Dr. John Watson Archives - Mostly Mysteries

Martha Hudson helps Sherlock Holmes detect something amiss in the harem of Sultan Abdul Hamid in Susan Knight’s Death in the Harem: A Mrs. Hudson/Sherlock Holmes Mystery. There have been strange and mysterious deaths among the sultan’s wives, concubines and female slaves. She, Holmes, and Watson pay a visit to Turkey via the Orient Express. Mrs. Hudson, used to plainer things, doesn’t see the need to stay in the poshest hotel in Paris and have a new wardrobe outfitted for her. But, ah, well, the sultan insisted, and was paying.

Much is made of the train trip from Paris to Constantinople (present day Istanbul). Too much, it seems. Although there are some interesting characters on the train, most are stereotypical. for example, the Russian actress, Valentina Muratova. A “vision in silks and furs, of indeterminate age, thin as a needle, pale skinned and black-haired, her face exquisitely painted on.” She prances around, acting histrionically, and expecting everyone to recognize her. There’s also Eliza Dodds, traveling with Cecelia, supposedly her sister, although Holmes has his doubts. Miss Dodds is a “stout, florid person…with crinkly curls,” and a dress that “was plain and serviceable.” She is “on [her] way to be governess to a little boy in Constantinople.” Holmes’ thoughts on Eliza Dodds tend towards her being a spy sent to watch them.

Slow-moving, but Successful Overall

The bulk of this novel entails Martha Hudson’s visit to the sultan’s palace at Yildiz, which sits on a hill overlooking Constantinople. Mrs. Hudson makes little headway as she is treated as the outsider that she is by most of the harem members. They are pleasant to her, but quite noncommunicative. Only one, Naime, befriends her and helps as best she can. Madeleine, a French orphan hired by Holmes to be Mrs. Hudson’s ‘slave’ while they were in Constantinople, also helps. She eavesdrops among the servants as she speaks Turkish, although she keeps that fact to herself.

Overall, I enjoyed Susan Knight’s portrayal of Mrs. Hudson. Hudson has gumption, curiosity and quick wits to deal with the treachery of the court and deal with clues that come her way. She is a welcome addition to older women detectives such as Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Somewhat less time could have been spent describing the train trip and the mundane days in the harem. Otherwise, Death in the Harem: A Mrs. Hudson/Sherlock Holmes Mystery is an enjoyable read.

Death in the Harem: A Mrs. Hudson/Sherlock Holmes Mystery
by Susan Knight
© 2024
MX Publishing

After reading Tales of Scotland Yard: Ratcliffe Highway, by Bianca Jenkins, one word comes to mind. More than one, actually. Wonderful, and an interesting take on the Sherlock Holmes milieu. This novel focuses on Giles Lestrade, one of the inspectors who interact with Holmes and Watson in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. Focusing on a minor character from the Holmes stories is a refreshing change.

As a newly appointed inspector, Lestrade is assigned a murder case. None of the other inspectors want it as it involves a young, impoverished woman living in one of the poorer sections of London. “Without the suit, Inspector Lestrade would have fit right in with some of the lower members of society passing by on the street.” With smart thinking and dogged footwork Lestrade solves the case.

Jenkins’ characters are well-rounded, especially Lestrade. Despite his tough upbringing, he can be tenderhearted. Smith and the other, more seasoned, inspectors kid Lestrade even as they take a collection to reimburse him for money he paid to feed the murder victim’s two children. Jenkins’ Lestrade is tenacious, as he is in the Doyle canon. Additionally, he is small and wiry in both this work and Doyle’s offerings. Using subtle similarities like this keep the new additions to the Holmes canon interesting to lovers of the original stories.

However, the plot was a bit transparent as to who committed the murder. I felt fairly certain about who was responsible about halfway through the book. This did not decrease my enjoyment of the story, though.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this offering. It is an entertaining addition to the many recent contributions to the Holmes and Watson world. Bianca Jenkins wrote another novel about Lestrade, which I will seek out. Future works in this series would be a welcome addition.