"Gripping thriller with an escape from reality."

Something evil's afoot, and what team could be more capable of handling that evil than one comprised of the world's greatest writer/detective's mind and world's greatest escape artist? The turn of the 20th century sees Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with nothing tangible to occupy his time. His beloved wife is terminally ill and to the chagrin of thousands (as well as his agent), he's killed off the greatest detective known to mankind, Sherlock Holmes. When a chance to go to London presents itself along with his beloved wife's insistence, Doyle somewhat reluctantly leaves her in care of a nurse and takes his young son with him for a fortnight adventure. As chance would have it, he finds himself inadvertently defending and befriending a master of escape from America, none other than the famous Harry Houdini. Saving Houdini from the brutal machinations of a hired thug, Doyle announces to the entire audience that Sherlock Holmes is alive and well and to be resurrected from his literary grave.

Houdini has run afoul of one Maximilian Cairo, an infamous criminal mastermind if ever there was one. Houdini, in protecting a dear friend from Cairo's nefarious schemes dealing with the séances and the other world, has come to blows in his attempt to unmask Cairo's ruse. After Doyle sends his son back home, the two are off across the globe, united in a common cause to keep Cairo from bilking millions from unsuspecting bereaved souls, trying to contact their beloved dead, one last time. Unwittingly, they let loose a far more dangerous and insidious occult force, which threatens the very fabric of the world. Only their combined strengths and steadfast friendship will give them the tools they need in order to stop this menace to the world. That Sherlock Holmes lives again is luck in its finest form.

Knight has taken a wonderful "novel" turn with history as he pairs up Doyle and Houdini in this save the world whodunit. In reality, Doyle and Houdini met up in 1920 and were fast friends in spite of their separate views on Spiritualism. Knight uses what history provides and turns out a complex, wonderful novel that guarantees an escape from reality for the reader. His wonderfully crafted, almost stereotypical characters leap from the pages like those of springing to color in the viewer's mind from a black and white Hollywood film existence. Additionally, there are enough sallies into a mysterious world that would make the real Doyle smile with appreciation at a cleverness and complexity that only Holmes and Houdini could both navigate and escape. This is a true, wondrous surprise ride for anyone who loves mystery in all its facets.

Reviewed by Anne Barringer
Posted January 14, 2005

Read an Excerpt

Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle face ecstasy and madness in 1903 London.

Writing as Harry R. Squires, originally published by Warner Books in August 2001.

Summary

It's 1903 and Harry Houdini (the great escape artist) seeks the help of Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes.) Houdini wants to discredit Maximillian Cairo—an infamous Occultist and the most debauched man in London. But the two men get more than they bargained for when they interrupt a magic ritual.

What Rough Beast by Harry Squires That night they set something loose—something that no one can face and stay sane. Something that runs amok—spreading death and madness throughout an unsuspecting Edwardian London.

Both men are tortured by self-doubt for the first time in their lives. Have their logical minds been tainted by this brush with frenzy?

Moreover, Conan Doyle is increasingly drawn to Justine Luce, a young suffragette with startlingly progressive ideas. Houdini, too, finds himself tempted by desires he may not be able to resist.

Their sole hope to understand what is happening to them lies with the only witness to the first murder. But the man refuses to reveal what he's seen—even to save his life.

All of Houdini's street smarts and all of Conan Doyle's powers of deduction combined may not be enough to prevent madness from overwhelming the world.