His retirement interrupted by the assassination of muckraker David Graham Phillips, Sherlock Holmes begins an investigation that leads him from England to New York's Gramercy Park to Washington, D.C.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The suspicious death of a crusading American journalist brings Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson out of retirement, across the pond to the Big Apple and into the lives of prominent American citizens. Artfully blending legend, history and spirited invention, Victor chronicles Holmes's investigation of the 1911 murder of muckraking journalist and novelist David Graham Phillips, whose expose of political shenanigans in Washington made powerful enemies for the dandified writer. Phillips was shot six times near Gramercy Park by a fanatic purportedly obsessed with vampiric possession; the assassin then killed himself with the same gun. Technical anomalies (all six shots from the gun entered the victim's body, yet the murderer still had the means to end his own life with a fatal shot) and the undercurrents of political cover-up and demonology contribute to the relish with which Holmes takes on this case. Theodore Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst are the first interview subjects for a very flustered Watson, who, in Victor's measured prose, details the path Holmes's icy logic cuts through the subterfuge and bluster of the powerful. Victor's debut reveals a welcome "discovery" of yet another "lost" Holmes case.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson leave retirement for America in order to tackle the case of a famous journalist/novelist struck down by a man who then killed himself. The victim's sister suspects a conspiracy and hires Holmes to uncover it. This "newly discovered" adventure utilizes suitably stylized prose, ornate description, and references to previous cases as the famous duo question historic figures and arrive at an astounding and picturesque conclusion. An admirable first novel.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Seventh Bullet: an Exercise in the Dictionary,
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This review is from: The Seventh Bullet: A Holmes and Watson American Adventure (Hardcover)
If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson then this is one book to stay away from. I got the impression that the author was more concerned with impressing his readers with vocabulary rather than with a plot. In all honesty, I could not finish this book. I quit about half way through it. There seemed to be very little if any plot development. It was almost as if the book were written by someone that was constantly consulting the dictionary to come up with the most intelligent sounding word possible. This is one book that should not have been written with the characters of Holmes and Watson.
5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What an experience!,
By Hamilton Grad (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Seventh Bullet: A Holmes and Watson American Adventure (Hardcover)
This masterpiece by Doctor Victor of Hamilton High School is the primary example of what makes modern literature so great. Replete with exciting sequences, surprise twists and turns, rich diction, and tone changes, this mystery book has had a gigantic impact on me. Its eloquent account of the adventures of Holmes and Watson, with their searing downfalls and courageous successes, proves once again that Hamilton High School is the greatest school ever and that Doctor Victor is the best teacher ever. No, I don't need an A (I graduated in 1998); all I want is to pay homage to the great author of the suspensful thriller. Doctor Victor, We remember you and love you. I think this goes for everyone.
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Murder of a Journalist,
By Acute Observer (N. Jersey Shore) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Seventh Bullet: A Holmes and Watson American Adventure (Hardcover)
The `Preface' to this 1992 book explains finding a manuscript at Princeton University supposedly written by Dr. John Watson. Daniel Victor wrote his Ph.D. dissertation on David Graham Phillips and knows the details of the life of this "Muckraker". The copyrights to Arthur Conan Doyle's works expired around 1972 so anyone can use his fictional characters in novels or short stories. Nobody has equalled the original. Victor had a great idea in using Holmes and Watson to illuminate a long forgotten investigative journalist. A biography would be less popular than a mystery novel that entertains as it educates. I think Victor was wrong to speak of a "conflicting personae" since Phillips was a graduate of Princeton University (like F. Scott Fitzgerald) and not a character from "The Front Page". The table of `Contents' used Roman numerals for chapters but these are not used in the chapter headings.
Dr. Watson said Phillips had so successfully attacked the evil-doers in government that he brought upon himself the wrath of the powerful. [These are the Big Trusts of that day.] That is why Dr. Watson will obfuscate their identities. [Yet it is part of the public record!] Threats against journalists are not new, see Asa Mercer's "The Banditti of the Plains". This book lacks a photograph of David Graham Phillips. Would Dr. Watson "chortle" (p.7)? Holmes explained his identification of Phillips through a newspaper drawing from 1893 (p.9). [Weren't some of these less than exact?] Mrs. Carolyn Frevert wanted Sherlock Holmes to investigate the murder of her brother. She believes it was a conspiracy, not a lone gunman (p.11). What can Holmes discover long after the shooting? Holmes agrees to take this case (Chapter 2). [The author is careful to omit most monetary values of that day; this makes it less educational.] Holmes and Watson visit the scene of the crime (Chapter 7). Something happened to convince Holmes there was a conspiracy that killed Phillips. They visit Washington D.C. (Chapter 8). They go to see `Peter Van den Acker' but he tells them nothing. Holmes explains his deductions. [That clue of a nail from a shoe-heel reminds me of a Charlie Chan novel.] Holmes continues his work, and developed a ruse to get a reaction from one suspect. But this doesn't work out, the suspect leaves England on a ship going to America (Chapter 11). Chapter 12 ends this story: "Justice has been served. Case closed." Victor shows his knowledge of those times in this historical fiction. Some of the story does not agree with the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (as I remember it), or the recorded facts. There was no need to obscure the names of the US senators attacked in Phillips' articles. They were Nelson W. Aldrich (RI) and Arthur P. Gorman (MD). Popular parties of that era advocated the direct election of US senators and the 17th Amendment was adopted. Dr. Watson would know better than to assume the son would be as good as the father. If Victor had read some of Upton Sinclair's novels he might have done better. That is why I gave this book a low rating.
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