Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

You know the plots, but what about the minutiae? We delve into the Sherlock Holmes stories and answers questions that arise, clarify muddy details, and look into some of the period terminology in this weekly podcast.

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Update frequency: every 7 days
Average duration: 23 minutes
Episodes: 453
Years Active: 2017 - 2025

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On Stage and Off

“before my biographer had come to glorify me” [GREE]

Once again, we find ourselves in a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist"-themed episode, where we look at a piece of old scholarship. This time, w…

00:28:27 | Wed 16 Apr 2025

The Man with the Watches (The Apocrypha Part 2)

“I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha” [VALL]

The second in our series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes — stories that are not in the original Canonical 60 but that have some relevant in…

00:23:59 | Wed 09 Apr 2025

The Alleged Use of Cocaine by Mr. Sherlock Holmes

“you are mistaken about my alleged agents” [MAZA] Along with the calabash pipe, deerstalker cap, and Inverness cape, one of Sherlock Holmes's traits is the use of cocaine. But should it be? …

00:25:23 | Thu 03 Apr 2025

North American Businesses

“the great North American Continent” [STUD] Picking up where we left off in Episode 428 ("British Businesses"), we're moving to the other side of the pond and doing a survey of businesses in No…

00:19:10 | Thu 27 Mar 2025

The Mathematics of Mrs. Watson

“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE] It's not often that we get a piece of Sherlockian scholarship that had its origin in a mainstream publication. And in this c…

00:24:33 | Thu 20 Mar 2025

British Businesses

“preoccupied with business matters” [COPP]

If you came across the name of a business in the Sherlock Holmes stories, do you think you could identify which story it came from? What about the type of…

00:28:12 | Thu 13 Mar 2025

My Biblical Knowledge Is a Trifle Rusty

“There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion” [NAVA]

The Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article this month is "My Biblical Knowledge is a Trifle Rusty" by Henry T. Fols…

00:29:46 | Thu 06 Mar 2025

The Field Bazaar (The Apocrypha Part 1)

“I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha” [VALL]

We're starting a short series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes: stories that are not in the Canonical 60 but that have some relevant in…

00:26:00 | Thu 27 Feb 2025

Disguise Is Key

“see through a disguise” [HOUN]

The third episode of every month is a look into a piece of Sherlockian scholarship, and this time it brings us to Vol. 64 No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal from 2…

00:21:39 | Wed 19 Feb 2025

Banks in the Canon

“drawn on six different banks” [VALL]

Banks and bankers are important to Sherlock Holmes. From clients to necessary fiduciaries, they represent an essential part of the real and Canonical worl…

00:23:35 | Thu 13 Feb 2025

The Methods of Sherlock Holmes

“You know my methods. Apply them!” [HOUN]

In 1893, a curious entry appeared in the Tit-Bits magazine: an examination paper on the methods of Sherlock Holmes. A cash prize was offered to the wi…

00:26:20 | Wed 05 Feb 2025

Baritsu

“the Japanese system of wrestling” [EMPT]

When Sherlock Holmes defeated Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, he had a secret weapon: his knowledge of a certain style of Japanese wrestlin…

00:21:02 | Thu 30 Jan 2025

Turkish Baths

“the sweat was pouring down my face” [BLUE]

Turkish baths come up in just two of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Quick—without looking it up, can you name which? We know Watson enjoys both of them;…

00:23:59 | Thu 23 Jan 2025

Who Wasn't Jack the Ripper

“when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth” [SIGN]

In our monthly discussion of an old piece of Sherlockian scholarship, we find ourselves i…

00:21:25 | Wed 15 Jan 2025

Partnership

“We shall then take you into partnership” [SIGN]

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are forever linked, thanks to that first meeting at Bart's. They were both looking for someone with whom to share …

00:34:17 | Thu 09 Jan 2025

The Origin of 221B Worship

“a singular set of people, Watson” [WIST] Image credit: The Baker Street Irregulars

This podcast is a by-product of being active in the world of Sherlockians. But how did Sherlock Holmes…

00:33:53 | Wed 01 Jan 2025

Christmas with Sherlock Holmes

“the compliments of the season” [BLUE]

There is only one Sherlock Holmes story that takes place at Christmas: "The Blue Carbuncle," which took place on "the second morning after Christmas."

In …

00:14:51 | Wed 25 Dec 2024

Sherlock Holmes Was No Burglar

“I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal” [CHAS]

In some cases, Sherlock Holmes was a bit of a vigilante in his pursuit of justice. He didn't mind breaking t…

00:28:45 | Thu 19 Dec 2024

Battlestations!

“You look like a general who is planning a battle” [HOUN] The Battle of Marengo, by Louis-François Lejeune (public domain - Wikimedia Commons)

One simple sentence in "The Abbey Grange" …

00:34:35 | Thu 12 Dec 2024

The December Cases

“He disappeared upon the 3d of December” [SIGN]

"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is inextricably linked with the month of December. But what about the other cases Sherlock Holmes handled …

00:34:23 | Thu 05 Dec 2024

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