I enjoyed this easy read. There may have been one or two small plot holes but I didn't care. The main characters were fun and likeable - at least for the most part. I would read the 2nd in the series. ( )

This is the story of two brothers, both lawyers, who have taken up new office space on Baker Street. Reggie is the elder and more successful of the brothers. Nigel is the younger and something of a screw-up. As a part of their lease, the brothers receive letters written to a more famous occupant at that address - Sherlock Holmes. Also according to their lease, which Reggie didn't read as closely as he should have, they are to return a form response and not do anything else with the letters on pain of losing their lease and being liable for the whole time period's rent.

Nigel is currently without his license to practice law because of a case where he was too ethical and ran afoul of the daughter of his client while he was trying to return his fee. He is spending his time reading the letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes. Nigel becomes fascinated by one sent twenty years earlier by an eight-year-old Los Angeles girl who wants Sherlock to help her find her missing father. What fascinates Nigel is that there have been two more recent letters asking Sherlock to return the enclosures that were sent with the first letter. He decides to take the letter and enclosures to LA to try to find the young woman.

Reggie is expecting him to show up for the hearing that will reinstate his license but he doesn't show up. When Reggie checks Nigel's office, he finds it trashed and the body of their law clerk there in the mess apparently bludgeoned to death by a sculpture that belonged to Nigel. Reggie takes off to LA to try to find his missing brother before the London police can.

As Reggie searches for his brother, he finds himself inside a multi-million dollar conspiracy that has personal implications for Reggie. He also finds another dead body and this time he's a suspect.

This was an engaging story. Reggie is an interesting character but not initially likable. He seems rigid in his views and not very sympathetic to the idea that his brother might have his own plans for his future. His relationship with his girlfriend Laura is faltering because of his inability to make a commitment. And for a highly qualified and successful lawyer, he certainly seems to have trouble reading the contracts he blithely signs! ( )

This book had a lot of potential for me. The characters were interesting, for the most part. The brothers were so aloof and arrogant, they were oblivious to the world around them. It made the story seem inane at times. My main complaint was the ending. You kind of got an idea of who was involved in the crime and the purpose, but the buildup did not match the finale. However, I do see a lot of potential with the series, and I did like the brothers, even though they acted like idiots a lot of the time. So, I will read the next one in the series to see if maturity and editing help the series any. ( )

The Baker Street Letters: A Mystery - Michael Robertson
Audio performance by Simon Vance - 3 stars

This is the first book in a series about the brothers Heath. Elder Brother, Reggie, is a successful London barrister. His younger brother, Nigel…. not so much. Nigel has issues, but surely he can handle the simple task of sending out form letters to the poor deluded people who write letters to the fictional Sherlock Holmes; letters which are delivered to their upscale London offices at 221 ½ Baker Street. There’s a 20 year-old letter from an 8 year-old Chicana in Los Angeles. It’s in the files. There are new letters requesting the return of the old, childish letter. There’s a murder. False charges, false arrests, flights to Los Angeles, smog and traffic jams.

This was fun. It was not wonderful writing. It was not even a wonderful narration. ( I love you, Simon Vance, but truly, you need to work on your Mexican American accent. The girl sounded Russian. Practice these words: quinceanera, queso, quesadilla, quien. It did make me laugh.) However, this is where I live. I enjoyed the local atmosphere, even though I questioned how anyone could be so stupid as to continually take cabs for multiple trips from the L.A to San Fernando to Pasadena and points beyond.

The whole plot was about transportation problems in the greater Los Angeles area (Tell me about it.) and the construction of our less than adequate subway system. I remember the subway tunnel fires of the early ‘90’s. Who knew it was related to a great real estate fraud and multiple murders? ( )

fun, easy read; ending VERY clearly sets up for another book (or a whole series)