Mammoth Books presents The Adventure of the Parisian Gentleman

Book 264: Mammoth Books

by Lois H. Gresh

Genres: Mystery

Synopsis

The 'French Sherlock Holmes', Inspector Girac, visits England in a desperate attempt to find someone trustworthy who can help him prevent a group of Jewish anarchists and their associate Jaques Huret, the Boulevard Assassin, from murdering the new President of the Republic in retaliation for Dreyfus's imprisonment. Girac harbours suspicions about his fellow comrades in the Surete but needs help in outguessing this dedicated assassin, which requires a genius. He calls upon Sherlock Holmes.

Release date: May 17, 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Print pages: 320

Sample

More than once in my chronicles detailing the amazing deductions of Sherlock Holmes have I commented on my friend’s irritating lack of modesty. Though hating publicity of any sort, Holmes was justifiably proud of his work as a consulting detective. Never a humble man, he could be at times insufferably smug. However, when it came to morality, Sherlock Holmes never let vanity sway his sense of what was right. Never was this fact more clearly demonstrated than in the episode of the Parisian Gentleman.

It was a quiet evening in early October, 1894. A thick blanket of fog covered Baker Street. The evening edition contained little of interest and I relaxed, half-dozing, on the sofa. Holmes stood in front of the fire, smoking his pipe, a thoughtful expression on his face. From time to time, he glanced to the window. It was quite clear he was expecting a visitor.

“Are we due for some company tonight, my dear Holmes?” I asked, wondering what manner of trouble would soon be knocking at our door. “Something odd in the paper? Or, perhaps a difficult problem for the Yard?”

“Neither, Watson,” declared Holmes, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Our client comes from abroad. Start thinking about your wardrobe for a trip to the Continent. Tomorrow, we set off for Paris.”

“What?” I said, astonished. “Obviously, Holmes, you’ve already had . . .