by Daniel Smith
ISBN: 978-1-78929-629-7
First published: 2018
Previous title: The Ardlamont Mystery
241 pages
Publisher: www.mombooks.com Michael O’Mara Books
Cover design by Natasha le Coultre
3 / 5 Stars
An interesting book, using a specific case, a death at the Ardlamont Manor (in remote Northern Scotland) to illustrate the similarities between Joseph Bell and Henry Littlejohn, and the most famous (fictional) detective in the world, Sherlock Holmes.
Bell was president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Littlejohn had become Edinburgh’s police surgeon by 1854. Both of these men knew Conan Doyle and respected him. Conan Doyle would base his greatest creation on a combination of both of these men. Even Holme’s signature attribute of “deductive reasoning”, was first demonstrated by Joseph Bell at his lectures at Edinburgh University.
The inspiration that Conan Doyle took went so far as to include Heron Watson, a particular friend of Bell and Littlejohn, who has served in the Crimean War, and was the basis of Dr Watson.
Nevertheless the book could do with a more dramatic narrative. The Ardlamont affair was indeed gripping, but the author’s need to make constant comparisons to Holmes, detracts from the suspense and drama needed to give the book any more stars.
Recommended to those with a keen interest in Sherlock Holmes and the original creation of the Detective genre.
The Eclectic Book Review 