Dr. Watson gets a note, delivered by messenger, from Florence Nightingale (yes, that Florence Nightingale) requesting that he attend her. He, of course, agrees, and, as they say, the game's afoot. Once again, the team of Elliott and Veley have penned a canon-worthy Sherlock Holmes tale that combines bits of history with excellent storytelling. Holmes and Watson, Lucy James, and Becky and Flynn all play a part in solving the mystery.
In MISS NIGHTINGALE'S GALA, there are warnings, murder, and a gala to benefit scientific study. The Victorian era was a time of momentous change with far-reaching results — some beneficial, others… not so much. During that time there were no laws governing a patent medicine's ingredients or sale. Thus, doctors and snake oil salesmen alike took advantage of the 'cures' potential for making money. I would note that MISS NIGHTINGALE'S GALA takes place in 1901, after the death of Victoria Regina.
As always, I encourage you to read the Historical Notes at the end. I always learn some new tidbit about history that I never knew before, and I'm sure you will too. In the same vein, I think this series bears reading from the first book to last. You might find a series with thirty-five books to be a daunting task, but as Conan Doyle did, Elliott and Veley have added to the canon with relatively short reads — longer than a novella, shorter than a novel. Once you read the first few, I guarantee you will be hooked!
MISS NIGHTINGALE'S GALA will be available on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2024.