The Strange Case of Dr. Doyle
(Biographical Fiction & Nonfiction)
“A Journey Into Madness &
Mayhem”
By Daniel & Eugene
Friedman, MD
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
