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In The Dead of Winter By Abbey Pen Baker
ISBN: 978 1901091 39 2, paperback, 292 pages, perfect bound, demy 8vo First Published February 2010 | |||||
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Myrl Adler Norton was, by all accounts, one of the most remarkable women of the twentieth century. The daughter of the acclaimed opera singer Irene Adler, she was a respected professor of logic at Smith College as well as one of the most famous consulting detectives of all time. The books of her exploits, written by her lifelong friend and confidante Faye Martin Tullis, are among the most popular in the history of detective literature. Now, with this previously undiscovered manuscript, the true story behind the meeting of these two friends and their first case comes to light. In 1918, while a student at Smith College, Faye first encountered Myrl, an enigmatic figure with an interesting past. When a local actress is found dead amid bizarre circumstances, Myrl takes an interest in the murder, and the two travel to Brattleboro, Vermont, to investigate. There they uncover a twisted conspiracy, one far more dangerous than simple murder - and learn the truth about Myrl's real father, the world's most famous consulting detective. This is a revised edition of the best selling St Martin's Press 1994 publication (now out of print) which sets the scene for the next Myrl Adler Norton mystery, Death at the Round Table, to be released exclusively by The Irregular Special Press in late 2010. | ||
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Reviews for this Publication Laurie R. King 'The Great Detective as a woman? Yes, with all the quirks, foibles, and misanthropy, all the genius, and all the darkness that runs through that remarkable mind. I look forward to more of Myrl Adler and her faithful Watson.'
Sena Jeter Naslund 'Abby Pen Baker successfully creates a new world where a young woman detective embodies an equal amount of courage, curiosity, determination, and brains ... An exciting plot, a refreshing main character, and precise and evocative language combine to offer us a fine read.'
Kirkus Reviews 'Baker juggles her large cast and their secrets dextrously ... Recommended for readers who aren't sick of the centenary glut of Holmes pastiches, and even for those who are.'
Zammi in their 5 star Amazon review entitled 'A fantastic time in reading ...' writes ... I have to admit, I normally wouldn't have read this type of story but was forced into it because the author is my niece. (Hello to Beckers, if she ever happens upon this!) Her writing style is believable, fun and I found myself reading non stop. Trust me when I tell you, that had I not loved this book I wouldn't be writing this now. A great read!
An anonymous customer in their 5 star Amazon review entitled 'Ingenius, thoughtful, page-turner' wrote ... This book is a tour-de-force in technique. Pen Baker has mastered Conan Doyle's voice perfectly. If you believe in your heart that Sherlock lives, you can believe that this book was written by his daughter!
An anonymous customer in their 5 star Amazon review entitled 'It was just so much fun!!!!' wrote ... If you like feminist thought, Sherlock Holmes, a good mystery, good dialogue, and a a fun sense of history, go for it.
Rachel A Hyde Myrl Adler Norton was the daughter of opera singer and femme fatale Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes. In this debut, she goes a-sleuthing with young narrator Faye Martin Tullis, a student at Smith College and keen suffragette. The owner of the lodging house where Faye’s fellow student Rachel is staying is found dead in bizarre circumstances, and the pair embark on their first investigation together. This is one of those novels where the author discovers some old papers in the prologue and the long ago writer tells the rest of the tale. Faye makes a young and suitable naïve Watson to the flamboyant Myrl’s Holmes, and having the main participant tell the story in her own words is a good idea. When unravels gradually is a suitably bizarre tale, which shows that the author has got possibly the most important part of writing “Sherlockiana” in my opinion – Conan Doyle’s talent for the strange and weird. I always think that this is probably the main thing that sets it apart from the bulk of detective fiction, and it is present here which lifts the novel up from the bulk of other similar fiction. Having the protagonists as women takes it a step further away from anything that actually features Conan Doyle’s characters, and thus this first novel in a proposed series has another thing to recommend it. | ||
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