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Editorial Review Product Description
His retirement interrupted by the assassination of muckraker David Graham Phillips, Sherlock Holmes begins an investigation that leads him from England to New York's Gramercy Park to Washington, D.C. ... Read more Customer Reviews (7) 
The Seventh Bullet: an Exercise in the Dictionary
If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson then this is one book to stay away from.I got the impression that the author was more concerned with impressing his readers with vocabulary rather thanwith a plot.In all honesty, I could not finish this book.I quit about half way through it.There seemed to be very little if any plot development.It was almost as if the book were written by someone that was constantly consulting the dictionary to come up with the most intelligent sounding word possible.This is one book that should not have been written with the characters of Holmes and Watson.
The Murder of a Journalist
The `Preface' to this 1992 book explains finding a manuscript at Princeton University supposedly written by Dr. John Watson. Daniel Victor wrote his Ph.D. dissertation on David Graham Phillips and knows the details of the life of this "Muckraker". The copyrights to Arthur Conan Doyle's works expired around 1972 so anyone can use his fictional characters in novels or short stories. Nobody has equalled the original. Victor had a great idea in using Holmes and Watson to illuminate a long forgotten investigative journalist. A biography would be less popular than a mystery novel that entertains as it educates. I think Victor was wrong to speak of a "conflicting personae" since Phillips was a graduate of Princeton University (like F. Scott Fitzgerald) and not a character from "The Front Page". The table of `Contents' used Roman numerals for chapters but these are not used in the chapter headings.
Dr. Watson said Phillips had so successfully attacked the evil-doers in government that he brought upon himself the wrath of the powerful. [These are the Big Trusts of that day.] That is why Dr. Watson will obfuscate their identities. [Yet it is part of the public record!] Threats against journalists are not new, see Asa Mercer's "The Banditti of the Plains". This book lacks a photograph of David Graham Phillips. Would Dr. Watson "chortle" (p.7)? Holmes explained his identification of Phillips through a newspaper drawing from 1893 (p.9). [Weren't some of these less than exact?] Mrs. Carolyn Frevert wanted Sherlock Holmes to investigate the murder of her brother. She believes it was a conspiracy, not a lone gunman (p.11). What can Holmes discover long after the shooting? Holmes agrees to take this case (Chapter 2). [The author is careful to omit most monetary values of that day; this makes it less educational.]
Holmes and Watson visit the scene of the crime (Chapter 7). Something happened to convince Holmes there was a conspiracy that killed Phillips. They visit Washington D.C. (Chapter 8). They go to see `Peter Van den Acker' but he tells them nothing. Holmes explains his deductions. [That clue of a nail from a shoe-heel reminds me of a Charlie Chan novel.] Holmes continues his work, and developed a ruse to get a reaction from one suspect. But this doesn't work out, the suspect leaves England on a ship going to America (Chapter 11). Chapter 12 ends this story: "Justice has been served. Case closed."
Victor shows his knowledge of those times in this historical fiction. Some of the story does not agree with the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (as I remember it), or the recorded facts. There was no need to obscure the names of the US senators attacked in Phillips' articles. They were Nelson W. Aldrich (RI) and Arthur P. Gorman (MD). Popular parties of that era advocated the direct election of US senators and the 17th Amendment was adopted. Dr. Watson would know better than to assume the son would be as good as the father. If Victor had read some of Upton Sinclair's novels he might have done better. That is why I gave this book a low rating.
What an experience!
This masterpiece by Doctor Victor of Hamilton HighSchool is the primaryexample of what makes modern literature so great.Replete with excitingsequences, surprise twists and turns, rich diction, and tone changes, thismystery book has had a gigantic impact on me.Its eloquent account of theadventures of Holmes and Watson, with their searing downfalls andcourageous successes, proves once again that Hamilton High School is thegreatest school ever and that Doctor Victor is the best teacher ever.No,I don't need an A (I graduated in 1998); all I want is to pay homage to thegreat author of the suspensful thriller. Doctor Victor, We remember you andlove you. I think this goes for everyone.
The Best!
I'm in Dr. Victor A.P. class and although I haven't read the book the plot and story line sound interesting. I will soon buy the book and add it to my collestion of books which will be a pleasure to have. Get one of the bestbooks of the 20th century. Hey all in the class and to you Dr. Victor! Thisshould be an "A" in the class,don't you think Dr.Victor.Per.3"01"
One of the greatest books i have never read
Dr. Daniel Victor is one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. His use of diction and syntax in all the right place makes The Seventh Bullet enjoyable to read. Also I am in his AP English class and could really use agood grade in that class. Whatever my fellow classmate Mike said is alltrue. Casey Per. 3 '01
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