11th Feb
After listening to the first Irregular Detective mystery, I was excited to begin The Mummy of Mayfair by Jeri Westerson. Once again, Noah James Butler narrates as private investigators Timothy Badger and Benjamin Watson work to solve a mystery involving a mummy unwrapping.
The Mummy of Mayfair
by Jeri Westerson
Series: Irregular Detective Mysteries #2
Narrator: Noah James Butler
Length: 7 hours and 53 minutes
Genres: Historical Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
Private investigators Timothy Badger and Benjamin Watson take on another unusual and baffling case in Victorian London when a mummy unwrapping party takes a chilling turn.
London, 1895. Although their last high-profile case was a huge success, private detectives Tim Badger and Benjamin Watson know they can’t afford to turn down any work, despite financial assistance from their mentor, Sherlock Holmes.
So when the eminent Doctor Enoch Sawyer of St Bart’s Hospital asks Badger if the duo will provide security for a mummy unwrapping party he is hosting, Badger doesn’t hesitate to take the job. After all, how hard can guarding the doctor’s bizarre Egyptian artifacts be? But with Doctor Sawyer running late for his own party, the ‘genuine’ ancient sarcophagus of Runihura Saa is unraveled to reveal the remains of . . . Doctor Sawyer! Suddenly, the pair are drawn into a case that’s stranger and twistier than they could ever have imagined.
After the success of their previous case and some publicity by newspaper reporter Ellsie Littleton, Badger and Watson have been getting cases. They are invited to attend a mummy unwrapping as security. Things take a turn when the host doesn’t arrive and the mummy isn’t an Egyptian mummy at all. Once again, author Jeri Westerson pulled me in and transported me to 1895 London.
Badger used to be one of the invisible children Holmes used when working cases. They worked the ciy streets gathering information for the detective. After he aged out and met Benjamin Watson, a jack of all trades and man of science the two began working their own cases. Holmes stepped in assist in establish the two. He moved them into a residence in SoHo, that contains a housekeeper and a magical box that refills with coin.
Badger works cases using the Sherlock method, has feelings for a certain fair-haired reporter and loves reading the latest Penny Dreadful. Watson is smitten with their housekeeper and prefers to read the latest scientific journal. The two play well of each other as they work the case of the Mayfair Mummy.
The case was an exciting one and showcased both of the detectives skillsets. Of course they confide in Elise and Sherlock, both provide direction for the young detectives. Danger, unspeakable practices and the looting of Egyptian artifacts kept me listening into the wee hours.
Westerson is a masterful storytelling weaving in both period history and examining social norms of the time, as these young detectives put their mark on the world. I truly cannot wait for their next case.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I am sure you’ll enjoy the Irregular Detectives Mysteries. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook narration performed by Noah James Butler. He skillfully captures the accents and mannerisms of Badger who comes from the lower East end and Watson, an intelligent man limited by the color of his skin.
About Jeri Westerson
Los Angeles native JERI WESTERSON was born the same day the first nuclear bomb was tested…though not the same year, so she isn’t responsible. She muddled around in life, first thinking to become an actress, woke up during a real world audition and said, “Nope, Nerp. Not doing THIS the rest of my life,” and instead, embarked on a successful career as a graphic designer. But instead of staying there, she made a lateral move and began a career as a writer.
About Noah James Butler
Noah James Butler originally hails from New Mexico. He received his first taste of the business of show as an extra on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, after which he began tirelessly pursuing any form of performance he could get himself into. This brought him to The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan, and upon graduation, on to The College of Santa Fe, where he received a degree in philosophy. Moving to Oakland, California, he quickly created a thriving theater career, and then discovered voice-over. His love of listening to old-time radio shows, especially The Mercury Theatre’s production of Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds, finally landed Noah in the realm of audiobooks. It was love at first listen, and Noah set out to create a truly immersive experience for the listener.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat.
