1912 London. Sebastian Becker is a former Pinkerton
detective in Philadelphia. But hard times forced he, wife Elizabeth, and son Robert
to return to Elizabeth’s home in England. They had to sell much of her jewelry
for the Atlantic passage and now live in a bit of a low rent district of
London. They chose this specific area to be close to Dr. John Langdon Down who
was developing a treatment plan for children with mental issues like that
afflicting their teenaged son.
Sebastian’s experience as a detective helped in land a job in
the basement of the notorious Bethlehem Hospital; where those deemed insane are
sentenced. He serves as the investigator to the Masters of Lunacy, a crown
appointment. Sebastian investigates people who are thought to be mentally
incapable of managing their affairs, report to his boss who then decides if the
person should remain independent or be institutionalized. In some cases, huge
fortunes can hang in the balance. As an investigator of the might-be-insane, the
locals refer to him as the bedlam detective.
His current assignment takes him to a small coastal village
of Arnmouth to see about the condition of a semi-legendary industrialist Sir
Owain Lancaster. Once fabulously wealthy, he was working on a way to aim
massive howitzers using star navigation. To test his method, Sir Owain thought
it necessary to journey to the Amazon. He spent wildly on extravagant materials
to lessen the burden on his wife and son and tame the jungle so they wouldn’t
have to endure any discomfort.
While on this expedition, his son took ill, then his wife,
and in his grief, Sir Owain thought that unspeakable jungle monsters were
killing off the native porters and eventually his family. Only he and his
botanist survived. On his return to England, Sir Owain’s presentation to the
Royal Society was ridiculed, forcing him to sell his remaining holdings in
London and retreat to his seaside villa in Arnmouth. Here he lives in seclusion with
his personal physician and driver/cook. His lost fortune caused him to dismiss
the estate’s caretakers so the property is in rapid decline. His extended
family frets over their inheritance, thus Sebastian’s investigation.
Upon Sebastian’s arrival, the bodies of two young girls are
discovered near Sir Owain’s property. The only local detective accepts
Sebastian’s offer of help in the investigation. To some, it’s obvious that the
mad Sir Owain is the killer. The case brings to light an earlier assault 15
years earlier, but this time the two girls survived. And there were other disappearances between the two crimes.
Sebastian interviews the two survivors, their families, Sir
Owain and his doctor, everyone he can find looking for a connection between the
old and new crimes with Sir Owain. Gallagher, in the formal, stiff upper lip
cadence of life in pre WWI England, expertly took me through Arnmouth and
London, presenting Becker’s challenges with his family, life, and job. Hardly a
‘page turner’ I found the pace quite leisurely and enjoyable. While I doubt
Gallagher is a candidate for my power rotation, he certainly is a worthy option
when I find a gap in my reading opportunities.
East Coast Don
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