When the Boys rescue an Indian boy, Ravi, they get caught up in an exotic intrigue involving murder, secret underground passages and waxwork dummies. It looks like they've fallen victim to the curse of the Ranjipur Ruby. Pursued by a bloodthirsty cult and by Holmes's nemesis Moriarty, the Boys have a case to solve!
Anthony "Tony" Read (born 21 April 1935) was a British script editor, television writer and author. He was principally active in British television from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, although he occasionally contributed to televised productions until 1999. Starting in the 1980s, he launched a second career as a print author, concentrating largely on World War II histories. Since 2004 he regularly wrote prose fiction, mainly in the form of a revival of his popular 1983 television show, The Baker Street Boys.
I guess Anthony Read has studied Indian Culture that's why he has written so vividly those Indian characters. He is right Kali is a Goddess of destruction. She is wife of Lord Shiva. And she is called "Ma Kali" Obviously Ma means Mother. This time the great consultant detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson come in story on time otherwise Wiggins and his fellow would be dead by India stranglers.
This is the third in the series of baker street boys. And yes they are short easy reads but as you get to know the characters the scenery and even the general flow of the life in London of Sherlock Holmes the stories read quicker and quicker (or at least feel to do so) as your eager to read more of the exploits of the boys (and girls) of the baker street gang. They are formulaic however their charm and pace quickly help you to forget this and enjoy the chase to catch the bad guys and praise the boys once once more.
This was a lovely little read and a neat little story with the loveable Baker Street Boys. It’s well known that Sherlock Holmes often enlists the help of the Irregulars and it was great to see them having a crack at solving their own case!
This is the first of the series that I’ve read, and I realise I’m starting it from book number 3, but I really enjoyed it nevertheless. I quickly got to know the characters and rapidly got a feel for the story and it was a great introduction to the Baker Street Boys books.
I read all of the Baker Street Boys books a couple of years ago but I was excited to find them in ebook at my local library. Although I am a little disappointed I can't find them on Amazon but anyway. So I'm rereading and they're just as great as I remember.
They're lighthearted sweet little mysteries filled with great characters and interesting plots. Wiggins and the gang are hilarious - from Wiggins imitation of Holmes, Gertie's insistence of being one of the boys, Queenie's obsession with the Queen, Shiner's love of trains, Sparrow's love of theatre, Rosie's super nose and Beaver's desire to be the Watson to Wiggin's Holmes. All of the gang actively contribute to the investigations and help to solve the mysteries and it's nice to see each member play a role and demonstrate their own expertise. Not everyone is good at everything - but they're all good at something.
I thought this book was great. I loved how the author made a fake Indian city and a fake cursed ruby. The mystery was very good as Sherlock Holmes was drawn away from London because The Raja of Ranjipur "drowns". Like all these Baker Street books I recommend this book to you.