The Silversmith’s Puzzle begins with a classic mystery opening – a man, clasping the handle of a knife embedded in a dying person’s throat. An open and shut case, it would seem. When the supposed murderer, Lady Diana’s brother, is arrested, she and her husband, Captain Jim, a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast, set out to prove his innocence.
Before dying, the stabbed man murmured something about gold even though he was a master silversmith. The story, set at the end of the nineteenth century, plays out in steamy Bombay. The city’s poverty-ridden streets, splendid temples, and caste-burdened inhabitants are brought to vibrant life before the reader’s eyes in wonderfully detail-rich descriptions. At the heart of the adventure is a mysterious key… and what it unlocks. Jim’s search takes him all over the city, from Bombay Jail to the Imperial Mint, and from a slum-brothel to a cliff-side temple, before he finally uncovers the truth. The Silversmith’s Puzzle will appeal to fans of the Captain Jim and Lady Diana series and attract new readers. The ending teasingly leaves some unanswered questions – Was someone working behind the scenes? Does Jim have an enemy? – that hold the promise of another exciting story to come.
Star Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Available on Amazon
Published by Minatour Books
May 13, 2025
Comments