Mrs Hudson and the Capricorn Incident by Martin Davies – Book Review

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It is spring in Baker Street, and London is preparing itself for the wedding of the year. It will be an international spectacle in which the young and popular Count Rudolph Absberg, a political exile from his native land, will take the hand of the beautiful and accomplished Princess Sophia Kubinova. A lot depends on the marriage, for it is hoped that the union will ensure the security and independence of their homeland.

When the princess subsequently disappears in dramatic circumstances, members of the British establishment are quick to call on Mr Sherlock Holmes. He, in turn, needs the gifts of long-standing housekeeper Mrs Hudson and her able assistant, housemaid Flotsam, to solve this puzzling case on which rests the fate of nations.

The continuation of the intricately crafted Holmes & Hudson series is a treat for fans of the great detective’s original cases while they offer an inspired take on the rest of the famous Baker Street household.

Mrs Hudson and the Capricorn Incident is the seventh book in the Mrs Hudson series by Martin Davies. The books are set in the world of Sherlock Holmes.

In this latest outing, the groom-to-be of Princess Sophia Kubinova, one Count Rudolph Absberg, the heir to the Grand Duchy of Rosenau, has gone missing, and the wedding day has been moved forward. To avoid any political upset, Sherlock Holmes is approached to find Count Rudolph, but he is less than convinced that he is anything more than enjoying himself somewhere before the big day. That is, until Princess Sophia vanishes too. Now, all hands are on deck, including Mrs Hudson and housemaid Flotsam.

This is the first book from the Mrs Hudson series that I have read, but this didn’t hinder my understanding or enjoyment. I love the Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur Conan Doyle, and this book certainly came across as authentic and in the right tone to sit alongside the original works.

The story is told from the POV of housemaid Flotsam, who has all the makings of becoming an accomplished detective in her own right. She was eagle-eyed and very intelligent, especially for someone in such a lowly job back in the late 1800s.

I loved the setting, the characters, the various storylines, and the humour that ran through them. Mrs Hudson and the Capricorn Incident intrigued me, and I couldn’t wait to step foot back in time every time I picked it up. I was entertained from the first page, and this won’t be the last book from this series that I read.

Martin Davies is a British author. He has written seven novels about Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper and four other novels, including one about Joseph Banks and the Mysterious Bird of Ulieta, entitled The Conjuror’s Bird, all of which have been published.

Martin Davies grew up in North West England. All his writing is done in cafes, on buses or on tube trains, and an aversion to laptops means that he always works in longhand. He has travelled widely, including in the Middle East and India, and substantial parts of THE UNICORN ROAD were written while travelling through Sicily. He works as a consultant in the broadcasting industry.

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