Sherlock Holmes and The Case of The Bulgarian Codex

A puzzle wrapped in a conundrum twisted into a riddle! Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Bulgarian Codex by Tim Symonds The Prince of Bulgaria visits Baker Street in the exact disguise as the King of Bohemia had worn. He states that he needs Holmes and Watson to come to Bulgaria to find a stolen document. The Codex Zorgaphensis is an ancient document more than a thousand years old. It is a gospel which the Prince says must be present for his oldest son Boris to undergo a ceremony. He compares it to the Stone of Scone, which must be at a coronation to the throne of Great Britain. Unless it is returned, Prince Ferdinand fears that Russia will encroach on Bulgaria, and start a war which will draw in the entire world. He pays Holmes the exact sum offered by the King of Bohemia. A summons by Mycroft to number 10 Downing Street reveals that Mycroft and the Prime Minister both feel that Bulgaria could be the powder keg to starting a war they wish to avoid. Holmes is told to cooperate with Prince Ferdinand in any way. He is also to meet with the British Counsel in Sofia. Upon arrival in Bulgaria, the Prince takes them to the Cave Monastery of Sofia. It is there the Codex was stored, and from the Monastery was it stolen. To everyone’s surprise, the Codex is there! The Prince proclaims that the thief brought it back after learning that Holmes was on the job. Upon return to the Capital, a certain Captain Barrington, an Englishman who married a local lady has vanished. The lady is in argument with the Prince’s Majo-Domo, Konstantin, who also lays claim to her lands. Along about the same time, the body of a woman, stripped naked and drained of her blood lies in Mount Vitosh forest. There is evidence of a struggle. Her head has been shaved, perhaps as another attempt to shame her following the stripping of the body. An attempt has been made to make her death look like a vampire attack. The story is filled with intertwining conspiracies, deception, outright lies, and assassination attempts. The major twist I did not see coming! I will give this one five stars! Quoth the Raven…

Great fun. A classic Sherlock Holmes detective adventure. I read 'Sherlock Holmes and the case of the Bulgarian Codex on a flight. It was a perfect way to spend my travel time. It's 1900. A British woman expecting to marry a wealthy aristocrat travels to Bulgaria. I like the way Tim Symonds has caught the atmosphere of the court of 'Foxy' Ferdinand Prince of Bulgaria. Yes, I checked on google - the Bulgarian Prince was really known as 'Foxy' Ferdinand. In this story of murder, vampires and greed for vast estates in Bulgaria and Hungary, The Prince calls on Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson to help solve the mystery of the a precious missing Bulgarian document - The Codex. The story of the Case Of The Bulgarian Codex is fictional, the principal character Prince 'Foxy' Ferdinand is based closely on one of the most compelling personalities in European history, the real Prince Regnant, later Tsar, who ruled Bulgaria from 1887 until his forcible abdication in 1918.