My WIP novel, Mortality

An introduction for you all to my upcoming suspense/thriller Sherlockian novel, Mortality.






I have never liked the dark.

“Sherlock Holmes is now on the case.”

“I would like the medical community to know that Culverton Smith is under suspicion for questionable ethics. I want his reputation in tatters. If he is desperate, he shall slip up, and then he may be caught.”

“Thanks to your unrestrained lust for your brother’s estate, the most brilliant detective in London is hot on your trail.”

“‘I’ll keep an eye on him,’ I say. Ha! My complete lack of brilliance astounds myself sometimes, because, dash it all, how am I to keep an eye on him if I’m tied up with a forgery case and he’s tied up with… whatever it is he’s working at now?”

“Mr. Mycroft may be high up in the Home Office, but Mr. Sherlock would defy the Queen herself to finish what he started, come hell or high water.”

“Patterson, just tell me that you won’t be using Sherlock Holmes in this war Whitehall is apparently declaring on Moriarty.”

“Sherlock Holmes has three days left to live, but he will take Smith down with him if at all possible.”

“Are you mad? I’ll not risk Watson being hurt by a man such as Smith!”

He’s a soldier, Mr. Holmes, a soldier what survived bloody Maiwand!”

“I want you to know, Holmes. It would never do to have the Great Detective die in ignorance of the cause of his own death.”

“Good heavens! I had totally forgotten him! My dear Watson—”

“Someday you’ll go too far in using your friends, Holmes, and then who will be there to defend you?”

“John… are you absolutely sure it was an act?”

“This is the beginning of Moriarty’s end, Smith, and it began with you.”

“Holmes, interfere, and he’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth to finish you.”

“Major John Watson, at your service.”

“Major Dick Sharon, at yours.”

“John, meet Colonel Sebastian Moran. Moran, Major John Watson.”

“Holmes, you amaze me. On occasion, you are possessed of the most remarkable empathy, and then, without warning, you can turn into the most inconsiderate creature alive.”

“Even I cannot always predict myself.”

“All hunting is art in its most primal aspect.”

“Well, well. So the Great Meddler can be brought to heel. Who would have thought it would be so easy?”

“‘E’s bleedin’ missin’! Mrs. ‘Udson ‘asn’t seen ‘im ‘n’ tew days, an’ I even checked wit’ Mr. Mycroft. ‘E ain’t seen ‘is bruther, neither!”

“Well, my dear Moran. Since you have Holmes, what do you intend to do with him?”

“You see, dear fellow, you… know… a few things that we need to know.”

“Do you… seriously believe… I’d…”

“Oh, I think you will, Mr. Holmes. Not even you can hold out forever.”

“Should we be looking for a body, then?”

“That’s a question as loaded as Dr. Watson’s service revolver, Inspector.”

“Good god, Lestrade, Holmes stumbled across a live volcano.”

“Doctor, your safety has long been my brother’s highest priority—he would not appreciate your endangering yourself for his sake.”

“Inspector, you may have more experience with the Professor and his gang, but I’ve had ten years with Mr. Holmes. He’s not dead.”

“They’ve found a body. Mr. Mycroft Holmes has already been called in to identify the corpse, but, Doctor, I… would like you there as well.”

“That had better not be Sherlock Holmes we have down there, or there will be hell to pay.”

“He… oh, God…”

“You knew it was probable that Sherlock Holmes was dead, and you allowed them to hope by being uncertain? My god, man, have you no compassion?”

“Lestrade. What if, by some miracle, that is a decoy corpse we have down there?”

“You know that they shall do worse to you before the end.”

“Before what end?”

“Even I cannot say, Sherlock. I can only tell you to be strong.”

“I haven’t been Sherlock Holmes’s closest friend all these years and not learned a few things.”

“Doctor, as much as you have my sincerest sympathy, I cannot allow you to join me in my search.”

“Whether you help me or not is your choice, but you shan’t stop me.”

“I can’t make you promise to return, but promise me that you’ll do all in your power to come back to me.”

“Dearest, I promised that the moment I knew I loved you.”

“Bring our brother back by the 25th of December. That is all the Christmas gift I need.”

“Sherlock, forgive me for abandoning you for that one accursed day.”

“Holmes, you are so… so very fragile. I am coming for you, my dear fellow, I promise you.”

“Lead us not into temptation, but… deli—oh, dear God, deliver us from evil!”

“Well, you have those two fellows off on the search. Do you think they may succeed?”

“Time is against them.”

“Doc, I think my employer could use a man of your talents.”

“I don’t see as I have much choice.”

“‘We’ are no less than the backbone of London, my good man. ‘We’ are the men who give the poor a better helping hand than charity, and we extend our aid to kings when they need it. Scarcely an action is taken in this great city that won’t be known to us by week’s end.”

“What are you afraid of, man?”

“There isn’t a man in his right senses who would not fear a god.”

“How many men have you sent to the gallows, Little Detective, hmm?”

“Watson!”

“‘E was bloody hard t’ take down, Oi kin tell yew that. Wild as an unbroke stall’un.”

“Annie, have you ever… have you ever just known, instinctively, that your husband was in trouble?”

“Mary, the times that I have… felt… such an instinct, have been times that Geoffrey was in the deepest trouble.”

”Those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted.”

“I want you to tell me what has been done with Sherlock Holmes.”

“Cor, Doc, ‘ave a ‘eart!”

“If your master’s actions destroy him whom I regard as—as the best and wisest man I have ever known… make no mistake that I shall hunt down, to a man, everyone who played a part in his destruction.”

“Sherlock, let me end this. You had aid. I need to know what you do about that gang, about the person assisting you.”

“I learnt that Moran has several soldiers under his thumb.”

“Well done, Doctor. That is certainly a piece of information worth discovering.”

“Wat…son… Knew… you’d… come…”

“Shhh, shhh, Holmes. It’s all right.”

“No, don’t. Please, don’t. Not Watson. Please.”

“I’m right here, old fellow. I’m right here.”

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay

“Obviously, he wishes to give us a serious fright when he collapses from exhaustion.”

Remember Christ, our Saviour,
Was born on Christmas Day

"Should have known—Moriarty would have attempted arson…”

To save us all from Satan’s power
When we had gone astray

"Moriarty won the first battle, not the war."

O, tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!

“Danger is part of my trade.”


Late in 1890, Sherlock Holmes challenges the British Empire’s most powerful crime syndicate and must come face to face with his own mortality.

It’s a race against time for Dr. Watson and Scotland Yard to prevent the destruction of the Great Detective.

The game’s afoot, and the stakes have never been so high.






I have to warn you that this is very much a work-in-progress. Not only is the novel/fic several chapters away from completion, it’s also missing quite a chunk of material. An entire chapter taking place at a gentleman’s club, the investigation of a corpse, and the home life of Inspector Lestrade are the biggest pieces missing, but there are other things.

Nevertheless, the first draft is coming along quite well. It’s not my most reviewed Sherlockian work ever, but the praise it’s garnered is astounding.

I foresee a publishable manuscript being completed by the end of the year, for sure. Then, I hope to send it off to MX Publishing, a rather interesting publishing house that’s the new thing in Sherlock Holmes books… and they take first-time authors. You can check out my blog for further details.