“Unquiet Spirits: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure”, by Bonnie MacBird

 

512 pages, Collins Crime Club, ISBN-13: 978-0008201081

Unquiet Spirits: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure is the second such mystery written by Bonnie MacBird, the first being Art in the Blood (reviewed on _). As in that first book, MacBird utilizes the same motif as Conan Doyle in saying that she did not, in fact, write this book but was given the manuscript – and several others besides – that were written by the very late Dr. John Watson. So in that regard, as in others, Unquiet Spirits follows the formula laid down by Sir Arthur, one of the ways in which MacBird keeps faith with the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

Unquiet Spirits revolves around the goings-on of a Scottish distillery that may or may not be haunted (see what she did there?). There is murder most foul – and graphic; like in Art in the Blood, MacBird does not shy away from blood and gore as Conan Doyle did – or, just as plausibly, had to do, seeing as he was writing in and for a much different era. And it would appear that MacBird has done her research in regards to her portrayals of the people (famous and no), the politics, the architecture and the joys and trials of the years covered in the Sherlock Holmes’ stories.

MacBird again captures the flavor of the original tales and there are some clever twists along the way. Her Holmes seems a bit more prickly and obnoxious than more traditional portrayals, rather more in keeping with Jeremy Brett’s take on Sherlock, if I may be so bold. Those who don’t imbibe spirituous beverages might become bored with all the details of the whisky distilling business, but it’s not too distracting. And no-doubt purists may find fault in some of what she does, but considering Conan Doyle’s not writing any new novels, these stories can fill the void nicely.

And I have to confess that, though I may be an outlier, I like Vidocq – not the character per se, but rather the raconteur who, while quite annoying and very French, is also a catalyst for the plot and good for some one-liners. My biggest problem is probably Mycroft; not MacBird’s take on the character but the character himself, whom I always thought was rather too convenient. No wonder Holmes gets as much done as he does, what with a brother who is, according to Conan Doyle, the British Government and thus can pull just the right strings when called upon.

So Unquiet Spirits is flawed but who cares; I’m just glad that someone, somewhere is still churning out Sherlock Holmes stories that come closer than not to capturing the voice of the maker.