Sherlockians and true crime buffs alike will be intrigued Publishers Weekly An enthralling real-life murder mystery that also sheds new light on the creation of fiction's most famous detective Daily Mail Fascinating and expertly written : a true murder story that brings the real background of Sherlock Holmes and his creator strikingly to life Andrew Lycett, author of Conan Doyle: The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes The fictional Sherlock Holmes was born in a world of Victorian crime and mysteries. The sensational Ardlamont murder trial in 1893 was one of those inspirations. Daniel Smith does a wonderful job [of] recreating the trial in all its twists and complexities , a case worthy of Sherlock himself Paul French, winner of the Edgar and Dagger awards for true crime writing and author of City of Devils: A Shanghai Noir and Midnight in Peking Sheer delight. A Victorian murder mystery to rival the best of Conan Doyle Barry Turner, Classic Crime critic, Daily Mail A gripping read The Sherlock Holmes Journal.