Reviews in Heels: Release Day: Sherlock Holmes & the Ripper of Whitechapel by M. K. Wiseman

I am afraid that I, Sherlock Holmes, must act as my own chronicler in this singular case, that of the Whitechapel murders of 1888. For the way in which the affair was dropped upon my doorstep left me with little choice as to the contrary. Not twelve months prior, the siren’s call of quiet domesticity and married life had robbed me of Watson’s assistance as both partner and recorder of my cases. Thus, when detective inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard required a lead—any lead—I found myself forced to pursue Jack the Ripper alone and without the aid of my faithful friend. And all for the most damnedable of reasons:

Early on in my investigations, Dr. John H. Watson, formerly of 221b Baker Street, emerged as my prime suspect.

Purchase Link

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sherlock-Holmes-Ripper-Whitechapel-Wiseman-ebook/dp/B088P92XWC

US - https://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Ripper-Whitechapel-Wiseman-ebook/dp/B088P92XWC

Review

In this book, we find the two fascinations of Victorian mystery enthusiasts: Sherlock Homes and Jack the Ripper. However, this take is a little different.The investigation is narrated by Sherlock himself because his chief suspect is Dr Watson.

This twist carries with it a number of points of interest - first, Watson is beloved and familiar, yet the author cleverly creates doubt in both Sherlock's mind and the reader's. Second, the deductions that so impress Watson are matter-of-factly unremarkable to Sherlock, and thus are skimmed over in his narration. Lastly, the shift from whodunit to didhedoit changes this from less of a mystery and more of a thriller. The friendship between Holmes and Watson, usually so foundational, is truly put to the test as the body count rises. All in all, this is not your usual Sherlock Holmes story at all!

The characters are either Holmes canon characters or real life players in the Whitechapel murders, which is a nice touch. It was good to see how Watson's marriage and move from Baker Street strained his closeness with Holmes, yet Holmes is exceedingly complimentary towards Mary and not jealous.

I will say that I found the ending confusing and a bit rushed. A lot happened and I had to reread it to understand how everything panned out. There are several items that I thought were left unexplained and so let the book down a bit.

If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes and would like a slightly different twist on a previously undiscussed portion of his life, do pick this up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own

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