another perspective of what could have happened outside the walls of Baker Street, even outside London itself.
Here is the series link, available in many formats, including my latest release, " The Whistle of Revenge", https://mybook.to/KDSherrinford