Murder in the Bath [Paperback]

Michael Mallory (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

It is 1905 and the city of Bath, England is stunned when the body of a prosperous businessman is found floating in the city s ancient Roma Bath. It is up to the intrepid Amelia Watson, second wife of Dr. John. H. Watson, the chronicler of Sherlock Holmes, to prove that a former student s husband is not esponsible, despite the overwhelming evidence against him. But can she do so before becoming the killer s next Victim?

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In 1905, Amelia Watson receives a letter from Bella Mabry, whom she served as governess to over a decade ago. Bella, married to Ronald Standish, needs the help of Sherlock Holmes, as her spouse is in prison accused of murdering George Frankham in Bath Abbey's Great Bath. At the same time, Amelia's spouse John, who has been chronicling the Holmes cases, is heading to France to provide lectures on the great sleuth. Knowing she could not find the vanished Holmes besides not wanting to find her "rival" for John's affection, Amelia travels to Bath to prove that Ronald is not the killer. In Bath, Amelia quickly learns that the media and the citizens firmly believe that Ronald committee murder. Still she believes her former charge that he is innocent and begins making inquiries while Ronald's solicitor Geoffrey Creach escorts her around the town. As she begins to find proof that the obvious is not always the truth, Amelia is unaware of the danger she places herself by someone who wants Ronald to pay the price. Every time I think there is no further spin to Holmes then comes along a refreshing approach that will surprise fans of the great detective, of which this heroine is not one. The amateur sleuthing is fun to follow as the tale brings home the early twentieth century and the cast is a wonderful group enabling the audience to glimpse back in time. Elementary dear reader, the tale belongs to that eerie triangle of John, Amelia and the "ghost" of Sherlock that will fascinate fans with an intriguing different perspective of Mrs. Watson's rival, an admired misanthropic male. --Harriet Klausner

The setting of Murder in the Bath is actually the great Roman bath in the city of, er, Bath. Four years ago I gave a very appreciative review to Michael Mallory s collection The Adventures of the Second Mrs Watson, and I m delighted to welcome Amelia Watson s first novellength adventure. A part of the pleasure of these tales is the mutual distrust between Sherlock Holmes and Amelia Watson. Holmes knew where he stood with Mary Watson, but he thinks that Amelia takes up too much of the doctor s time. She has quite a different view on the matter, and as she is pretty much the detective s match in ingenuity, intelligence and stubbornness the relationship is rather tense. There s also an atmospheric and ingenious mystery involving a pagan cult and murder by a dead man, and a style that s light and engaging. Murder in the Bath --Sherlock Holmes Society --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Michael Mallory leads multiple creative lives. In fiction he is best known as the creator of "Amelia Watson," the second wife of Dr. John H. Watson (Sherlock Holmes' friend and "Boswell"), and the eleven-year-old detective "Scotty," whose adventures appear regularly on the Los Angeles Times Reading Room Page. A recognized authority on 20th century pop culture, he is the author of several nonfiction books, including "Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror," "X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe," and "Iwao Takamoto: My Life With a Thousand Characters," which Mike co-wrote with the late animation legend Iwao Takamoto. He has published over one-hundred short stories and more than 400 magazine and newspaper article. In addition, Mike is a frequent public speaker, a former newscaster, and over the years has been known to take on an acting role or two. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Madison Publishing Company (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886199256
• ISBN-13: 978-1886199255
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,354,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Mallory leads multiple creative lives. In fiction he is best known as the creator of "Amelia Watson," the second wife of Dr. John H. Watson (Sherlock Holmes' friend and "Boswell"), and the eleven-year-old detective "Scotty," whose adventures appear regularly on the Los Angeles Times Reading Room Page. A recognized authority on 20th century pop culture, he is the author of several nonfiction books, including "Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror," "X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe," and "Iwao Takamoto: My Life With a Thousand Characters," which Mike co-wrote with the late animation legend Iwao Takamoto. He has published over one-hundred short stories and more than 400 magazine and newspaper articles. In addition, Mike is a frequent public speaker, a former newscaster, and over the years has been known to take on an acting role or two.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Knockout, April 9, 2004

By 

G. Miki Hayden (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder in the Bath (Paperback)

Amelia Watson proves herself yet again. Though *Murder in the Bath* is a first novel by Michael Mallory, he did previously publish a collection of short stories about this formidable marriage partner to the noted physician and author Dr. John Watson. Yes, that Dr. Watson, the man who chronicled the extraordinary doings of the great Victorian detective Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

Well, Sherlock Holmes be darned. Put your money on Mrs. Watson when she travels to solve a seemingly unsolvable homicide in Bath. Yes, that Bath, the resort where so many of Jane Austen's heroines frolicked and where now the brilliant wife of Dr. Watson arrives to aid the jailed husband of a former student, now grown up. And, just as Amelia Watson did in the prior Mallory set of tales (*The Adventures of the Second Mrs. Watson*), that lady--for a lady this Mrs. Watson certainly is--at once takes authoritative command.

The book is witty, charming, suspenseful, action-packed, and a general, all-around great read.--G. Miki Hayden, author of *Writing the Mystery* and *New Pacific*

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Brit Mystery, July 7, 2011

By 

Ron Chicaferro (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder in the Bath (Paperback)

Murder in the Bath is a very good Brit Mystery. It takes place, of course, in the English city of Bath at around the end of the 19th century - beginning of the 20th century. The protaganist is none other then Amelia Watson, second wife of Doctor John Watson, chronicler and friend of Sherlock Holmes. Amelia is asked by an old friend to travel to Bath and help her husband who has been arrested for murder. Amelia is a good detective as she starts to unravel and solve the mystery with only a small assist by her husband, John Watson. You kind of, sort of, guess who the murderer really is but you'll end up reading the whole book just because you could be wrong! Amelia is a good, strong character who holds her own against many tough male characters. A good and enjoyable read.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars refreshing spin off of Holmes, April 23, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder in the Bath (Paperback)

In 1905, Amelia Watson receives a letter from Bella Mabry, whom she served as governess to over a decade ago. Bella, married to Ronald Standish, needs the help of Sherlock Holmes, as her spouse is in prison accused of murdering George Frankham in Bath Abbey's Great Bath. At the same time, Amelia's spouse John, who has been chronicling the Holmes cases, is heading to France to provide lectures on the great sleuth. Knowing she could not find the vanished Holmes besides not wanting to find her "rival" for John's affection, Amelia travels to Bath to prove that Ronald is not the killer.

In Bath, Amelia quickly learns that the media and the citizens firmly believe that Ronald committee murder. Still she believes her former charge that he is innocent and begins making inquiries while Ronald's solicitor Geoffrey Creach escorts her around the town. As she begins to find proof that the obvious is not always the truth, Amelia is unaware of the danger she places herself by someone who wants Ronald to pay the price.

Every time I think there is no further spin to Holmes then comes along a refreshing approach that will surprise fans of the great detective, of which this heroine is not one. The amateur sleuthing is fun to follow as the tale brings home the early twentieth century and the cast is a wonderful group enabling the audience to glimpse back in time. Elementary dear reader, the tale belongs to that eerie triangle of John, Amelia and the "ghost" of Sherlock that will fascinate fans with an intriguing different perspective of Mrs. Watson's rival, an admired misanthropic male.

Harriet Klausner