Letters from a Murderer, A Jameson & Argenti Case, by John Matthews, is my current read. Some reasoned that Jack the Ripper’s killing spree in London ended because he moved to America. Based on that premise, this book continues his story in New York, in 1891. Finley Jameson, an aristocratic English pathologist, and Joseph Argenti, a streetwise New York cop form an unlikely team, tasked to solve a case with similarities to those of Jack the Ripper.
As the case evolves, another prostitute is murdered, and another.
A good “Sherlockian” read, despite different approaches and differing directives from employers in two countries, the detectives manage to work together. Agenti follows the evidence; Jameson takes a circuitous route, more like Sherlock Holmes might have. He also shares Holmes’ penchant for opium dens.
The “letters” of the title are a series of letters the killer addresses to Jameson after each murder, taunting him with his mistakes and promising to keep killing until he is captured.
It’s a good read. The Victorian setting is well presented and the sleuths are much like Holmes and Watson. Their partnership, while tetchy, shows the best of each man to the other’s dismay.
Best of all? I like how Matthews writes and he’s written six other books. I always love to discover a new writer and find they’ve written more books!
Prompt from A Daily Rhythm, Monday Musings, July 13.
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