"The Mystery of the Hanged Man's Puzzle"

by Paul Finch

originally published Shadows Over Baker Street, 2002

Holmes and Watson travel to Newgate prison, for a meeting with condemned prisoner Harold Jobson, who is to be hanged for burglarizing a home, beating two servants to death, and murdering and burning Prof. Langley, a chemist, and his daughter.

Jobson gives Holmes a crude, grid-like drawing, and tells him that his troubles are just beginning.  Puzzled, Homes decides to investigating, leading Watson with him to Pickle Herring St., Jobson's old home.  There they are followed and nearly assassinated by a ruffian.  Searching his coat, they find two names and addresses - Holmes', and a man named Randolph Draker.  They pay a visit to Draker - who turns out to be fished-out and covered in barnacles. He drops dead in front of them.  Clues lead them to an American businessman named Julian Rohampton.  He directs them to an Obed Marsh.  But a visit to Marsh's place leads to a surprise - a gatling gun being pointed out a window!

Spying on the house, Holmes and Watson follow a mysterious character out of the house, to the London railway, and ultimately into the labyrinth of sewer tunnels under London.  There they discover Rohampton's secret lab, the still very-much-alive Prof. Langley, and a sinister plot to turn the entire human race into Deep One hybrids, via poisoning the water supply!  Much action ensues, involving gatling guns, explosions, and death by alligator for the evil Rohampton!

Pulpy fun but an energetic read.