The Magician's Misadventure: An Irregular Detective Mystery, Book 5

by Jeri Westerson

London, December 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger, and his detective partner Ben Watson, embark on one of their most deadly investigations yet! Why did a magician unknowingly stab to death his assistant in the basket trick in front of a horrified audience at the celebrated Royal Canterbury Theatre? The magician, though professing his innocence, is ridiculously tight-lipped even as he languishes in a cell at Scotland Yard. As Badger and Watson slowly pull back the layers of the conspiracy behind it, Ben must go undercover as a knife-thrower on the Canterbury's stage with the assistance of his new sweetheart, Miss Eliza Wells. Even Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson join their investigation that takes Badger and Watson from the glittering stage of the music hall, to its deadly backstage secrets, through the dark underworld of the East End, and to a crime syndicate led by a familiar name…

Paperback original will be available to order on December 1, 2026.

Genres: Mystery

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 1, 2026

About the author

Los Angeles native JERI WESTERSON currently writes two new series: a Tudor mystery series, the King’s Fool Mysteries, with Henry VIII’s real court jester Will Somers as the sleuth and a Sherlockian pastiche series called An Irregular Detective Mystery, with one of Holmes’ former Baker Street Irregulars opening his own detective agency. She’s also written fifteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mysteries, a series nominated for thirteen awards from the Agatha, to the Macavity, to the Shamus. She’s written several paranormal series (including a gaslamp-steampunk fantasy series), standalone historical novels, and had stories in several anthologies, the latest of which was included in SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR, an Akashic Noir anthology. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (Orange County and Los Angeles), and is also a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See JeriWesterson.com for discussion guides, book trailers, and more.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger, and his detective partner Ben Watson, are back in The Magician's Misadventure, the 5th entry in the Irregular Detective Series. Firmly set in the Sherlockian universe, these stories imagine one of the street urchins Holmes employed as his Baker Street Irregulars as a young man running his own detective agency with his own Watson. Jeri Westerson blends historical accuracy with excellent mysteries, and The Magician's Misadventure follows that winning formula as we navigate the world of London music halls and opium dens. As always, the reader is rewarded with dose of Sherlock himself; just enough to keep the narrative interesting while not overshadowing Badger & Watson. Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy. Recommended!

[Avery Lazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun!

This is the third book that I’ve read in The Irregular Detective series and I’ve enjoyed them all so far. It’s a reimagining of one of Sherlock Holmes Baker Street Irregulars who carries on in his mentors footsteps, along with a friend he’d met along the way.

I find the ensemble of characters delightful and the unraveling of the mystery as the two detectives sort through the clues very intriguing.

Although this is book 5, and the character and relationship growth from previous books is interesting, you could still read this book as a standalone and still understand the story.

I also appreciated the author’s afterward where she breaks down what was “fact” and what was “fiction” in the historical setting!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Angel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, I liked this a lot. I enjoy Sherlock Holmes and this being detectives who worked for him was really enjoyable. I may check out the rest of the books .
Arc from NetGalley!