Murder in Keswick by William Todd ~ Book Extract.

I am delighted to be today’s stop on the blog tour for; Murder in Keswick by William Todd, I am loving the sound of this book and can’t wait to share an exclusive book extract with you all.

About the Book

While on a well-deserved holiday in the Lake District to get away from the toils and troubles of London, Holmes and Watson find no respite.

As soon as they exit the train, they hear news of a grisly murder making its way around the murmuring commuters. A local aristocrat, Mr. Darcy, has been found missing his head!

And that very night, the wealthy widow finds a stranger in her home who, upon seeing her, abandons his plans and quickly leaves. She believes the intruder to be the murderer of her husband who is now after a large sum of cash she keeps in the house safe.

Unsure if the would-be thief is the murderer or an opportunistic burglar, Holmes devises a plan to catch the burglar, all the while investigating the murder of Mr. Darcy.

Follow Holmes, Watson, and the local constable Mr. Wickham as they untangle the mystery surrounding a Murder in Keswick.

Buy Links

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Keswick-Sherlock-Holmes-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09YYYG7H8

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Keswick-Sherlock-Holmes-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09YYYG7H8

Extract

The man’s bushy grey eyebrows raised in astonishment. ‘Well, you will hear it soon enough, especially if you are staying in town. No more than an hour ago, word got back that a man’s decapitated body was just discovered along the road to Penrith.’ The man paused for a reaction, to which Holmes offered none, then continued, ‘But the more astonishing part is that it was Mr Darcy of Muirhouse!’

Holmes’ aquiline features transformed, and the gears in his machine-like brain, having sat idle for several hours, thus begun to turn once again. ‘Pray tell,’ he said with a quick eagerness in his voice, ‘is there any word where they are delivering the body?’

As the man began to walk toward the train to board, he said, ‘Near as I can tell, the constabulary…possibly the town hall. A small place such as Keswick obviously doesn’t have proper facilities for this type of tragedy.’

‘Thank you,’ Holmes replied.

I, at hearing all of this, sunk at the realisation that there most certainly would not be any resting on this respite.

Holmes read my disgruntled countenance when he turned to me. He said, ‘It was foolish to think evil had not yet stained this beautiful countryside. I dare say, Watson, that when it rears its ugly head out here, so far removed from more authoritative eyes, it may even thrive.’

I did not try and hide my disappointment, and I knew that it would be fruitless to try and convince him to leave this to the authorities, so with a sigh of resignation I asked, ‘What is the plan of action then?’

‘We shall check in to the King’s Arms, find out where the constabulary is, and pay the local authorities a visit.’

I nodded solemnly and picked up my baggage.

Noticing the devastated look on my face, Holmes only blinked at me emotionlessly then turned on his heel. Making haste towards the station entrance, he said over his shoulder, ‘come, come, now Watson. Did you not want me to relax on holiday? Well, what could be more relaxing than solving a murder?’

About the Author

William Todd has been writing for over 20 years, primarily gothic horror stories in the style of Lovecraft, Poe, and Shelley. Loving all things Victorian, he was inspired to read (and later to write) by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The first book he ever read cover to cover was Hound of the Baskervilles, which also fed his appetite for horror. William Todd has written two short story compilations of gothic horror, Dead of Night and Beyond the Gossamer Veil and one sci-fi/horror hybrid genre Something Wicked This Way Comes.

He has also written multiple Sherlock Holmes pastiches, Murder in Keswick, A Reflection of Evil, Mystery of the Broken Window, and Elementary—a short story compilation. Two of his short stories were part of MX Publishing’s New Sherlock Holmes Stories with proceeds going to a charity for special needs children housed in Undershaw, the very home Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles.

Writing for the books was a special privilege because his daughter, Alina, has Down Syndrome. In 2022, he just finished his first YA/historical novel The Fall of the Hermit King, which is under review for publication, and in the meantime has started yet another Sherlock Holmes compilation.

Follow him at:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/billscreativepen

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/williamtodd2442/