The Watson Letters Volume 6: The Haunting of Roderick Usher by Colin Garrow on February 28, 2022
Genres: Adult Mystery
Pages: 247
Goodreads
Blurb:
An invitation. A ghostly spectre. A criminal mastermind.
When Sherlock Holmes is invited to visit an old school friend, he and Doctor Watson are plunged into the first of three adventures involving the Dark Arts and the supernatural. From the ghostly spectre of a dead sister to the search for an ancient book of spells, the detecting duo learn that each case is connected, leading them into a final showdown with their deadliest adversary yet.
Adult humour throughout.
Purchase Link – https://geni.us/dymvutk
Extract
While tending to the needs of her sickly Aunt Roberta in Skipton, Mary Watson finds herself becoming incredibly bored. When the maid announces they have a visitor, Mary is delighted to find it is none other than Inspector Lestrade.
Mary Watson’s diary.
He sat there for a moment, turning his hat over and over in his hands, until eventually he seemed to come to a decision. ‘Fing is, I knew that ‘Olmes and your ‘usband had gorn over ter that place near Carlisle.’
‘Clovenhoof? Yes, that’s right. To see that Mr Usher and his poorly sister.’
‘That’s the one. Well, it’s a few years back now, but when old Sherlock told me this feller’s name, it sort of rang a bell, but I didn’t recall why until this mornin.’
‘You’ve had dealings with Mr Usher before, then?’
‘Not exactly, no.’ He chewed his lip, then said, ‘It were all to do wiv a black cat that this bloke owned. I don’t remember all the details, but it ended up with ‘im tryin to kill the cat wiv an axe an accidentally killin his wife instead.’
‘Oh, I say. That sounds a bit grim. And you think this chap and Mr Usher might be the same person?’
Lestrade shook his head. ‘All I know is that this bloke wiv the cat and this Usher feller was in business together.’
I thought about this for a moment. ‘It’s entirely possible, then, that Usher knows nothing about this alleged murder.’
He sniffed and wiped a sleeve across his face. ‘Like I say, it’s probably nuffin ter worry about, and I wouldn’t ‘ave bovvered you wiv it, if it weren’t for what ‘appened yesterday.’
‘Which was?’
‘I sent a telegram to your ‘usband and Mr ‘Olmes, just to warn ‘em, like. But an hour later, I got a message back to say no messages of any kind can be delivered to the Usher residence.’
‘How strange. Why not?’
‘Seems that no-one in the area will go near the place. They say it’s ‘aunted and spooky fings ‘appen there.’
‘What sort of spooky things?’
He shrugged. ‘Ghosts.’
‘Can’t you go there yourself?’
‘Well, I would, Mary, but my boss is sendin me to Blackpool to ‘elp out on the Bodies in the Baths mystery, so I can’t get away. Came up ‘ere on me day off in the ‘ope of persuadin you to go instead.’
‘I see.’ Sitting back, I couldn’t resist smiling to myself. Though Holmes would in all likelihood feel a bit put out by me turning up out of the blue, if there were a sinister side to this Usher fellow, I’d rather be with my husband.
‘Have yer got the address?’ said Lestrade.
‘Yes, Johnny gave me it—I think he hoped I’d be able to find an excuse to join him at some point. Now, it seems I can.’
After Lestrade had gone, I went upstairs to give my aunt the good news. She wouldn’t be happy about me leaving, but I could already smell an adventure and I wasn’t going to miss it for the world.
Clovenhoof here I come.
About the Author
True-born Geordie Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland and has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor. He has also occasionally masqueraded as a pirate. Colin’s published books include the Watson Letters series, the Terry Bell Mysteries and the Rosie Robson Murder Mysteries. His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including: SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, The Grind, A3 Review, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. These days he lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland.
Social Media Links –
Website (Adults) https://colingarrow.org/
Website (Children) https://colingarrowbooks.com/
The Watson Letters https://thewatsonletters.com/
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B014Z5DZD4
Twitter https://twitter.com/colingarrow
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/colingarrow
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Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow
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What an interesting concept to put Sherlock Holmes in a paranormal environment.
While it’s not my type of read, I thought it was one I wanted to share for my readers who might like it!