A Scandalous Affair by Leonard Goldberg
Fans of Sherlock Holmes and latterly, Enola Holmes will be enthralled by this cleverly written novel.
A Scandalous Affair is the eighth book in the Daughter of Sherlock Holme’s Mysteries Series written by USA Today’s Bestselling author, Leonard Goldberg.
Set in 1918, during the Great War, this historical fiction series centres around Joanna Watson, daughter of Sherlock Holmes, the infamous, fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The book is narrated from the perspective of Dr John Watson Jr, son of Sherlock Holme’s best friend and confidante, Dr John Watson Sr. and is based in the infamous rooms of 221B Baker Street.
The book commences with a backdrop of London at war and a late-night visitor to the rooms of 221B Baker Street. Sir William Radcliffe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, comes to Joanna with a tale of blackmail that could ruin his family and their reputation; with a scandal so big, that it may force the Chancellor to vacate his seat on the War Council. He entrusts his secret with her, as Joanna has a reputation for solving mysteries with the strictest of confidence and efficiency. Sir William’s granddaughter, Anne Atwood has been caught in a compromising situation with another man who is not the aristocrat to whom she is engaged to marry. The blackmailer has sent photographic evidence of her romantic encounters and has been paid already, however, he has set his sights on Sir William as a lucrative cash cow and continues to extort money. With each correspondence that lands in the Radcliffe abode, comes a more salacious photo and a higher demand. Joanna knows that this won’t stop until the blackmailer is found and enlists the help of her husband, his father and a few other characters along the way. However, their work must remain under the radar, the case itself is so sensitive that it can only be spoken of in the confines of 221B Baker Street, and not even Scotland Yard can be involved, for fear of public disclosure.
The reader is brought on a journey through Edwardian London, opium dens, theatres; both of the operating and the dramatic kind, and beyond. The imagery of the scenes is painted so vividly as are the people within. Our main character Joanna, is a confident, bright woman, fiercely independent and possesses the sharp intellect of her father as she navigates the course of justice. The reader gets the sense that Dr Watson Jr. is in awe of his wife’s intellect and cunning resourcefulness and both Watsons are constantly celebrating her abilities. Quiet early on in the book the reader is made aware of the key players in the scandal, which, rather than taking the reader on a ‘who-done-it’ journey, we are brought on a ‘how-do-we-prove-it journey instead. The latter end of the book concentrates on how justice is served and I couldn’t help but feel, that this is the most Sherlock Holmes-like we see Joanna. The ends very much justify the means in Joanna’s eyes.
The novel is an intellectual piece of work, with lessons in chemistry, biology and forensics cleverly written by Goldberg, who himself had a long career with UCLA’s Medical Centre as a Clinical Professor of Medicine. I wouldn’t call this a night-time read as such, and as a night-timer reader it took me longer to finish as there is so much amazing knowledge and information, I wanted to ensure I was assimilating it all, for fear of missing a vital piece in the plot.
Overall, my first novel from the Daughter of Sherlock Holme’s Mysteries Series but it won’t be my last.
(c) Margaret Williams-Muldoon
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