Aurora Jones, Private Detective : Her First Cases (MX Publishing, 2026)
Aurora Jones achieved a modicum of fame by collaborating with Sherlock Holmes in the case the newspapers called The Finger Murders and described in the novel Black and Deep Desires. The great detective mentored and instructed her throughout the investigation, and now she has her own agency. Here are seven short stories and a novella concerning the first cases handled by the forthright young detective.
The Thief Who Took Liberty’s Arthur Liberty offers Sherlock Holmes a case, but he is off to Paris on another investigation. He passes it to Aurora, who goes undercover at Liberty & Co. to find out why someone is stealing items from their stock and returning them some days later.
The Library in the Body Aurora travels to Oxford at the behest of Edward Nicholson, librarian at the Bodleian Library. He is being traduced by an anonymous writer of letters to the newspapers, but while investigating this Aurora stumbles upon a murder in the Library. She feels compelled to look into it, unable to just leave the case to Inspector Craddock.
The Case of the Faithful Footman A footman disappears on his half-day off, and his employer Mrs. Templeton wants Aurora and Kate (her new assistant) to find out why. The clues lead to the Red Dragon public house and then a pawn shop. Meanwhile, Holmes and Watson are investigating the case of a body mutilated while in the morgue.
Aurora Jones Reminisces Aurora had promised Kate that she would tell her of her early cases. One slow afternoon over a pot of tea she relates the story of the fraudulent life insurance salesman, her very first case. She then tells Kate how she solved a confectionery conundrum at a sweet shop, which prevented a serious crime.
The Uncharitable Benevolent Society In a case brought to Aurora by her godmother Mrs. Philomena Sutherland, Aurora and Kate look into why two different men, suspected of two different crimes months apart, have the same person as their alibis. Is it an enormous coincidence, or something more sinister?
The Armitage Abduction Case Violet Armitage comes to Aurora in tears – her two children have been kidnapped. Inspector Throgmorton has done nothing, but then Aurora and Kate discover a most curious thing – Oscar and Charlie were seen laughing, giggling and waving as the man who snatched them bundled the children into a carriage.
The Revenge of Cecil St John Jarvis In one of her early cases, Aurora found that Cecil St John Jarvis forged his father’s will to favour himself. He fled when discovered, but has now returned seeking vengeance on all those involved in the matter. Kate is kidnapped by him in order to lure Aurora to her certain death, and Aurora has to think fast to save them both.
The Branches of Evil A protection racket run by corrupt police officers is brought to Aurora and Kate’s attention. Their investigation is progressing well until Aurora’s father, DCI Brinsley-Jones, is arrested as the leader of the racket. Aurora enlists the aid of Holmes and Watson to clear his name and find the true culprits.
