The Real Sherlock Holmes

Book excerpt: The life and law enforcement career of the legendary Victorian police detective: “Caminada’s story is a remarkable one . . . [a] fascinating book.” —The Manc On December 6, 1886, Arthur Foster leaves the Queen’s Theatre, Manchester, with a pocket full of gold and a lady bedecked with diamonds on his arm. He hails a hansom cab, unaware that a detective has been trailing him as he’s crisscrossed the streets of the city. As the cab pulls away, the detective slips inside and arrests the infamous “Birmingham Forger.” The detective is Jerome Caminada, legendary policeman and real-life Victorian super-sleuth. A master of disguise with a keen eye for detail and ingenious methods of detection, Caminada is at the top of his game, tracking notorious criminals through the seedy streets of Manchester’s underworld. Relentless in his pursuit, he stalks pickpockets and poisoners, unscrupulous con artists and cold-blooded murderers. His groundbreaking detective work leads to the unraveling of classic crime cases such as the Hackney Carriage Murder in 1889, secret government missions, and a deadly confrontation with his arch-rival, a ruthless and violent thief. Caminada’s compelling story bears all the hallmarks of Arthur Conan Doyle and establishes this indefatigable investigator as one of the most formidable detectives of the Victorian era—and a real-life Sherlock Holmes. “The real-life figure who inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's infamous detective, Sherlock Holmes, may have been uncovered.” —Daily Mail