Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: June 14, 2022
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Mystery / Historical
The fate of the allied forces lies in the hands of Joanna and the Watson's in the latest Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery from USA Today bestselling author Leonard Goldberg.
During a critical stage in World War One, the Governor-General of South
Africa journeys to London for a meeting of The Imperial War Conference.
Days prior to the conference, the Governor-General is scheduled to have
an audience at Buckingham Palace at which time a most precious blue
diamond will be presented to King Edward as a symbolic gesture of the
colonies’ resolute and never-ending allegiance to England.
The
flawless blue diamond, with its magnificent luster, weighs nearly 3000
carats which renders it one of the world’s largest and most valuable
gems. On the Governor-General’s arrival, he is ensconced at the
fashionable Windsor Hotel under the tightest security, with his entire
entourage and formidable security team occupying the entire penthouse
floor. All entrances and exits are locked down and closely guarded, and
no one is allowed entrance after 6 PM.
Despite the extreme
precautions, the famous diamond is stolen from the Governor-General’s
suite in the middle of the night, with no clues left behind. With
Scotland Yard baffled, Joanna and the Watson's are called in to
investigate the theft and it becomes clear that the crime is not simply
the work of a master thief, but one that could greatly aid the Germans
and turn the tide of war in their favor. Time is of the essence and the
blue diamond must be recovered before it begins its travels which could
cause irreparable damage to the allied war plans.
The Blue Diamond is the Sixth installment in author Leonard Goldberg's The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series. As with the previous Five installments, this story is narrated by Dr. John Watson Jr, husband of Joanna Holmes Watson, with his father. Dr. Watson, former chronicler of Sherlock Holmes, along for the mystery and to give his own Sherlock inspired commentary. During a critical stage in World War One, the Governor-General of South Africa journeys to London for a meeting of The Imperial War Conference.
Days prior to the conference, the Governor-General is scheduled to have an audience at Buckingham Palace at which time a most precious blue diamond will be presented to King Edward as a symbolic gesture of the colonies’ resolute and never-ending allegiance to England. The flawless blue diamond, with its magnificent luster, weighs nearly 3000 carats which renders it one of the world’s largest and most valuable gems.
On the Governor-General’s arrival, he is ensconced at the fashionable Windsor Hotel under the tightest security, with his entire entourage and formidable security team occupying the entire penthouse floor. All entrances and exits are locked down and closely guarded, and no one is allowed entrance after 6 PM. Despite the extreme precautions, the famous diamond is stolen from the Governor-General’s suite in the middle of the night, with no clues left behind.
This isn't the first sensational robbery at a named hotel. Before the Windsor was hit, there was the Fairmont, and St. Reyes all over a 10 day period. One of the other rare items stolen was a Ming Era vase. Enter Inspector Lestrade, and Sir Charles Bradberry, Scotland Yard Commissioner. With Scotland Yard baffled, Joanna Holmes Watson, her husband Dr. John Watson, and Sherlock Holmes chronicler Dr. John H. Watson MD, are called in to investigate the theft and it becomes clear that the crime is not simply the work of a master thief.
Joanna quickly learns that this is only the tip of the mystery. To make things even more dire, a war document has also been stolen, and if it falls into German hands, millions of allies will be slaughtered. Time is of the essence. As
she gets closer and closer to the mechanics of just how the diamond was
stolen and by whom, and if their South African allies are actually frauds, Joanna and the Watson's suddenly become targets for murder. And, when chips are down, Joanna once again calls on Toby Too and her group of street urchins who are slowly growing up to be adults.
Since this story takes place in November of 1917, there is a lot of historical ties to actual historical characters. There is more realism than before in that the author puts our characters in harms way of German bombs, and the devastation that they left behind. For Sherlock fans, the author mentions a specific case called Adventure of the Dancing Men which means that readers will finally get a look at the infamous Sherlock Holmes code book he used to break the case.
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