Ken Courtenay’s The Case of the Man Who Died Twice: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure seizes the reader’s attention and does not let go. This novel’s pace and plot lure the reader into a London filled with misadventure and arrogance.
A man declaring his innocence hangs for a murder. Eighteen months later, the man supposedly murdered comes back to London from a business trip to America. And gets murdered for real.
Tobias Gregson, Scotland Yard Inspector, calls on Holmes and Watson to help untangle this case. More murders and suicides follow, even involving murders Inspector Lestrade is investigating. Although Holmes and Watson relentlessly follow clues, they fear they will not solve the case before others are murdered. The twists and turns of the case draw the reader in, but well-placed clues give subtle hints as to who might be the mastermind.
Courtenay’s Holmes, Watson, and Gregson stand up well compared to the original characters drawn by Conan Doyle. They have the same quick wits and moral code as Doyle’s originals. The detective duo spring in and out of cabs and briskly stride along London’s foggy streets, as always. Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson are willing subordinates, as in days gone by. Gregson and Lestrade know they will receive top-notch assistance. Mrs. Hudson is long-suffering and the bearer of hearty victuals for Holmes, Watson, and the others.
Relatable Themes
This novel’s themes resonate with today’s political climate in the United States. In an understated, subtle, and even-handed way, Courtenay spotlights greed and murder. He also highlights the attitude some people have that they will get away with anything, including murder, because of who they are, their standing in the community, and their race.
Based on this work, I will check out the author’s other works. I hope Mr. Courtenay continues to offer additional cases that Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade can use to entice Holmes and Watson into action.