Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
The Surrogate Assassin
Christopher A. Leppek
Class/Genre: Mystery Historical
Series: Sherlock Holmes
Write Way, Oct 1998, $24.95, 336 pp.
It has been only six weeks since Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson first met when the great American actor, Edwin Booth pleads with his first cousin, Holmes, to inquire into who is trying to kill him while he is on his world tour. Holmes uncovers very little during the actor's stay in London, so he and Watson accompany Booth back to America where he establishes the "Fifth Avenue irregulars".
As the assassination attempts turn deadly with the killing of a Pinkerton agent, Holmes believes there is a link to the Lincoln murder of sixteen years ago. He soon follows John Wilkes Booth's trail of 1865 where he feels the truth lies. If he succeeds in his quest, Holmes will more than just save Edwin Booth's life, he will uncover the identity of the real killer of President Lincoln.
THE SURRUGATE ASSASSIN is a fantastic entry in the legendary Holmes library as the story line is crisp and fast-paced. Though the well written presidential assassination subplot seems hard to accept, note that the theory does not take away from the superb story. Most critical is that Holmes and Watson are treated with homage, respect, and dignity, which will elate the Baker street crowd and other mystery aficionados. Christopher A. Leppek proves he knows the right way to scribe a historically based Holmes novel that would have pleased the master himself.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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