Mrs. Hudson And The Case Of The Spirits' Curse

Rating:
Summary: For fans of the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries
Review: Homeless and hungry Flotsam tries to steal a rotting cabbage but the grocer's son Scraggs catches her. He turns her over to housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, who sees something in the orphan and takes her into service as a maid. Mrs. Hudson insures that Flotsam is educated in the domestic arts and the three R's. When her employer commits suicide Mrs. Hudson takes a job as housekeeper to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson; she brings Flotsam along to keep her safe and secure.

One night a man with one eye and a scar on his face and wearing a cowl, comes calling with a note saying his master wants to meet with Mr. Holmes. The next day Nathaniel Moran asks the famous detective for his help. He is clearly frightened because he believes he is under a Sumatran curse caused when he and his two business partners disrespected their gods. Several people connected with their enterprise in Sumatra are dead and Nathaniel hopes Holmes can break the curse. Holmes believes a human is killing people but before he can solve the case, Moran's partners die. It takes Mrs. Hudson to help the great detective solve the spirit's curse.

Readers who are fans of the Mrs. Jeffries mysteries will want to read MRS. HUDSON AND THE SPIRITS' CURSE. Although Sherlock Holmes gets the glory, it is Mrs. Hudson working behind the scenes who solves the case. Her relationship with Flotsam is more like mother-daughter than upper and lower servant. The protagonist has a heart of gold beneath her gruff exterior and readers will take her into their hearts. Martin Davies take on Sherlock Holmes will shake up die hard fans of the master detective.

Harriet Klausner