#BookReview-Sherlock Holmes-The Instrument of Death’ by David Stuart Davies

The World’s Greatest Detective is back!

The Titan Books ‘Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ series has a new entry into the case files of one Dr J.Watson in the shape of a just about to be published paperback, ‘The Instrument of Death’ (available on pre-order for 05/03/2019)

About the book..

Sherlock Holmes has just uncovered the truth about the theft of a priceless ruby. The wealthy Lady Damury staged the theft and tried to frame her husband – but just as Holmes reveals the truth, Lady Damury is found murdered. Holmes deduces that this is no crime of passion, but the work of a ruthless killer with no connection to the jewel. With reports of a man in a strange, trance-like state, Holmes finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the sinister Dr .Caligari….

Hooray! All the gang are here in this meticulously created novel by emminent Sherlockian, David Stuart Davies.

Baker Street Irregulars? Check!

Inspector Lestrade? Check!

A crime so fiendish and diabolical that only Holmes can solve it? Check!

A race against time to save a woman in peril, and London society at large? Check check check!

This is a truly wonderful read, oftentimes Sherlock Holmes novels are done with the greatest of affection for Conan-Doyle’s characters but rarely do they emerge so distinctively and life like as this. The background to the sinister Dr Caligari is an excellent touch, he makes for the most sinister Victorian villain that I have read about in many a year. He will truly make you shudder as he moves to London, rather like Dracula, to explore new opportunities for hunting his favourite prey-the vulnerable and potentially unmissed inhabitants of the pavements, alleyways and shadows of the nation’s capital.

The book starts by introducing Caligari, before moving to extracts from the journals of Watson, as he returns from a Surrey break and finds Holmes mid adventure. Having located a priceless ruby and saved a man from sure death, Holmes does not manage to catch the true culprit before they are murdered , most horribly, by someone unknown.

Lacking a motive or clue, Holmes and Watson become entangled in a most bizarre case as this mysterious death is followed by an attempt on another woman’s life , again trying to impicate her boyfriend.

But this time, the would be victim escapes and runs straight to a door with a very familiar address…

I am definitely going to be looking for more books by this author and in this series as I haven’t read any Sherlock Holmes in such a long time- perhaps this is down to over familiarity with the stories, so definitely think that it is time to try more adventures set in Sherlockian times!

About the Author…

David Stuart Davies was born in 1946. He was a teacher of English before becoming a full-time editor, writer, and playwright. Davies has written extensively about Sherlock Holmes, both fiction and non-fiction. He is the editor of Red Herrings, the monthly in-house publication of the Crime Writers’ Association.

Links-David Stuart Davies

Twitter @DStuartDavies