An Opened Grave
L. Frank James
Salt Works, October 2006, $14.95
ISBN: 193408000

In 1908 Mrs. Hudson asks Dr. Watson to stay overnight in the room he once shared with the world's greatest detective Sherlock Holmes, as the woman insists she hears noises, but no one lives there. Watson, who misses those sleuthing days, agrees. That night a paranoid Holmes crawls through the window; Watson realizes his friend is controlled by the drugs he takes. With Watson's help and a peer taking over the doctor's medical practice, Holmes goes cold turkey.

Several days later, he tells Watson about Miss Elizabeth Hackberry asking him eight months ago to find her missing father Rockford, a devout member of the Anglican Church and a Foreign Office Official Attach to Middle Eastern Arab Emirates. Holmes quickly locates Rockford, but bungles the rescue. Both are tied up and placed inside a sinking boat at sea with no hope for escape. Somehow a miracle occurred, freeing Holmes. Analyzing the situation and eliminating all possibilities except one, Holmes induces he is alive due to divine intervention caused by Miss Hackberry's prayers. He asks Watson to accompany him on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to uncover the mystery of the Christ.

Every time Sherlock Holmes' fans think we have seen everything under the sun, an innovative twist to the games afoot surfaces; that is what happens with AN OPENED GRAVE. L. Frank James provides a fascinating look at Holmes and Watson, both retired from sleuthing. Though the opening sequence with Holmes being addicted rings true at first, it does seem off kilter later when he tells his tale to Watson that once he eliminated all the possibilities except one, a miracle saved his life. Using logic he begins a quest to uncover the real Jesus. Fans will appreciate this well written, entertaining and unique spin.