"The Adventure of the Antiquarian's Niece"

by Barbara Hambly

originally published Shadows Over Baker Street, 2002

Holmes and Watson are visited by a Mr. Burnwell Colby, an American.  Colby has been living and studying with the Delapore family at Depewatch Priory in Shropshire; "a crumbling Gothic pile."  It seems Delapore senior is an authority on folklore and legends.  Colby has fallen in love with the man's niece, Judith - a feeling reciprocated.  But he has received notice by mail to eff off from Delapore senior.   He has also received notice from Judith that she fears her uncle and grandfather.  Believing something is fishy here, he has come to Holmes for help.

Holmes is intrigued.  Delapore has been the subject of investigation in the past - connected with the disappearances of several children.    Besides - there are traces of blood on Delapore's letter to Colby.

Holmes and Watson visit Carnacki, the psychic detective featured in William Hope Hodgson's stories, and learn that the site of Depewatch Priory has been considered problematic since the 1300's - a place of sinister legends of demons and ghosts, and with a history of murder and mayhem.  Watson first hears of shoggoths and other related horrors from Carnacki - but Holmes appears to be familiar with such folklore.

The next day, Colby returns, tells them the problem has been solved, hands them a large amount of money, and abruptly bails.  But Holmes notices he writes out an address with the opposite hand - the day before he'd been a rightie.

Holmes and Watson journey to the Priory.  While waiting for Holmes in a rented room, Watson receives a visit from Carstairs Delapore, and goes into a dream.  In it, he witnesses a black ceremony, hears the name Shub-Niggurath, and has visions of half-glimpsed, tentacled, shadowy things.  He apparently finds himself in the body of Carstairs Delapore, but at the last minute is rescued by Holmes and Carnaki, and Judith, who apparently has rather extensive sorcerous knowledge.

An interesting and rather frustrating story.  Hambly has good characters, and writes suggestive Lovecraftiana like no one since the Ol' Man hisself.    On the down side, this story seems rushed in the last portion.  It would be interesting to see Hambly write a longer, novella-length Lovecraftian tale.  This one is well-done, but a bit thin in the end.