The Professor and I

von Oliver Whitefield

204 Seiten, Taschenbuch

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

Raised in Switzerland by a devoted mother who fled England after a disastrous affair, twenty-four-year-old William James Murphy has lived a quiet life far removed from the intrigues of Victorian Britain. His world is turned upside down when a London firm of solicitors informs him that he has inherited the entire estate of the recently deceased Professor James Moriarty, the infamous criminal mastermind and greatest enemy of Sherlock Holmes.Shocked by the revelation, William discovers an even deeper secret: his mother once had a romantic relationship with Moriarty, making the notorious professor the mysterious figure whose shadow has haunted their lives for decades. Reluctantly travelling to England, William takes possession of Moriarty's vast country estate, Stanton Hall, and finds himself surrounded by servants, hidden records, stolen treasures, coded correspondence, and evidence of a criminal empire that may still be operating despite its creator's apparent death.Among Moriarty's effects, William discovers a scrapbook chronicling the professor's lifelong battle with Sherlock Holmes and a sealed letter intended for the detective himself. Determined to honour the wishes of a man he never knew and to uncover the truth about his own past, William delivers the message to Holmes at Baker Street.The meeting proves unexpectedly cordial. Holmes and Dr. Watson recognise that William is neither criminal nor conspirator, but an innocent heir caught in the aftermath of a dangerous legacy. As William begins receiving visits and messages from mysterious aristocrats, former associates of Moriarty, and victims seeking the return of stolen property, it becomes clear that the professor's death has not ended the influence of his vast network.Soon William finds himself drawn into a world of secrets, hidden fortunes, unfinished schemes, and powerful enemies. With Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson reluctantly at his side, he must determine whether he will become merely the custodian of Moriarty's legacy or the man who finally destroys the last threads of the professor's web.Set against the backdrop of late Victorian England, The Professor and I is a mystery-adventure that explores identity, inheritance, and the struggle between destiny and choice, as a young man discovers that the greatest mystery of all may be the truth about his own family.