At first, I was hesitant to read a Sherlock Holmes book not written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I do love a good murder mystery (and I also love any chance I can get to picture Robert Downey Jr. in my head), so I decided to give this one a chance. I’m glad I did. The book is fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s well written–by George Mann–with the dialogue and language reflecting the time and place of 19th century London.
Elderly Sir Theobald Maugram’s bruised and broken body is found by the maid at the foot of the stairs of his home. To top that off, his will, which leaves everything he owns to his four nieces and nephews has mysteriously disappeared. His nephew shows up at the doorstep of Sherlock Holmes to hire him to help solve the mystery of this supposedly accidental death and to help find the missing will. As Holmes begins his investigation, an alleged cousin, whom none of the Maugrams have ever met, show up to collect his uncle’s entire estate. Immediately after his arrival in town, the remaining Maugrams start turning up dead. Is the mysterious cousin behind this? Or is someone else? Could the murders and the missing will be connected to the group of burglars referred to as the “iron me” who are breaking into the home of the most affluent citizens and stealing their jewelry? Holmes, with the help of his sidekick Dr. Watson, sets out to solve these mysteries as they become more and more entangled.
The book will be released on November 5th, in both paperback and Kindle format. Pre-order your copy on Amazon today
