A review by outsmartyourshelf
The Men Who Were Sherlock Holmes: A True-Life Victorian Murder Mystery by Daniel Smith

informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

An informative book about the case that brought together Doctors Joseph Bell & Henry Littlejohn, along with colleague, Dr Patrick Heron Watson, who between them were the inspiration for Conan Doyle's 'Holmes & Watson'. In 1893 on a Scottish estate called Ardlamont, twenty-year-old Cecil Hambrough was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. The two men who were hunting with him at the time, 'mentor' Alfred Monson & Edward Scott (aka Edward Sweeney), both claimed that Cecil had accidentally shot himself, but circumstantial evidence such as insurance claims & Monson's actions following the incident raised suspicion. A court case was held which used early pioneering forensic evidence & the testimony of the doctors above were used by the prosecution to try & prove their case.

What an intriguing case & characters in Bell & Littlejohn. The era of early forensic science & the technological advances of the Victorian era have always fascinated me & this is no exception. I felt the author did a great job of providing all the information about the case without it becoming too academically dry. Well-researched & well-written, this is a must-read for anyone interested in either early forensics &/or the inspiration behind Sherlock Holmes.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Michael O'Mara Limited, for the opportunity to read an ARC.  I am voluntarily giving an honest review.