Good Morning Irene

Review: Beginning where Goodnight Mr. Holmes ended this story begins with Holmes & Watson contemplating reports of the death of Irene Adler and her husband in the Italian Alps.

The reports have had a liberating effect of the Adlers Believed dead they are no longer pursued by either Sherlock Holmes or agents of the King of Bohemia. The Adlers’ and Penelope Huxleigh are living a prosperous and peaceful life in Paris. Irene’s reward from the discovery of The Zone of Diamonds has freed them to pursue any lifestyle of their choice. Godfrey is now practicing international law. Irene has been doing her own thing (shopping and strolling the streets of Paris with her friend Sarah Bernhardt (both in drag). As you might suspect these halcyon days will not last forever.

Penelope (Nell), is lost in Paris since she does not speak French. She is living a quiet life in the Norton household, taking care of Casanova (an articulate parrot), and Lucifer (their Afghan cat). The author skillfully uses the character of Penelope Huxleigh. Penelope is a multipurpose figure in the series. Her character stands in sharp contrast to that of Irene Adler and her friend Sarah Bernhardt. Nell is both the narrator of the stories and is the paradigm of what a Victorian woman was supposed to be. The close proximity of this conservative daughter of a preacher is used to emphasize the individually and outrageous behavior of Irene and Sarah Bernhardt. Nell’s attitudes and behavior will subitatilly and gradually changes as her association with the Adlers and Bernhardt continues. Her presence will continuously be used to ephasizes the personality of Irene. Carole Nelson Douglas has copied Conan Doyle’s use of Dr. Watson in the Holmes Canon, and due to the wide disparity of their personalities her us of Nell comes out even better than Doyle’s use of Watson.

Back to our story.

Godfrey has pulled a young lady from certain death in the Seine. Is only problem is the lady did not want to be rescued. He is ruined. She was abducted on the streets of Paris, chloroformed and when she woke up she had an ornate E tattooed on her left breast. She is an orphan and is deathly afraid that if her uncle or aunt see the tattoo she will be put out She cries “I am ruined and it is not my fault.” Her name is Louise Montpensier.

Irene and Godfrey are working with Louise Montpensier while Sherlock Holmes has been running around Europe investigating her disappearance. Louise Montpensier is believed to have been murdered by her Aunt Honoria. (Chronicled in The Hound of the Baskervilles.)

A series of coincidences begin to begin to unfold as Irene is asked to go to the Paris Morgue to view the body of a man drowned in the Seine. The corpse has a large and ornate S tattooed on his chest and is missing the middle finger of his left hand. Irene’s mind is brought back to an incident a year earlier when she viewed the body of a man pulled from the Thames by Bram Stoker. That body was also missing the middle finger of his left hand and had a large and ornate N tattooed on his chest.

The mystery deepens as and Irene and Godfrey are drawn into investigating the alleged suicide of Louise Montpensier’s father, which occurred fifteen years ago in Monte Carlo. The trail of murder greed and deceit which precedes the secret of the tattooed men leads back to a shipwreck with a treasure of ancient artifacts and gold on the coast of Corsica. Before this is resolved Irene, in drag, will fight a duel with Rapiers, an attempt will be made to divert an expedition of Prince Albert of Monaco and there will be a series murders all to protect the secret of the treasure.

Carole Nelson Douglas has created a first class adventure story interwoven with historical characters and characters from the Holmes canon. A story, I think even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would have approved of.

Reviewed by: Roger F Kellogg F.I.A., Originally appeared in The Gaslight Gazette