The Adventure of the Christmas Visitor

 The Adventure of the Christmas Visitor by D. O. Smith

Dr. Watson is invited to spend the Christmas holidays with his wartime comrade-in-arms, Major Drummond. The major extends the invitation to include Sherlock Holmes--noting that he has a small puzzle that might be of some interest to the detective. Knowing Holmes' preference to spend the holidays at Baker Street rather than in company, Watson is prepared to offer several arguments to persuade his friend. To his astonishment, he needs none. Holmes agrees immediately.

On the way to the major's estate, he tells Holmes about his little puzzle...well, really his friend Nathaniel Peterson's puzzle. Captain Peterson is a retired seaman who lives in the nearby village. He had been away from home for a bit and when he returned, he found that a man who gave his name as John Roberts and claiming to be an old acquaintance of the captain had stopped by. Finding Peterson away, he said he'd come by again. But Peterson has no recollection of every knowing a man by that name. When the captain made some inquiries in the village he found that a man of the same description (though unnamed there) had been at The Crown and said he was looking for Peterson because "He's my brother." Well...Peterson doesn't have a brother and certainly not a brother named John Roberts. When asked what he makes of it all, Holmes says he doesn't have enough data. and it will have to wait until he can speak to Peterson during the holiday.

Peterson doesn't show up for the holiday meal as expected, but a mysterious stranger by the name of Jacob Caldwell does. It has been snowing steadily for quite some time and Caldwell is found outside the door in the snow. He says that a note from Captain Peterson must have gone astray--but he (Caldwell) is a friend of Peterson's and had been invited to stay with the captain and accompany him to the Drummonds for the Christmas dinner per a note he'd sent. Despite the mix-up, Major Drummond is more than welcoming and Caldwell joins the family for dinner and is given a place to sleep for the night. The next morning Caldwell is found stabbed to death in the library with the window open and a trail of footprints in the snow leading to and from the house. Holmes immediately sees that the footprints are a ruse to deflect suspicion away from the house, but who could have wanted to murder the stranger? 

This is an entertaining short Holmes pastiche. D. O. Smith is very successful at capturing the spirit of the Doyle's characters and style. Holmes and Watson sound and act like themselves and the atmosphere is a credit to the creator. A nicely done mystery and it was a bonus to have a holiday mystery to read during the holiday season. ★★★★

First line: On only two occasions in all the time I knew him could Sherlock Holmes be persuaded to spend the Christmas season anywhere other than in his own rooms in Baker Street

Last line: "Though our Christmastide was darkened by these bloody and deceitful deeds, let the passing year be sanctified by the holy water of truth!"