The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg

The game is afoot in this story of Joanna Blalock. The time is 1910 and Joanna is pleasantly comfortable in her position as nurse. She is married with a ten-year-old son. They live at home with her father in-law.

A man has fallen from a building. The sister comes to Dr. Watson with the problem. “They say his death was a suicide, but that is something my brother would never consider,” she says to Watson.

Watson takes the case because, as he says to his son, “I am merely an old man trying to remain relevant.” He still uses things he learned from his friend, Sherlock.

The witnesses are the gardener and Joanna’s ten-year-old son. The police, and here we find that the son of Lestrade, same name, is the inspector, believes the gardener over against the child.

It is reported that a wise man has written, “Of the writing of books, there is no end.” And it seems to be true when it comes to the lore concerning Sherlock Holmes. Once again, we have an author attempting to inject the legend with life.

No doubt this will develop into a series. As most first books in a series we are presented with the main characters and the bit players.  We find Dr. Watson still alive. Holmes is dead. People still come to 221b Baker Street.

The elderly Dr. Watson has a son, named after him, John Watson. Also, a doctor. He is a professor of Pathology at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. We have the daughter of Mrs. Hudson still at 221b Baker Street still the housekeeper.

Nothing much has changed in the characters. It is still a comfortable place to be if you are a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

As the story begins, Joh Watson, Jr, is visiting his father at 221b Baker Street on a cold London Morning.  Watson is trying out his observation technique. The woman comes to see him as reported above. After she leaves, Watson and his son go to the Blalock house to meet Joanna.  Why? Because it is reported she is the first female detective and they need help.

John junior is struck by her beauty. “Joanna Blalock was tall, only a few inches shorter than I, (John Watson, Jr. is the one recording,) with soft patrician features and sandy-blond hair…”

Watson (Sr.) asks for her to show them the scene of the fall.

As I said, the game is afoot.

Finally, Watson reveals a secret to his son.

“This Joanna Blalock is a very remarkable woman,” my father began. “You would agree?”

“Most certainly.”

“Well, she is even more remarkable than you could ever imagine.”

“How so?”

“She is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes.”

Seems Irene Adler and Homes had a child between them.

But that is not the center of the story. The center is the mystery of the falling body. It takes the sleuths to the very highest levels of British society.

Joanna Blalock who by the end of the book becomes Joanna Watson is a welcome addition to the family.

I recommend this series to all lovers of Sherlock Holmes.

The form of writing is close to Doyle’s, but I found it easier to follow and not as boring.

The book is published by Minotaur Books, and costs $25.99.