Bit of a conumdrum of a question, but is it so very weird? For both are mysteries in their own sweet way, one a bit of a coming together of Sherlock Holmes, Watson, Dracula, Jeckyll and Hyde, ( amongst others ), certainly not forgetting Dorian Grey. The other Planting Clues is an absorbing study of the relevance of diatoms and orchids to pollen and plant poisons at a crime scene.

Sherlock Holmes & Mr Hyde is a novel set in Victorian times, with the above mentioned disparate characters skillfully woven into an accomplished whole by ‘Sherlockian’ author Christian Klaver. Klaver waltzes  us into the second instalment of The Classified Dossier series where we encounter villains with varying but invariably horrible abilities,  which our protagonists have to defeat by all means possible. It is sharp, pacey, readable, and with Christmas on the way, an ideal gift.

So where does Planting Clues come into this scenario?

Ah, just imagine if Holmes and Watson  had the know how to assess clues left by plants?

At the very least they would have to access  Planting Clues which opens a new vista in murder investigations, and actually, why not many  other types of investigations? Perhaps missing persons, perhaps robberies with seeds left in footprints at a crime scene… Lord, the opportunities for an eagle eyed detective and forensic botanist are endless. So I suggest Holmes and Watson read without further ado:  Planting Clues: How plants solve crimes by David J. Gibson who has produced a well structured totally readable examination of just how plants have provided evidence in numerous court cases including Ian Huntley ( the Shoham Murders) and the Lindbergh kidnapping.

Holmes and Watson would, of course, have to employ an expert, but how interesting it would be.

Sherlock Holmes & Mr Hyde The Classified Dossier by Christian Klaver HB and eBook £14.99

Planting Clues. How plants solve crimes by David J Gibson. Hardback and eBook £18.9