Chris S.

The latest occurrence to disturb the peace in the quaint English village of Walmsley Parva hits rather too close to home - in fact, the prime suspect has taken up residence in Edwina's potting shed. Her elderly gardener Simpkins has been secretly sleeping there after a row with his disreputable brother-in-law and housemate, Hector Lomax. When Hector is found murdered, Constable Gibbs comes looking for Simpkins, last seen arguing with Hector the night before. Based on the sad state of her garden, Edwina has grave doubts that shiftless Simpkins could muster the effort to murder anyone.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the most written about men who ever lived but despite this, some parts of his life get little attention. One such period is between 1891 and 1894 when he lived in South Norwood in present day south east London. During this period, he wrote and published much of his best work including the first two series of Sherlock Holmes short stories. This book looks at his life during this period and, in contrast to other biographies, spends time looking at some of his input into local Norwood life.

Robbie is just weeks away from giving birth. While her husband Abe scrambles to get the house ready for their baby's arrival, Robbie makes last minute arrangements to keep her shop and restaurant, Pans 'N Pancakes, up and running when she's on maternity leave. And it seems Robbie and Abe aren't the only ones grappling with anxiety—a stranger is causing a stir in town and Robbie's Aunt Adele appears unusually preoccupied at the baby shower . . .

Sharing lodging in the sleepy English village of Walmsley Parva has eased some of the financial strain on the two old school chums, but money is still tight in these years following the Great War. So when the local vicar - and pigeon-racing club president - approaches them with a private inquiry opportunity, the ladies accept. There's been a spot of bother: The treasurer has absconded with the club's funds and several prized birds. But when they visit the man's loft, they find their elusive quarry lying in white feathers and a pool of crimson blood - the only witnesses cooing mournfully.

January 1905: Holmes and Watson are summoned by Holmes' brother Mycroft to undertake a clandestine investigation. An agent of the British Secret Service has been found floating in the Thames, carrying a manuscript smuggled into England at the cost of her life. The pages purport to be the minutes of a meeting of a secret group intent on nothing less than taking over the world: the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

The late 1890s saw Arthur Conan Doyle return to England after several years abroad. His new house, named Undershaw, represented a fresh start, but it was also the beginning of a dramatic decade that saw him fall in love, stand for parliament, fight injustice, and be awarded a knighthood. However, for his many admirers, the most important event of that decade was the resurrection of Sherlock Holmes—the character that he felt had cast a shadow over his life.

When Flora finds a murder victim in the back room of the boutique one morning, Scarlett decides to let the police handle the case this time. She can’t help but notice, though, how many people actually have a motive for killing Flora. Could the murderer have made a mistake? The boutique was closed at the time of the murder, and the victim shouldn’t have even been there. Was Flora the intended target?

Undershaw was the Surrey home of Arthur Conan Doyle between 1897-1907. Built lovingly for his wife Touie to help treat her ongoing battle with tuberculosis, Arthur created a haven for his wife and family. It was here he wrote The Hound of The Baskervilles, brought Sherlock Holmes back to life in "The Empty House", and entertained guests such as writer J.M. Barrie, illustrator Sidney Paget, renowned actor William Gillette, and more.

Lestrade heard a shout of warning as he rounded the corner and ducked just in time to avoid getting hit in the face. His would-be assailant swore as Lestrade turned back toward him. Sweat dripping, face contorted into a scowl, he turned as if to escape back the way they had just come only for Smith to catch up, blocking his exit.

Sherlock Holmes looks on idle and infuriated from the sidelines while evil has Whitechapel in the grip of fear, evil which bears the infamous name of Jack the Ripper, a name set to raise the hackles on people's necks for generations to come. A fearful officialdom has declared Sherlock persona non grata but is suffering the wrath of public opinion for its failure to bring the murderer to justice.