God Rest Ye, Merry Gentleman..

The ram lowers its head and charges.
Pieces of sheep soar majestically into the air as I gun the motor, throw back my head and roar my defiance. The whey faced shepherd stares, horrified as the legless trunk loops into the passenger seat, the satanic yellow eyes still open, the image of the onrushing Bentley insignia [...]

Read Full Post »

Love Me, Love, My God!

Miss Lavinia Letitia Lamont, ‘Topsy’ to her friends. I roll the name around my tongue, savouring the clipped consonants and flowing vowels. Never has a daughter so graceful, been born to a father so dull. The Major as he was known to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the shires, liked to brag of his [...]

Read Full Post »

The Lowering Sky

The Bentley purrs through the Yorkshire Dales, devouring the miles, closer and closer to what? Closure?
The anger burns brightly these last thirty years, driving me onwards. Slowing down to negotiate the hump back bridge, scattering sheep across the moor. The lowering sky, the stone chapel. a fine drizzle descending on the heads of this handful [...]

Read Full Post »

The Race – Part III

My rage gets the better of me at times, and as the Bugatti careens across the South Circular, attracting the attention of what transpires to be an unmarked police car, my temper twitches and churns. My two fingered response to their frantic hand signals prompts the attachment of a blue light to the top of [...]

Read Full Post »

The Race – Part II

“You’re looming again Peregrine, I will not tolerate being loomed over…”
Great Aunt Augustine, as grimly determined to hang on to her vast fortune and crumbling estate as she is reluctant to see her only living heir prosper. One hundred and seven years old, patrician, perfectionst and practically blind, she is equipped with a monocle screwed [...]

Read Full Post »

The Race – Part I

This splendidly chilly Autumn day, sun wearily lighting the cobbles, the mews ringing with the sound of a powerful engine spluttering into life. The type 35 Bugatti, painstakingly restored, coughs, chokes and dies. The clatter of spanners flung and bastard bloody Bertie red faced and foul phrased, venting his spleen.
Sliding into ‘The Royal Oak’ for [...]

Read Full Post »

A Winter’s Tale

The Stilton, pungent and creamy, melted into my palate like mist, crackers roughing up the tongue, a generous slug of Armagnac clearing the stage for a second, prolonged assault.
“Ghosts!” I roared, “Never heard such bloody nonsense – the only spirit I know is the one that disappears …down Merry’s gullet!”
Laughter rolled extravagantly round the table, [...]

Read Full Post »

The Case Of The Limehouse Golem Pt III

After pausing for a restorative brandy at the Turks Head in Marylebone High Street, I found myself ascending the stairs at Baker Street somewhat later than I had anticipated – the page boy had long since departed for bed. On opening the door, the sight that awaited me left me reeling in shock – the [...]

Read Full Post »

The Case Of The Limehouse Golem Pt II

I reached the Police station by way of Marylebone road in less than an hour, and announced myself to the desk sergeant, rubbing my hands in gleeful anticipation – if I could convince Lestrade of the merit of my findings, then we could apprehend the villain and perhaps even spare some unsuspecting soul from [...]

Read Full Post »

The Case Of The Limehouse Golem Pt I

The family’s connection to the famous Sherlock Holmes is something we usually keep under wraps, so to speak. The facts, involving as they do, the most unspeakable crimes, do not reflect well on Uncle Perry and his involvement quite frankly did little to accelerate the eventual capture of the infernal perpetrators.
The story begins with [...]

Read Full Post »