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Margaret Harkness and Arthur Conan Doyle #1
A Knife in the Fog
Physician Arthur Conan Doyle takes a break from his practice to assist London police in tracking down Jack the Ripper in this debut novel and series starter.
September 1888. A twenty-nine-year-old Arthur Conan Doyle practices medicine by day and writes at night. His first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, although gaining critical and popular success, has only netted him twenty-five pounds. Embittered by the experience, he vows never to write another “crime story.” Then a messenger arrives with a mysterious summons from former Prime Minister William Gladstone, asking him to come to London immediately.
Once there, he is offered one month’s employment to assist the Metropolitan Police as a “consultant” in their hunt for the serial killer soon to be known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle agrees on the stipulation his old professor of surgery, Professor Joseph Bell—Doyle’s inspiration for Sherlock Holmes—agrees to work with him. Bell agrees, and soon the two are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who knows how to use a Derringer and serves as their guide and companion.
Pursuing leads through the dank alleys and courtyards of Whitechapel, they come upon the body of a savagely murdered fifth victim. Soon it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted when a knife-wielding figure approaches.
September 1888. A twenty-nine-year-old Arthur Conan Doyle practices medicine by day and writes at night. His first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, although gaining critical and popular success, has only netted him twenty-five pounds. Embittered by the experience, he vows never to write another “crime story.” Then a messenger arrives with a mysterious summons from former Prime Minister William Gladstone, asking him to come to London immediately.
Once there, he is offered one month’s employment to assist the Metropolitan Police as a “consultant” in their hunt for the serial killer soon to be known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle agrees on the stipulation his old professor of surgery, Professor Joseph Bell—Doyle’s inspiration for Sherlock Holmes—agrees to work with him. Bell agrees, and soon the two are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who knows how to use a Derringer and serves as their guide and companion.
Pursuing leads through the dank alleys and courtyards of Whitechapel, they come upon the body of a savagely murdered fifth victim. Soon it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted when a knife-wielding figure approaches.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2018
92 people are currently reading
1566 people want to read
About the author
Bradley Harper
27 books107 followersBradley Harper MD is a retired US Army Colonel and pathologist with extensive experience in autopsies and forensic investigation. A lifelong fan of Sherlock Holmes, upon retirement from the army Harper received his associate degree from Full Sail University and master’s from Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland, both in creative writing.
His debut novel, A KNIFE IN THE FOG, was published in October 2018 It was a finalist for a 2019 Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel by an American Author and is a Recommended Read by the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate. It went on to win Killer Nashville’s 2019 Silver Falchion as Best Mystery. The audiobook, narrated by former Royal Shakespearean actor Matthew Lloyd Davies, won Audiofile Magazine’s 2019 Earphone Award for Best Mystery and Suspense. The book is also available in Japan via Hayakawa Publishing abnd in German via DryasVerlag.
Harper’s second novel, QUEEN’S GAMBIT, won Killer Nashville’s 2020 Silver Falchion Award twice, once for Best Suspense, and again as Book of the Year.
A short animated film, DARK TRYST, based on Harper’s short story and comic book of the same name, has won numerous awards at film festivals around the world, including Best Super Short Film at the London Movie Awards, the New York Movie Awards, and the Paris Film Awards, and Best Horror at the Tokyo Short Film Festival.
His collaborations include REFLECTIONS IN A DRAGON’S EYE, a police procedural thriller he co-wrote with debut novelist Lydia Galehouse, and MY TIME WITH GENERAL COLIN POWELL, co-written with Leslie Lautenslager, who worked with GEN. Powell for over 25 years.
His most recent work, MAIDEN VOYAGE, concerning an art heist by a trio of female thieves aboard the Titanic, was released Nov 18, 2025.
A short film, LEVIATHAN, based on A KNIFE IN THE FOG, is currently making the rounds in various film festivals.
His debut novel, A KNIFE IN THE FOG, was published in October 2018 It was a finalist for a 2019 Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel by an American Author and is a Recommended Read by the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate. It went on to win Killer Nashville’s 2019 Silver Falchion as Best Mystery. The audiobook, narrated by former Royal Shakespearean actor Matthew Lloyd Davies, won Audiofile Magazine’s 2019 Earphone Award for Best Mystery and Suspense. The book is also available in Japan via Hayakawa Publishing abnd in German via DryasVerlag.
Harper’s second novel, QUEEN’S GAMBIT, won Killer Nashville’s 2020 Silver Falchion Award twice, once for Best Suspense, and again as Book of the Year.
A short animated film, DARK TRYST, based on Harper’s short story and comic book of the same name, has won numerous awards at film festivals around the world, including Best Super Short Film at the London Movie Awards, the New York Movie Awards, and the Paris Film Awards, and Best Horror at the Tokyo Short Film Festival.
His collaborations include REFLECTIONS IN A DRAGON’S EYE, a police procedural thriller he co-wrote with debut novelist Lydia Galehouse, and MY TIME WITH GENERAL COLIN POWELL, co-written with Leslie Lautenslager, who worked with GEN. Powell for over 25 years.
His most recent work, MAIDEN VOYAGE, concerning an art heist by a trio of female thieves aboard the Titanic, was released Nov 18, 2025.
A short film, LEVIATHAN, based on A KNIFE IN THE FOG, is currently making the rounds in various film festivals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
May 8, 2019
This book was an absolute delight! I know nothing of Arthur Conan Doyle other than he wrote Sherlock Holmes books, I know even less about who Margaret Harkness was, and all I really know about Jack the Ripper mainly comes from the Hughes Brothers' movie From Hell. I now feel like I'm an expert on all three. JK but this book was chock full of awesomeness with serious attention to detail in terms of setting, characters, and what was going on. The book itself was fairly short but very fast paced and the author did a good job switching moods and the atmosphere and deftly used humor in some instances to set up upcoming grisly happenings. I especially laughed at one characters ongoing bitching about other people's snoring, it was hilarious and made me question if this is something the author has to deal with in real life and on a regular basis. My love of Michael Cox and Caleb Carr brought this one to my attention and I can't wait for further stories from this author. Top notch entertainment well worth the price of admission.
July 6, 2020
Given that fiction is the "willing suspension of disbelief," A Knife in the Fog is a great book. For some reason I've been reading a lot of Sherlockian mysteries lately, and this ranks as one of the best.
The storyline is complex (including a major "didn't see that coming"), the characters are fully fleshed out, and the voices believable. With quite a few characters, Harper is to be commended for crafting each distinctly enough that I had no difficulty keeping them separate. He also does a nice job with locations.
Recommended.
The storyline is complex (including a major "didn't see that coming"), the characters are fully fleshed out, and the voices believable. With quite a few characters, Harper is to be commended for crafting each distinctly enough that I had no difficulty keeping them separate. He also does a nice job with locations.
Recommended.
May 6, 2019
A marvellous mix of fact and fiction which sees Arthur Conan Doyle - creator of Sherlock Holmes - investigating the case of Jack The Ripper.
Set in 1888 at the onset of the Ripper's killings, Doyle is summoned to London by Jonathan Wilkins, an aide to former Prime Minister William Gladstone and is asked to assist the Metropolitan Police as a "consultant" in the hunt for "Leather Apron", later to be known as "Jack The Ripper". Doyle says he will do it, but only if Professor Joseph Bell - his old professor of surgery and the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes - agrees to work with him. On his arrival from Edinburgh, Bell accepts Doyle's invitation. They are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who serves as their guide to London's East End where the Ripper killings have occurred. As with most of the characters in the story, Harkness was a real person, a crusading female journalist of the time. She is a strong,uncompromising woman who can look after herself. They dub themselves "The Three Musketeers" and are introduced to various policemen and East End characters, also based on real people, involved in the hunt for Britain's most infamous murderer.
Accurate details of the murders and the subsequent autopsies add to the atmosphere of the hue and cry amid the dark alleys and crowded streets and houses of the East End of London and author Bradley Harper perfectly captures the language and culture of late 19th Century London as well as the dire poverty of most of its inhabitants. A well written mystery thriller, although some may feel let down by the ending which draws from several theories as to who Jack The Ripper really was.
Set in 1888 at the onset of the Ripper's killings, Doyle is summoned to London by Jonathan Wilkins, an aide to former Prime Minister William Gladstone and is asked to assist the Metropolitan Police as a "consultant" in the hunt for "Leather Apron", later to be known as "Jack The Ripper". Doyle says he will do it, but only if Professor Joseph Bell - his old professor of surgery and the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes - agrees to work with him. On his arrival from Edinburgh, Bell accepts Doyle's invitation. They are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who serves as their guide to London's East End where the Ripper killings have occurred. As with most of the characters in the story, Harkness was a real person, a crusading female journalist of the time. She is a strong,uncompromising woman who can look after herself. They dub themselves "The Three Musketeers" and are introduced to various policemen and East End characters, also based on real people, involved in the hunt for Britain's most infamous murderer.
Accurate details of the murders and the subsequent autopsies add to the atmosphere of the hue and cry amid the dark alleys and crowded streets and houses of the East End of London and author Bradley Harper perfectly captures the language and culture of late 19th Century London as well as the dire poverty of most of its inhabitants. A well written mystery thriller, although some may feel let down by the ending which draws from several theories as to who Jack The Ripper really was.
September 6, 2018
Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle is busy building his medical practice in Portsmouth and writing at night. He has published A Study in Scarlet but is determined not to write more crime fiction. However, his detective Sherlock Holmes does bring him to the attention of the former Prime Minister William Gladstone who wants him to look into the crimes happening in Whitechapel which are terrorizing the area and leaving streetwalkers gruesomely dead.
He is met by J. Wilkins who is one of Gladstone's men and hired for a month to consult with the police to try to track down this criminal. Doyle quickly admits that he based his detective on one of his medical school professors Professor Joseph Bell and that he doesn't have either man's talent for observation. Wilkins authorizes the hiring of Bell too and also arranges that Doyle and Bell have a "native guide."
Miss Margaret Harkness is one of the new breed of emancipated women. She is an author and freelance journalist and living in the East End doing research for her next book. Doyle is a Victorian man of his age. He's reluctant to visit Miss Harkness's home without a chaperone. He learns that she is hosting a woman who she met in the course of her research. The woman suffers from Phossy jaw which she contracted while working with phosphorus in a match factory.
While being guided in the teeming East End, Doyle comes to admire Miss Harkness's knowledge, courage and resourcefulness. He is taken aback at first by her disguising herself as a young man but soon comes to value her input. He also is learning even more about his professor now that the two can build a new relationship as friends. Bell helps hone Doyle's skill at observation and provides the surgical knowledge necessary to interpret the injuries on the Ripper's victims.
The three of them - Doyle, Bell, and Harkness - begin to think of themselves as the Three Musketeers as they look for clues and try to unravel the mystery of the man who came to be known as Jack the Ripper. The book is filled with historical detail including newspaper articles, messages from Jack, and the tensions filling the East End as the poor British and Irish resent the new Jewish immigrants. The possibility that this murderer might be Jewish has the East End on the verge of riots. The variety of jurisdictions of the police also complicate the hunt as each is territorial and unwilling to cooperate with other forces.
This was a fascinating historical mystery about an interesting time and with very interesting characters. I loved the format with Doyle telling the story about events that happened forty years or so in the past as the only survivor of the Three Musketeers and the only one alive who knows the fate of Jack the Ripper.
He is met by J. Wilkins who is one of Gladstone's men and hired for a month to consult with the police to try to track down this criminal. Doyle quickly admits that he based his detective on one of his medical school professors Professor Joseph Bell and that he doesn't have either man's talent for observation. Wilkins authorizes the hiring of Bell too and also arranges that Doyle and Bell have a "native guide."
Miss Margaret Harkness is one of the new breed of emancipated women. She is an author and freelance journalist and living in the East End doing research for her next book. Doyle is a Victorian man of his age. He's reluctant to visit Miss Harkness's home without a chaperone. He learns that she is hosting a woman who she met in the course of her research. The woman suffers from Phossy jaw which she contracted while working with phosphorus in a match factory.
While being guided in the teeming East End, Doyle comes to admire Miss Harkness's knowledge, courage and resourcefulness. He is taken aback at first by her disguising herself as a young man but soon comes to value her input. He also is learning even more about his professor now that the two can build a new relationship as friends. Bell helps hone Doyle's skill at observation and provides the surgical knowledge necessary to interpret the injuries on the Ripper's victims.
The three of them - Doyle, Bell, and Harkness - begin to think of themselves as the Three Musketeers as they look for clues and try to unravel the mystery of the man who came to be known as Jack the Ripper. The book is filled with historical detail including newspaper articles, messages from Jack, and the tensions filling the East End as the poor British and Irish resent the new Jewish immigrants. The possibility that this murderer might be Jewish has the East End on the verge of riots. The variety of jurisdictions of the police also complicate the hunt as each is territorial and unwilling to cooperate with other forces.
This was a fascinating historical mystery about an interesting time and with very interesting characters. I loved the format with Doyle telling the story about events that happened forty years or so in the past as the only survivor of the Three Musketeers and the only one alive who knows the fate of Jack the Ripper.
November 1, 2018
With few exceptions, I'm not a fan of writers appropriating the character(s) of others for their own stories. But rather than "borrowing" Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Harper has employed Conan Doyle, his creator; Dr. Joseph Bell, Doyle's mentor, and Margaret Harkness, a remarkable woman, whom I'd never heard of before, for a brilliant and plausible joust with Jack the Ripper, whose bloody exploits continue to fascinate and remain as shrouded in mystery as the foggy streets of 19th century London.
Impressed by Doyle's recently published A Study in Scarlet, Jonathan Wilkins, a man representing former Prime Minister William Gladstone, solicits the young doctor/writer to help track down the serial killer who has already butchered three street walkers in the Whitechapel quarter of the city. Doyle accepts on condition he be assisted by Dr. Bell, a condition Wilkins accepts. The pair gain credence for the hunt and the reluctant assistance of police on the basis of a note from Gladstone saying they act as his agents. Their consultancy is further strengthened by the employment of Miss Harkness, a crusading journalist, as their guide through the dark and crowded labyrinth of the teeming slum.
It isn't long before the enterprising trio encounter the difficulties and horrors of the task before them and Doyle and Bell witness the pluck and resourcefulness of their female companion. Though married and with his wife expecting their first child, Doyle is unable to resist an attraction which surfaces between him and Margaret Harkness, adding a touching element of romance to an otherwise grim experience.
Harper's debut novel is a worthy tribute to Doyle and the genre with a complex, suspenseful plot, fully realized characters, historical detail and a believable conclusion. His background as a pathologist adds veracity to the forensic and medical ingredients.
Hurrah for Harper. I look forward to reading his next novel.
Impressed by Doyle's recently published A Study in Scarlet, Jonathan Wilkins, a man representing former Prime Minister William Gladstone, solicits the young doctor/writer to help track down the serial killer who has already butchered three street walkers in the Whitechapel quarter of the city. Doyle accepts on condition he be assisted by Dr. Bell, a condition Wilkins accepts. The pair gain credence for the hunt and the reluctant assistance of police on the basis of a note from Gladstone saying they act as his agents. Their consultancy is further strengthened by the employment of Miss Harkness, a crusading journalist, as their guide through the dark and crowded labyrinth of the teeming slum.
It isn't long before the enterprising trio encounter the difficulties and horrors of the task before them and Doyle and Bell witness the pluck and resourcefulness of their female companion. Though married and with his wife expecting their first child, Doyle is unable to resist an attraction which surfaces between him and Margaret Harkness, adding a touching element of romance to an otherwise grim experience.
Harper's debut novel is a worthy tribute to Doyle and the genre with a complex, suspenseful plot, fully realized characters, historical detail and a believable conclusion. His background as a pathologist adds veracity to the forensic and medical ingredients.
Hurrah for Harper. I look forward to reading his next novel.
July 16, 2018
For crime aficionados who are fascinated with the Jack the Ripper murders, this should delight them. Not only does the story stay true to the original crimes, but it also incorporates three real-life notables in a fictionalized meeting of the minds: Arthur Conan Doyle, Professor Joseph Bell and Margaret Harkness. Dr. Doyle has been contacted by a representative of Mr. Gladstone and asked to provide insight into the possible identity of the Ripper murderer. He requests the assistance of his former professor, Joseph Bell and when granted, arranges to meet with the Professor in London. This takes place shortly after the first three Whitechapel murders. They are also advised to seek out Margaret Harkness, for her familiarity with the area's geography, as well as some of the streetwalkers. This sets off their efforts to learn the who and why of these gruesome murders. I enjoyed this "pretend" collaboration and it really brought the characters to life as they showcased the skills they became famous for. It was enjoyable watching Dr. Doyle better develop his deductive reasoning (timeline for this story is after his first Sherlock Holmes publication), with the provided insight from Professor Bell. I was less familiar with Margaret Harkness, but I enjoyed the strong character she represented in this story and her relationship between the two other gentlemen. The flavor of London at the time, both sights and smells, was conveyed and the story (told through Dr. Doyle's perspective) moved along at a nice pace. There have been many conjectures as to the identity of the Ripper, and this story did not fail in presenting its own interpretation with convincing evidence. All in all, an enjoyable read, although at times gruesome in detail. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reading copy of this book received through Edelweiss.
February 20, 2019
A wonderful "what if" story. What if... Arthur Conan Doyle was involved in the Jack the Ripper investigation? In lesser hands it would still be intriguing, but the author's capture of the Victorian tone makes it a terrific read.A Knife in the Fog
December 5, 2018
Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle, Joseph Bell and Margaret Harkness chase Jack the Ripper in the dark streets of 1800s London. Author Bradley Harper beautifully captures the mood and atmosphere of Sherlock Holmes in this clever debut historical mystery that dives deep into the whys and wherefores.
September 13, 2022
Fans of Sherlock Holmes (I count myself as one, though not as well-versed as many) will absolutely love A Knife in the Fog. My forecast is that the uninitiated will very much enjoy this tale as well. Author Bradley Harper suggests that, having detected a gap between Arthur Conan Doyle's first and second Holmes story, and having learned that Doyle's brief writing hiatus coincided with the Jack the Ripper era of London, why not give the author something to do? Why not devise a tale which teams Doyle with the person who inspired Doyle to create Sherlock Holmes, a surgeon/professor named Bell from Scotland, toss in a counterpart for Holmes's female interest, Irene Adler (in this story named Margaret Harkness), and have the trio cooperate to track down London's famous killer, Jack the Ripper? Why not indeed! Brilliant! The result is a finely crafted detective story which will leave the reader spellbound by its authenticity, its tightly wound plot, and its surprise ending, which I will not reveal here.
In this story, Doctor Doyle is approached by a gentleman named Wilkins, a representative of Prime Minister Gladstone, who enlists Doyle's support in tracking the Leather Apron, a killer later known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle refuses to agree unless he can gain support from his Holmesian character, Professor Bell. As part of the arrangement, Wilkins provides a guide for travels through London's East End, a budding author named Margaret Harkness. Margaret anoints Doyle as "Porthos" as the three become the musketeers in their pursuit of the gruesome murderer. The characters are genuine and true to the period in history. True to life problems are analyzed and addressed. Is the killer a Jew? If so, how will citizens react? Who could murder in such grisly fashion in such a heavily populated area? What problems might the newspapers and rewards offered present to the investigation?
I thoroughly enjoyed A Knife in the Fog, literally did not put it down, and heartily recommend it.
In this story, Doctor Doyle is approached by a gentleman named Wilkins, a representative of Prime Minister Gladstone, who enlists Doyle's support in tracking the Leather Apron, a killer later known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle refuses to agree unless he can gain support from his Holmesian character, Professor Bell. As part of the arrangement, Wilkins provides a guide for travels through London's East End, a budding author named Margaret Harkness. Margaret anoints Doyle as "Porthos" as the three become the musketeers in their pursuit of the gruesome murderer. The characters are genuine and true to the period in history. True to life problems are analyzed and addressed. Is the killer a Jew? If so, how will citizens react? Who could murder in such grisly fashion in such a heavily populated area? What problems might the newspapers and rewards offered present to the investigation?
I thoroughly enjoyed A Knife in the Fog, literally did not put it down, and heartily recommend it.
October 3, 2018
Arthur Conan Doyle is a physician who spends his days practicing medicine. He has also written a novel, A Study in Scarlet which gets the attention of the Prime Minister of England. So unique are the skills in that novel that Prime Minister William Gladstone asks Sir Doyle to help with solving a series of murders that have been terrorizing London, murders that have the same characteristics. The victims have had their throats slit but also have had parts of their internal female organs cut open or removed.
To accomplish this task, Arthur Conan Doyle engages the help of Margaret Harkness, an inquisitive and bright lady who knows “street life” and can guide Doyle to places he would not know. Also helping is Professor Bell, a renowned surgeon and thinker. The police “allow” the threesome to join the investigation but initially regard them as an intrusive presence. The killer knows of the search and is timing his murders to their work, mocking their search and investigation.
The public eventually would come to know this serial killer as “Jack the Ripper” but at this time far little is known about details and even causes for these murders; but eventually the reader will discover the minutiae behind many murders through the wiliness of these three investigators who fear neither man nor beast.
The answers to questions that arise through one’s readings are satisfying, including the more than satisfactory ending. Stay tuned! Kudos to the author who has fashioned the investigation of a notorious killer.
To accomplish this task, Arthur Conan Doyle engages the help of Margaret Harkness, an inquisitive and bright lady who knows “street life” and can guide Doyle to places he would not know. Also helping is Professor Bell, a renowned surgeon and thinker. The police “allow” the threesome to join the investigation but initially regard them as an intrusive presence. The killer knows of the search and is timing his murders to their work, mocking their search and investigation.
The public eventually would come to know this serial killer as “Jack the Ripper” but at this time far little is known about details and even causes for these murders; but eventually the reader will discover the minutiae behind many murders through the wiliness of these three investigators who fear neither man nor beast.
The answers to questions that arise through one’s readings are satisfying, including the more than satisfactory ending. Stay tuned! Kudos to the author who has fashioned the investigation of a notorious killer.
October 12, 2018
I highly recommend A Knife in the Fog, for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, and especially for fans of Sherlock Holmes and/or his creator Sir Author Conan Doyle.
My interest was held throughout, the story sustained its suspense, and overall was very well researched, especially author’s accurate depictions of life in late 19th century London.
The author creates a clever story line, basing it during the “gap” years between Doyle’s first Holmes story 'A Study in Scarlet' and his second publication, which is when the actual Jack the Ripper murders occurred, thereby weaving an interesting tale involving Doyle and other real-life characters.
I greatly look forward to the author’s future novels!
My interest was held throughout, the story sustained its suspense, and overall was very well researched, especially author’s accurate depictions of life in late 19th century London.
The author creates a clever story line, basing it during the “gap” years between Doyle’s first Holmes story 'A Study in Scarlet' and his second publication, which is when the actual Jack the Ripper murders occurred, thereby weaving an interesting tale involving Doyle and other real-life characters.
I greatly look forward to the author’s future novels!
August 29, 2019
More Fact Than Mystery
Reading this novel for a second time as my local book club's September reading choice. I am better appreciating Dr. Bell's powers of deduction this time around.
This entertaining tale involves the murders and mayhem of London's Jack the Ripper presented with a unique twist. The protagonists/detectives include Arthur Conan Doyle and a feisty 19th century independent female - who does most of the heavy lifting. The reader experiences the tension of a romantic comedy woven through the investigations of horrific mutilating deaths. The author skillfully balances the action to keep the tension high, up to the satisfying climax.
Reading this novel for a second time as my local book club's September reading choice. I am better appreciating Dr. Bell's powers of deduction this time around.
This entertaining tale involves the murders and mayhem of London's Jack the Ripper presented with a unique twist. The protagonists/detectives include Arthur Conan Doyle and a feisty 19th century independent female - who does most of the heavy lifting. The reader experiences the tension of a romantic comedy woven through the investigations of horrific mutilating deaths. The author skillfully balances the action to keep the tension high, up to the satisfying climax.
January 6, 2023
It's funny the weird ways one comes to choose a book to read sometimes.
Take my decision to read author Bradley Harper's A KNIFE IN THE FOG. I confess that I'd never even heard of the book until I saw a tweet from Harper himself. The content of that tweet made me curious and I got myself a copy of the book.
To say that it was a good call on my part might just be a huge understatement. The 2018 publication of the book might've slipped under my radar but I am really happy to have discovered said novel and the author now.
The story is presented in mostly flashbacks, but told in the first person at that point. The point of view narrator? None other than Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle. Long before he added "Sir" to his name, the far younger Doyle has a small private practice and is somewhat fresh off publishing his first Sherlock Holmes story.
But when he receives a summons to come to London on an urgent matter, the good doctor soon finds himself immersed in the hunt for none other than Jack the Ripper!
Tasked with examining what evidence there is from the murders already committed and working with the police to track down the killer before he kills again, Doyle brings in Dr. Joseph Bell, his medical school mentor and the template for The Great Detective. But the duo becomes a trio when Margaret Harkness is paid to become their guide to London's squalid and dangerous East End.
Stymied at every turn, the trio work almost glacially slow to reveal answers in their hunt for the identity of the man who will become one of history's most notorious killers. Working with the police isn't easy. The two doctors are welcomed reluctantly but given the time period, Margaret chafes at being excluded from certain aspects of the case because she is "just a woman".
Soon though, "Jack" is on to the trio and begins to bait them with taunting letters threatening further murders. As the bodies start to fall, Doyle, Harkness and Bell must figure out the clues in order to free London from the fear gripping it. But when they come face to face with evil, can they survive a mad killer's diabolical plan or will the cunning madman add more victims to his tally?
I will admit that as the book started, the pacing felt almost glacially slow. But there came a point where I suddenly realized that as Doyle and company where examining all the evidence for whatever forensic answers they could provide, so to was Bradley Harper building a clinical and forensic narrative that became more fascinating with each successive chapter. Suddenly I was HOOKED! I realized that as the Victorian Age moved at a slower pace, so to would the story. But it wasn't bogged down like first impressions suggested.
Working a fictional story with real life people as "characters" can't be easy. You can't change any of the known facts about a person or the story won't ring true. Harper does a great job of filling in the spaces as readers get to know the young and still unsure doctor/novelist Doyle, the way before her time feminist Margaret Harkness and the eminent Doctor Bell.
I really liked the way he created a sympathetic figure out of the head inspector on the Ripper case. Competent, determined and exhausted in his hunt for the killer, Inspector Abberline made for an interesting police officer. As for the big reveal and resolution to the Jack the Ripper manhunt, while I'll always enjoy the "ending" that J. Michael Straczynski came up with for the Babylon 5 episode "Comes The Inquistor" best, A KNIFE IN THE FOG does a magnificent job at crafting a believable (albeit insane) villain and a deliciously satisfying ending.
Most of my historical fiction reading (setting aside the Sherlock Holmes Canon, of course) involves World War II. When you go back further, I tend to lose interest because inevitably I find myself thinking, "If they just had Google!"
But with A KNIFE IN THE FOG, I was drawn in by the main plot and then kept glued to each turn of the page because of how the characters and the plot moved along in such a believable manner.
The back and forth between Doyle and Harkness over the rules, roles and expectations for women in the Victorian Age (and their reactions to it) provide for equally enthralling reading. I also loved how other historical events like the Matchgirls' Strike were worked in as well.
I liked how Doyle was presented as being young enough in his practice to be unsure of himself around his old professor at the start of things. Ambivalent towards his most famous creation and seemingly drawn to Margaret's fiery persona while devoted to his pregnant wife. It seems like a bundle of contradictions for a man of his time but it makes him just as interesting as he would go on to make Sherlock Holmes in his stories.
As for Margaret, determined to make a life of her own free of the rules that governed her sex at the time, readers will come to appreciate just how much she has to contribute. No shrinking violet, this one. In fact, you'll actually want to see her "in action" again.
(As an aside, there is a second book in this series called A QUEEN'S GAMBIT. I'm going to get my hands on a copy ASAP.)
When it comes right down to it, missing out on A KNIFE IN THE FOG when it was first published in 2018 was a bummer. But however late I came to "discover" the book, the time I invested in it was well worth it. Bradley Harper does a magnificent job of bringing Doyle, Harkness, Bell and even Jack to life once again and A KNIFE IN THE FOG will fuel any reader's desire for a first class mystery tale that will have you captivated by a narrative that will rock you back in your favorite reading chair as our heroes chase Jack down through the dark alleys of Whitechapel!
Take my decision to read author Bradley Harper's A KNIFE IN THE FOG. I confess that I'd never even heard of the book until I saw a tweet from Harper himself. The content of that tweet made me curious and I got myself a copy of the book.
To say that it was a good call on my part might just be a huge understatement. The 2018 publication of the book might've slipped under my radar but I am really happy to have discovered said novel and the author now.
The story is presented in mostly flashbacks, but told in the first person at that point. The point of view narrator? None other than Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle. Long before he added "Sir" to his name, the far younger Doyle has a small private practice and is somewhat fresh off publishing his first Sherlock Holmes story.
But when he receives a summons to come to London on an urgent matter, the good doctor soon finds himself immersed in the hunt for none other than Jack the Ripper!
Tasked with examining what evidence there is from the murders already committed and working with the police to track down the killer before he kills again, Doyle brings in Dr. Joseph Bell, his medical school mentor and the template for The Great Detective. But the duo becomes a trio when Margaret Harkness is paid to become their guide to London's squalid and dangerous East End.
Stymied at every turn, the trio work almost glacially slow to reveal answers in their hunt for the identity of the man who will become one of history's most notorious killers. Working with the police isn't easy. The two doctors are welcomed reluctantly but given the time period, Margaret chafes at being excluded from certain aspects of the case because she is "just a woman".
Soon though, "Jack" is on to the trio and begins to bait them with taunting letters threatening further murders. As the bodies start to fall, Doyle, Harkness and Bell must figure out the clues in order to free London from the fear gripping it. But when they come face to face with evil, can they survive a mad killer's diabolical plan or will the cunning madman add more victims to his tally?
I will admit that as the book started, the pacing felt almost glacially slow. But there came a point where I suddenly realized that as Doyle and company where examining all the evidence for whatever forensic answers they could provide, so to was Bradley Harper building a clinical and forensic narrative that became more fascinating with each successive chapter. Suddenly I was HOOKED! I realized that as the Victorian Age moved at a slower pace, so to would the story. But it wasn't bogged down like first impressions suggested.
Working a fictional story with real life people as "characters" can't be easy. You can't change any of the known facts about a person or the story won't ring true. Harper does a great job of filling in the spaces as readers get to know the young and still unsure doctor/novelist Doyle, the way before her time feminist Margaret Harkness and the eminent Doctor Bell.
I really liked the way he created a sympathetic figure out of the head inspector on the Ripper case. Competent, determined and exhausted in his hunt for the killer, Inspector Abberline made for an interesting police officer. As for the big reveal and resolution to the Jack the Ripper manhunt, while I'll always enjoy the "ending" that J. Michael Straczynski came up with for the Babylon 5 episode "Comes The Inquistor" best, A KNIFE IN THE FOG does a magnificent job at crafting a believable (albeit insane) villain and a deliciously satisfying ending.
Most of my historical fiction reading (setting aside the Sherlock Holmes Canon, of course) involves World War II. When you go back further, I tend to lose interest because inevitably I find myself thinking, "If they just had Google!"
But with A KNIFE IN THE FOG, I was drawn in by the main plot and then kept glued to each turn of the page because of how the characters and the plot moved along in such a believable manner.
The back and forth between Doyle and Harkness over the rules, roles and expectations for women in the Victorian Age (and their reactions to it) provide for equally enthralling reading. I also loved how other historical events like the Matchgirls' Strike were worked in as well.
I liked how Doyle was presented as being young enough in his practice to be unsure of himself around his old professor at the start of things. Ambivalent towards his most famous creation and seemingly drawn to Margaret's fiery persona while devoted to his pregnant wife. It seems like a bundle of contradictions for a man of his time but it makes him just as interesting as he would go on to make Sherlock Holmes in his stories.
As for Margaret, determined to make a life of her own free of the rules that governed her sex at the time, readers will come to appreciate just how much she has to contribute. No shrinking violet, this one. In fact, you'll actually want to see her "in action" again.
(As an aside, there is a second book in this series called A QUEEN'S GAMBIT. I'm going to get my hands on a copy ASAP.)
When it comes right down to it, missing out on A KNIFE IN THE FOG when it was first published in 2018 was a bummer. But however late I came to "discover" the book, the time I invested in it was well worth it. Bradley Harper does a magnificent job of bringing Doyle, Harkness, Bell and even Jack to life once again and A KNIFE IN THE FOG will fuel any reader's desire for a first class mystery tale that will have you captivated by a narrative that will rock you back in your favorite reading chair as our heroes chase Jack down through the dark alleys of Whitechapel!
October 7, 2018
I enjoyed A Knife in the Fog very much. For me it was unusually vivid and interesting, especially in its portrait of late 1880's London. In addition to the captivating plot and characters, the book was filled with very clever craftsmanship. The major challenge was that the author did not have a ready-made, triumphant conclusion involving the historical Jack the Ripper, but Harper created a very successful culminating scene. The story is also socially sensitive, and there are moments of significantly rich humor.
November 12, 2018
What a clever idea! Once you think there is nothing new one could discover about the creator of Sherlock Holmes, you are taken down a new path.
Author Bradley Harper takes you on a creative journey of physician Arthur Conan Doyle, who teams up with his mentor Dr. Joseph Bell and writer Margaret Harkness in the investigation of the Jack the Ripper murders.
One feels that they have entered the criminal world of Whitechapel in his book. I not only enjoyed the book but also felt I traveled in time. Kudos to the novelist.
Author Bradley Harper takes you on a creative journey of physician Arthur Conan Doyle, who teams up with his mentor Dr. Joseph Bell and writer Margaret Harkness in the investigation of the Jack the Ripper murders.
One feels that they have entered the criminal world of Whitechapel in his book. I not only enjoyed the book but also felt I traveled in time. Kudos to the novelist.
December 31, 2022
Someone is killing women in Whitechapel. Based on his recently published novel, A Study in Scarlet, Dr Arthur Conan Doyle is asked by the Gladstone government to assist the police. He, in turn, requests the aid of Dr Joseph Bell, the real life inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. Margaret Harkness, a journalist living in the area as she chronicles the murders, is recruited to help them navigate the very twisty and dangerous streets of Whitechapel. But just as the trio begin their investigation, another murder is committed by the man who has been dubbed Jack the Ripper.
As their search becomes more urgent, it seems like they are stymied at every move. Rumours abound putting Jewish residents in danger and there are jurisdictional issues with the police Add to this, the murderer’s seeming ability to carry on his terrible craft right under the noses of the police while taunting them in the press and Doyle can’t help feeling, at times, that even Sherlock Holmes couldn’t solve it.
A Knife in the Fog by Bradley Harper is an intelligent, engrossing, and highly entertaining historical mystery. The story is, like the Holmes stories, mainly a puzzle but there’s plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep the story moving at a brisk pace. A definite fun read not only for fans of Sherlock Holmes but for people who enjoy smart historical mysteries. This is the first in a series and I look forward to reading about future adventures of the trio.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
As their search becomes more urgent, it seems like they are stymied at every move. Rumours abound putting Jewish residents in danger and there are jurisdictional issues with the police Add to this, the murderer’s seeming ability to carry on his terrible craft right under the noses of the police while taunting them in the press and Doyle can’t help feeling, at times, that even Sherlock Holmes couldn’t solve it.
A Knife in the Fog by Bradley Harper is an intelligent, engrossing, and highly entertaining historical mystery. The story is, like the Holmes stories, mainly a puzzle but there’s plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep the story moving at a brisk pace. A definite fun read not only for fans of Sherlock Holmes but for people who enjoy smart historical mysteries. This is the first in a series and I look forward to reading about future adventures of the trio.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
April 1, 2025
3.5 - it was a lovely book. Albeit, the suspense was not there as much as I would have liked on a personal level.
July 11, 2020
Arthur Conan Doyle, not yet Sir, published A Study in Scarlet in 1887. He received critical recognition, but only 25 pounds. In 1888 the Whitechapel section of London experienced the first of a series of shocking murders. One day, Doyle receives a letter from former Prime Minister William Gladstone's secretary asking him to come to London on a matter of some urgency.
Doyle, assuming it was medical could not refuse. He was shocked when he discovered that Mr. Wilkins wanted him to investigate the Leather Apron murders on Mr. Gladstone's behalf. Having read A Study in Scarlet, the gentleman would like to see impact of such scientific deductions on this case. The pay will be excellent but he will be away from home for a while.
Dr. Doyle convinces Mr. Wilkins that he cannot do this without Dr. Bell, the teacher and mentor who inspired Holmes. Wilkins agrees and also arranges a guide for Whitechapel, a journalist named Margaret Harkness. With this start, the three are thrust into the search for the monster would be known as Jack the Ripper.
This book is fiction, although Bell did actually consult briefly on the case in real life. Bradley Harper recreates London of 1888 so well you feel like you are there. You meet many of the people you have heard about. You experience the tedium of waiting and the terror of traveling through the fog shrouded streets with a murderer who could strike at any minute. You also meet the kind of women who would be Jack's victims and the kind of women who are victims of the Industrial Revolution and class prejudices.
I was familiar with Doyle and Bell. I knew nothing about Margaret Harkness. She wrote under the name John Law, which I had heard, but I never understood that was a nom-de-plume for a woman trying to challenge the status quo of a woman's lot at the time.
The book was as educational as it was intriguing. You will be drawn right in to the past and the fear this city felt.
Doyle, assuming it was medical could not refuse. He was shocked when he discovered that Mr. Wilkins wanted him to investigate the Leather Apron murders on Mr. Gladstone's behalf. Having read A Study in Scarlet, the gentleman would like to see impact of such scientific deductions on this case. The pay will be excellent but he will be away from home for a while.
Dr. Doyle convinces Mr. Wilkins that he cannot do this without Dr. Bell, the teacher and mentor who inspired Holmes. Wilkins agrees and also arranges a guide for Whitechapel, a journalist named Margaret Harkness. With this start, the three are thrust into the search for the monster would be known as Jack the Ripper.
This book is fiction, although Bell did actually consult briefly on the case in real life. Bradley Harper recreates London of 1888 so well you feel like you are there. You meet many of the people you have heard about. You experience the tedium of waiting and the terror of traveling through the fog shrouded streets with a murderer who could strike at any minute. You also meet the kind of women who would be Jack's victims and the kind of women who are victims of the Industrial Revolution and class prejudices.
I was familiar with Doyle and Bell. I knew nothing about Margaret Harkness. She wrote under the name John Law, which I had heard, but I never understood that was a nom-de-plume for a woman trying to challenge the status quo of a woman's lot at the time.
The book was as educational as it was intriguing. You will be drawn right in to the past and the fear this city felt.
July 17, 2022
Knife, fog, Victorian London, Arthur Conan Doyle... what more do you need to know? If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, then I believe you'll enjoy this. If you fancy an intriguing tale spun around the horrific Ripper murders, then this is worth your time. Or if you're just a Brit far from home (like me), then I am sure you will love this journey back to the London of yesteryear in all its "glory". Suffice to say, I thought this was a wonderful read. Another lucky find for me. I think the author came up on my FB feed and my curiosity was aroused.
First thing to note is that the author is American, something I didn't know before I read the book, and never would have guessed from the pages. The dialogue is quintessentially British and the atmosphere of old London is beautifully portrayed. So I was surprised to discover Bradley Harper is a retired US Colonel. Reading a bit more about this gentleman, and you can see why the more vivid descriptions of the Ripper's crimes were so well detailed. Bradley Harper is no stranger to autopsies and forensic investigations. It does mention all this on the back blurb, but as I have said many times before, I rarely read that, preferring to go into a book knowing as little as possible.
Although the Ripper murders and the three protagonists (ACD, Margaret Harkness & Professor Joseph Bell) are where the story is, it's where it all happens that really struck me. The London of the late 19th century feels very much alive. Harper takes you to gentlemen's clubs and then down dark alleys. He shows us the attitudes of those in the City of London towards those crowded into the East End. ACD's eyes are opened wide to the despair as are our own.
Fascinating, gripping and a taste of home for me personally. Very much recommended!
First thing to note is that the author is American, something I didn't know before I read the book, and never would have guessed from the pages. The dialogue is quintessentially British and the atmosphere of old London is beautifully portrayed. So I was surprised to discover Bradley Harper is a retired US Colonel. Reading a bit more about this gentleman, and you can see why the more vivid descriptions of the Ripper's crimes were so well detailed. Bradley Harper is no stranger to autopsies and forensic investigations. It does mention all this on the back blurb, but as I have said many times before, I rarely read that, preferring to go into a book knowing as little as possible.
Although the Ripper murders and the three protagonists (ACD, Margaret Harkness & Professor Joseph Bell) are where the story is, it's where it all happens that really struck me. The London of the late 19th century feels very much alive. Harper takes you to gentlemen's clubs and then down dark alleys. He shows us the attitudes of those in the City of London towards those crowded into the East End. ACD's eyes are opened wide to the despair as are our own.
Fascinating, gripping and a taste of home for me personally. Very much recommended!
April 5, 2020
There must be nearly as many pastiches matching Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper as there are well … Sherlock Holmes pastiches. But how many books match Arthur Conan Doyle against Jack the Ripper? And team Doyle up with his mentor and inspiration for Sherlock Holmes Dr. Joseph Bell? And further add in Margaret Harkness, a real-life author and fierce activist who functions as both damsel in distress and constant rescuer of Doyle and Bell? And entangles Doyle and the Ripper so completely that no one else could ever bring the serial murderer of women to justice? The Knife in the Fog has all these things.
More, author Bradley Harper brings a sterling ear for the voice of the narrator to the proceedings—not the voice of Watson, but the voice of Doyle himself, which is different. If sometimes that voice seems overly dry, and occasionally over pedantic. If you’ve read any of Doyle’s non-fiction works, you’ll recognize it, and appreciate the thoroughness of the research Harper brings to this little tale, as well as a very plausible (and I think, original) candidate for the identity of the Ripper unmasked. And a wholly convincing and nerve-rattling denouement to his tale.
It’s not a perfect tale—the subplot of the men in the checked jackets could have been jettisoned, and some of the lighter moments are marred by repetition, but on the whole this is an original and very satisfying tale. Pick it up and read it before it gets made into a movie, and then you can lord it over your friends by saying “the book was better”.
More, author Bradley Harper brings a sterling ear for the voice of the narrator to the proceedings—not the voice of Watson, but the voice of Doyle himself, which is different. If sometimes that voice seems overly dry, and occasionally over pedantic. If you’ve read any of Doyle’s non-fiction works, you’ll recognize it, and appreciate the thoroughness of the research Harper brings to this little tale, as well as a very plausible (and I think, original) candidate for the identity of the Ripper unmasked. And a wholly convincing and nerve-rattling denouement to his tale.
It’s not a perfect tale—the subplot of the men in the checked jackets could have been jettisoned, and some of the lighter moments are marred by repetition, but on the whole this is an original and very satisfying tale. Pick it up and read it before it gets made into a movie, and then you can lord it over your friends by saying “the book was better”.
March 24, 2019
Mary Roach is one of my favorite authors, and her book "Stiff" is one of my favorites, as it describes in delicious, hilarious detail what happens to our bodies after we die. Now she has created a monster, in a protege Bradley Harper, who is a former military physician and pathologist as well as a part time Santa Claus. But, unlike Frankenstein's monster, Harper is all Paul Newman; perfect from top to bottom.
His debut novel, "A Knife in the Fog," is a re-imagining of the Jack the Ripper saga, with Arthur Conan Doyle along his own mentor, Professor Joseph Bell, as consulting pathologists. In addition, the author adds another real person, Margaret Harkness, a well before her time author and union activist, as a brave and brilliant third member of the investigative team. Together, the three deal with police department politics, visit the sites of the murders, and carefully examine the bodies in an attempt to help determine the identity of the killer.
The story is engrossing, gory, inspiring and a delightful twist on historical events and personalities. I highly recommend it!
His debut novel, "A Knife in the Fog," is a re-imagining of the Jack the Ripper saga, with Arthur Conan Doyle along his own mentor, Professor Joseph Bell, as consulting pathologists. In addition, the author adds another real person, Margaret Harkness, a well before her time author and union activist, as a brave and brilliant third member of the investigative team. Together, the three deal with police department politics, visit the sites of the murders, and carefully examine the bodies in an attempt to help determine the identity of the killer.
The story is engrossing, gory, inspiring and a delightful twist on historical events and personalities. I highly recommend it!
April 13, 2020
I was unable to complete the physical book simultaneously with audio as the book had to be returned to library. However, I did complete with the audio alone and was very pleased with the accuracy of real happenings in the material. Readers can "see" what the protagonists were doing, "visit" the locations they search for clues, and the "feel" their process of thinking that took place to concluded the "business." I will read other material by this author. I believe this author, and this book in particular, is one that will be entered into the "classics" as time passes!
August 1, 2018
Thanks for the ARC of this mystery. If you are a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle, I think you'll be pleased with this Jack the Ripper saga featuring Doyle as an active investigator hired to look into the murders. It was written in a voice similar to Doyle and had the twists and turns expected in a Sherlock Holmes story. I was drawn into the story and enjoyed it thoroughly.
October 26, 2018
A killer 5 on my cry-rating scale*. (If I'm so thoroughly moved by characters or plot and/or writing that I sprout tears––of joy or sorrow––I'll give it a rating.)
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January 22, 2019great book. Cannot wait for the next one in the series.
December 20, 2020
A page-turner, very well done. Doyle's voice is authentic, and author Bradley Harper's use of the famous Dr. Bell & Margaret Harkness is brilliant.
July 21, 2021
Synopsis: September 1888. A twenty-nine-year-old Arthur Conan Doyle practices medicine by day and writes at night. A messenger arrives with a mysterious summons from former Prime Minister William Gladstone, asking him to come to London immediately. Once there, he is offered one month’s employment to assist the Metropolitan Police as a “consultant” in their hunt for the serial killer soon to be known as Jack the Ripper. Doyle agrees on the stipulation his old professor of surgery, Professor Joseph Bell, Doyle’s inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, agrees to work with him. Bell agrees, and soon the two are joined by Miss Margaret Harkness, an author residing in the East End who knows how to use a Derringer and serves as their guide and companion. Soon it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted when a knife-wielding figure approaches.
Review: This was a well executed story. It is told from the perspective of Arthur Conan Doyle, but we still get insight into Bell and Harkness. Arthur Conan Doyle is allowed to grow through his renewed contact with his old Professor and the new friendship with Harkness. He learns to see beyond what society has taught him to ignore. The author gives a good accounting of the tensions that were brewing around the Ripper killings in London society. The mystery was solved with a fantastic twist and was handled very well.
The pacing of the story was solid. There were a few parts that were slow, but the author still used it to good affect. The writing style was easy to read. I would read more by this author.
Review: This was a well executed story. It is told from the perspective of Arthur Conan Doyle, but we still get insight into Bell and Harkness. Arthur Conan Doyle is allowed to grow through his renewed contact with his old Professor and the new friendship with Harkness. He learns to see beyond what society has taught him to ignore. The author gives a good accounting of the tensions that were brewing around the Ripper killings in London society. The mystery was solved with a fantastic twist and was handled very well.
The pacing of the story was solid. There were a few parts that were slow, but the author still used it to good affect. The writing style was easy to read. I would read more by this author.
October 1, 2018
As someone who enjoys Sherlock Holmes pastiches and nearly anything revolving around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's life outside of those stories, I was incredibly excited to see a new mystery (or mystery series, perhaps? Goodreads says it's a series starter!) involving Conan Doyle, Bell, and Margaret Harkness. Bradley Harper's A Knife in the Fog is incredibly well-researched and well-rounded. It's difficult to get the tone and language of the time period to be believable without feeling as if it's forced, and Harper manages to bring the style of the time forward to modern ears.
A Knife in the Fog follows Doyle, Bell, and Harkness as they try to deduce who calls himself "Jack the Ripper" and his motives for attacking the working women of Whitechapel. There are numerous theories of the identity of Jack the Ripper, and Harper's theory ties in believably in the scope of his novel. Margaret Harkness is a lively figure in history brought to life in the novel in such a way that charges the trajectory of the narrative. As a reader, I thought the addition of Margaret Harkness into the dynamic duo of Bell and Doyle was a necessary and wonderful addition to the story. While I won't go into spoilery details, Harkness is one of the two women in this story who forces each Bell and Doyle to reconsider their assumptions and prejudices about women and women's work. And given the traditional nature of these boys' club mysteries, I was pleasantly surprised to see two women.
I also liked the nods to various literary figures and future Sherlock Holmes stories scattered throughout the book as well. It was like hunting for literary clues. Overall, this is a well-paced, well-researched, and well-crafted mystery with just the right amount of flair and atmosphere. If you enjoy historical fiction/mysteries, Jack the Ripper stories, and Doyle/Holmes pastiches, I highly recommend you check out A Knife in the Fog!
Thank you to Seventh Street Books for sending me a complimentary review copy! All opinions are my own.
A Knife in the Fog follows Doyle, Bell, and Harkness as they try to deduce who calls himself "Jack the Ripper" and his motives for attacking the working women of Whitechapel. There are numerous theories of the identity of Jack the Ripper, and Harper's theory ties in believably in the scope of his novel. Margaret Harkness is a lively figure in history brought to life in the novel in such a way that charges the trajectory of the narrative. As a reader, I thought the addition of Margaret Harkness into the dynamic duo of Bell and Doyle was a necessary and wonderful addition to the story. While I won't go into spoilery details, Harkness is one of the two women in this story who forces each Bell and Doyle to reconsider their assumptions and prejudices about women and women's work. And given the traditional nature of these boys' club mysteries, I was pleasantly surprised to see two women.
I also liked the nods to various literary figures and future Sherlock Holmes stories scattered throughout the book as well. It was like hunting for literary clues. Overall, this is a well-paced, well-researched, and well-crafted mystery with just the right amount of flair and atmosphere. If you enjoy historical fiction/mysteries, Jack the Ripper stories, and Doyle/Holmes pastiches, I highly recommend you check out A Knife in the Fog!
Thank you to Seventh Street Books for sending me a complimentary review copy! All opinions are my own.
February 10, 2022
This book was so good! 4.5 stars, rounded up.
And that is coming from someone who isn't always a huge fan of historical fiction, but this was written so well.
You know in movies when a grandpa is telling a story and then it blurs into the actual story he is telling? That is what reading this book felt like! It was like sitting down with an old friend and hearing their recounting of a crazy investigation that they were a part of. You get drawn in so quickly.
As a huge true crime fan, following along with the tale of Jack the Ripper was so much fun. It had me on the edge of my seat, while it wasn't all knew information to me.
I will also say, this is the first thriller/detective book in a long time that I didn't have the ending figured out from the beginning!
I haven't personally read any Sherlock Holmes, but after this, I definitely plan to check some out.
I would highly recommend this to anyone.
[Thank you so much to Bradley Harper for giving me a copy of this book to read & Booktasters]
And that is coming from someone who isn't always a huge fan of historical fiction, but this was written so well.
You know in movies when a grandpa is telling a story and then it blurs into the actual story he is telling? That is what reading this book felt like! It was like sitting down with an old friend and hearing their recounting of a crazy investigation that they were a part of. You get drawn in so quickly.
As a huge true crime fan, following along with the tale of Jack the Ripper was so much fun. It had me on the edge of my seat, while it wasn't all knew information to me.
I will also say, this is the first thriller/detective book in a long time that I didn't have the ending figured out from the beginning!
I haven't personally read any Sherlock Holmes, but after this, I definitely plan to check some out.
I would highly recommend this to anyone.
[Thank you so much to Bradley Harper for giving me a copy of this book to read & Booktasters]
June 1, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A terrific combination of the tale of Jack the Ripper with a Holmsian pastiche by way of having Arthur Conan Doyle himself solve the crime. Doyle is ably assisted in solving the case by the author Margaret Harkness and Professor Joseph Bell, Doyle’s real life inspiration for Holmes. The novel feels believable as a Victorian mystery and yet tries hard to not succumb to Victorian sensibilities about the victims, working hard to give Ripper’s victims a sense of honor and grace they were certainly not given at the time. “I learned that doormen, bobbies, and yes, ‘laundresses’ were also human beings worthy of my notice and sympathy.” Pg. 247. A terrific read and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
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