This is a cute series featuring a former street kid, Timothy Badger, who had been a Baker Street Irregular who is now grown up and has become a detective with a new friend of his, Ben Watson, as well as a female journalist he is attracted to. Now they have a crucial case to solve since Dr. Watson has been kidnapped and Sherlock Holmes is out of the country. It’s fun to follow their path as they try to figure out the clues from the kidnapping. They don’t have the acute detective abilities of Holmes. So I enjoyed following along with the amateur detectives trying to figure things out on their own.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Tim Badger and Ben Watson are the Irregular Detectives. Tim grew up as a Baker Street Irregular, working with Sherlock Holmes and now that he has aged out of that group, he has started his own detective agency, quietly supported by the great Holmes himself. Holmes is out of the country when Mrs. Hudson sends word to Badger and Watson that Dr. John Watson has been kidnapped from 221B Baker Street. When they arrive, they discover the room in disorder with a few clues scattered here and there. Badger goes to his contact at the newspaper, Miss Ellsie Littleton, who shows him how to do research in a newspaper archive. That first clue lays out the trail of crumbs for the detectives to follow, involving an old case, a wrongfully imprisoned man and a dog who barked in the nighttime. An enjoyable pastiche paying attention to The Canon.

A well crafted pastiche with good character development. The excellent attention to period detail aids for the best immersive reading.

Get this book if you need a fun story for pure escapism.

Fans of classic Sherlock Holmes will like this newest tale of Tim Badger (an original Holmes character) and Ben Watson (a black chemist turned detective). It's written in classic Holmes style, but with new energy. Worth a try is you liked the Sherlock Holmes tales.