**spoiler alert** London, 1867. Dr. Julia Lewis and Inspector Richard Tennant are back in a second historical mystery. This time the focus is on the a**spoiler alert** London, 1867. Dr. Julia Lewis and Inspector Richard Tennant are back in a second historical mystery. This time the focus is on the artistic community and links to pornography and other illicit trade "goods."
While it is perfectly acceptable for Victorian women to dabble in watercolors and painting as an innocent pastime, women who try to make a living as an artist face ridicule and worse. And the women who pose for artists (male or female)? They're even worse. Julia is called to examine a young woman suspected of prostitution (to make sure she's not spreading disease) even though the girl insists that she's a shop girl and an artist's model at times. The police only became involved because two men were harassing her--though it's obvious they think she attracted their attention on purpose. Then, a new artistic friend of Julia's, Mary Allingham, suffers a break-in the studio on the grounds of her home. A large "W" (for whore) in emerald green paint is left behind. Local officers aren't too keen to investigate the "goings-on" at an art studio, but Julia asks Richard to speak with her friend about other incidents in the female art world.
When young female models become the target of a killer, both Richard and Julia are sure there's more behind this than just spite against females who don't know their place. Mary's brother Charles, an admirer of all sorts of art, has also died of poison. It looks like and is ruled a suicide, but then the family doctor and a member of Charles's club also dies of poison. The club has been tied to another line of investigation involving young girls--are the two threads connected? And if so, how?
McDonough has provided another absorbing Victorian mystery (one of my favorite historical periods). We learn more about Julia and Richard and we get to watch them learn about each other. The supporting characters are also interesting and given depth--even those who aren't on stage long. I enjoyed the look at the artistic world of the 1800s and McDonough deftly weaves real artists into the story in a very believable way. Like Richard Tennant, I wasn't happy that justice wasn't served up to all of the deserving. At the end of the book he takes a leave of absence from the force and is off to France in search of one of those responsible. I hope he catches them...but since the official justice system isn't interested, I do wonder what he's going to do when he does find them.
Meet the young Sherlock Holmes--who, by the way, bears very little resemblance to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes. It's possible he's the teenage versMeet the young Sherlock Holmes--who, by the way, bears very little resemblance to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes. It's possible he's the teenage version of Robert Downey Jr's Holmes. Yeah, I'm more likely to believe that one.
So 1868...Sherlock has been at the Deepdene School for Boys. It's the summer holidays and he's waiting for his father to take him home--only Father isn't coming (he's been sent off to India) and Mycroft has come to take his brother to their uncle's house--an uncle and aunt that he's never met in an area of England that's he's never been. It's going to be lovely--the relatives are distant and there's a housekeeper who seems to be some sort of Mrs. Danvers (from Rebecca) proto-type. On the plus side, he makes friends with another boy, Matty Arnatt, and he winds up with a pretty cool tutor, Mr. Amyus Crowe. And...he finds himself in the middle of his first mystery...
Two men in the Farnham area die mysteriously--covered with angry red welts reminiscent of the plague. Just before the first man is found dead, Matty Arnatt saw what he describes as dark cloud that moved as if it had a mind of its own. The two boys and Sherlock's tutor find themselves in the middle of an evil plot that threatens Britain's safety (because of course it does). And, of course, Sherlock's first adventure pits him (and his friends) against an evil mastermind with hordes of bad guys at his command (Remind you of anyone already in the Holmes canon? But, no, it's not him.)
My thoughts: Where on earth is the early evidence of the brilliant mind of the world's first consulting detective? It's not in young Holmes. Instead, we have Amyus Crowe who has all of the Sherlock Holmes traits and who spouts many of Holmes's famous lines (everything from how to stock the lumber room of your mind to "when you eliminate the impossible..."). Young Holmes, who by the way is fourteen and has only had some boxing in school, seems best fit to beat up on the hordes of bad guys commanded by the evil genius. Yes, folks, the teenage Holmes can fight grown men (some hardened criminals) and come out the victor! Most of the time he seems dumber than a box of rocks, but when it comes to using his brain to figure out clever ways to beat up the baddies then suddenly he's firing on all cylinders. Apologies for the mixed metaphors. I'm not the world's smartest detective, but I figured out long before it was revealed what the "death cloud" was.
This is not the story I was expecting from a book about the teenage Holmes. Going up against a big criminal organization? Deranged mastermind who wants to bring down the British Empire? Deranged mastermind who can only move around using wires as if he's some kind of life-size marionette? Sounds more like a proto-James Bond versus supervillain to me. And it might have worked out a heck of a lot better (story-wise and interest-wise) if Sherlock actually seemed smarter than average--but he doesn't. Matty is smarter than Sherlock. Matty has to explain so many things to Sherlock. Fans of Sherlock Holmes are used to him being the smartest person on the page. And he's not.
Oh...and one final thing. Why on earth did we introduce the antagonistic Mrs. Danvers-like character. All she does is stand around and glare at Sherlock and whisper things like "You're not welcome here, boy." But she does so to no purpose. Sorry if it's a spoiler--but she has absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Nothing. I have no idea why Lane thought he needed to add this pointless antagonist to the Holmes household. You meet her and think she must have some sort of hold over Sherringford Holmes and/or his wife and that this is going to be relevant to the plot in some way. Nope. Unless Lane plans on carrying this little side story forward and making it relevant later in the series, this was just wasted space on the page. [And for the record--I don't plan on finding out. Not interested enough to go on with the series.]
It would be nice if those in charge of the estates of some of our greatest detective novelists actually seemed to care about the legacy of the work instead of making more money based on their forbears' genius (Christie estate, I'm particularly looking at you). This is "the first teen series endorsed by the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Estate" and one wonders if those in charge have actually read Doyle's work.
★★ , but only because I actually like Amyus Crowe, his daughter Virginia, and Matty. Sherlock is okay--for an average teenager. I just wish he were more Holmes-like. If the rating were based on resemblance to the original Sherlock Holmes, then I'd be tempted to hand out no stars....more
Julia Lewis is one of the few women licensed as practicing doctors in England 1866. Though universities within England do not accept female students, Julia Lewis is one of the few women licensed as practicing doctors in England 1866. Though universities within England do not accept female students, a loophole in the licensing laws (which accept credentials from foreign institutions) has allowed Julia, with her degree from an American women's medical college to be added to the medical register. She joins her (quite progressive) grandfather in his medical practice. When her grandfather suffers from a mild heart attack and must convalesce, she answers the summons from Scotland Yard for a medical examiner.
That November begins a series of gruesome murders that will test Dr. Julia Lewis and Detective Inspector Richard Tennant. The first body discovered is that of the "Saint of Spitalfields." The Reverend Mr. Tobias Atwater was well-known for his good works in the East End. So, why has his sexually mutilated body been found at the construction site for London's new sewer system--with his head in a brick sewer tunnel? And what is the meaning of the popped balloon found in the victim's pocket? In four years of practice, Julia has seen a lot of death--primarily from the recent cholera outbreak--but never like this.
A few days later another body is found, this time a prominent businessman, Sir Maxwell Ball, the chairman of the East London Waterworks Company. Though the body is not mutilated as was Atwater's, there are links--such as another popped balloon--so, reluctantly, Tennant calls in Dr. Julia Lewis once again. It's always best to have the same doctor exam victims thought to have been murdered by the same hand. Even with clues on the bodies and at the sites that link the victims, Tennant's team has difficulty finding links in their lives. One thing Tennant does notice is how staged the crime scenes appear; as if the culprit is saying, "Look what I did!"
Before long, Tennant and others connected with the case begin receiving taunting letters and more victims fall prey to the killer's knife. There is a logic behind the killer's actions and he isn't quite finished. He won't be finished until he commits one more murder...Julia's. Will Tennant be able to unmask the killer before he completes his plan?
This is a very promising beginning to a new historical mystery series. The Victorian era is one of my favorite-to-read-about time periods, followed closely by early 20th C (through WWII) and the Regency period. What makes this book so enjoyable are the characters and the sense of place. She works well in the Victorian period. I definitely felt myself slipping into another era with the the descriptions of the workhouse, the clinics, the police procedures, and the brewing company. McDonough gives Julia Lewis and Richard Tennant rich, full backgrounds and allows them (and the reader) to discover new bits of backstory gradually, giving us time to get to know one another. I enjoyed the way she gave them similar incidents in the past so these two prickly individuals could find a common ground. Tennant is a Crimean War veteran with post-traumatic stress. Julia suffers from feelings of having let a fellow medical student down. And both feel like they have something to prove--to the world, to each other, and to themselves. And, of course, Tennant finds working with a female doctor irritating and unfathomable (at first). And, of course, Julia Lewis feels that every question is directed at her because she's a woman and not because it's Tennant's job to ask questions. It takes them time to learn how to respect and work with each other.
The mystery plot is good--there is a very solid psychological motive given for the murders and I do like the way it unfolds. The murders are a bit gruesome for my tastes, but not so much so that it prevented my enjoyment. I will say that the final reveal wasn't quite as startling as it might be for those who are not as well-read in the mystery genre in general. Full honors to McDonough for a strong kick-off to the series, excellent characterization, and a writing style that kept me turning the pages. I look forward to more adventures with Dr. Lewis and Inspector Tennant. ★★★★
My thanks to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and Kensington Publishing for this book which I won through a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ giveaway. I have received no other compensation and this review represents my individual reaction to the book.
Sebastian once again is on the trail--looking for the real culprit behind the killings so the crown (Lord Jarvis) won't just pick a suspect (any suspeSebastian once again is on the trail--looking for the real culprit behind the killings so the crown (Lord Jarvis) won't just pick a suspect (any suspect--preferably nobody important) and hang him them just to make sure the populace doesn't get any more riled up than they already are. Since Sebastian's friend Hugh Chandler is a public outcast (despite being a war hero) because he ran off with Lord Preston's wife, everyone thinks he'd make a great scapegoat. It doesn't help that Preston refused to divorce her and that her dowry portion will revert to her now that Preston's dead. And, given that Hugh isn't telling Sebastian everything he knows, even Sebastian isn't sure the man didn't do it. But even the magistrate in Jarvis's pocket has to admit that Hugh doesn't really have a motive to kill the other victims...or to leave behind tarot calling cards.Of course, Sebastian does figure it all and assures that the innocent won't pay for the guilty person's crimes.
I've mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: This is my favorite (current) historical mystery series. It's the one series that I am on the edge of my chair waiting for the next one to come out and then read it as soon as I can get my hands on it. [And then I have to wait a whole year for the next one...] It's a bit darker and more brutal than I generally care for, but I like the characters so much that I don't mind. Sebastian's sense of justice and investigating on behalf of those who might suffer at the hands of the powers that be really appeals to me and I enjoy Hero's efforts at bringing social injustices to the public eye. Speaking of Hero--I'm not a fan of this mysterious person who seems out to get her and if (in a future book) Sebastian loses another person he cares about, I may just lose my mind. He and Hero are so good together that I will be very upset if something happens to her. [I'm still scarred by Elizabeth George and her treatment of Inspector Lynley.]
I'm also sitting here tapping my foot, waiting for Sebastian to finally find out for certain who his father is. There have been all sorts of hints and mentions of a certain person...but is it really him? Will we ever find out? I hope so.
This is a fantastic series. Great characters. Well-done research and I learn something new about the time period every time. Harris manages to teach her readers about history without info dumps and without detracting from the plot. Good mystery plots mixed with a learning experience is a win in my book. ★★★★ and 1/2 [rounded up here]
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