27th Jan
Love Sherlock Holmes? Meet the Irregulars in The Isolated Séance by Jeri Westerson, the first in the Irregular Detective Mysteries series. Sherlock Holmes’s protégés, Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson, work their first case when a man is murdered during a séance. Clever with twists and aid from the man himself, you’ll want to listen to this tale narrated by Noah James Butler.
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The Isolated Séance
by Jeri Westerson
Series: Irregular Detective Mysteries #1
Narrator: Noah James Butler
Length: 7 hours and 30 minutes
Genres: Historical Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.4x
Watch out, Sherlock! Introducing one-time Baker Street Irregular Timothy Badger and his partner-in-crime Benjamin Watson, two exciting and unconventional young consulting detectives, mentored by the great man himself, tackling intriguing and unusual cases in Victorian London with endearing verve and wit.
Sherlock Holmes’s protégés Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson are catapulted into a tricky first case when a man is brutally murdered during a séance.
London, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger is determined to follow in the footsteps of his great mentor, Sherlock Holmes, by opening his own consulting detective agency with his partner, Benjamin Watson. The intrepid duo are ready to make a name for themselves . . . if only they had clients!
Their luck changes when Sherlock recommends his protégés to Thomas Brent. Brent is eager to find out who killed his master, Horace Quinn, during a séance at Quinn’s house. What was Quinn desperately trying to find out from his deceased business partner, Stephen Latimer, before he was stabbed through the heart?
It seems that everyone in Quinn’s household had a reason to want him dead. Can Tim and Benjamin step out of Sherlock’s shadow to navigate dark secrets and unexpected dangers in their pursuit of a cold-blooded killer?
London, 1895. We meet Tim Badger, a former Baker Street Irregular who has teamed up with Benjamin Watson. The duo wants to open their own detective consulting agency and are looking for clients. Luck finds them when Sherlock recommends them to Thomas Brent. Horace Quinn, was murdered during a séance at Quinn’s house and Brent wants to know who did it.
The two begin their investigation using the training Sherlock gave them. Why was Horace holding a séance and what information did his deceased business partner, Stephen Latimer, have they he so desperately wanted? The tale that unfolds was well-paced & addictive, perfect for fans of historical murder-mysteries and Baker Street detectives.
I had a blast listening to this murder-mystery from some of their unorthodox methods of investigating to the interviews and characters they meet along the way. We quickly learn that Horace Quinn wasn’t well liked, even feared by everyone, including the staff. A nosy female report is determined that Tim Badger is a criminal and imposter. The police have arrested one of the staff for the murder and Watson has to keep Tim from getting into trouble and Sherlock himself gently guides Tim as he sorts on this clever mystery.
Westerson’s characters are delightful, flawed and well developed, making them just as interesting as the mystery itself. From Watson’s interaction with the maid to Tim letting information slip like Hagrid, from Harry Potter.
Noah James Butler narrates and brought these characters to life from accents, to spot on humor, tension and suspense. Butler enhances the story, and I recommend grabbing your earbuds for this one! The next audiobook, The Mummy of Mayfair, releases February 11, 2025. Look for my review then.
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