Unquiet Spirits: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure.

On the cover of this book, right underneath the titles, are three words that give the potential reader a clue as to what they can expect: Whisky, Ghosts, Murder. Yes, it seems like a strange combination, doesn’t it? But author Bonnie MacBird has skillfully entwined these to create a new Sherlock Holmes novel that will truly be hard for you to put down.

Are you a little wary of modern authors who encounter ‘ready-made’ characters and make them their own? Sometimes, I admit that I am, but in the hands of Ms. MacBird one of literature’s favourite characters comes back to us – and delights readers with this brand new adventure.

Recreating the style of an author such as Conan Doyle is an art (and science) in itself but Ms. MacBird goes beyond the mere pastiche and creates a tale that the originator of Sherlock Holmes would be proud of.

As all Sherlock Holmes readers know, our hero is the ultimate practical man. When his enquiries take him from London, to France and then to the wilds of Scotland he is confronted by stories and legends of ghosts and supernatural beings. But as we loyal readers and Sherlockians are aware, Holmes is the last person to believe in ghosts … or is he?

As the narrative continues, we discover that Sherlock Holmes – the definitive practical and objective thinker – may have ‘ghosts’ in his own past that he needs to confront.

But I don’t want to make it sound as though this adventure is a serious and heavy tome – with the ingredients of whisky, ghosts and murder (to mention just the obvious)  the reader can be sure of enjoying a great read. I strongly suspect that Conan Doyle himself would enjoy Unquiet Spirits.

You can find out more at Amazon.

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote around sixty stories about his great detective.  It certainly seems a shame that the character had to die along with his creator. (The last Sherlock Holmes story was written only three years before the death of Arthur Conan Doyle).

The author was aware that he had created an unusual literary figure but as early as 1893, he decided that he wanted to kill the character off. Hence Holmes’ ‘fatal’ meeting with his arch-enemy Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. Conan Doyle intended that story to be Holmes’ last appearance as it culminated in his death.

Contemporary fans of the great detective objected wholeheartedly. Unlike today when we have so many entertainment options, the original Sherlockians were able only to read about his adventures in those days. Thanks to the public outcry, Conan Doyle had to bring Holmes ‘back to life’.

We’re fortunate today that authors such as Ms MacBird exist so that we can still read new adventures.

Conan Doyle created a legend. There are still people today who don’t realise that Sherlock Holmes was a fictional character. People still search Google with questions such as ‘is Sherlock Holmes still alive?’

Holmes is still used in conversation as ‘shorthand’ for detective work. (‘Well, whose a right little Sherlock Holmes, then?’) Tourists still travel to 221b Baker Street in London expecting to see the residence of the famous detective.

There have been dozens (or more?) popular detectives in fiction over the years but the magic of Sherlock Holmes is still with us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jackie Jackson, also known online as BritFlorida, is a highly experienced designer and writer. British born and now living in the USA, she specialises in lifestyle issues, design and quirky stories. You can see a wide range of articles here, or visit her website Tastes Magazine. See The Writer’s Door for more information.