The Adventures of Inspector Lestrade

M.J. Trow has written a series of (I think!) 16 books about Inspector Sholto Lestrade of Scotland Yard. Lestrade will be (more or less) recognisable to readers of the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.In this book, though, those stories are pure fiction. Lestrade is not as incompetent as Holmes' many fans have been led to believe, and indeed, Doyle has taken liberties with the real Sherlock Holmes, a not terribly bright consulting detective.In this book, Lestrade is investigating a series of murders which turn out, unsurprisingly, to be related. The story is richly populated with historical characters, who wander in and out of the story with great regularity. Some of them are even considered, if briefly, as suspects.Mr. Trow has an interest in the period, not the least of which is in the mysterious murderer known as Jack the Ripper (he has written 'The Many Faces of Jack the Ripper'), and the Ripper gets some mention in this book. Lestrade's immediate superior is Sir Melville McNaghten, who was a senior officer involved in the Ripper investigations.I would have preferred if the book involved more detective work - Lestrade's methods are pretty hit and miss - but the nature of the murders are bizarrely amusing.There is also a significant streak of comedy in the book, mostly of the punning kind, but quite often this is may lead you to think that the characters, rather than the author, are joking.It's an interesting book, although perhaps not everyone's cup of tea.

Baker Street Irregulars who have kept a sense of humor will relish this little gem. They will raise eyebrows, place tongue firmly in cheek, and fall right in. Stuffier Holmes fans will be appalled, of course, but that's their problem.

Graham Greene used to divide his novels into two categories, "serious"novels and "entertainments". The Lestrade novels of J M Trow are definitely in the "entertainment" category. This one is first in what is a very welcome reprinting of the Lestrade series. The plot is fantastic (as in 'unbelievable') and wanders all over the country, but that doesn't matter because it is richly comical, full of in-jokes that make you feel good when you recognise them, witty puns (and some vile ones too), and a host of historical characters both real and fictional. It is a joy to read.And later volumes in the series just get better.