The Problem of the Missing Miss

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing mystery with a twist
Review: At the Brighton train station, Professor Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) awaits the arrival of Alicia Marbury, daughter of former student, Lord Richard Marbury. Alicia never makes her appointment. Instead, a distraught Charles meets Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, who agrees to help search for the lass.

Richard receives a note threatening the life of Alicia if he fails to withdraw his bill, one that will raise the age of consent in an attempt to end the horrid practice of child prostitution. When the kidnapped girl's nanny is soon found dead, the two famous English writers know they must work fast to save Alicia's life.

THE PROBLEM OF THE MISSING MISS is a fun to read historical mystery that deserves attention from fans of the genre because of the two writers who star in the book. Newcomer Roberta Rogow brilliantly develops the juxtaposition between the humorous exchanges of her two lead protagonists and the seriousness of child prostitution that is prevalent in Victorian society. However, it is the characterizations of Carroll and Doyle that are a delight and their jocular interplay turns the novel into a fabulous story. Readers will want more tales starring these two great authors.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Premise - Easy Mystery
Review: It's a pretty neat idea for Dodgson and Doyle to hook up and solve mysteries, but in this first installation, the answer to who was the villain was so simple that it was a bit of a boring read. Hopefully the next installments get better.