I hadn’t heard of Larry Millett’s Shadwell Rafferty series before this book—which is funny, considering I live in Minnesota. Rafferty’s Last Case: A Minnesota Mystery Featuring Sherlock Holmes is the ninth and final installment, and it’s a smart, nostalgic sendoff to a beloved local detective.
The story kicks off with a shocker: St. Paul saloonkeeper and sleuth Shadwell Rafferty is found murdered just as he’s about to reveal a killer’s name. When word reaches Sherlock Holmes—who happens to be on a lecture tour in Chicago—he and Dr. Watson head north to investigate their friend’s death.
Set in 1928, the novel captures the grit and glamour of old St. Paul, from its smoky speakeasies to its shady political circles. Holmes methodically retraces Rafferty’s final steps, uncovering not one mystery but two, as he digs into a tangle of suspects that includes priests, poets, and politicians.
While the pacing occasionally drags with backstory, Millett’s attention to period detail and his sly, respectful nod to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle make this finale a treat. Fans of historical mysteries—or anyone who loves seeing Holmes in unexpected places—will find this one worth a toast.
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Minnesota Press for a review copy. Opinions are my own.