Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow of the Wolf

I recently received some booklets from an exceptionally kind person who will remain nameless, and I try to ensure I pay that bookish kindness forward.

Among the items was a chapbook entitled 'Sherlock Holmes and The Shadow of the Wolf' by Ron Weighell (1950-2020), which I've been keeping an eye out for as part of my interest publications from the Sherlockian Society called The Northern Musgraves (see 221bcooee.blogspot.com/2024/01/my-musgrave-monograph-monomania-second.html). This small publication contains a pastiche titled 'Sherlock Holmes and The Shadow of the Wolf'. I recently spoke to Chris Roden who informed me that WEIGHELL was pronounced like 'Whale'. Weighell was a writer of the supernatural, fantasy and horror genres, but also produced a series of Sherlockian stories that incorporated supernatural and horror elements.

Cover of 'Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow of the Wolf' by Ron Weighell. Chapbook with red cover.

Weighell published a Sherlockian supernatural story titled The Case of the Fiery Messengers in 1990. In 1992, the Northern Musgraves Society organized ‘Aspects of Holmes’ weekend Sherlockian conference, which took place in Bradford, England. As part of the weekend's events, the organizers commissioned Weighell to produce a story to be read out at the society's annual dinner. That story was 'Shadow of the Wolf', and it was also 'published and presented to members attending the Society's Aspects of Holmes weekend on 28 March 1992'. 

The book was edited by David Stuart Davies and Kathryn White, and type-set by Chris Roden. I can find no mention of the publication of this book in Northern Musgraves periodicals, nor does the review of the 'Aspects of Holmes' weekend contain a mention of Weighell. I can also find no advertisement of the publication being for purchase, nor reviews on the story. The description above notes it was 'presented to members', and so the print run is unknown but may be relatively low.

The story was so positively received that Weighell to wrote more Sherlock Holmes stories and these (including both 'Fiery Messengers' and 'Shadow of the Wolf) were collected as The Irregular Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, published by Calabash Press in 2000 (and re-printed in 2018 by Zagava Press).

Detail of the 'wolf' from the cover of 'Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow of the Wolf' by Ron Weighell. 

There is a plot summary available at www.schoolandholmes.com/weighell.html that provides a summary of the plot (SPOILER ALERT): "Holmes is summoned to Yorkshire to investigate an apparent werewolf killing. The victim was found in his bedroom, the house surrounded by unmarked snow. His mother keeps a conservatory of exotic plants, some of which have recently started dying. Also in the house is the boy's invalid artist father who tells Holmes that a werewolf curse has been passed down from his ancestors and that he is responsible, and his sister who believes that her mother is responsible for her brother's death. Holmes sets up a night-time vigil, but is unable to prevent another death. Holmes tells Watson of his visit to Tibet during the hiatus, his attempts to track the yeti at the request of the Dalai Lama, and of a murder that occurred on the hunt, and which he has allowed to distort his judgement in the current case. A cutlery theft finally puts Holmes on the killer's trail."

Title page of 'Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow of the Wolf' by Ron Weighell. 'This story was specially commissioned by the Northern Musgraves Sherlock Holmes Society and was published and presented to members attending the Society's Aspects of Holmes weekend on 28 March 1992.'

'Ron Weighell has contributed stories to many magazines and anthologies . His much admired tale, The Case of the Fiery Messengers, in which Holmes and Watson encounter the supernatural, appeared in Mystery for Christmas (edited by Richard Dalby: Michael O'Mara Books, 1990). Ron's collection of antiquarian ghost stories, The Empty House, was issued by Rosemary Pardoe's Haunted Library imprint in 1986. His novella, The White Road, will be published by Caermaen Books later this year. Ron lives in Portsmouth, not far from the house where Conan Doyle had his first medical practice. He is now working on a third story in homage to Holmes.'

Finally, the book credits Colin Langeveld for illustrations. I have included two wonderful illustrations below (along with the wolf detail from the cover above). Langeveld provided illustrations for the Northern Musgraves periodicals, and the Shoso-in Bulletin (Japan), among others.