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The Keys of Death A Sherlock Holmes Adventure
“There you are wrong, Doctor. I am my own man. Do not confuse me with the Metropolitan Police. My only superior is the cause of true justice. There are no limits to the means I use in my investigations. I operate independently on this side of the law, yet I appreciate the good people on the other.”
With a Foreword by Mattias Boström.
The Keys of Death is Baker Street bedrock. In Gretchen Altabef’s 1880 novel, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson, and Mrs. Hudson begin something great in the world.
Out of the fogs of 1880 London, three young souls unite in their common desire for justice.”A genesis story about friendship with the power to change the world. Here, finally, Mrs. Hudson’s part in it can be told.
Our cast includes Paris’s gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin, West African pirate, Félix Calabar, London’s spectacular beauty, Lily Langtry, the Imperial Theatre Orchestra, the Irregular’s, and even the Prince of Wales has a part to play in Holmes’ solution to the murder mystery. Altabef’s exploration into women’s history brings to light the immensely creative approach to freedom crafted by the ladies of the Anglo-Jewish Community.
The Keys of Death rocks the heart of Holmes’ world. With a vengeful villain to match him. The world’s first consulting detective practice is born through one man’s unshakable belief in his gifts, his courage, and especially his friends. Through every challenge Sherlock Holmes upholds his vision of a merciful justice for our world.
With a Foreword by Mattias Boström.
The Keys of Death is Baker Street bedrock. In Gretchen Altabef’s 1880 novel, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Watson, and Mrs. Hudson begin something great in the world.
Out of the fogs of 1880 London, three young souls unite in their common desire for justice.”A genesis story about friendship with the power to change the world. Here, finally, Mrs. Hudson’s part in it can be told.
Our cast includes Paris’s gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin, West African pirate, Félix Calabar, London’s spectacular beauty, Lily Langtry, the Imperial Theatre Orchestra, the Irregular’s, and even the Prince of Wales has a part to play in Holmes’ solution to the murder mystery. Altabef’s exploration into women’s history brings to light the immensely creative approach to freedom crafted by the ladies of the Anglo-Jewish Community.
The Keys of Death rocks the heart of Holmes’ world. With a vengeful villain to match him. The world’s first consulting detective practice is born through one man’s unshakable belief in his gifts, his courage, and especially his friends. Through every challenge Sherlock Holmes upholds his vision of a merciful justice for our world.
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Published December 13, 2021
6 people want to read
About the author
Gretchen Altabef
9 books12 followersAward-Winning author, Gretchen Altabef, publishes with MX, Sherlock Holmes Books.
FIVE MILES OF COUNTRY is Altabef’s smashing third novel in the Rachel Holmes series. Though murder mysteries, each is full of hope and the bonhomie of friendship. Holmes and Watson are called to Thomas Edison’s ‘Imagination Factory’ to solve the murder of a Vaudeville danseuse in the world’s first motion picture studio.
The first in the series is, THESE SCATTERED HOUSES, in Sherlock Holmes’s voice, it chronicles a unique conclusion to his ‘Great Hiatus’ travels. It was translated into Italian as LA CASA DEL MALE for Mondadori’s popular Sherlock Holmes Series.
In REMARKABLE POWER OF STIMULUS, Holmes finds London awash in murders, anarchists threatening Paris, and Irene Adler re-enters his life. Under surveillance by Moriarty’s henchmen, Holmes returns to Baker Street knowing he will find Watson’s friendship and unerring aim are as dependable as the British Rail.
THE KEYS OF DEATH is a stand-alone novel. Born during the Pandemic, it is a genesis story of the birth of No. 221B Baker Street and the solving of Mr Hudson’s murder.
FIVE MILES OF COUNTRY is Altabef’s smashing third novel in the Rachel Holmes series. Though murder mysteries, each is full of hope and the bonhomie of friendship. Holmes and Watson are called to Thomas Edison’s ‘Imagination Factory’ to solve the murder of a Vaudeville danseuse in the world’s first motion picture studio.
The first in the series is, THESE SCATTERED HOUSES, in Sherlock Holmes’s voice, it chronicles a unique conclusion to his ‘Great Hiatus’ travels. It was translated into Italian as LA CASA DEL MALE for Mondadori’s popular Sherlock Holmes Series.
In REMARKABLE POWER OF STIMULUS, Holmes finds London awash in murders, anarchists threatening Paris, and Irene Adler re-enters his life. Under surveillance by Moriarty’s henchmen, Holmes returns to Baker Street knowing he will find Watson’s friendship and unerring aim are as dependable as the British Rail.
THE KEYS OF DEATH is a stand-alone novel. Born during the Pandemic, it is a genesis story of the birth of No. 221B Baker Street and the solving of Mr Hudson’s murder.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 17, 2022
I received an ARC of Keys of Death through Reedsy Discovery in exchange for an honest review. See the full review here: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the...
Told largely as a first-person narrative that rotates by chapter between the three leads, Keys of Death is augmented by two massive innovations in the Holmesian lore: the first is a change to the typical portrayal of Hudson from a fussy old woman who has to keep reminding her tenants that she is not their housekeeper to a young woman of intelligence, strength, and deep emotional turmoil.
The second is that Hudson’s late husband, whose murder kicks off the story and is the impetus for her renting rooms to Holmes and Watson in the first place, was Jewish.
The ripples of these two changes allow Altabef’s novel to take place. By making Hudson an energetic young woman, she is allowed to become a far more active participant in the story. By making her late husband Jewish, and her subsequent ties to the Jewish community of London strong, an entire community and culture is drawn into the fray of this mystery with unerring accuracy.
There have been many, glossy updates, adaptations, and re-writes of the Holmes stories across the decades, but Altabef brings us back to the beginning and the basics with this novel, and at the result is incredibly satisfying.
Told largely as a first-person narrative that rotates by chapter between the three leads, Keys of Death is augmented by two massive innovations in the Holmesian lore: the first is a change to the typical portrayal of Hudson from a fussy old woman who has to keep reminding her tenants that she is not their housekeeper to a young woman of intelligence, strength, and deep emotional turmoil.
The second is that Hudson’s late husband, whose murder kicks off the story and is the impetus for her renting rooms to Holmes and Watson in the first place, was Jewish.
The ripples of these two changes allow Altabef’s novel to take place. By making Hudson an energetic young woman, she is allowed to become a far more active participant in the story. By making her late husband Jewish, and her subsequent ties to the Jewish community of London strong, an entire community and culture is drawn into the fray of this mystery with unerring accuracy.
There have been many, glossy updates, adaptations, and re-writes of the Holmes stories across the decades, but Altabef brings us back to the beginning and the basics with this novel, and at the result is incredibly satisfying.
January 19, 2023
A fun look at Holmes first case when he and Watson move into 221B Baker Street. The case? It's the murder of Mrs. Hudson's husband!
The story is mostly told in the form of the journal entries of Mrs. Hudson and Doctor Watson, supplemented with columns by Langdale Pike, and other bits and pieces.
I know a number of Sherlockians will not care for the style, but I found it an enjoyable change. Mrs. Hudson's own voice rings out clearly. There is no mistaking Mrs. Hudson for John Watson or vice versa, as is often the case with multiple first person points of view.
Richly detailed and well researched, "The Keys of Death" is a delight addition to the word of Sherlock Holmes pastiche.
Highly recommended.
The story is mostly told in the form of the journal entries of Mrs. Hudson and Doctor Watson, supplemented with columns by Langdale Pike, and other bits and pieces.
I know a number of Sherlockians will not care for the style, but I found it an enjoyable change. Mrs. Hudson's own voice rings out clearly. There is no mistaking Mrs. Hudson for John Watson or vice versa, as is often the case with multiple first person points of view.
Richly detailed and well researched, "The Keys of Death" is a delight addition to the word of Sherlock Holmes pastiche.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews