CERRI ELLIS - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS

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	Curiosity may have killed the cat, but Cerri Ellis never let a little thing like fear stop her from playing sleuth. When she's not snapping photos of ghosts, solving riddles or sifting through dusty tomes in library catacombs, she writes articles and book reviews for magazines and web sites. Her hobbies include reading mysteries, herbal gardening, and searching online and estate auctions for arcane curios. She is currently at work on a paranormal thriller set in Southern Appalachia.

WHAT ROUGH BEAST
H.R. Knight
Leisure Books, 2005, $6.99, 374pp.
ISBN 08439-5456-6

What Rough Beast is an enticing mystery with a unique premise and a surprising twist. Set in Edwardian England, the story is told through the recollections of the narrator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When a ruffian accosts Houdini on stage, Conan Doyle lends his eloquence and quick observation to avert the makings of a brawl.

After thanking Conan Doyle, Houdini asks the legendary writer to accompany him to a séance, in an effort to expose Maximillian Cairo, a spiritualist preying on the wife of a
late friend.

The master magician succeeds in his efforts to uncover both Cairo and his schemes, but more is afoot than either Houdini or Sir Arthur suspects.

When a grisly murder leads police to arrest another participant at the séance, history's most perceptive duo must pit their wits against an unspeakable evil to save the life of an innocent man.

H.R. Knight must be a magician. Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle breathe within the rich texture and intricate details of his engaging prose. Some readers may find the formality of language slows the pace, however I found the style reinforced the narrator's authenticity.

The twist toward the end came as a complete surprise, but a fitting one. H.R. Knight delved into the shadows of the muse and wrestled forth a rare treat for readers--a truly exceptional mystery.

Cerri Ellis

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