Friday, November 16, 2012

The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson


First Line: He only wanted just one cigarette.

Nigel Heath has never measured up to his older brother Reggie. Nigel can't quite seem to settle down to anything while Reggie has just moved his London law practice to larger digs at 221B Baker Street. The leasing arrangements were very agreeable, but there is a minor annoyance: people insist upon writing letters to Sherlock Holmes as if the fictional character were alive and could solve their problems, and part of the leasing agreement insists that these letters be answered. Since Nigel is awaiting a hearing to see if he can continue to practice law, Reggie sets him to work at the law firm answering the Holmes mail. It's very easy to do: just fill out one of the form letters for each one and put it in the post.

But Nigel can't fill out the form letters without reading what he's responding to, and one letter in particular catches his eye. The letter was written twenty years ago by a little girl in Los Angeles, California, needing help in finding her father who's disappeared under very mysterious circumstances. In no time at all, Reggie is following his younger brother to Los Angeles and attempting to solve a crime that would make the great Holmes himself salivate because-- you see-- Nigel Heath has managed to become a wanted man on two continents.

I often wonder what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would think of his literary creation's unflagging popularity. Sherlock Holmes simply refuses to die. In fact, his health has never been better, what with television series, movies, and books being churned out with creative abandon. Author Michael Robertson has an imaginative premise, and it will be interesting to see how this series carries it out.

There's a touch of Laurel and Hardy about the Heath Brothers-- the hapless Nigel seemingly incapable of keeping himself out of any fine mess with older brother Reggie charging in to the rescue. The fact that both brothers have fallen in love with an intelligent and beautiful stage actress adds spice to these relationships.

The case, which involves a subway system being built in Los Angeles, is a puzzling one, and even though the why is revealed early, it's still difficult to arrive at the who. I enjoyed the author's dry wit throughout the book, but felt that both the wit and the characters' personalities could have been ratcheted up a notch or two. Robertson seemed oddly restrained, and this "holding back" made the book seem a bit lifeless at times when it truly could have sparkled.

That said, I did enjoy the book a great deal, and I love the premise. I'm already on the lookout for the second book in the series, The Brothers of Baker Street. I want to see what fine mess Nigel pulls Reggie into next!


The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson
ISBN:  9780312650643
Minotaur Books © 2011
Paperback, 288 pages

Amateur Sleuth, #1 Baker Street mystery
Rating: B-
Source: Purchased from Bookcloseouts.

10 comments:

  1. Sounds great. I have the second book in the series. Just need to read this one. Great review.

    Kimberlee
    http://girllostinabook.blogspot.com

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    1. It never ceases to amaze me how fertile the Sherlock Holmes field is, and this series debut is a prime example. Glad you enjoyed the review!

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  2. Enjoyed the review, Cathy. This sounds like a series I might enjoy. Thanks for the tip. I've added both titles to my TBR list. There's always room for another Holmes themed series. (If it's done well.)

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    1. Exactly! (Or should I say...elementary?) :-)

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  3. What a brilliant premise for a series of books! Will keep an eye out for these.

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    1. Great! I'll be interested in seeing what you think of them.

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  4. Cathy - Oh, this is really a wonderful idea for a series! I can tell just from your post that the brothers' characters may need some development but hopefully that'll happen over time. In the meantime, what a great premise.

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    1. I'm looking forward to other books in the series because I just have to know what happens to Reggie and Nigel!

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  5. When I see books with letters, I become very excited. What is that big word? Epistolary. Now, if I can learn to pronounce it.

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