Physician Arthur Conan Doyle takes a break from his practice to assist London police in tracking down Jack the Ripper in this debut novel and series starter.September 1888. A twenty-nine-year-old Arthur Conan Doyle practices medicine by day and writes at night. His first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, although gaining critical and popular success, has only netted him twenty-five … netted him twenty-five pounds. Embittered by the experience, he vows never to write another “crime story.” Then a messenger arrives with a mysterious summons from former Prime Minister William Gladstone, asking him to come to London immediately.
Once there, he is offered one month’s employment to assist the Metropolitan Police as a “consultant” in their hunt for the serial killer soon to be known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle agrees on the stipulation his old professor of surgery, Professor Joseph Bell–Doyle’s inspiration for Sherlock Holmes–agrees to work with him. Bell agrees, and soon the two are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who knows how to use a Derringer and serves as their guide and companion.
Pursuing leads through the dank alleys and courtyards of Whitechapel, they come upon the body of a savagely murdered fifth victim. Soon it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted when a knife-wielding figure approaches.
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Ardent feminism and cerebral detection face down the Ripper in the fog-shrouded streets of London: a feast for lovers of historical crime!
A KNIFE IN THE FOG by Bradley Harper goes beyond the familiar Sherlock Holmes construct with a truly unique set-up: all of the main characters are real-life historical figures who influenced Victorian society. The book rings with authenticity and the historical elements are executed faultlessly.
The narrator is Arthur Conan Doyle himself.
In the summer of 1888, Doyle is a practicing doctor in Portsmouth and has published A Study in Scarlett, the story which introduced Sherlock Holmes. His wife is pregnant with their first child and his future looks to be that of a general practitioner and family man, writing stories on the side to augment his income and amuse himself.
Doyle receives a summons to London from the office of former prime minister William Gladstone, whose secretary has read Doyle’s story and wishes him to become a paid consultant to find the killer terrorizing London’s East End. Doyle agrees on condition that his former mentor, Professor Joseph Bell, joins the effort. Bell, a Scottish surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh and widely regarded as the real-life inspiration for the character of Sherlock Holmes, soon joins Doyle in London.
A third real-life figure joins Doyle and Bell. Margaret Harkness is an investigative journalist and social commentator whose writings expose London’s poverty and social injustices. Often using the pen name John Law and disguising herself as a man, Margaret will be an invaluable guide and ally.
By giving Doyle a voice of his own, author Harper has created a character as appealing as Holmes. Doyle is considerate and charming, with the formalities and vocabulary of the British gentleman of 1888. Doyle draws the reader into his confidence as the three develop a working relationship, navigate Victorian social rules as well as London’s dark and dangerous passageways, and encounter Jack the Ripper’s missives and victims. Margaret is tireless and Doyle’s growing feelings for her provide a quiet complication.
With deductive reasoning worthy of Sherlock Holmes, the three encounter danger and deceit on the way to identifying Jack the Ripper. No spoilers, but the end is a heart-stopper.
For those who don’t know of her, as I did not, Margaret Harkness is a fascinating character, and she was definitely the highlight of this book for me. I first looked her up on wikipedia – my go-to source for a quick-and-dirty bit of information on anyone/anything – and was then intrigued enough to dig further. What an extraordinary woman – and her characterization in the novel appears spot-on, even fictionalized. She was a radical journalist who wrote as a man, to be taken seriously in her London of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it’s no stretch of the imagination to see her adopting her nom de plume of John Law in dress and mannerism, as she does in the book, if it got her access to the information she needed for her journalism (or to sate her curiosity which appears to also have been reflected well in the characterization).
But enough about her actual life – this is about the book, which is fictionalized. Her character is well-painted and evocative and she adds a lot of color to the story. Unfortunately for me, she provided nearly all of it – and her role, while significant, wasn’t enough to overcome the otherwise somewhat formulaic and a bit unevenly paced plot.
This isn’t exactly a Holmes story – the literary detective never appears directly. But it’s definitely Holmesian, because Sir Arthur is the other main character and he is brought in because of Holmes – as is Dr. Joseph Bell, the inspiration for Holmes. I thought this was an interesting way to go about the mystery, keeping things within the realm of the possible even while allowing the introduction of the fictional in a nice meta-way. Unfortunately Harper’s Conan Doyle and Bell felt a bit flat and never grabbed me – which is unfortunate and a bit of a disservice to the actual men, because both are fascinating historical characters in their own right (and not just because of their relationship to Holmes). The book was fine – there was nothing overtly wrong with it, but while I was reading I kept feeling like I’d read it before, and with more action/suspense.
It’s hard to believe I described a detective novel that purports to solve the Jack the Ripper killings in such a fashion, but unfortunately I did/do. The back-and-forth with Jack were interesting and tied in nicely with the actual history, offering speculation and proposals that were not only plausible but enjoyable to watch unfold. The twist-reveal caught me off-guard, I must admit, and was (after Harkness) the other high-point of the novel for me. Getting to that point seemed a bit drawn out; once it was revealed, things sped up a lot (almost too much at times) and the book tied together at the end rather handily (that’s not a bad thing, just an observation).
This is billed as “a mystery featuring Margaret Harkness and Arthur Conan Doyle” which suggests it’s the first in a series. I’m cautiously optimistic that things will tighten up a bit in future books, largely based on the strength of Margaret as a character, and if they do the series should be a solid addition to the genre.
My review copy was provided by Seventh Street Books.
Arthur Conan Doyle chasing after Jack the Ripper? Bradley Harper makes this irresistible pairing come alive. Ingenious in its premise and plotting, impressive in its unique forensic precision, infectious in its overflowing passion for the subject matter, A Knife in the Fog will be relished by fans of historical fiction, Sherlock Holmes, and Ripper literature. A debut novel worth falling for.
A new “spin” on Ripper tales. I enjoyed it!
Entertaining and meticulously researched, A Knife in the Fog brings to vibrant life a gathering of historical figures—Arthur Conan Doyle, Joseph Bell, and Jack the Ripper—that will fascinate readers of both historical fiction and Sherlock Holmes. The dark streets of London’s East End have never felt more real or more dangerous.
I was unable to complete the physical book simultaneously with audio as the book had to be returned to library. However, I did complete with the audio alone and was very pleased with the accuracy of real happenings in the material. Readers can “see” what the protagonists were doing, “visit” the locations they search for clues, and the “feel” their process of thinking that took place to concluded the “business.” I will read other material by this author. I believe this author, and this book in particular, is one that will be entered into the “classics” as time passes!
Well done story. A bit shakes at the end. But very good
I’m pleased to have revisited the genre with this satisfying reworking. I’ve been away too long.
Very nice writing in the style of Doyle’s Holmes adventures.
A very successful foray into Conan Doyle territory. Interesting characters
This is not an irreverent take on the Sherlock canon but a fascinating expanded look at that world. A Knife in the Fog began in a familiar time and setting but made it much more than I expected, with sympathetic characters who were enjoyable and easy to cheer on. I wanted to follow them past the last page to what comes next.
Some of my holiday gift giving is solved with this book.
A superbly imagined story of how the creator of Sherlock Holmes solves the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Not only does Harper skillfully immerse the reader in the squalid conditions of the London slums of the 1880s, he does so convincingly and engagingly in the authentic voice of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In addition, Harper introduces us to the man who actually inspired the creation of the Holmes character beloved by millions, Doyle’s mentor, Dr. Joseph Bell. But the real treat is the touching relationship that develops between Doyle and Margaret Harkness, a writer and feminist who rocks Doyle’s chauvinistic world. Oh, and Mark Twain makes a cameo appearance, too! I love this story!
For crime aficionados who are fascinated with the Jack the Ripper murders, this should delight them. Not only does the story stay true to the original crimes, but it also incorporates three real-life notables in a fictionalized meeting of the minds: Arthur Conan Doyle, Professor Joseph Bell and Margaret Harkness. Dr. Doyle has been contacted by a representative of Mr. Gladstone and asked to provide insight into the possible identity of the Ripper murderer. He requests the assistance of his former professor, Joseph Bell and when granted, arranges to meet with the Professor in London. This takes place shortly after the first three Whitechapel murders. They are also advised to seek out Margaret Harkness, for her familiarity with the area’s geography, as well as some of the streetwalkers. This sets off their efforts to learn the who and why of these gruesome murders. I enjoyed this “pretend” collaboration and it really brought the characters to life as they showcased the skills they became famous for. It was enjoyable watching Dr. Doyle better develop his deductive reasoning (timeline for this story is after his first Sherlock Holmes publication), with the provided insight from Professor Bell. I was less familiar with Margaret Harkness, but I enjoyed the strong character she represented in this story and her relationship between the two other gentlemen. The flavor of London at the time, both sights and smells, was conveyed and the story (told through Dr. Doyle’s perspective) moved along at a nice pace. There have been many conjectures as to the identity of the Ripper, and this story did not fail in presenting its own interpretation with convincing evidence. All in all, an enjoyable read, although at times gruesome in detail. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reading copy of this book received through Edelweiss.
Excellent stuff!
I have been a fan of ACD’s Sherlock Holmes novels for, well, decades. This series – featuring ACD as a newly married doctor who teams up with an Oxford Don that is clearly set up as an inspiration for SH – is well-written and entertaining.
This first book by Bradley Harper is terrific and a bit different spin. Really enjoyed it.
Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait until his next book.
Loved the premise, just felt left wanting…expecting something more after turning thee next page. Maybe I’ll find it when I read the next book.
Great twist on the time period and legacy of Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes.