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    Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair
    Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair
    Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair
    Ebook51 pages46 minutes

    Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair

    By Dick Gillman

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    About this ebook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDick Gillman
    Release dateDec 13, 2012
    ISBN9781301447312
    Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair
    Author

    Dick Gillman

    Dick Gillman is a Yorkshireman in his 70's. He retired from teaching Science in 2005 and moved from the UK to Brittany, France, in 2008 with his wife Alex. After 14 enjoyable years, he returned with his wife to the UK in October 2022 and hopes to continue writing. As well as writing his Sherlock Holmes stories, he is an accomplished acrylic and digital artist. Having lived near the coast, the rugged landscape and the Atlantic Ocean often influence his artwork. During his retirement he has written well over thirty Sherlock Holmes short stories, many of which are published here with more than 10 new titles to be added during 2023. Successfully publishing both e-books and paperbacks, he has also been selected to contribute many stories to the superb, World Record beating and ongoing MX Sherlock Holmes anthology. His stories appear in over 10 volumes published by MX Publishing and also in the monthly case solving letters entitled 'Dear Mr Holmes' published by Letterjoy in the United States. More are to follow in the latest volumes by MX and Letterjoy. A highlight of his work is the collection entitled 'Julia Moriarty - in memorium' which contains all seven stories in which Holmes crosses swords with the beautiful, but deadly, Julia Moriarty. This is available an e-book and can be found as a paperback at all major online bookstores. His latest two stories, 'The King's Cross Somnambulist' and 'A Brush with Death' were published here on Smashwords in June 2023.

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      Book preview

      Sherlock Holmes and The Birchwood Affair - Dick Gillman

      Sherlock Holmes

      and

      The Birchwood Affair

      Second Edition.

      By Dick Gillman

      Copyright 2012 Dick Gillman

      Published at Smashwords.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite online bookstore and purchase your own copy.

      Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table of Contents

      Chapter 1 - The letter

      Chapter 2 - Truro

      Chapter 3 - The victims

      Chapter 4 - A common thread

      Chapter 5 - The solution

      Chapter 6- The motive

      Chapter 7- A rare error!

      Chapter 8- The conclusion

      Sherlock Holmes and The Zhou Bell

      Chapter 1 - An invitation from afar!

      The Birchwood Affair

      Second Edition.

      By Dick Gillman

      Copyright 2012 Dick Gillman

      Cover image courtesy of Stock free images.com

      Chapter 1 - The letter

      It was a cold, dreary afternoon on the first of December, 1890 when Holmes and I first became aware of the happenings which were to haunt us for the coming days. A cheery fire was burning in the hearth in our rooms at 221b Baker Street. Holmes was wrapped up in his old dressing gown, playing an aria by Vivaldi on his beloved Stradivarius violin.

      What is that, Holmes? I enquired.

      Holmes glanced across at me and continued playing. I'm surprised you don't know Watson, its L'Inverno, winter, I thought it quite apt.

      I shrugged. Hmpf...I would not say it was obvious.

      Holmes stopped playing. What? You can't hear the thunder and lightening? Springing from his chair he plunged into an energetic display of bowing.

      Ah, yes, I see, said I, waving my hand and hoping to end the tumult of sound now assaulting my ears.

      Holmes stopped playing and looked invigorated by his exertions. He glanced towards the heavily draped windows of our rooms. Hello, we have a visitor. Down in the street a Hansom cab had drawn up to the curb, a tall figure descended and made his way to our front door. Brother Mycroft, if I am not mistaken, said Holmes, putting his violin in its case and flinging off his dressing gown. Holmes walked to the sideboard and brought over a decanter and three glasses.

      After a few moments there was a knock at our door and Mrs Hudson announced Mr Mycroft Holmes to see you sir. and in swept Mycroft.

      Mycroft was dressed in a caped frock coat, top hat and was holding a silver topped black cane.

      Ah, Mycroft, it is so good to see you. This was an unusually warm greeting from Holmes as relations between the two brothers had not always been cordial to say the least.

      Good afternoon Sherlock, Watson, said Mycroft, turning and nodding in my direction.

      Holmes brushed a pile of papers from our red velvet chaise-longue onto the floor saying Please, be seated. A glass of sherry perhaps?

      Mycroft removed his hat and cape and sat facing us both. Mycroft, like Holmes, was not a man to waste time on fripperies and waved a hand at Holmes. Thank you, no, Sherlock. We as a nation have a gun to our head. This letter arrived with the Prime Minister's mail ten days ago.

      Mycroft passed an envelope to Holmes who took

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