The Affair of Lady Westcott’s Lost Ruby/The Case of the Unseen Assassin

Prolific pasticheur Lovisi (The Secret Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) tries something different in this duo of novellas by elevating to center stage a supporting character, The Valley of Fear’s Insp. Alec MacDonald, the rare Scotland Yarder for whom Holmes has respect. Unfortunately, neither story works, either as a plausible emulation of Conan Doyle or as a whodunit. The first tale opens with Holmes and Watson discussing Inspector Mac’s competence just as the man himself walks up Baker Street, improbably using his remarkable hearing to eavesdrop. Mac is on his way to the home of Lady Westcott, whose dog, Ruby, has disappeared. The truth about Ruby’s fate proves to be the starting point for an unlikely plot that could affect the government of England. In the second story, which isn’t much better, Holmes, Watson, and Mac track the so-called Unseen Assassin, who has been gunning down people on London’s streets, seemingly at random. Clunky dialogue (“‘My Lord, it’s like bloomin’ Buckingham Palace in here!’ MacDonald blurted in rapt awe”) doesn’t help. (May)