The Medium of Death: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure

by Barry Clay

Six years ago, Gregory and Georgette Hampton’s adopted daughter, Emily, fell to her death from the staircase of their home. The aftermath of the tragic accident nearly destroyed their marriage and threatened to derail their surviving son’s bright future, but with the help of a parish rector, they recovered from the senseless death.

But now Gregory Hampton appears at 221b Baker street. His wife has become convinced that a medium has spoken to their daughter’s spirit from beyond the grave. His wife is becoming increasingly unstable, and he has come to ask Holmes to expose the medium for a fraud in the hopes that his wife will regain her senses.

Holmes at first refuses to accept the case, for there is no criminal enterprise involved. But Gregory Hampton prevails upon Holmes to reconsider, for Emily Hampton’s spirit, speaking through the medium, claims that her death was not an accident, but murder.

Could the accusation of murder be true? And if so, how does London’s only consulting detective solve a case that is six years old and whose clues have vanished with the years? Holmes makes no promises, but accompanied by his chronicler, Dr. John H. Watson, he accepts what he will discover is one of his most challenging cases, and he encounters one of his most dangerous adversaries.

Genres: Mystery

151 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

About the author

I live close to Harrisburg, PA and have been married since 1990 to a wonderful woman who puts up with me disappearing into my study more often than she would like. I have four children, two of whom are still at home, and four very cute grandchildren -- and one on the way!

I am a graduate of Red Land High school in Lewisberry, PA, and a summa cum laude graduate of Shippensburg University, also in PA, with a BA in English. Shippensburg provided a good education at a reasonable price. For years before my marriage, I performed on stage in area community theaters, directed and music directed stage and musical shows, and otherwise kept myself occupied until, on a blind date, I met my wife. Unlike previous dates where either I or the lady I was a dating knew from the first we weren't a match, I was nearly positive my wife was the woman for me. (She was less certain.) I am very, very glad I waited for the right woman. Who else would tolerate me?

I have had many jobs over the years. I've dug ditches, stocked grocery shelves, tutored for room and board, cleaned restrooms, mopped floors, taught cartooning, worked in a bank, asked if you'd like fries with that (and cooked the fries to boot), ordered carpet for cars, and worked commission sales at Sears before it went to the shopping mall in the sky. I retired after 37 years as a civilian For the United States Navy. Believe it or not, I and my employees saved you money, which was no doubt shamelessly spent somewhere else in the government. You can read about my government career in one of my books: "Close Enough for Government Work."

I am the volunteer conductor of the Central Pennsylvania Home School Orchestra (CPHOmusic.org) in our area. I have volunteered as conductor for 25 years (and counting), and I'm told they'll keep me - if for no other reason than I'm willing to do the work for nothing.

I have been writing stories for decades in different genres. I've added spice to my writing life by switching from comedy, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror as the muse strikes me. I try to keep my stories mature, but not so mature your children couldn't read them. The exception would be "Collisions" and its sequels, which depicts some adult situations. While not graphic by today's standards, adults should use discretion in allowing their children to read it.

My big sellers are my Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan pastiches, all of whom have (generally) good reviews.

I also write non-fiction. I have been a Christian for over 50 years, and I decided to write a book on theology for the layman, "Solid Ground." While written primarily for believers (to provide the grounding in the faith I missed because I was not raised in a Christian home), it also should provide easy access to the unbeliever who wants to know more about how the every day Christian he may meet approaches his or her faith. You can buy the complete tome, or you can by individual chapters as eBooks and some as printed books.

In addition to the books and stories you will see on Amazon, I've written four musicals (two of which were performed locally to good reviews), three piano sonatas, one etude, ten works for Christian choirs and ensembles, over 40 works for young orchestra, and even have a passel of cartoons I drew when I was a working level employee.

In my spare time, I play piano, am a chain reader, volunteer in church, clean the kitchen.

Some nights, I sleep, too.

Reviews

[Robert Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading these pastiches by various authors, and finding them a decidedly mixed bag, even books by the same author. This is the third (and last) full length story I've read by Clay, and I've found them all to be excellent, this one especially so. The stories are good, they're paced well, and I feel he puts more effort into creating characters. He seems especially caring of Watson, who can be a blip in some other author's books. Hoping he writes some more of these.

[Christa Saccullo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice read

I really liked the first half, but I felt the story kind of dipped. Still very enjoyable all round, and a nice glimpse of personal issues like tragedy.

Christa

[Donn Sottolano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously Entertaining

Sherlock Holmes, victorian England, and seances are a fitting theme given ACD’s predilections late in life. All that’s missing is Harry Houdini.