Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders

Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota #2

by Larry Millett

Sherlock Holmes rides again in this delightful mystery, based on another newly discovered manuscript. The year is 1896, and St. Paul's magnificent Winter Carnival is underway when Holmes and Watson are summoned by the city's most powerful man, railroad magnate James J. Hill. It seems a wealthy young man has disappeared on the eve of his wedding, and his fiancee has suspiciously discarded her wedding dress. After a grisly discovery in the carnival's ice palace leads to a flurry of clues, Holmes is on the case. His pursuit of the murderer takes him through the highest echelons of St. Paul society, over the frozen Mississippi River, and into cahoots with one Shadwell Rafferty, a gregarious saloonkeeper and part-time private investigator whose quick wit and fast thinking make him a formidable rival and an invaluable ally.A splendid sequel to Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon, and written in the same deliciously authentic Sherlockian style, this latest adventure offers an exhilarating portrait of America on the verge of a new century as well as an intriguing mystery that is nothing short of truly chilling.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Larry Millett has combined his interest in journalism, architectural history, and mystery fiction to create an unusual writing career. A native of Minneapolis, he attended school there and then went on to obtain a bachelor’s degrees in English from St. John’s University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

He began working as a general assignment reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1972 and became the newspaper’s first architecture critic after a year of study on a fellowship to the University of Michigan.

Larry’s first book, The Curve of the Arch, appeared in 1985. Since then, he’s written eleven other works of nonfiction, including Lost Twin Cities, which has been in continuous print for more than twenty years.

Larry began writing mystery fiction in 1996 by bringing the world’s most famous consulting detective to Minnesota for The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon. He’s published six other novels featuring Holmes, Dr. Watson, and St. Paul saloonkeeper Shadwell Rafferty.

Larry lives in St. Paul’s historic West Seventh Street neighborhood with his wife and occasional writing partner, Jodie Ahern, who is also an accomplished painter and a freelance copy editor.

Reviews

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders by Larry Millet is the 2nd book in the Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota Mystery series. A wealthy man disappears before his wedding and his severed head is found in a block of ice in the ice palace. Holmes and watson are soon on the case, assisted by pub owner and part time private investigator Shadwell Raffety. A fine addition to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I feel that the author does a terrific job of capturing the essense and style of the original mysteries. A captivating and exciting adventure.

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of the mystery really had me engaged. Imagine finding the head of a man frozen in a block of ice being built into an ice palace. Thus sets the scene for Sherlock Holmes and Watson to solve. Where's the rest of the body? Who killed him? Why? Was his finance involved? Why did she return the wedding dress two days before they were to be married?

The audio narration in this book is awesome. Narrated by Steve Hendrickson, the narrator definitely shows a command of the various accents and characters voices, while reading at the appropriate pace.
3.5 Stars

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Conan Doyle rolls in his grave every time Millett touches pen to paper. Millett reduces Holmes - the man who first greets Watson with the emblematic "You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive." - to missing broadly-dropped clues, all in service of hyping the brilliance of the author's original character, Shadwell Rafferty. Which begs the question: Why not just write the same mystery and (please!) leave Holmes out altogether? Probably because the author's writing isn't good enough to sell itself without a little help from the name-brand. Moderately interesting as a vacation read, given that it's set in historic St. Paul, but hugely objectionable to any true fan of Doyle's consulting detective.

[dOnnabud · Rating 5 out of 5]

The interactions between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson with the rugged pioneers and merchant princes of frigid St. Paul, Minnesota in January, 1896 were very entertaining. They mystery kept me engaged and guessing until nearly the last page. The resolution was completely unexpected and very satisfying. It's an excellent read!

I enjoy sharing some of my favorite passages; here are some:
"Meanwhile, every building wore a spectacular necklace of icicles, as though dressed for the great winter celebration to come." page 15

"Indeed, I have often thought of luck as a beautiful flower which can be grown in the garden of the mind. A man must cultivate the soil with foresight, seed it with intelligence, fertilize it with the power of his will and water it with hope. Only then will luck bloom." page 198

"It was like looking into a big black cauldron, only one filled with fog rather than steam. I took a deep breath, got my revolver from my coat pocket, and descended into the darkness." page 305

"River ice is like a promise from the devil himself. 'Tis never, ever to be trusted." page 312

"I was now thoroughly at sea, rolling helplessly amid the great waves of Sherlock Holmes's mind, and I knew enough to start reefing my sails." page 332

[Lisa Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This spin on Sherlock Holmes does not disappoint from the opening pages. The author, Larry Millett is from St. Paul, Minnesota and adds chapter notes and other details to give the reader a sense of his journey in respecting the integrity of the original Sherlock Holmes books. If you're looking for something different yet familiar this is series for you. I picked up a paperback version at a library near where my daughter was having hockey practice. It doesn't appear as those there is a specific order and the Minnesota references are always wonderful to read. I will purchase to add to my book collection.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Larry Millett also wrote Lost Twin Cities about the metropolitan architectural treasures that have been demolished. That influence is very present in this book because he spends a lot of time describing the architecture of his settings.

It's a fair Holmes mystery. My main complaint with this book is that Millett allows his portrayal of Rafferty (an actual person) to be the equal of Holmes, which I find distasteful and egotistical.

But it seems to be written true to the Holmes canon and is excellently researched.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holmes and Watson live again in this delightful novel that continues the legend 75 years after the death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Written from the perspective of Dr. Watson, Holmes and his loyal sidekick journey from London to the wilds of 1896 St. Paul, Minnesota to investigate the murder of a millionaire the night before his wedding, and the bodies start piling up forthwith. The world's greatest detective (next to Batman) is in rare form as Millett writes carefully to mimic the original stories.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Millett definitely has a gift for voice -- in this case, not only Doyle-as-Watson, but 1890s newspaper journalism, too.

The book also included a marvelous quotation that I will definitely use in teaching in the future: "... there are only three kinds of stories: those that are true, those that are false, and those that appear in the tnewspapers." Hear, hear!

Plus, there was a puppy...

Definitely an excellent book! :)

[Holly Ristau · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, yesterday, when looking for an audiobook that was available, this title came up. When I saw it was a Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota title I got so excited! I was a librarian at a high school library when the first book in this series came out and loved it. Until yesterday, I didn't realize there were more written... and guess what? There are 9 of them! It's so fun to think of Sherlock Holmes and Watson in Minnesota! Larry Millett is an expert on Minnesota history and historic buildings, so his settings are perfect. I started this book (Which was an audiobook, not a book on tape, but that format isn't listed as an option in Goodreads) and finished it tonight. And downloaded number three!

What a pleasant surprise!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the style of Conan Doyle, it is easy to slip into believing that this indeed, is another epistle from Dr. Watson, as described by Conan Doyle.

This book takes place in St. Paul, Holmes being summoned to help solve the mystery of the missing bridegroom. Murder takes place, threats, and intrigue abound. Some of the subject matter is disturbing (the rape of young women) but it figures prominently into the situation and while distasteful is important.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and will seek out the next in the series. I did not figure out who the murderer was, but felt it made sense in the end.

[Linda Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson mystery, had me guessing to the end. Wonderful & authentic settings abound in the story.

[Cindy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting plot based on ACD’s character. I was pleasantly surprised and will read more in this series. Clearly and pleasantly narrated. Clean ( as are most of ACD’s novels).

[Jessica✨]

I couldn't get past the first chapter. It was so boring and I couldn't get into it because nothing seemed to be set up. No setting just someone telling me what happened. I have never read Holmes before (or if I have it was so long ago I can't recall anything) so this was an awful first introduction to the characters. No stars. Dropping this in my abandoned pile.

[David Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I mentioned at the end of my review of “Mysterious Tales of Old St. Paul,” I enjoyed rediscovering Shadwell Rafferty so much that I decided to go back and reread the other works by Larry Millett that feature the likeable St. Paul detective and his sidekick Thomas. In some of those works, Holmes and Watson are featured as well – making them true pastiches of the Arthur Conan Doyle canon.

Obviously, I'm a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes - both the original canon and the numerous pastiches that have been written by other authors over the years. Some of the pastiches I read are so good they easily could pass as one of Conan Doyle's creations. Others, however, just don't capture the voice, feel, plot, setting, etc. of the original canon works.

This novel by Millett, like his first pastiche, definitely belongs in the former category of canon-worthy works.

Once again, Millett does a terrific job of capturing ACD's voice. Unlike some of the pastiches I've reviewed over the years, this one sounds like it could be part of the original canon in terms of the dialogue between Holmes and Watson. So, kudos to the author for that.

The author also created a plot worthy of the canon. As you know, I don't go deeply into plots in my reviews to avoid spoilers. But here's the jacket description:

"The year is 1896 and Sherlock Holmes and his esteemed companion, Dr. John Watson, have once again been summoned to Minnesota, where winter holds the ‘dead tough’ city of St. Paul in its icy grip. After pursuing a murderous arsonist in that great state in 1894 (recorded in the riveting ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon’), the celebrated pair return to face an even more chilling villain in this spectacularly suspenseful tale of coldblooded murder.

Jonathan Upton, scion of one of the city's richest families, has vanished on the eve of his wedding, which was to have taken place in the immense glittering ice palace being built for the annual Winter Carnival. Brought in to investigate the disappearance by James J. Hill, St. Paul's most powerful man and a close friend of young Upton's father, Holmes and Watson soon make a horrific discovery that uncovers a flurry of clues, all distractingly opaque. Why did Upton's fiancée give back her bridal dress? What dark secrets lurk behind the comfortable facade of the Muskrat Club, where the young swells of St. Paul gather to drink and gamble? Who is the brilliant ‘Spider’ at the center of the affair? And does the ice palace itself hold the key to the ghastly secret within its gleaming walls?

In this fiendishly complex case, Holmes finds himself taxed to the limit - and is quite surprised when a local saloonkeeper, a large-hearted and cunning Irishman with a devilish sense of humor, beats him to a clue. But, as Holmes seen discovers, no one knows St. Paul - and everyone in it - as well as Shadwell Rafferty, and the two develop enormous, though at times begrudging respect for each other. Soon one must save the other from death's door, as they brave the Mississippi River's frigid waters and confront the villain amid the roar of rockets, in one of the most thrilling episodes ‘Watson’ ever committed to paper."

As was the case with "Red Demon," this novel was not just a Holmes pastiche - it was a great piece of historical fiction that drew on actual events in 19th-century St. Paul. So, it was the best of both worlds: a great pastiche and an educational work of historical fiction.

While I do plan on reading the rest of Millett's Holmes and Rafferty novels, I'm going to take a break from them for now. But stay tuned for future reviews of this series.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millett’s story takes Holmes far from fog-laden London to the crisp, icy landscapes of 19th-century Minnesota, where a young man inexplicably disappears during the grand festivities surrounding a magnificent ice palace.

The result is both an inventive geographical displacement and a thoroughly entertaining cross-cultural pastiche.

Millett writes with striking historical authenticity. His Minneapolis–St. Paul comes alive with frost-bitten breath, horse-drawn sleighs, political intrigue, and bustling taverns.

The Ice Palace itself—an architectural feat carved out of winter—is described so vividly that it becomes a central character, glittering with beauty yet concealing perilous shadows.

Holmes is portrayed with confidence and stylistic fidelity: acute, restless, and occasionally sardonic. Watson, as narrator, retains his characteristic warmth and sense of moral balance, though Millett gives him more humorous self-awareness than Doyle typically allowed. Their chemistry feels lived-in and believable despite the unfamiliar terrain.

The mystery unfolds with brisk pacing. A missing groom leads Holmes through layers of corruption, social prejudice, and hidden vice lurking beneath Minnesota’s respectable facade. Millett’s strength lies in blending American frontier sensibilities with Holmes’s analytical precision.

Though the case involves political tensions and dangerous criminals, it never descends into melodrama; Holmes remains the rational center, dissecting chaos with icy clarity.

Importantly, Millett respects the canon while allowing his own storytelling voice to shimmer through. The dialogue is crisp, occasionally witty, and full of regional flavor. The supporting cast—local police officers, anxious families, frontier businessmen—adds narrative richness without overwhelming the investigation.

The final revelation is cleverly constructed, hinging on psychological insight and a handful of subtle clues that reward attentive reading. Millett’s decision to immerse Holmes in an environment so different from London’s gaslit streets revitalizes the detective and opens new narrative possibilities.

Overall, this is an engaging, historically grounded, and inventive pastiche that provides both mystery and atmospheric pleasure, strengthening Millett’s reputation as a leading architect of American Holmes fiction.

Recommended.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millett offers a detailed picture of Minnesota’s Twin Cities at the end of the 19th century, and of the society which inhabited them, from railroad magnate James J. Hill, to the unemployed African-American youths who become Holmes’s “Robert Street Irregulars”. In the forefront of this carefully realized background are Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, not the “real” Holmes and Watson, of course, but these closely wrought facsimiles should satisfy Holmes fans who regret further stories from the “Master”, and wish to revisit the late 19th century in his company.
In “Ice Palace Murders”, after concluding an investigation for hotel magnate Potter Palmer in Chicago, Holmes is lured to St. Paul by a telegram from James J. Hill telling of the disappearance of a respectable young man on the eve of his wedding. Holmes travels to Minnesota, but soon after his arrival the young man’s body is found. Then his bereaved father is murdered, and a young architect who eloped with the former bride-to-be is arrested for the murders. As Holmes searches for the true killer he is attacked and thrown into the freezing Mississippi, from which he emerges (of course) to solve the case. A fast-paced romp of a pastiche for all those mystery readers whose hearts leap when they hear the immortal words “Come, Watson. The game’s afoot.”

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherlock Holmes and the Ice Palace Murders is another excellent addition to the Sherlock Holmes in Minnesota series, with - in my opinion - an even better case than the one in Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon. I very much enjoyed this book, especially as this case dove a bit more into Holmes's more questionable characteristics than some other stories, at times analyzing Sherlock as more an antihero than a intellectual superhero. It made an already interesting book that much better, especially considering the subject matter.

However, sensitive readers should be be warned that The Ice Palace Murders deals heavily with sexual assault/rape. The rape itself is not explicit (in typical victorian fashion, characters talk around the subject, rather than about it) but the way some of the characters discuss rape (as if the victims are ruined forever) may prove upsetting, especially considering what happens to the pivotal victim. It is something to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to read or actually reading this book.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minnesota in the middle of winter. Holmes and Watson are summoned to solve the strange disappearance of a young man on the eve of his wedding. When it is revealed a murderer is afoot, Holmes will need all of his wit and the help of a one Shadwell Rafferty to solve the crime.

I did not read the first book, but I don't feel it was absolutely necessary to do so to understand this one. The writing is similar to that of Doyle, even if the characterization sometimes felt a little off. The mystery was interesting, though there were times I felt there were obvious clues being missed.

I wasn't particularly fond of Shad Rafferty either. He was too quick to match Holmes for my taste and I didn't find him very interesting.

Overall, for fans of Holmes looking for something new, this wouldn't be a terrible choice.

[Warren Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holmes and Watson are back in St. Pauls at the request of Railroad man Mr. Hill. They fall right back in with their friendships they had made their first time to when hunting the Red Demon. In this mystery, Sherlock and Dr. Watson are amazed by St. Paul's magnificent Ice Palace. The Ice Palace is going to be the site of a wedding between two of St. Paul's prominent families. When the groom comes up missing Holmes and Watson are quick to action. This was a case more complex than Holmes was expecting. Luckily they had the assistance of Shadwell Rafferty who was as brave as he was big. As the details of the case unfold more blood is shed and the boys from Baker Street learn they are not great at swimming in the ice.

[Joe Slavinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got into it, this was a rather engaging read. I'm typically put off by footnotes. In this case, however, it was interesting, as the author attempted to "authenticate", or make more real his story, with sidebars of actual places, and events. The plot was as intricate as fans of "Sherlockania" prefer, and some of the characters were actual historical figures of St. Paul, Minnesota, which helped with the "authentication" of the story. Mr. Millet obviously did extensive research into St. Paul's history, which he used for this, and his previous Holmes novel, "Sherlock Holmes and the Red Demon". I haven't read that one yet, but will eventually track it down.

[Antoinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1896. Homes and Watson have been summoned to Minnesota where winter holds the city of St. Paul in its icy grip. Jonathon Upton, the son of one of St. Paul's wealthiest men, has disappeared just days before his wedding which was to have take place in the immense ice palace being constructed for the annual Winter Carnival. In this complex case we are introduced to the rich and powerful of St. Paul as well as the criminal element as well as their overlap.
Interesting characters, complex plot, historical context and social commentary, all within the limits of the acceptable Sherlock parameters. A good read for Holmes followers as well as fans of historical mysteries.

[Susan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good jaunt with my favorite detective and his sidekick Dr. Watson. I enjoyed the story along with the setting being on American soil. The great detective has only once been to America if I recall correctly. The characters are well thought out and give details to bear in mind when working on divulging the killer. I most especially enjoyed the character of Shadwell Rafferty and do hope that he makes further appearances. Shad has the potential to eclipse our good friend Sherlock if written correctly. Shad's appeal and following will only grow. I look forward to reading the next installment.

[Stasia Higgins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped at chapter 21.

SPOILERS as to why:

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Holmes is reduced to a mere investigator as opposed to someone who deduces facts out of trivial details. He never knows something without someone directly telling him.

Rafferty was fine. Less annoying than anticipated, but I’d still rather Sherlock Holmes be the main investigator in the Sherlock Holmes story.

I found the author’s introduction of a much more serious motive (gang rape) to be poorly handled.

And finally, the dog dies.

[BookBec · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's annoying enough when Sherlock refuses to share the evidence he's gathered ("Look, Watson, someone brought us this book that holds the answer! But you can't look at it, so there."). But it's so much more annoying when the author refuses to share information that's apparent to every character in the scene (Everyone's gathered for a showdown, but the mysterious bad guy isn't named until the final sentence.). Argh!

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent unusual Holmes ice loaded mystery; but if your from Minnesota, the accuracy of locations and historical descriptions of old St Paul are very informative as well as adding to the story. If you're not from that general ice enclosed wintery country and are a Doyle lover, you will probably have about a 3 star experience. :-)

[Barbara Bengston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millett did a fine job writing this Sherlock Holmes mystery. What I especially enjoyed was the historical aspects of St. Paul during the 1800s. Next time I am in St. Paul, I plan to walk around the Downtown to see some of the buildings/neighborhoods referenced, or to see where they were. I found this a fun read.

[Maffew · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun read
I think on par with the first book. slightly less plot excitement but more fun with the characters. Adding a copy sherlock with the right amount of rivalry to fit the characters. All too often this type of thing leads to stupid amounts of rivalry where this seems much more a fit to the characters involved.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the sense of competitiveness between Holmes and Shadwell Raffety, pub owner/detective. Shad is a great creation and really steals the show. The overall story and satisfaction level for the mystery is above average, but not rave-worthy. I'm willing to read more of Larry Millett's Holmes stories, and I hope Shadwell Raffety will make a return.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in the series by Larry Millett, and Holmes and Watson are back in St. Paul and in search of a missing wealthy young man. Lots of early history about St. Paul and the Winter Carnival.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun to read during this year's edition of the Winter Carnival. But a bit of a slog.
I haven't read any Doyle, so I don't know how close Millett stays to his style.
Let's just say I prefer my Sherlock on screen.