The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Back to Front Murder

by Tim Major

Overview

A popular mystery writer comes under fire when one of her murder plots comes to life—and only Sherlock Holmes can clear her name—in this “well-constructed homage to the Great Detective” created by Arthur Conan Doyle (Criminal Element).

May 1898: Abigail Moone presents an unusual problem at Baker Street. A successful mystery author, she writes her stories under a male pseudonym—and gets her ideas by following real people, imagining how she might kill them and get away with it.
 
Now, her latest “victim” has died of the poison method she meticulously planned in her notebook. Abigail insists she is not responsible—someone is trying to frame her for his death. With the evidence stacking up against her, she begs Holmes to prove her innocence…

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781789096989
Publisher:	Titan
Publication date:	08/31/2021
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	399,300
Product dimensions:	5.13(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Tim Major is the author of Snakeskins, You Don't Belong Here, Blighters, Carus & Mitch, the YA novel Machineries of Mercy, the short story collection And the House Lights Dim, and a non-fiction book about the silent crime film, Les Vampires. His shorts have appeared in Interzone, Not One of Us and numerous anthologies including Best of British Science Fiction and The Best Horror of the Year. He lives in York, UK and tweets @onasteamer.

Editorial Reviews

08/02/2021

At the start of this promising Sherlock Holmes pastiche from Major (Hope Island), Holmes is consulted by Abigail Moone, the author of popular mystery novels written under the nom de plume of Damien Collinbourne. As part of her research for her next book, Moone procured some empty gelatin capsules and inserted one in the spout of an out-of-the-way drinking fountain in London’s Tate Gallery. Moone hoped to assess the plausibility of a fictional murder victim being poisoned by a slow-acting toxin in such a manner. But, to her horror, Ronald Bythewood, the man she observed drinking from that fountain, died shortly afterward in a nearby park, apparently from ingesting phenol. Holmes agrees to investigate, only to learn from Inspector Lestrade that Bythewood was clutching a scrap of paper when he died on which was written “D C DID IT.” That possible reference to Moone’s alias places her account in a suspicious light. Major does a great job with the setup and emulating Dr. Watson’s voice, but the eventual reveal is a letdown. Nonetheless, fans of traditional Holmes stories should welcome a sequel. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Fans of traditional Holmes stories should welcome a sequel.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Holmes fans will be more than satisfied with this well-constructed homage to the great detective.”
—Criminal Element

From the Publisher