The Clever One: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes IV

By Andrew Delaplaine

In "The Clever One," inspired by Conan Doyle's "A Case of Identity," a former nun who, while still very devout, has renounced her vows so that she could "find a life, and possibly love, in the real world." Bewildered and heartbroken, she comes to Holmes in hopes that he can find out what happened to the man who promised to marry her, but mysteriously disappeared moments before they were to meet in church for the ceremony.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gramercy Park Press
• Release date: Nov 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386261254

Andrew Delaplaine

Delaplaine lives on South Beach, Miami’s Billion Dollar Sandbar. He writes in widely varied fields: screenplays, novels (adult and juvenile) and journalism. He also has a series of Long Weekend Guides covering some 50 cities around the world. Email: [e-mail] He writes several series: The “JACK HOUSTON ST. CLAIR” political thriller novels. “THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES IV,” a series of novels starring the great-great-grandson of the famous consulting detective. “THE ANNALS OF SANTOPIA” series, an epic that follows a Santa born in 1900 through to his death 82 years later. The AMOS FREEMAN police thrillers. Other novels: “The Trap Door” follows a boy who is taken back in time to 1594 and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. “The Meter Maid Murders,” a comic look at a detective trying to nab a serial killer on South Beach who only murders meter maids. Has written and directed three features (one doc, two narrative features), as well as several short films and won several awards for his film work. (See imdb.com for details).  His latest film, “Meeting Spencer,” starring Jeffrey Tambor, won the prestigious Milan International Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay.  DELAPLAINE’S “LONG WEEKEND” GUIDES These no-nonsense guides contain Delaplaine’s recommendations and advice for travelers visiting these places for 3 or 4 days. As "The Food Enthusiast," he writes a series of restaurants guides, updated annually. He has no hobbies.

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Clever One - Inspired by A Case of Identity by Arthur Conan Doyle

THE | CLEVER | ONE

Jack Houston St. Clair Political Thrillers

the delaplaine | Long weekend travel guide series

the food enthusiast’s Complete restaurant guides

The Adventures

of

Sherlock Holmes IV

THE

CLEVER

ONE

Andrew Delaplaine

Inspired by A Case of Identity

by Arthur Conan Doyle

A list of the author’s other travel guides, as well as his political thrillers and titles for children, can be found at the end of this book.

Author’s Note

Background Information on

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes IV

SINCE THIS BOOK IS one in a series on the exploits of Sherlock Holmes IV, it might be useful to the Reader to know how he came to find himself in Miami and how he came to find himself associated with Watson and Lestrade. 

Some of this backstory cannot be revealed at this moment because it is integral to developments that occur in books in the series yet to be written. This is how Holmes tells it in The Red-haired Man:

I was just explaining to Mr. Janklow here that I emigrated from London to South Beach strictly because of Inspector Lestrade. It really was quite astonishing, Mr. Janklow. I was returning from a case in Ecuador, and I had to change planes here in Miami. I knew that Lestrade had come over from London years before when he married a Cuban woman, and since I was here for a couple of days, I decided to look him up.

That’s exactly right, Mr. Holmes, said Lestrade with a thin-lipped smug grin.

I’d never met the descendant of my ancestor’s colleague at Scotland Yard, Holmes went on, and I thought as the opportunity for me to return to Miami might not arise again, I ought to look him up.

And what does he do, Mr. Janklow? Lestrade said, leaning forward for emphasis, "he goes and buys this hotel on Lincoln Road and moves here!"

And even stranger, Mr. Janklow, two years after I opened Fleming House, John Watson comes here for a visit and ends up staying on as my general manager!

I’d read of course about the reunion of the descendants of Holmes and Lestrade, said Watson, and when I had a one-week holiday, thought I’d come over to meet them both.

And when he got here, Holmes took over the narrative, it turned out that he was a top manager at the Connaught. I was having the devil of a time managing Fleming House, so I offered him a berth here and that pretty much brings us up to date.

And that, dear Reader, as far as it goes, brings you up to date as well.

The Adventures

of

Sherlock Holmes the 4th

THE CLEVER ONE

Chapter 1

Garnet Yams

Chapter 2

The Hesitant Client

Chapter 3

The Visiting Twin

Chapter 4

The Stepfather

Chapter 5

The Pipefitters’ Dance

Chapter 6

The Proposal & Wedding

Chapter 7

Not Invisible but Unnoticed

Chapter 8

The Windibanks

Chapter 9

Omer Barreda

Chapter 10

Rabbit Sirloin

Chapter 1

Garnet Yams

AH, said Sherlock Holmes the 4th as Ulises the waiter gently laid a plate in front of him at his usual spot, Table 9 in the Crown Colony at Fleming House on South Beach. Holmes preferred Table 9 because it was just outside the French doors on Lincoln Road leading into the Goldeneye bar, and potted palms were strategically placed to obscure the table from the continuous flow of passersby who always rubbernecked to see if they might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the famous British detective who had moved to South Beach to make a new life for himself.

That looks awfully tasty, said Watson, admiring the dish in front of Holmes, a dish to which Holmes now devoted his complete and unerring observational skills.

Holmes looked up and gave Watson a comforting look, as though he were observing a pitiable character of subhuman intelligence.

Tasty? Holmes said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Tasty? Is that sad little word all you can muster to describe Chef Hilario’s creation? Holmes persisted as Ulises laid before Watson a burger and fries. Would you pigeonhole his genius with the word ‘tasty’?"

Thank you, Ulises, said Watson, fairly ignoring Holmes. "How did Chef handle