Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright

Breese Books, Jun 1995. 4th. Paperback. Val Andrews writes a good Sherlock Holmes pastiche, often combining it with other items of interest. \nIn Sherlock Holmes and the Houdini Birthright, an elderly Holmes and Watson have a further meeting with the great escapologist, Harry Houdini in one of his ghost-busting exploits. Later, they are called upon to investigate Houdini's death. \nAs well as showing Holmes' deductive powers, the high falutin lifestyle and odd circumstances of the death of Houdini, the novel manages to cast light on the political situation of Hungary between the two world wars. \nAs a bonus, Andrews throws in two encounters between Holmes and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. \nBy combining diverse plot elements with a fine touch in characterisation and a surprise outcome, this book, like most of Val Andrews' Holmes pastiches, is a satisfying read.