World's Greatest Sleuth!: A Holmes on the Range Mystery

by Steve Hockensmith Narrated by William Dufris

Overview

In 1893, the Amlingmeyer boys venture forth from the west in response to a summons from Otto's ("Big Red") publisher-they are to come to Chicago immediately, to the World's Columbian Exposition, and compete with some of the most famous detectives in the world. Set to coincide with the closing days of the first World's Fair and the publication of the story revealing the death of Sherlock Holmes, Gustav ("Old Red") will be competing for the title of World's Greatest Sleuth! Hating train travel and cities, the real draw is the chance to meet up again with the intriguing and elusive Diana Corvus. But the competition has barely begun before there is a murder in "the White City"-the organizer of the contest is discovered face down in the Mammoth Cheese from Canada-and from there, the game is really afoot.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

In Hockensmith's clever, slapstick-infused fifth Holmes on the Range mystery (after 2009's The Crack in the Lens), Gustav ("Old Red") and Otto ("Big Red") Amlingmeyer travel to Chicago to take part in a "mystery cracking competition" at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. There the "dee-tective" brothers go up against a number of world famous crime solvers, all of whom hope to succeed recently departed Sherlock Holmes as the greatest living sleuth. After considerable chaos, Frenchman Eugene Valmont wins the first round by finding a golden egg hidden by Holmes fanatic Armstrong B. Curtis, Esq. Judging the contest is the esteemed William Pinkerton, heir to the famed detective bureau, who, to the surprise of the Amlingmeyer boys, will not be competing, preferring to "keep his precious agency above the fray." And a fray it becomes after a dead body turns up face down in a large cheese and our heroes chase around "the White City" for the elusive murderer. (Jan.)

Library Journal

The Amlingmeyer brothers are back (after The Crack in the Lens) with a shot at the big time. An urgent telegram from Otto's publisher, Uriah Smythe, summons the pair from Texas to Chicago for a contest to name "The World's Greatest Detective" amid the splendor of the 1893 Columbian Exhibition. Their competitors in the battle of wits include other detectives from American pulp fiction, a Brit, a Frenchman, and their old acquaintance Diana Corvus. What begins as a glorified scavenger hunt turns deadly serious as one of the competition's organizers is found dead, face down in the World's Largest Cheese. Gustav and Otto track down red herrings, or tuxedoed squirrels in this case, and suss out the identities of a seemingly endless supply of suspicious bearded men until in the end, all is revealed. VERDICT Hockensmith has delivered a fine addition to his "Holmes on the Range" series. Gustav and Otto are appealing heroes, and the "White City" provides a great backdrop. This should satisfy historical mystery readers who enjoy a tale full of clues leavened with humor.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170820603
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	01/19/2011
Series:	Holmes on the Range Series , #5
Edition description:	Unabridged

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