A Scandalous Affair - by Leonard Goldberg (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In 1918, during the height of the Great War, Joanna Holmes and the Watsons receive a late-night, clandestine visit from Sir William Radcliffe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who brings with him an agonizing tale of blackmail; a case so sensitive that it can only be spoken of in the confines of 221B Baker Street. An unknown individual has come into possession of salacious photographs, which not only sullies the family name, but may force the chancellor to vacate his seat on the War Council where his advice is most needed. The blackmailer has in their possession revealing photographs that show Sir William's granddaughter in romantic encounters with a man other than the aristocrat to whom she is engaged to marry. Should the pictures be released to the public, the wedding would be immediately called off, and the prospect of the granddaughter ever finding a suitable husband would vanish. Sir William's family has been forced to pay exorbitant sums for several of the photographs, but even more salacious pictures remain in the blackmailer's possession--and will no doubt carry greater demands and threats nd Yard cannot be involved, for fear of public disclosure. It thus falls on the shoulders of Joanna and the Watsons to expose the blackmailer and procure the photographs before irreparable harm comes to the chancellor and his family."--

Book Synopsis

In the latest Daughter of Sherlock Holmes novel, Joanna Holmes must confront a shocking case of blackmail that threatens the highest levels of His Majesty's government, as this USA Today bestselling mystery series continues.

In the latest installment of this acclaimed series, Sherlock Holmes's daughter faces an elaborate mystery that threatens the second most powerful man in His Majesty's government. His position is such that he answers only to the king and the prime minister.

In 1918, during the height of the Great War, Joanna Holmes and the Watsons receive a late-night, clandestine visit from Sir William Radcliffe, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who brings with him an agonizing tale of blackmail; a case so sensitive that it can only be spoken of in the confines of 221B Baker Street.

An unknown individual has come into possession of salacious photographs, which not only sullies the family name, but may force the chancellor to vacate his seat on the War Council where his advice is most needed. The blackmailer has in their possession revealing photographs that show Sir William's granddaughter in romantic encounters with a man other than the aristocrat to whom she is engaged to marry. Should the pictures be released to the public, the wedding would be immediately called off, and the prospect of the granddaughter ever finding a suitable husband would vanish.

Sir William's family has been forced to pay exorbitant sums for several of the photographs, but even more salacious pictures remain in the blackmailer's possession--and will no doubt carry greater demands and threats. Scotland Yard cannot be involved, for fear of public disclosure. It thus falls on the shoulders of Joanna and the Watsons to expose the blackmailer and procure the photographs before irreparable harm comes to the chancellor and his family.

Review Quotes

"In this addition to the 'Daughter of Sherlock Holmes' series, Joanna Holmes tackles a case of political blackmail during World War I. The story blends classic detective work with historical intrigue, appealing to fans of traditional mysteries."--Mystery Center

Praise for the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes series:

"Compelling, with clever revelations and pithy dialogue--a worthy successor to Conan Doyle's original."-- "Charleston Post and Courier"

"Author Goldberg amply demonstrates once again just how compelling a figure Joanna Holmes has become. Simply put, this series is one of the best continuations of the Sherlock mythos that one could hope for."-- "Mystery Scene"

"Avid Sherlockians will be delighted with the many echoes of the original Holmes canon."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Fans of all things Sherlock-ian will delight in Joanna, so like her father and already training her schoolboy son, Johnny, in the methods that have solved so many cases like this exceptionally tricky one."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Fans of the original mysteries will get a chuckle out of the antic language, and there is a mercurial Mary Poppins appeal to this not-to-be-trifled-with heroine that will appeal to fans beyond Baker Street."-- "Booklist"

"Goldberg weaves a tightly packed narrative. Throw the Watsons and Holmes into the mix, and you've got yourself a tremendous late-night read!"-- "Historial Mystery Review"

"Goldberg's Sherlock Holmes pastiche is pitch-perfect."-- "Library Journal"

"Take a dive into the darker side of London and start with the first book of the series and work your way to this one. You won't be disappointed. Great reads and very entertaining."-- "The Champaign News-Gazette"

"Very well written, with clever dialogue. I highly recommend this latest in an excellent series."-- "Historical Novel Society"

About the Author

Leonard Goldberg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery series. His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and have been selections of the Book of the Month Club and the Mystery Guild. After a long career with the UCLA Medical Center as a Clinical Professor of Medicine, he now lives on an island off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina.