The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Back-to-Front Murder
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Sherlock Holmes assists a popular mystery writer whose plots seem to be coming to life.
May 1898. A new client arrives at Baker Street - Abigail Moone, a wealthy, independent writer of successful mystery stories under a male pseudonym. She presents an unusual problem. Abigail claims that she devised a man's death that was reported in that morning's newspaper: that is, she planned his murder as an event to be included in one of her mystery stories. Following real people and imagining how she might murder them and get away with it is how Abigail comes up with her plots, but this victim has actually died, apparently of the poison method she meticulously planned in her notebook. Someone is trying to frame Abigail for his death, but with the evidence stacking up against her, she turns to Holmes to prove her innocence.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At the start of this promising Sherlock Holmes pastiche from Major (Hope Island), Holmes is consulted by Abigail Moone, the author of popular mystery novels written under the nom de plume of Damien Collinbourne. As part of her research for her next book, Moone procured some empty gelatin capsules and inserted one in the spout of an out-of-the-way drinking fountain in London's Tate Gallery. Moone hoped to assess the plausibility of a fictional murder victim being poisoned by a slow-acting toxin in such a manner. But, to her horror, Ronald Bythewood, the man she observed drinking from that fountain, died shortly afterward in a nearby park, apparently from ingesting phenol. Holmes agrees to investigate, only to learn from Inspector Lestrade that Bythewood was clutching a scrap of paper when he died on which was written "D C DID IT." That possible reference to Moone's alias places her account in a suspicious light. Major does a great job with the setup and emulating Dr. Watson's voice, but the eventual reveal is a letdown. Nonetheless, fans of traditional Holmes stories should welcome a sequel.
