The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars

Set in 1939, this worthy addition to the American Mystery Classic series from legendary mystery critic Boucher (1911–1968) pits the Baker Street Irregulars, members of the real-life organization of Sherlock Holmes fans, against Stephen Worth, who has been chosen by Metropolis Pictures to write the screenplay for a major movie based on the Holmes story “The Adventure of the Speckled Band.” Worth, “the author of many stupid and illogical mystery novels of the type known as hard-boiled,” has expressed a desire to show up the detective as a “cocky bastard.” When the Irregulars protest Worth’s selection to Metropolis Pictures producer F.X. Weinberg, Weinberg invites them to Hollywood to consult on the film. The Irregulars soon lock horns with the obnoxious Worth, and a fatal shooting follows. Weinberg’s publicist, Maureen O’Breen, investigates, with varying degrees of help from the Sherlockians. Boucher tosses in plenty of shout-outs to Conan Doyle’s originals, including an envelope containing five orange seeds and a coded message featuring stick figures of dancing men. Fans of humorous whodunits will be pleased. (Oct.)