Minnesota History Disguised as a Murder Mystery Sherlock Holmes and the County Courthouse Caper It's November 1886 in the tiny frontier town of Browns Valley, Minnesota. Twelve-year-old Petey Smith leads an idyllic life--until the day a stranger steps off the train and takes him on the adventure of a lifetime. The history, geography and cultural diversity of the Minnesota River Valley play key roles in this intriguing blend of fact and fiction. Teens and near teens will love the tales of political corruption, deceit, vengeance, and murder. Their grandparents will, too---and so will you! Sherlock Holmes: In Search of the Source It's December 1896 in the booming capital city of St. Paul. Sherlock Holmes has returned to America to attend the wedding of Petey Smith. Suddenly, there are complications: An overnight fire. A life's work destroyed. And worse: a dead body. The only clues? A pair of boot prints. A mysterious fuel. A missing sword. Eventually, a member of Petey's bridal party is accused of arson---and murder. Now, Sherlock Holmes must race against time, and an overzealous police detective, to solve a mystery before the nuptials can proceed.

Author Biography

Jeff Falkingham is a mystery lover and history buff who writes for readers of all ages who share those passions. To date, he has published two works of historical fiction that bring Sherlock Holmes to Minnesota in the late 1800s. An engaging public speaker, he also has conducted Book Talks at nearly 80 schools, libraries, historical societies and book or social clubs. Jeff has a B.A. in mass communication from St. Cloud State University and an M.A. in community and organizational leadership from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. After beginning his career as a sportswriter, he worked in marketing communication for 35 years before retiring in May of 2013. A native of Browns Valley, Minnesota, Jeff and his wife Bonita have lived in Eden Prairie, MN since 1983.