In the third book of this critically-acclaimed series, Sherlock Holmes’ daughter faces a new unsolvable mystery with spies and a threat to the crown. Joanna and the Watsons receive an unexpected visitor to 221b Baker Street during a nocturnal storm. A rain-drenched Dr. Alexander Verner arrives with a most harrowing tale.Verner has just returned from an unsettling trip to see a patient who he … trip to see a patient who he believes is being held against his will. Joanna quickly realizes that Verner’s patient is a high-ranking Englishman who the Germans have taken captive to pry vital information about England’s military strategies for the Great War. The man is revealed to be Alistair Ainsworth, a cryptographer involved in the highest level of national security.
The police are frantic to find Ainsworth before the Germans can use him to decode all of England’s undeciphered messages. Ainsworth must be found at all costs and Joanna and the Watsons might be the only ones who can connect the clues to find him.
USA Today bestselling author Leonard Goldberg returns with another puzzling case for the daughter of Sherlock Holmes to unravel in this exciting mystery sure to be enjoyed by fans of Sherlock Holmes.
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The Disappearance of Alistair Ainsworth: A Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mystery (The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries Book 3) by Leonard Goldberg is a Historical Mystery that takes place the early 20th Century. This story includes espionage, national security, codes, disguises, kidnappings, murders, danger on every side and continual action. Everyone in the Holmes – Watson Family are involved in solving this mystery. Joanna Holmes abilities at detection and deduction may exceed those of her father Sherlock Holmes. Joanna is brilliant and gives the detectives and intelligence officers a few lessons. Leonard Goldberg’s books are so intriguing that you read far longer into the night than you intended. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 4.5 Stars
Smart Cookie Didn’t Fall Far from the Tree
When I read about this series’ main character at one of my favorite book review sites, I was intrigued about a series based around Sherlock Holmes’ daughter. While I would not consider myself to be a great reader of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of course, I have a general familiarity with his primary character. I love the idea of a female having the sharp, incisive mind of her sire. She did not disappoint in that regard. I love how she noticed details and put together clues better than the men in her life, the estimable Watsons, including her husband, son of the great Doctor Watson (who is still living in this series). As she is Holmes’ daughter, her world is fraught with the problems and tensions of the Great War, not the Victorian Era. In fact, this book is very much inspired by that great European conflict, as a well-regarded English cryptographer has disappeared. The writing is elevated like we hope historical fiction will be, so this is a denser read than most current novels. But, I swear, I could almost hear the words in my head in a British accent! Well done, author! The book did have a few problems. The earlier timeline of the generations doesn’t quite make sense to me as I try to puzzle it out. From what we know of Holmes and Watson from the Conan Doyle series, the ages of their children do not quite line up with the original. For instance, Holmes’ daughter—to have the experiences she has had, including having a ten-year-old son—would have to have been conceived before Holmes met her mother in the original. Other than these inconsistencies, which did niggle my mind a bit, I found this to be an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
If Sherlock Holmes had a daughter, and Dr. John Watson had a son… This is not the first of this series starring Sherlock’s daughter, Joanna Blalock Watson, her husband, and father-in-law John in the war-tossed crimes of London Town in November, 1915. I will find the previous novels, however. Leonard Goldberg writes a fine tale of British intrigue.
These three crime fighters reside at 221b Baker Street of course, with Mrs. Hudson very much present. Joanna carries the genes that made the late Sherlock Holmes such a formidable crime fighter, and with the help of her Watson and John, they have to run down German spies who have infiltrated the British war machine. We have help from the Baker Street Irregulars, and as with her famous father, Joanna is able to finesse her way to solving the riddle put before them. It is interesting that much medical intrigue is involved and with two Dr. Watsons, easily traversed.
If you loved Sherlock and Watson, you will thoroughly enjoy this series of Joanna, Watson, and Watson. I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Leonard Goldberg, and Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this historical novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.
Disclaimer: This is third in series but MY introduction to Joanna (Sherlock Holmes’ daughter). So, to be fair, I might have enjoyed it more with the previous books under my belt.
Right off the bat, I was a bit thrown by the narrator being Joanna’s husband, not Joanna herself. That was a bit jarring for me throughout. While I did expect HER character to be logical and a bit stilted, I found the writing and the characters overall to be dry and not as engaging and in-depth as I had hoped.
The plot, involving German spies, a British traitor and coded messages was perfectly fine, with some twists and turns and surprises.
One thing that I found a bit irritating and distracting was how all other characters (especially the venerable Watson) were made to look as “less than” to Joanna’s superior intellect. While I’m all for strong, intelligent women as heroines, I felt (especially with Watson’s character) that this was a bit overdone as there were instances of “a-ha” moments that would have been perfectly obvious, especially with Watson’s intellect.
For now, I give this a 3/5.
Thanks to #NetGalley, #Minotaur and #StMartinsPress for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.