The Empress of India

This author has definitely found his niche. All of the Moriarty and Holmes books by this author very much work in conjunction with the original Holmes stories or as stand alone stories.

Empress of India is a rather good example of the Holmes inspired pastiche let down by a few defects. Firstly it's rather predictable; from the identity of the gold thieves to the fate of Holmes. Secondly it's rather slow moving with frequent distractions. Finally Kurland seems to have skimped on his research; some further work on British Army ranks (i.e. no Brigadier General), firearms (since when does a Martini-Henry have a magazine?), the value of gold in 1890 (two tons of gold would not have been worth four million sterling: more like a quarter million) and other hostorical details would have been time well spent. All in all it's not bad though not as good as his other works or Laurie King's Holmes/Russell works.

In 1890, the Empress of India leaves Calcutta carrying a quarter-ton of gold to deliver to the Bank of England in London. The vessel also carries an assortment of passengers including the notorious Professor James Moriarty and the malevolent Colonel Sebastian Moran. Brigadier General Sir Edward St. Yves leads thirty Highland Lancers watching over the fortune; his eighteen years old Lolita like daughter, Margaret accompanies him. Moriarty and Moran compete for possession of the valuable heavily bejeweled statuette "Queen of Lamapoor" also on board. However, someone steals the gold shipment. The English government immediately assumes Moriarty did the deed. They ask Holmes to retrieve the stolen loot from the Professor, but instead he vanishes. Meanwhile Moriarty not enjoying the limelight that interferes with his "business" activities decides to solve the case of what appears to have been an impossible theft. The latest Moriarty investigative tale is a fabulous historical mystery that uses the "locked room" concept enhanced by a vivid look at relationships during the late Victorian era "The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire" mindset. The terrific story line contains a strong who-done-it and how he or she purloined the gold, but is held together mostly by the "hero" who finds being the prime suspect interfering with his efforts to win the prize of GREAT GAME instead of Moran succeeding at the endeavor. Michael Kurland provides a wonderful thriller as the unknown opponent seems to match Moriarty with for wit. Harriet Klausner