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It is
1908, and Sherlock Holmes has retired to the Sussex coast
to keep bees. Watson is invited to spend a week's vacation
with him and looks forward to a relaxing seaside break. But
of course Sherlock has other ideas, and actually wants Watson
to help him solve a new case. Who is the mysterious lady in
black who walks on the beach at night?
Ms. Thomson has written five other books of Holmes stories
and this is the latest, her first full length novel in the
series. Despite presenting an intriguing puzzle. this book
could do with either some editing or more plot. As a short
story. it would have worked well indeed, but there is not
enough in it to warrant the extra pages and thus it could
be described more as a "one pipe problem". The pair
don disguises, investigate all leads and creep about after
dark to discover more about both a local robbery and the strange
Fulworth Hall. If you are hoping for murder, thrilling chases
and dastardly villains you won't find them here, but despite
the gentle pace, I wasn't bored reading about such pleasant
surroundings and Watson's interesting seaside vacation. This
is more a puzzle than a crime novel and, as such, is an imaginative
addition to the canon, complete with descriptions of the Sussex
coast. Meandering but a relaxing read.
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