My friends at Books Forward sent me a galley of this fun Sherlock Holmes tale, which takes place on Christmas Day. It stumped me and was a quick and enjoyable read. Matthews has the knack of writing about Holmes similar to the style of Conan Doyle, which makes his stories all the more enjoyable. At only 47 pages, it can be read in one sitting (if you choose). Get it for Christmas for someone you know who loves Sherlock and Watson! Thanks for my copy!

Here’s the scoop:

“As he did in his debut novel, One Must Tell the Bees, Matthews again delightfully twists our Sherlockian expectations with his engaging Christmas mystery, while staying true to the Canon throughout. This traditional Sherlock Holmes story is sure to become a perennial must-read for the holidays.” —Ray Riethmeier, BSI, editor of Sherlock Holmes: Stranger Than Truth and Sherlock Holmes: Stranger Than Fiction

Beaune [bōn] noun: a red Burgundy wine from the Côte de Beaune region of France.

Christmas morning 1902, London, England. A bottle of fine French wine from the Côte de Beaune region of France, intended as a gift from Mr. Sherlock Holmes to his old friend Dr. Watson, is found to have been drained of its aromatic spirits during the night and filled with sand. But not just any sand….

Thus begins this short, sweet holiday mystery from the author of One Must Tell the Bees: Abraham Lincoln and the Final Education of Sherlock Holmes (East Dean Press, 2021).

Praise for One Must Tell the Bees: Abraham Lincoln and the Final Education of Sherlock Holmes (East Dean Press, 2021)

“Beautifully Written and Immediately Engaging” —The Sherlock Holmes Society of London Summer Journal, 2022

“Brilliantly Executed.” —The Coffee Pot Book Club