Benjamin Franklin Takes the Case

Benjamin Franklin #1

by Robert Lee Hall

More than ten years ago, Robert Lee Hall made a startling discovery. Within a secret compartment of an old armoire once owned by his great aunt, he found a yellowing manuscript describing a series of mysterious criminal cases. What made these stories so unusual was that they were solved by the renowned scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, while he was a resident of London to plead the case of the American colonies before the British crown. Written by Hall's ancestor, Nick Handy, who happened to be Franklin's assistant throughout these adventures, Hall transcribed the tales and presented them in the order of their occurrence.

In Benjamin Franklin Takes the Case , the first mystery in Hall's series, the great Doctor Franklin meets the young orphan Nick Handy in the print shop of an old friend. When his friend is suddenly murdered, it is up to Franklin and Nick to prove who was responsible for the grisly deed. Turning detective, Franklin pursues the strange case along the dark byways of London and into its grand houses, uncovering a theft ring, a profitable trade in slaves and prostitutes, and strong reasons to believe that Nick is in grave danger. Employing his keen sense of scientific observation and his inventor's creative mind, the doctor is able to solve a case that the constables had thought would be impossible to break.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Jared Castiglione · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and surprisingly well written, well plotted adventure featuring the great Benjamin Franklin assuming the role of detective.

There are many similarities to Sherlock Holmes here, even a violin makes an appearance.

But it never crossed over to “fan fiction;” this was something altogether fresh and enjoyable.

Franklin’s wisdom is peppered throughout the story which added to my overall enjoyment of the book.

I look forward to more of these Franklin as detective in 18th century London.

[Maureen Stead · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is history and mystery and the characters capture your heart.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about Benjamin Franklin it’s always interesting, even when it is fiction. Quite a character for sure.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 2 out of 5]

C. fiction, historical fiction, mystery, London, series, (Benjamin Franklin, #1)

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun summer read!

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read other books in the series but this one sort of took a while for me to get a grasp on. Maybe because it was the first in the series and the author has improved on the writing technique.

[Candy Morris]

It was a fun read. I will continues the series.

[Rob Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plot and well-written. Very enjoyable!

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't like a 5 star rating system because it makes a 3 star rating look like a bad rating and such is not the case with this book. I enjoyed it well enough. It's a fun read with a genuine sense of the way I think people must have talked back then. The number of revelations at the end is a bit overwhelming, almost to the point of over coincidence, but somehow still satisfying.

It seems to me that the characters could have been fleshed out a bit, and an 11 year old boy who was treated as a slave for the past 7 years seems a bit too worldly even if he was allowed to read the great books of the day. My last gripe would be with the lack of definition to the environs, I never really got a sense of what 18th century London was like.

I guess what I'm saying is, for a quick entertaining read, this is a good book. Not deep in any sense, but enjoyable, and sometimes that's all you're looking for, right? I note that the average rating for the book is 3.5. I thinks that a pretty fair rating.

By the way, the edition I have is the 1988 St. Martins press which has a much more intereting cover that helps give the feel of the locale that the book itself does not.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the Library on Monday and finished today so I guess I liked it. This is the first in a series of books published 20 years ago. I recently ran across a title and was curious. I was thinking that the series was very similar to the Sir John Fielding Mysteries that I have been reading when who should appear on page 148 but Sir John Fielding. I believe there are four or five of these books. There are 11 of the Sir John books, the first being published in 1995 and I think they are still being published. This story involving Ben Franklin abroad in London involves an illigetemate son of Ben. Excellent storytelling. Will continue reading...

[Kathy Hale · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a good beach book that you didn't have to think too much about to get through. it is the first in a series that sets Ben Franklin up as a detective to solve a mystery while he is in London as an agent for Pennsylvania. It continues all the rumors of him as having bastard children all over the place while long suffering Deborah is waiting back home. There is some factual information that he was clerk to the General Assembly and that he was the agent for the colony for the Pennsylvania colony to fight with the Penn family about paying taxes on their lands. These books always wrap up in a night neat package at the end.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atmospheric mystery with Benjamin Franklin using science as deduction skills to discover who the murderer is. This 18th century London is gritty and atmospheric and the perfect setting for many of the unsavory characters Ben and his assistant are introduced to.

The mystery was very good and had multiple elements to it. I guessed some of it, but the majority was a surprise to me.

Recommend this atmospheric, detailed story!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not shallow at all. Good recapitulation of the political situation, the amount of crime in London, harshness of penalties, general difficulties of life at that income level, lack of policing. Plot believable.

[Ed]

The concept is attractive. I looked forward to starting a series. This first book started out well enough, but I just gave up.