Dick Gillman
An English writer in Brittany, France.
My eBooks
For many years I have enjoyed reading the original Sherlock Holmes stories so I thought I might try and write a pastiche. The Star of Bithur which I wrote in 2006 was the first of my Sherlock Holmes short stories . The Birchwood Affair was written in 2010, 'The Cagliari Affair' was written in 2012. In 2013 I wrote 'The Bishop's Tie-Pin', 'The Rattle-Jacks Affair' and 'The Zhou Bell'. The Lymington Affair was published in December 2013 and The Shadow of James Moriarty was published in January 2014 followed by The Highgate Magician in March 2014 and The Severed Finger which was published in May, 2014. The Bulgarian Clockmaker was published in November, 2014 followed by The Angel's Trumpet in March, 2015
My very latest book, The Second Key was published on April 18th, 2015. All my books are to be made available at Smashwords and Amazon bookstores around the world.
My biggest project this year is to produce a printed edition of the first three stories featuring Julia Moriarty. This is to be available as a second edition paperback on Amazon entitled 'The Julia Moriarty Trilogy'
published by MX Publishing on 16th September, 2015
Sherlock Holmes and The Highgate Magician
ISBN: 9781311656650
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A visit from Mr James Carlisle Scott, a stage magician, begins a case triggered by the disappearance on stage of his assistant. Holmes and Watson are drawn into the world of international intrigue where state secrets are bartered. A Prussian diplomat, a pianist and aide to the Kaiser is enraged by Holmes's activities at the theatre. However, this encounter inadvertently saves Holmes from certain death.
A secret deal, struck by the British Government, is discovered by Holmes. The involvement of an old foe threatens to tear Sherlock and Mycroft apart. It is only Holmes's unique skills of observation and deduction coupled with swift, yet comedic, action that can perhaps halt a very public assassination and war in Europe.
Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair​
ISBN: 9781301447312
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A personal visit from Mycroft Holmes with a request from the Prime Minister embroils Holmes and Watson in the pursuit of a blackmailer. Threats against the British population have been made and carried out as a stark message that the blackmailer means business.
Holmes and Watson travel to Truro in Cornwall where the blackmailer says he will strike next. The townspeople are already falling ill and Holmes must act quickly to save lives. Finding a common thread to the illness, Holmes is able to prevent further deaths and has a lead on the blackmailer.
A visit to a business in London and an intriguing trap identifies the culprit but a rare error by Holmes may allow the blackmailer to escape and avoid the gallows.
Saline
ISBN: 9781301006380
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​Ben Grissam is a PhD student finishing his studies. His final flight to complete his thesis is wrecked by a cataclysmic navigational error caused by a fellow student. He awakes from the turmoil to find his damaged craft is in orbit around the sea world Saline. Light years from home and with little chance of survival, his only hope is to board an abandoned alien mining vessel.
The intrigue begins as Ben's presence initialises the dormant crafts systems. Ben explores the ship and triggers the awakening of the vessel's hologram Science Officer, Kira. Together they piece together the grim story surrounding the disappearance of the crew.
As the mystery unfolds, Kira's homeworld, Hebros, is threatened by a warlike race, the A'rath. Treachery is afoot when Ben and Kira discover a subterfuge. A cloaked A'rath fleet is poised to attack Hebros. They must somehow use the mining vessel to prevent the destruction of Kira's homeworld.
Sherlock Holmes and The Cagliari Affair
ISBN: 9781301145003
The receipt of a letter from the Italian ambassador finds Holmes, Watson and Mycroft together for a crucial meeting at the embassy. An important member of the Italian Royal family, known for flirting with danger in the anarchists clubs of London is in town. Holmes and Watson are retained to try to keep this Royal alive and a bomb plot tests Holmes ingenuity during a royal visit to Greenwich Observatory.
The stakes are raised when the ambassador invites Holmes and Watson to a Venetian Masked Ball to be held at the embassy. Dressed in their costumes and masks, they have to try and locate two anarchists who have infiltrated the Ball. Holmes has to devise an intiguing way to identify them and Watson has to put his trusty service revolver to good use.
Sherlock Holmes and The Bishop's Tie-Pin
ISBN: 9781301090808​
The Bishop of Westfield visits his old friend, Sherlock Holmes to ask for his help. One of his fellow bishops, the Bishop of Sandbury has been seen entering an establishment with a questionable reputation that offers massage.
Sherlock's brother Mycroft is concerned that secret British Naval papers have appeared in the German embassy and have been linked to the Bishop of Sanbury's brother. Are the two events linked?
Holmes and Watson discover a blackmail plot involving the Bishop's missing tie-pin and Watson has to bare all to seek the truth. Holmes must exercise his burglary skills in order to avoid a scandal that could envelop the nation.
Sherlock Holmes and The Rattle-Jacks Affair​
​ISBN: 9781301460175
Little Alfie of the Baker Street Irregulars seeks the help of Holmes and Watson as his cousin Flora has been arrested and accused of a double murder. The investigation gets underway with a trip to the scene of the crime.
Holmes is suspicious and, together with Watson, he travels incognito to The Imperial Gasworks. Their visit is both informative and productive involving a little deception and some slight of hand by Watson to obtain some Rattle-Jacks.
The postmortem confirms Holmes suspicions but he now has to gather sufficient evidence to convince the Coroner and the jury that this is not in fact a case of murder. ​
Sherlock Holmes and The Star of Bithur
​ISBN: ​9781301646050
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​​Holmes and Watson are retained by the Duke of Salcombe after the death of his father. A letter kept secret for many years holds a clue to a great treasure with a terrible past. They must seek out a military man, a link to the late Duke who has knowledge of the events that lead to the discovery and then disappearance of the 'Star of Bithur'.
Treachery in India during the Mutiny of 1857 and the disappearance of the gem are closely linked. An attempted burglary to steal a family painting from Salcombe Grange alerts Holmes to the importance of the painting and the secrets it portrays. Holmes and Watson are invited to the Grange to view the painting and Holmes finds valuable clues to the identities of the burglars.
However, no sooner have they arrived than an attempt is made to unearth the gem but the old Duke has created an enticing puzzle that only a superior intellect can solve.
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Sherlock Holmes and The Zhou Bell
ISBN: 9781301375608
Holmes and Watson are invited by the Chinese Ambassador to the preview of an exhibition of Chinese antiquities at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. The star exhibit is the Zhou bell, a 5th century B.C. bell made specifically for the Zhou king and the only one in existence.
It is a priceless artifact and is a personal loan from the Chinese emperor himself. The ambassador is concerned about its safety and trouble looms as the bell is stolen from under Mycroft's nose.
Holmes and Watson become involved in Imperial intrigue as they try to retrieve the bell. A gruesome murder is committed by criminal elements bent on embarassing the Chinese Emperor and making a huge financial gain.
Sherlock Holmes and The Lymington Affair​
ASIN: B00H9HWI2U
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Watson's keen interest in learning to sail prompts Holmes to take a rare break from Baker Street.
Arriving in Lymington, Holmes intends to instruct Watson in the finer points of sailing. However, this is thwarted when Holmes falls desperately ill and poisoning on a grand scale is suspected.
As Holmes recovers, Watson is tasked to gather evidence and a visit to his aunt exposes the true extent of the horror.
Holmes's deductions and a reminder of Watson's embarassing exposure in old case inspires Holmes to present a chemical solution.
Sherlock Holmes and The Severed Finger​
ASIN: B00KJEKI1S
Holmes and Watson's evening is disturbed by cabbie Henry Wiggins who has called after finding a grisly package in his cab.
A cryptic note and a freshly severed finger found in the package triggers a desperate search for the owner of the finger.
After a visit to one of the Queen's Heralds, Mycroft is summoned when the involvement of Julia Moriarty is discovered.
Holmes has a rendezvous with Moriarty and after this tense encounter which involves cups of tea and drawn pistols, he must balance an arms shipment to a potential enemy against a man's life.
Finally, it appears that Julia Moriarty has defeated Holmes...but all may not be as it seems.
Sherlock Holmes and The Bulgarian Clockmaker​
ASIN: B00PAT9OGM
A dying man with a terrible secret is brought to 221b Baker Street by London cabby, Henry Wiggins.
So begins the case of The Bulgarian Clockmaker. It is to involve Holmes and Watson in a desperate search for a young girls killer and to foil a Fenian dynamite plot.
A visit to Scotland Yard and Inspector Lestrade frustrates Holmes. Watson, however, is intrigued by a mysterious engine which is the 'prime mover' in this fast paced story.
Only Holmes's intellect and deductive powers can save the Prime Minister from destruction.
Sherlock Holmes and The Shadow of James Moriarty
ASIN: B00HQN5AF4
Shopping for a Christmas gift for Holmes exposes Watson to an underworld that he had hoped had disappeared with the death of James Moriarty.
The New Year brings even greater peril as an attempt is made on Holmes's life and once again the shadow of James Moriarty seems to be reaching out.
Revenge is clearly the motive but who is seeking to finally destroy Holmes?
In order to solve the mystery, Holmes must offer his life in order to attempt a grand deception.
Sherlock Holmes and The Angel's Trumpet
ASIN: B00V1CIWK6
Holmes and Watson become involved in the very early days of flying when guests of the wife of a French flyer fall ill at a society tea party.
A fearful crash landing, an injured pilot and a sketchbook full of secrets gives Holmes the ideal opportunity to investigate further.
Watson is reminded of his Army days in India and Holmes has his suspicions but he must act quickly to prevent a scandal.
Sherlock Holmes and The Second Key
ASIN: B00WAGM92O
A grieving widow seeks the help of Holmes and Watson after the suspected explosion of ab anarchist bomb at Liverpool Street Station.
Holmes must use the wonders of Edwardian medicine to help him defuse a second bomb and he suspects the involvement of Julia Moriarty.
A crime has been committed but has, so far, gone undetected.
Holmes must now use his skills to draw out Moriarty... with tragic results.
The British Nation is most grateful to Holmes but at what cost?