Three May Keep a Secret: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Richard T. Ryan | 6 Giveaways & Author Interview
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Book Details
Three May Keep A Secret by Richard Ryan
Series: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure 1
Published by MX Publishing on 11/29/2021
Genres: Fiction, Detective/Sleuth, Mystery
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 264
When a meeting with a client goes disastrously wrong, Sherlock Holmes soon finds himself involved in a case of murder with two dead bodies and too few clues.
From some clear pieces of glass and a raven's feather, the Great Detective must divine exactly who the client was and what prompted him to seek assistance at 221B. Fortunately, Holmes has a number of experts upon whom he can rely as well as his own vast store of esoteric knowledge.
Treading a twisted path, Holmes soon finds himself matching wits with an unseen criminal, who appears to be the equal of the late Professor Moriarty. At the same time, he is tasked with sparing the monarchy any possible embarrassment that may stem from the investigation.
It's a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that finds Holmes and Watson attending underground auctions, using rare and priceless artifacts as bait, and holding a late-night vigil in anticipation of deterring a theft, all the while trying to understand how a priceless antiquity fits into their investigation.
Like his previous books, Richard T. Ryan's "Three May Keep a Secret" is a deft blend of history and mystery, interweaving real-life personalities and ancient artifacts with the gas-lit streets of Victorian England and the characters of the Canon. The end result is a pastiche that should appeal to anyone who appreciates a tangled skein spiced with a healthy dollop of suspense and intrigue.
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Book Trailer
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Purchase Links for Three May Keep a Secret
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About Richard Ryan
A lifelong Sherlockian, Richard Ryan is the author of “The Vatican Cameos: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure,” “The Stone of Destiny,” “The Druid of Death” and “The Merchant of Menace,” and “Through a Glass Starkly,” all from MX Publishing. “Three May Keep a Secret” is his sixth Holmes pastiche, and he is currently at work on his seventh.
He has also written “B Is for Baker Street (My First Sherlock Holmes Book)," an alphabet book he penned for his grandchildren.
Among his other credits are “The Official Sherlock Holmes Trivia Book," a book on Agatha Christie trivia and the well-received murder mystery “Deadly Relations” that has been produced twice off-Broadway.
He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in medieval literature. To this day, he remains a die-hard fan of the Fighting Irish.
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Q & A with the Author
What gave you the confidence to attempt a pastiche of one of literature’s best-known characters – Sherlock Holmes?
I am a huge Holmes fan. In addition to all the Doyle stories, I’ve read many other pastiches over the years. I was just hoping I could put my knowledge of the Canon to good use by creating my own homage. It was a terrifying prospect at the beginning to think, “I’m going to try to imitate Conan Doyle.”
Among other things, you need to familiarize yourself with the grammar, slang, and cadence of a Victorian speaker, not to mention the history of that era. You also have to keep a sharp eye to make certain that Americanisms and anachronisms don’t slip in. So when I’m writing or editing a Holmesian tale, I try to transport myself to 1895.
Was it easy to get “inside the head” of Sherlock Holmes?
Since I regard myself as logical, it’s easy to relate to Holmes on that level. After all, Spock on “Star Trek” is similar to Holmes in many ways. The toughest part is to maintain the aloofness – the sangfroid, if you will – that is such an integral part of the Holmes character’s personality.
How do you develop the plot and resolution of the crimes?
Many of my scenes have to be written in reverse. When Holmes makes one of his startling observations – “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” – I have given the reader the conclusion, but before I can do that I have to know how he arrived there, so I have to construct the steps that come after so that I can write the conclusion.
As for plotting, I never know where the story is going to take me or what’s going to happen. I often paint myself into a corner and it may take me a while to figure out how to extricate myself. The big thing, and I still have to remind myself of this, is I can make anything, within reason, happen. So while I’m writing, I just think, “Wouldn’t it be cool if …”
How important is Dr. Watson, the narrator, in your books?
Watson is extremely important. He is the Everyman in my books. He is also the filter through which we see Holmes. I paint him as bright and concerned, but as Holmes often admonishes him – he sees but he does not observe. Also, I treat Watson and Holmes as equals. Holmes may be the brilliant one, but Watson is the more human of the two, the Everyman if you will. They complement each other and I try to show that in the manner in which I depict their friendship
You’ve written six Holmes novels. Do you plan to continue in that vein?
For the immediate future, the answer is yes. I’m about a quarter of the way through my next Holmes adventure, which I hope to bring out next year. Beyond that things get a little murky. While I enjoy Holmes and Watson, I think I’d like to try to create something totally original.
Speaking of original, do you feel your books have moved the story of Holmes and Watson forward?
In A Study in Scarlet, Holmes quotes the Bible: “There is nothing new under the sun.” I like to think I’ve moved Holmes forward a smidgen or two by introducing novel elements in my stories which other writers may not have used yet. There’s one scene in Three May Keep a Secret that I believe has never been done before, and I’m pretty proud of that.
Last question: Where do you see Sherlock Holmes 50 years from now?
Given the detective’s popularity, I would imagine that authors will still be writing pastiches and Hollywood will still be producing scripts that – if they don’t revolve around the Great Detective – can still trace their origins to him. Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock 3 will be released eventually, but in the meantime, the books, articles, fan fiction, and Sherlock Holmes societies will be doing their best to keep his memory green.
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Giveaway!
Enter to win a signed hardcopy copy of Three May Keep a Secret: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure (GRAND PRIZE) (one winner/USA only) or an ebook copy of Three May Keep a Secret. (5 runner-up winners) (ends Dec 24)
Three May Keep a Secret: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Richard T. Ryan Book Tour Giveaway
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