Conned Again, Watson

In this book, Bruce sets out 'twelve new Sherlock Holmes stories illuminating the everyday challenges of logic'. Adopting the cautionary approach of Aesop's Fables to get his message across, Bruce makes each of his stories a salutary lesson resting on a mathematically logical twist. In his preface Bruce expresses his hope that readers, not merely his characters, may be a little wiser by the book's end, but that first and foremost the book should be read for fun. The maths is therefore kept as simple as possible and supported at each stage by illustrations. Bruce touches upon many areas - Baye's logic, game theory and sampling, to name but three. Aside from the maths the stories are eminently readable in themselves. Narrated by Doctor Watson, the chapters are peopled by characters familiar to readers of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, such as Inspector Lestrade, together with historical characters like the Rev. Charles Dodgson (otherwise known as Lewis Carroll). Bruce takes minor liberties with historical 'visitors', chronology in particular, none of which detracts from a plausible fiction. He explains his actions in a detailed afterword. Superficially the 12 stories vary enormously - they include businessmen who cannot practicably apply theory and an individual fearful of a Martian invasion - but the use, or abuse, of numbers is the link. Core themes and characters are repeated to reinforce concepts and create cohesion. Throughout Holmes seeks to illustrate that instinctive first choices, especially where risk or money are involved, are not always right. Or as Holmes tells Watson, 'if you would only take time to think more clearly, resolve to be a little more logical, a little more scientific in your everyday decisions, you would be a happier and more prosperous man for it.' All in all this is an enjoyable book which should leave readers a little wiser if not mathematical whizzes. Points are well made and even old chestnuts are covered with a lightly humorous touch. In The Case of the Poor Observer, for example, Holmes demonstrates why buses always come in twos. Issues discussed often relate to everyday events - for instance, Holmes saves Watson from being duped by an offer to re-glaze his surgery for 'free' as a promotional property for a firm of glaziers. Should any point merit recap or further reading, Bruce's index gives references to specific theories and events mentioned in the text, and his afterword recommends further resources. (Kirkus UK)