Sherlock Holmes novel to celebrate Mark's 50th birthday

A Worthing man is celebrating his 50th birthday this September with the publication of his very own Sherlock Holmes novel.
Mark Sohn                 Photo Credit Angie SohnMark Sohn                 Photo Credit Angie Sohn
Mark Sohn Photo Credit Angie Sohn

Mark Sohn’s first novel Sherlock Holmes and the Whitechapel Murders, released by MX Publishing, is available now from Amazon.

“I have always loved Arthur Conan Doyle. I grew up on the Basil Rathbone films, the old black and white ones. I really loved them, their feeling of menace. And then my mum got me the original stories, and I just got into it.

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“And then Jeremy Brett came along (as Holmes on TV). Actually, I met him once at a tobacconist in Hove. As far as I know he lived in London, but I think he had friends in Brighton. I spoke to him very briefly. I just said ‘Can I shake your hand?’ I didn’t want to cramp his style, but he said ‘Of course, you can’ and he put his hand out.

“Jeremy Brett was the very best Sherlock Holmes. I loved his characterisation. He lived and breathed the character. He studied his mannerisms, and even in breaks in filming, he stayed in character. He suffered for it, but he absolutely lived and breathed Sherlock Holmes. He must have just read and read and read the stories.”

“Now, with the buzz surrounding TV’s Sherlock and the resurgent interest in Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective, this has to be the perfect time to reach for the dream, a Sherlock Holmes novel of my very own!

“As I’m turning 50 this year, it was now or never. It is presumptuous of me, but I am hoping the readers will decide for themselves. But this is a cross-over book with Jack the Ripper.

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“It’s a very real series of murders that could not be solved by both police forces in London. They could not catch Jack the Ripper, and I just thought ‘Well, who might be able to catch Jack the Ripper?’ I thought that Sherlock Holmes might be able to.

“Along with his staunch companion, John Watson and his brother Mycroft, Holmes is plunged into a relentless chase through the labyrinth of East London.

“The truth is revealed through a series of clues only a genius could hope to unravel, but who is the mysterious Professor? What devilry does his organisation plan? What connection is there to the Ripper murders? Everything will be laid before you as it was to Holmes, every clue and lead. Can you solve the crimes alongside Sherlock Holmes?

“I have written it in the style of Conan Doyle but have updated it for modern readers because some of the rhythms and turns of phrase don’t really resonate with modern readers. But I read the books over and over again and just concentrated on them. I thought I have got to speak as Watson, and so I am writing it as John Watson who is following the success of Sherlock Holmes, and I am constantly surprised by what he does. I have followed Holmes from the standpoint of an ordinary man who has got a very, very special friend who is an absolute genius…”

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Born in 1967 in Brighton, Mark has been a Worthing resident since 1981 and is happily married to Angie.

“I’ve done every job you can imagine, anything to scrape a living.

“Following several parachuting accidents, I became the owner of an army surplus shop in Brighton. Medically retired, I write from home.

“I’ve always loved reading from an early age and have written for many years, deciding to try my hand at a novel a few years back.”

https://sherlockholmesof221b.blogspot.co.uk/

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