The Prince and the Prosecuter (Mark Twain Mystery) [Paperback]

Peter J. Heck (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mark Twain Mystery | Publication Date: November 1, 1998

Twain and his assistant Wentworth Cabot are on a boat cruise to Europe. The company of Twain's friend Rudyard Kipling seems to guarantee smooth sailing. But soon a wealthy young man has disappeared from the ship. Now a murder needs solving, and Twain is on the case...

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The third Mark Twain mystery features shipboard appearances by Rudyard Kipling, a German prince, an Italian art critic?and a wealthy murder victim. Twain's travel secretary, Wentworth Cabot, joins the two authors in solving the murder. Very entertaining.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Third in this Kirkus reviewer's series (Death on the Mississippi, 1995, etc.) featuring Samuel Clemens at the height of his fame as Mark Twain, his young Yale grad secretary, Wentworth Cabot (who narrates), and a voyage by ship. This time, it's the transatlantic City of Baltimore from New York to England. Among fellow passengers are Rudyard and Carrie Kipling and a group from Philadelphia on an art tour, shepherded by voluble Italian artist/guide Georgio Rubbia. Rubbia's group includes attorney Julius Babson, his wife, his daughter Rebecca, and his son Robert, a hard-drinking, arrogant bully. Robert is engaged to Theresa Mercer, daughter of the powerful banker Vincent Mercer, whose family is also part of the Philadelphia contingent. Aboard ship too is Prince Heinrich Karl von Buckgarten, of whose credentials Clemens is immediately suspicious--with good reason, as it turns out. The days at sea pass in the usual leisurely style--dining, drinking, cardplaying--marred only by some jarring incidents involving the boorish Robert, until a storm hits one night and it appears that he's been washed overboard. His father is sure it's murder, not accident. Clemens and others agree, and so Wentworth is assigned to question guests and crew. Prince Karl, meanwhile, is confined to his cabin, on the word of a possible eyewitness. Every facet of Robert's demise is explored, until the surprising truth emerges. Meaty fare for fans of the quasi-historical, with nicely done period detail and atmosphere. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425165671
• ISBN-13: 978-0425165676
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,547,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun to read historical mystery, November 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Prince and the Prosecutor (Mark Twain Mystery) (Hardcover)

Working as the travel secretary to the great Mark Twain has been a wonderful, but strange experience for Wentworth Cabot. As he prepares for his third journey, Wentworth is more than just excited. Who would not be when one is being paid to travel first class aboard a London bound steamship. Wentworth does pray that this trip, unlike its two predecessors (see A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN CRIMINAL COURT and DEATH ON THE MISSISSIPPI), has no accompanying murder to investigate.

Also on the sea journey is Rudyard Kipling and his spouse and the wealthy Babson family. When Robert Babson disappears, his father screams murder and has proof to defend his charges. Wentworth and the two great writers begin to investigate the disappearance because they strongly feel that an injustice is about to occur.

THE PRINCE AND THE PROSECUTOR is a great mystery tale that brings to life Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling in one dazzling tale (what more can one ask?). The story line is intriguing and fun and the historical characters and the allusions to the original tale that this story is based on make for a great reading experience. Fans of historical fiction need to read all three "Twain mysteries" because they are intelligent and enjoyable books.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Mystery Novel, July 24, 2000

By 

Connor Shivers - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Prince and the Prosecuter (Mark Twain Mystery) (Paperback)

This book was very good. It had a good level of suspense, and made it hard to tell who did it, because everyone seemed to hate the victim(except his parents)! Mark Twain wishes in vain that this trip will not leave him with a murder to solve. Told from the view of his traveling secretary, Wentworth Cabot, Twain's trip to England to see his family seems far from monotonous even before the murder. With a good amount of humor, an interesting plot, and boatloads of details, this mystery will keep you guessing to the last page.

2.0 out of 5 stars painful to finish, September 15, 2011

By 

K. Wright (greater boston mass) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Prince and the Prosecuter (Mark Twain Mystery) (Paperback)

This is the 2nd Heck book I read. The Connecticut Yankee in Criminal Court was decent around a 4 star. However this book dragged . The characters were bland and I found myself skimming just to find out the ending. I am going to hold off reading any more of his work.