Consider this blog as a work in progress as I continue to explore the city of Toronto and all it has to offer for fans of Sherlock Holmes and/or mystery. I’m back in Toronto for the holidays and during my short stay I plowed my way through the snow and slush to find references, places and things related to Sherlock Holmes. I’d really appreciate it if my friends & readers could comment and contribute to this list! Let the sleuthing begin & let's build an archive together (for the fun of it!).
Here it goes for now:
- For starters, if you haven’t been to the Toronto Reference Library, I recommend you to visit the Arthur Conan Doyle Collection, which you can access on the 5th floor. This collection is vast, so you may want to dedicate a few hours of your day exploring all that it has to offer. The collection is also an invaluable resource for researchers like me, especially since it has some books and manga and other scholarly material on Sherlock Holmes in Japan. The librarians are also very kind and helpful and if you call ahead, you can request certain materials to be printed off and/or ready to use upon your visit. Also, if you’re around the area, take a stroll on Sherlock Holmes Walk (that is, when the weather gets warmer).
2. The Sleuth of Baker Street My husband discovered this bookstore online and we decided to pay a visit this afternoon. I was informed by the owner that since the relocation of the bookstore to Millwood, he no longer carries young adult literature such as the Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew stories, but there is an abundance of mystery novels, I mean A LOT! It was like being in a candy store. The bookstore doesn’t specialize in Sherlock Holmes stories exclusively, but offers so much that your bound to find something you want to read! You can also order books from the owner. I picked up a copy of The Complete Sherlock Holmes to add to my collection and the graphic novel adaptation of SHERLOCK: A Study in Pink.
3. Sure Lock This is a store that I drive pass every now and then. I haven’t been inside but as indicated on the yellow pages, it’s been around since 1981, specializing in “complete lock and door hardware.”
4. What Sherlock Holmes things have you found? Comment below!