A captivating and well-crafted mystery novel.
By M.K. Wiseman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2023
Sherlock Holmes is back in action in Wiseman’s third series installment, this time tackling a peculiar case of apparent death by magician. A wealthy widow, Margaret Jones, has been receiving diary entries in her own handwriting that allude to her brief extramarital affair, but she swears she didn’t write them. Meanwhile, the magician involved in the affair, Percy Simmons, believes another unknown conjurer is somehow killing people connected to his secret theosophy order. Dr. John Watson lends his expertise and social graces to becoming a prospective member of Simmons’ group, while Holmes is troubled by the talk of “evil” and his own responsibility for Moriarty’s demise.
This intricate whodunit involves dual cases with an “unseen enemy” or two and varied crimes, including murder and burglary. As the body count rises and alleged feats of magic, like astral travel, seem to defy Holmes’ cherished logic, readers will likely predict some of the final-act events, but there’s more than one turn they may not expect. The sleuth’s mental turmoil in this story is convincing and effectively shows his humanity, while Watson is an endearing counterpart to Holmes, meticulously relaying his own experiences and observations. Wiseman’s measured prose is comparable to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary style, making this a worthwhile read.
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Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781734464160
Page Count: 198
Publisher: M. K. Wiseman
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023