The Problem of the Spiteful Spiritualist

Charles Dodgson & Arthur Conan Doyle #2

by Roberta Rogow

In 1885, a retired sea captain in Portsmouth dies suddenly and, according to the newly married Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, mysteriously. Shortly after his death, an emissary of the Rajah of Rajitpor arrives at the dead man's door, seeking information about a stolen treasure. With his visiting friend, the Reverend Charles Dodgson, Doyle attends a seance where a spiritualist intends to contact the dead man, revealing the secret behind his death and the missing treasure. But in the midst of it, the spiritualist dies with the word "murder" on her lips. Now Doyle, with the help of his friend, must find the murderer.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction

282 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Roberta Rogow is the author of the four "Dodgson/Doyle" mysteries. She is currently working on a new series set in Gilded Age New York City. She also reviews juvenile mysteries for Mystery Scene Magazine, and is a writer and performer of Science Fiction "filk" songs. She recently retired from a 37-year career as a Children's Librarian in New Jersey public libraries. "

Reviews

[Jan Blackburn]

Buddy Books

Lewis Carroll and Arthur Conan Doyle are a true odd couple! Doyle gets Into crime mystery and Carroll solves them. Buddies in the sense that they are friends although a more unlikely pair if there ever was one. A good read for the beach or a rainy afternoon or night.

[Kitten]

Popsugar 2020: A book with more than 20 letters in the title.

[Catherine Amos]

Really 3 1/2 stars. The idea of a young Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and an elder Charles Dodgson teaming up to solve mysteries in Victorian England really got my mental juices flowing. The thing that keeps this from being a true "four stars" is the repeated references to Dodgson's predilection for young girls. Anyone familiar with him knows his history - I just don't need it intruding on an escape of realism.

[Jennifer]

Tried and tried to finish this one, but couldn't. Perhaps it ends better than it starts, but I couldn't get into it.