Titan Books, 2009 reprint of the © 1985 original
ISBN 978-1-848-56904-1
This appears to be Stashower’s first mystery; he
subsequently wrote a nicely done series of mysteries featuring Houdini
(beginning with The Dime Museum, 1999). Houdini appears in The Ectoplasmic Man, but it is really a Sherlock Holmes mystery—Houdini
is suspected of, and arrested for, the theft of a series of letters that could
compromise the Prince of Wales and the subsequent murder of the woman involved,
a German Baroness. Stashower does a
creditable imitation of Watson here, even allowing Watson to express his pique
at Holmes’ disregard of his feelings. All
this in 1910, with tensions rising in Europe by the day.
We begin with Lestrade coming to ask Holmes for assistance,
specifically asking him to attend Houdini’s up-coming performance in which he
will apparently pass through a solid brick wall, because Houdini is suspected
of the theft of the letters. Lestrade
fears that Houdini has extra-normal powers, especially since he has already
escaped from a cell at Scotland Yard (staged as a publicity stunt). Lestrade’s visit is followed by a visit by
Houdini’s wife Bess, who is concerned by the police interest in her
husband. Holmes blows her off, but
Watson makes up his mind to attend. At
the performance, Watson is called up to the stage to assist (and manages to
blunder his way to wrecking the illusion).
And Houdini is arrested, taken to
cell, and wrapped up to the best of the Yards ability.
Holmes, of course, involves himself, and finds evidence
rather quickly that Houdini could not have stolen the letters (evidence that
Lestrade, in a greater than usual fit of incompetence, ruses even to
consider. The mystery is really fairly
straightforward, but it takes a while for it all to unfold. We close with Houdini triumphant, Holmes
brilliant, the Empire saved again (for a while). Not a masterpiece, by any means, but nicely
done. And you will learn some things
about the art of escape, as a side benefit.
No comments:
Post a Comment