‘The Devil’s Due’ by Bonnie MacBird

I have a huge apology to make. This book has sat on my NetGalley shelf for a long time and I should have read and reviewed it much earlier. Not least because I have missed out on reading this until now. This book was published in 2019 by Collins Crime Club, part of Harper Collins.

This is the third in Bonnie MacBird’s excellent series featuring Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. I’ve now read all four books (the latest, ‘The Three Locks’, has just been published – you can read my blog tour review here). I think they can be read in any order as, although there are some recurring characters in the books aside from the expected ones, I don’t think there are spoilers.

In this book, Sherlock turns his considerable investigative skills to a series of murders which seem to follow a pattern – the victims are being picked off in alphabetical order. All are philanthropists and part of the mysterious ‘Luminaries’ club, but the tragedies don’t end with those figures – a series of mysterious deaths and suicides of their nearest and dearest follow. Holmes and Watson race to uncover a murderer on the freezing streets of 1890s London as the alphabet killer seems to be homing in on victim ‘H’, Sherlock’s brother, Mycroft Holmes.

What I love about the series is that MacBird has captured the warmth in the characters. Holmes remains true to the Arthur Conan Doyle originals, but remains likeable and human despite his superiority and (often) downright oddness. Our narrator, John Watson, is still a fallible and likeable figure who tells the story with gentle self-deprecating humour. Together, they are a brilliant partnership and MacBird gives a gorgeous sense of the depth of feeling between the two.

Other more peripheral characters are also convincingly and compellingly portrayed. A particular favourite of mine in this novel was Heffie, one of Sherlock’s team of helpers that emerge from the street and prove to be extremely useful. This fabulously sassy and strong young woman – for me – stole every scene she was written into. Plus there are the regulars – Mrs Hudson, Lestrade and the self-important Mycroft Holmes, the latter pulling strings behind the scenes from his second home at the Diogenes Club.

As with all the MacBird Sherlock stories, this one is cleverly plotted and will keep you guessing until the end. There is no shortage of murders, twists and action here – probably more than in the original tales. This is one to block out time for and devour in a sitting!

I’d whole-heartedly recommend this series to anyone who loves Arthur Conan Doyle’s famed detective. However, this should also appeal to so many more people too – anyone who loves well-plotted crime novels, those who enjoy historical fiction with a real sense of authenticity in the setting, those who like their crime stories with excellent characterisation at their heart…basically anyone!

With many thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review. I am just sorry it took so long!

My affiliate link for this book is below, along with books 1 and 2 in the series (‘Art in the Blood’ and ‘Unquiet Spirits’). All are excellent and I thank you for supporting my blog with any purchases.