Something a bit different

[John Dean]

Review: The Counterfeit Detective by Simpson Grears (Rymour Books)

The problem with even the very best crime fiction, as well written as it may be, is that a lot of it can feel very similar. That is why we readers should welcome something that’s a bit different, and why we should welcome books like The Counterfeit Detective by Simpson Grears.

The book is certainly different, in theme and style of writing. It begins when an  American professor discovers the diaries of John Ledbury, known as the Counterfeit Detective, a minor poet who, in Victorian London, was employed to reply to the mail that comes addressed to Sherlock Holmes at 221b Baker Street.

The novel tells how the discovery leads to a series of unsolved murders and an investigation that involves travel through time.

That’s an unusual enough set-up, allowing the author to examine themes not often found in crime fiction, even before you consider the other elements that make the book different, including the literary allusions, the striking page layouts and the quirky mindset of the central character. Combined with the rich sense of place that every book needs, a plot that twists and turns and plenty of pace, this is an excellent read.