The Sceptred Isle Club

by Brent Monahan

In 1906, Sheriff John Le Brun of Jekyl Island arrives in London where he is introduced to the institution of the "men's club." With hundreds of such clubs in London alone, these clubs are where men of certain specialized interests meet, often wielding great power behind closed doors. In the company of his new acquaintance, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Le Brun visits the Sceptred Isle Club where he is to give a talk. But shortly after they arrive, they hear a number of muffled shots.

A quick investigation reveals that several prominent men have been murdered in the normally locked gambling room - with no survivors and no sign of the culprit. Now, rubbing elbows with the famous and the infamous of the time, the task of solving the puzzle falls to Le Brun. For behind these seemingly senseless, nearly impossible murders, lie a truth and a purpose with far-ranging implications for the entire British Empire.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Mystery

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Brent Monahan was born in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan in 1948, as a World War II occupation baby. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in Music and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. He has performed, stage directed and taught music and writing professionally. He has authored fourteen published novels and a number of short stories. Two of his novels have been made into motion pictures. Brent lives in Yardley, PA, with his wife, Bonnie.

Reviews

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to read this book and provide a review by the publisher. When Ir received I was a bit dismayed to see that it was the second in a series, and I hadn't read the first one. I did get this second in the series and the third from that publisher, so all was not lost. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This particular book was set in London very early in the 20 century. The main character is retired Sheriff John Le Brun, formerly of Georgia, United States. John has recently retired after solving a very difficult case back in Georgia (the first book in the series), and has come to England with his friend to be a tourist and take in some theatre and music shows. When he first arrives and is at an English club (The Sceptred Isle Club) for dinner with his friend, they hear numerous shots coming from a downstairs poker room. So begins John's foray into solving an English crime. Four men have been shot in a locked private poker room. The crime is violent and the motive behind it is very obscure, but John uses his very considerable deduction skills to unravel a deep and very dark mystery. I absolutely love John Le Brun! He's a stellar protagonist, and his crime fighting skills are incedibly diverse and thorough. He appears to be self-effacing and laid back, but his prodigious mind is always working behind his unflappable exterior. The only disappointment I had with the book is that the latter part of the book (about the last 15%) dealt with the aftermath of Le Brun solving the crime. We already knew who the killers were, and why they did it. I felt that the book could have ended sooner than it did. But that won't stop me from looking forward to reading the next book in the series that is waiting for me on my iPad. Thank you to the publisher for introducing me to this wonderful series. I will now have to read the first book and the other books in the series. I highly recommend this series.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing and well plotted historical mystery that mixes historical and fictional characters.
It kept hooked and turning pages. The plot is full of surprises and I appreciated the solution.
Want ot read the rest of the series
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to reading the remaining three books in this series. Great stories.

[Jo Dervan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story, the fourth of the John LeBrun series, it is 1906 and the Brunswick Georgia sheriff has retired. He accompanies Geoffrey Moore, an English salesman, to London for a vacation. Geoffrey shows John several of the elite gentlemen's clubs that flourished in London at the turn of the 20th century. When the two men arrive at the Sceptred Isle Club for a talk by John, they discover that the murder of 6 men has just happened in the gambling room. They also meet Sir Arthur Canon Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

John is engaged by the club manager to help Scotland Yard solve the crimes. He and Doyle team up in an effort to solve the mysteries. As he tries to find a motive, John learns that some of the men were members of a tontine, a scheme where participants all contribute a sum of money and the last surviving member receives the entire sum.

The story takes many twists and turns as another member of the tontine is murdered and an attempt is made on the life of the surviving member. As the story comes to a solution, we learn that the fate of the British Empire was also at stake.

[Irena Politzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My dad and I bought this book while on vacation in Jekyll Island, GA, because my dad really liked the first book in the series that was set there (The Jekyll Island Club). This one features the same detective but while he's on a trip to London. I definitely liked it but am more excited to read the Jekyll Island one since I think the main draw will be to read about the place that I just was and the robber barons who vacationed there. NOTE: this book contains spoilers about the resolution of The Jekyll Island Club, so don't read it first if you are one of those folks who likes to try to solve the mystery yourself! I can never figure out the whodunnits and don't even try, so I didn't mind. Definitely had some funny parts to it and good descriptions of the London gentlemen's club scene at the turn of the century...

[David Nadolny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as Monahan's other detective novels. I couldn't wait to go out and get the next one.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting mystery! Great plot and characters.

[Mary G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good.

[Katrina Bergherm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh...only semi-entertaining...very predictable.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found a new author to read! Great characterization and description while maintaining a pretty fast pace, almost too fast for my taste. Filled with lots of the history and culture that I love.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read with an accurate smattering of history that added to the plot.
Made me want to read a Sherlock Holmes book.

[Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step back in time and view Victorian England with the eyes of a sheriff from Georgian. Facinating setting and well written myster.