THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES II

If David Timson is tiring of reading Sherlock Holmes stories--this is his tenth title in the Naxos catalogue--there’s no sign of it. In this suite of four tales, including two that showcase Conan Doyle’s fondness for the bicycle, Timson demonstrates his mastery of Holmes and Watson and mixes in regional accents for many of the minor characters. Timson’s liner notes, always a nice complement in this series, are practical as well as illuminating, since they include diagrams of the cipher at the heart of “The Adventure of the Dancing Men.” Attention to details like this--which other audio publishers sometimes ignore--is something the great Holmes himself would no doubt appreciate. D.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]