Mammoth Books presents The Adventure of the Faithful Retainer

Book 408: Mammoth Books

by Amy Myers

Genres: Mystery

Synopsis

Holmes is summoned by his elder brother Mycroft to the Diogenes Club in Pall Mall where he is greeted by his brother and three other recognizable government diplomacy officials. The men require Holmes's expertise immediately, stating that they are working for an unnamed noble client of the highest station, who has serious concerns on behalf of his mother, a woman they insist on calling 'Lady X' for reasons of confidentiality. A classified letter belonging to 'Lady X' has fallen into the wrong hands; this information has the potential to besmirch not only England, but the Empire as a whole. Holmes and Watson must embark on a journey to prevent this from happening, but with the added pressure of time the risk of failure is very great indeed.

Release date: May 17, 2012

Publisher: C & R Crime

Print pages: 21

Sample

Watson secured publication of several cases that happened in 1897, including “The Abbey Grange”, “The Red Circle”, “The Devil’s Foot” – the case that nearly saw the end of Sherlock Holmes – “The Dancing Men” and “The Missing Three-Quarter”. There were certainly other cases during the year, but the only one that we have been able to date conclusively is “The Case of the Faithful Retainer”. We have been fortunate that this case survived amongst the papers of the family of M. Auguste Didier, the master-chef whose investigations Amy Myers has been reconstructing. I am indebted to her for allowing me access to these papers.

“You are correct, my dear Watson. The hour may indeed have come when it is in the interests of our great nation that your readers should be permitted to know the full truth behind my indisposition of ‘ninety-seven’.”

As so often in the past, my old friend had correctly broken into my thoughts. “How could you know – ” I began. But why should I be amazed that his powers of observation and deduction remained undimmed, infrequently though circumstances had permitted me to visit Mr Sherlock Holmes, during his years of retirement on the Sussex downs? We were taking our ease in his pleasant farm garden, on a summer day in 1911, and I had been studying the grave news reported in my newspaper.

Holmes shrugged. “You are absorbed in The Times report of this Agadir crisis. I noted your frown, and the fact that you read the report several times; hence my conclusion that you consider that the sending of the gunboat to Morocco demonstrates that a certain great European nation is once more flexing its muscles, and casting its shadow over the peace not only of Europe but of the British Empire itself, was simplicity itself. It was then but a small step to deduce from your unconscious glance towards me that in your opinion the unfortunate case of the faithful retainer should now be made known to the world. I agree, but masked, I must insist, in suitable anonymity.”

“Of course, Holmes,” I replied stiffly, somewhat offended that my old friend could imply I had so little delicacy as to reveal the identities of those involved in the services to the nation that had led to Holmes being offered a knighthood in June 1902, the coronation month (had not illness postponed the celebration) of our late and gracious monarch. . .