“Over the last year or so, I’ve favorably reviewed all three of Allan Mitchell’s previous Sherlock Holmes books, The Menacing Moors, The Menacing Metropolis, and The Menacing Melbournian. Each of those presented a story about Our Heroes in the form of Epic Verse, and in each review I hoped that Mr. Mitchell would turn his attention to providing a prose adventure. Happily, with Sherlock Holmes and the Ley Line Murders, he’s heard my request, reaching into Watson’s Tin Dispatch Box for something really recherche.

For those that don’t know, Ley Lines run as straight paths between the old places of Britain, often with ancient religious significance. They can be manmade or naturally occurring sites, of buildings on top of places that supposedly contain ancient power. Whether the sites connected by the lines are places of ancient magic, or the remnants of Camelot, wherever they’re found is always of interest, especially to modern explorers looking for New Age connections, or attempting to recreate the treasure hunt-feel of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

The very idea of these ancient lines has always held a fascination, and when murders start occurring, with bodies left at the intersection of the lines, it’s up to Holmes and Watson to find a solution. But as the narrative progresses, and ancient powers are discussed, the very rational Holmes finds that things are much more complicated and dangerous than he initially believed.

Once again, Mr. Mitchell has brought us a traditional Holmes tale, set in the correct era, with no modern devices or other irritating and frankly non-Holmesian actions. I’m very much looking forward to what he’ll reveal to us next.”

Reviewed by David Marcum

Sherlock Holmes and the Ley Line Murders is available for pre order from all good bookstores including The Strand Magazine, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository. In ebook format it is in Kindle, Kobo, Nookand Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone).