The Strange Case of Dr. Doyle

The Strange Case of Dr. Doyle (Biographical Fiction & Nonfiction)

“A Journey Into Madness & Mayhem”

By Daniel & Eugene Friedman, MD

Square One Publishers www.squareonepublishers.com

ISBN #978-0757003486

352 Pages

Price $23.94 (Hardback)

Rating 5-Stars

“Well Researched And Thought Provoking.”

The authors take us back to the Victorian era of Britain, and gives us a background study of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s life from age 10 through his marriages. We follow his school days, his travels, his education as a doctor, and his eventual success as a writer. We discover his many intricacies as a person and family involvement, plus meet his alcoholic father and adulteress mother. Born into a rich family, we see his father take his family into poverty and disgrace, while young Arthur studies abroad.

That’s one part of the book, the second part takes place around 1905, as Sir Author takes a fictional team of students around the scenes of Jack The Ripper’s murders in the Whitecastle district two decades earlier. Doyle, who had been given access to the grim murder investigation by Scotland Yard explained each scene to the members, then asked for discussion and thoughts. Were there any possible clues to the real Jack The Ripper, who he was, what became of him after the five murders. And why prostitutes?

The authors weave their tale in a manner easily followed, disclosing certain traits about Arthur Conan Doyle, to the climax of the book, revealing who they believe was Jack The Ripper. It’s a fascinating tale, and points a guilty eye upon the least suspecting person we would think capable of the gruesome deed, until we know all the facts. I was curious why the authors subjected the reader to a rehashing of Doyle’s biography, until it became clear what the purpose was. Although, I don’t normally read biographies, I found this book extremely insightful, and well researched. Have they uncovered the true identity of Jack The Ripper? I will leave that up to each reader, but I found it illuminating. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Detective Mystery Stories