You know I love my detectives, and this series is going to give me three new detectives to devote myself to: Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe.

Now, what are the chances that three descendants of the most famous detectives of all time are opening their own detective agency in New York City? Well, since Miss Marple was a fictional character, that seems unlikely. But if they aren’t the scions of private investigations, who are they?

There are some clues but no definitive answers in Holmes, Marple, and Poe. And it’s too early for answers – I want to be teased a little first. They are bold, brash, and talented and they are taking the Big Apple by storm. First, they steal the thunder from Police Commissioner Boolin, when he tries to take credit for solving the disappearance of a young woman, at a press conference that devolves into chaos. That makes them one powerful enemy, but they do earn the grudging respect of Lt. Detective Helene Grey, who will turn out to be a very well-placed friend. It also gets their names in all the papers and suddenly, they are swamped with potential cases. A kidnapping case runs them afoul of the FBI, so they continue to wrack up enemies.  

I definitely enjoyed the start of this series. There is a lot of info in this first book, about their skills, their backgrounds, and their ambitions. Much like his namesake, Holmes is precise and logical…and addicted. Marple is a keen observer, taking in the details that others overlook. Poe is a man haunted by the demons of his past, but it is amazing sense of smell that brings them their first big case. Detective Grey is already digging into their backgrounds and who knows what she’ll find.

By the time this posts, I will already be reading the second book in the series, Holmes is Missing. There is also a series coming to AppleTV, which shows some potential. But this was an excellent read and it makes me want to pick up a couple of Miss Marple mysteries, which I haven’t read in way too long.

I got my copy of Holmes, Marple, and Poe through Kindle Unlimited. (What can I say? I got a deal – 3 months for 99 cents – but I don’t think I’ll keep it. There are some great titles, but I don’t use it enough to make it worth the money, at least not at regular price.)