Publication: 17th October 2024 – Boldwood Books
‘When did you become aware something was wrong?’
‘When the screaming began…’
Harriet White is no stranger to odd correspondence. Ensconced in the basement of the Baker Street building society, her job is to reply to the mail they receive on behalf of Sherlock Holmes.
But while letters to the fictional sleuth may be plentiful, telegrams are rare, and so when she receives one describing the grave situation of celebrated author Philip St John, her interest is piqued. The writer describes St John as being consumed by terror, seeing ghostly apparitions on the fens, and only at ease in the company of his loyal wolfhound.
Before long, Harry finds herself in Cambridgeshire under the guise of being Holmes’ assistant. The residents of Thurmwell Manor believe their master is cursed. Harry is sure there must be a logical explanation, but inside the echoey halls of the grand gothic house, her confidence in science and reason begin to crumble…
Can Harry solve the mystery before the fens claim their next victim?
Join Harriet White in 1930’s London for another glorious Sherlock Holmes-inspired mystery, for fans of Nita Prose and Janice Hallett
The Cursed Writer is the second book in the Baker Street Mysteries series, set in 1930s England. People believing that Sherlock Holmes is a real detective write to his famous 221B Baker Street address asking for help solving a case. But 221B now houses a bank where the protagonist Harriet “Harry” White works. After refusing the advances of her boss, Harry has been demoted from the role of personal assistant to Sherlock Holmes’s secretary. Her only job is to answer the many requests he receives, writing back that the famous detective has now retired. However, when a particular case catches her eye, Harry turns into an investigator, solving the case in the name of Sherlock Holmes.
What gets her attention this time is not only the urgency and the fact that, unlike the other requests, it comes in the form of a telegram, but the mystery itself. In the Fens in Cambridgeshire, famous writer Philip St. John has undergone a sudden and mysterious change in his behaviour and health. His nephew is very worried, so Harry, with the help of her friend Oliver, decides to investigate.
This was a fun and intriguing read. The investigation of the cursed writer is not the only thing keeping Harry busy and I was completely immersed in the story. Harry is a fantastic protagonist. She is clever and kind, a great amateur detective, and she is determined to make it on her own, without the help of her influential family, even if it means working in an uncomfortable environment. The mystery is twisty and spooky, perfect for a Halloween read, and I am looking forward to more books in this fantastic series!
A huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.
Holly Hepburn writes escapist, swoonsome fiction that sweeps her readers into idyllic locations, from her native Cornwall to the windswept beauty of Orkney. She has turned her hand to cosy crime inspired by Sherlock Holmes himself. Holly lives in leafy Hertfordshire with her adorable partner in crime, Luna the Labrador.
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