Book Review: Murder in the Bath

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Murder in the Bath     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Michael Mallory
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Historical
Deadly Alibi Press, March 2004, $16.99, 196 pp.

In 1905, Amelia Watson receives a letter from Bella Mabry, whom she served as governess to over a decade ago. Bella, married to Ronald Standish, needs the help of Sherlock Holmes, as her spouse is in prison accused of murdering George Frankham in Bath Abbey’s Great Bath. At the same time, Amelia’s spouse John, who has been chronicling the Holmes cases, is heading to France to provide lectures on the great sleuth. Knowing she could not find the vanished Holmes besides not wanting to find her “rival” for John’s affection, Amelia travels to Bath to prove that Ronald is not the killer.

In Bath, Amelia quickly learns that the media and the citizens firmly believe that Ronald committee murder. Still she believes her former charge that he is innocent and begins making inquiries while Ronald’s solicitor Geoffrey Creach escorts her around the town. As she begins to find proof that the obvious is not always the truth, Amelia is unaware of the danger she places herself by someone who wants Ronald to pay the price.

Every time I think there is no further spin to Holmes then comes along a refreshing approach that will surprise fans of the great detective, of which this heroine is not one. The amateur sleuthing is fun to follow as the tale brings home the early twentieth century and the cast is a wonderful group enabling the audience to glimpse back in time. Elementary dear reader, the tale belongs to that eerie triangle of John, Amelia and the “ghost” of Sherlock that will fascinate fans with an intriguing different perspective of Mrs. Watson’s rival, an admired misanthropic male.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner