221B Recs

Title: Number 94
Author: tweedisgood
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Length: 7,200 words
Rating: M (for a character's erotic thoughts; there's no sex or violence in the events of the story)
Warnings: none
Verse: ACD Books
Author's summary: Appearances deceive. That is, one might say, their chief function.

Reccer's comments: I have fallen woefully behind in recc'ing the many wonderful fics in this month's ACD Holmesfest, so at this point I will plan to leave thumbnail recs for most of my favorites in this comm's open recs post. But I couldn't finish out my month as a recc'er here without giving a bit more in-depth attention to this remarkable story.

Amid deep historicity and attention to period detail, this fic reconnects us with Kitty Winters and Violet de Merville as the entrepreneurs of a uniquely Victorian business venture. Although they were antagonists in The Illustrious Client, they have now joined forces to make their own way in the world. However, their business has become the target of a strange and disturbing series of attacks, and Holmes and Watson's investigation raises questions that skirt close to some of their own long-hidden secrets and desires.

With a strong case fic as its backbone, this story gives us pining of the very finest vintage. Holmes's delicate yearning throughout the ins and outs of his work and his daily life is beautifully expressed. The language is confident and balances lyricism and metaphor with great doses of humor and practicality. An engrossing and moving treat for the heart as well as the head, with a sublime and romantic ending.

Sample this masterful writing -- I think you will be glad that you did!

Title: Dark Things Happen at the Turn of the Year
Author: Odamaki
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson (or can be read as gen); Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade; Molly Hooper/Greg Lestrade; Sally Donovan, Philip Anderson
Length: 7,200 words
Rating: T
Warnings: character death
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Collection of short fics written for Halloween 2016. See chapter notes for details of contents.

Reccer's comments: This is a wonderful Halloween anthology made up of five short stories, each with very different tones and pairings. Both of the Johnlock vignettes start out scary but wind up sweet, and the wonderful descriptions have a stylistic hint of Bradbury's October Country about them. The Mystrade story of a frustrated genie and his reluctant master is out-and-out charming; the others are more haunting and tragic. A vividly imagined and strikingly written collection of treats that will sweep you away this witching hour! :)