Customer Reviews

Murder in the Bath

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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*

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.

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