| ||||||||||||||||
| Category: Fiction:Historical:Thriller |
(requires Adobe Reader)
|
| About the Book | |
|
The novel begins with Dr. John H. Watson’s apologies for what he admits are recent shortcomings in the chronicling of his friend and partner Sherlock Holmes. Watson laments, in particular, failings of his story “The Final Problem,” in which Sherlock and his arch enemy Moriarty engage in a battle to the death. Disowning the piece as unworthy of its subject, Dr. Watson now asserts that the true nature of those events must finally be revealed. The first disclosure made by Watson is that Sherlock Holmes became reluctantly involved in the investigation of the Whitechapel, or Jack the Ripper, murders. The second disclosure he cites is Holmes’ eventual realization that the Ripper and Moriarty are, in point of fact, one and the same man. Watson and Holmes are joined in their investigation by a young forensic pathologist named Molly Hoepfner, as well as the London police Department’s Inspector G. Lestrade; they are further assisted by Watson’s wife and former actress, Mary Watson. Throughout it all, the Holmes investigation is calamitously out of phase with the official work of the East London police department, resulting in great confusion. As East London prepares for two major events, the first being the premier of an exiting new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth starring Mary Watson’s old friend Irene Adler and the other, an annual East London celebration for the Lord Mayor’s Day. At a celebratory banquet, James Moriarty engages noted Theosophist Rudolf Steiner in a plan to purchase the Great Emory Hall, but this goes horribly asunder when Irene Adler and Mary Watson are kidnapped from the ongoing event, where Mrs. Watson suffers a fatal injury. Moriarty leads Sherlock Holmes’ investigative team on a transatlantic chase to America. His ultimate destination is Chicago, where the upcoming World’s Fair is currently seeking investors. Employing a combination of questioning and deduction, Holmes is able to follow and even anticipate Moriarty’s movements and boards a train for Chicago. En route, Moriarty engineers a deadly confrontation with Holmes, resulting in a grave abdominal wound being inflicted on himself. Quick medical attention saves Moriarty’s life and continuing medical care sees him through to Manhattan, where he is transferred to the S.S. City of New York for its inaugural transatlantic voyage to Southampton. Incredibly, Moriarty once again is able to escape capture. Following several months of self-imposed isolation, Holmes receives a visit from Rudolf Steiner, who at one time was involved in the purchase of the Great Emory Hall from Moriarty. The deal had fallen through, but Steiner had retained certain banking documents he thought Sherlock might find useful. Intrigued, Holmes immediately sets up a trip to Weimar, Germany, for a closer look at the accounts in question. Once there, he reunites with Steiner, who offers a detailed overview of Weimar’s ongoing rise as a Mecca for the arts. Later, as Holmes is walking back to his hotel in the pouring rain, he is accosted by Moriarty, who invites him for a chat. Taking the bait, Sherlock walks along with his nemesis to the iconic Sternbrucke Bridge, known for its exaggerated archway over the Ilm River. Once there, Moriarty makes Sherlock an offer to join forces with him in “purpose and power.” The discussion quickly devolves into a heated argument, which further degenerates into a fight to the death, culminating in Moriarty falling - spectacularly - off the bridge and into the river.
|
|
| About the Author | |
 |
A filmmaker and theatre artist known for work in independent cinema and stage productions, Brad Mays' film, "Stage Fright" premiered at the 1989 Berlin Film Festival; his comedy "The Watermelon" debuted at the 2008 San Diego Film Festival. "Two Trentons" won Best Director at the 2021 Global Nonviolent Film Festival. |