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Alexis Hall

Alexis Hall

Genrequeer Writer of Kissing Books

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You are here: Home / Books / The Affair of the Mysterious Letter

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter

June 18, 2019 by

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter

In this charming, witty, and weird fantasy novel, Alexis Hall pays homage to Sherlock Holmes with a new twist on those renowned characters.

Upon returning to the city of Khelathra-Ven after five years fighting a war in another universe, Captain John Wyndham finds himself looking for somewhere to live, and expediency forces him to take lodgings at 221b Martyrs Walk. His new housemate is Ms. Shaharazad Haas, a consulting sorceress of mercurial temperament and dark reputation.

When Ms. Haas is enlisted to solve a case of blackmail against one of her former lovers, Miss Eirene Viola, Captain Wyndham finds himself drawn into a mystery that leads him from the salons of the literary set to the drowned back-alleys of Ven and even to a prison cell in lost Carcosa. Along the way he is beset by criminals, menaced by pirates, molested by vampires, almost devoured by mad gods, and called upon to punch a shark.

But the further the companions go in pursuit of the elusive blackmailer, the more impossible the case appears. Then again, in Khelathra-Ven reality is flexible, and the impossible is Ms. Haas’ stock-in-trade.

Content Guidance

Violence, threats of violence, guns, imprisonment, on page smoking and drug use, heavy drinking, mentions of past trans rejection, mild on page transphobia (one scene).

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PRH Audio · The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall, read by Nicholas Boulton
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Praise for The Affair of the Mysterious Letter

This book is so far up my alley that I discovered new, non-euclidean corners of the alley that I didn’t previously know existed.

Ruthanna Emrys
author of Winter Tide

Extraordinarily imaginative. This is the most fun I’ve had between two covers in a while!

Lara Elena Donnelly
author of Amberlough

This zany queer and fantastical pastiche of the Sherlock Holmes stories froths with magic and humor.

Publishers Weekly

The Affair of the Mysterious Letter is a witty, enjoyable, extravagantly imagined slant on the Sherlock Holmes canon. Don’t miss this fun, queer, clever intrigue!

Malka Older
author of Infomocracy

I really enjoyed this book. It was absolutely delightful, like a chocolate box, full of unexpected and brilliant references, sparklingly witty.

Genevieve Cogman
author of The Invisible Library

A sheer delight from start to finish, and the most perfect blend of gentle humor, wild creativity, and love for the feel of Sherlock Holmes.

Emma Newman
author of Atlas Alone
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