The Guilty Abroad is the fourth in Heck’s series to feature his fictionalized Mark Twain. While the first three used Twain’s familiar backdrop of the Mississippi River, New Orleans and riverboats, The Guilty Abroad finds Twain in England, planning a lecture tour. Unfortunately for Twain, a con-man from New Orleans known as Slippery Ed reappears in his life. His newest scam feeds on the popular spiritualist fad among the well-to-do of this period.

To be more specific, Slippery Ed’s wife, the beautiful but calculating Martha McPhee, is holding séances. For a price, she will serve as a “conduit” for guests to speak to their dead loved ones. Of course Mr. Clemens is scornful and suspicious of the whole thing, especially because of his past dealings with the McPhees. However, his persuasive wife and daughter want to give it a try, so he begrudgingly agrees to attend. When the twelve various participants are gathered, it is a diverse bunch. Among them are Clemens, his wife and eldest daughter, his secretary Cabot, a baronet and his wife, a prominent physician with his wife and her pretty sister, a pompous young aristocrat, and a mourning widow.

With Martha McPhee conducting the séance, and her husband guarding the outside door with a burly young assistant, that makes fourteen -- or thirteen suspects after the murder occurs. Of course, narrowing down the field of suspects and discovering a motive becomes Clemens’ goal, even though he is greatly discouraged from this by Chief Inspector Lestrade (a clever use of a fictional character).

Heck’s Mr. Clemens is seen through the eyes of Wentworth Cabot, who serves as secretary and assistant to the author. While Wentworth is discovered to be young, loyal and proper, not much else is revealed about this character. In fact, as a narrator’s role goes, he is a bit too proper and dull to be of much interest. Fortunately, Mr. Clemens has some lively moments and his dialogue, ranging from sassy to downright mean, is one of the story’s highlights.

Unfortunately, his family suffers Wentworth’s fate and is largely one-dimensional. Clemens’ wife, politely referred to by the ever-proper narrator as only Mrs. Clemens, is patient, sweet and calm in the face of her eccentric husband. The oldest daughter, Susy, is an introspective and bright young woman looking for something new in her life. The two youngest girls, Clara and Jean, are sprightly but sulking, as they do not get to take part in any of their father’s doings. The liveliest character is Slippery Ed McPhee, a likable criminal whose colorful expressions rival Twain’s.

As the suspects move in and out of focus, and no clear motive seems to develop, the story loses momentum. Relying largely on dialogue and many ever-so-proper interviews, the need for action is obvious. The climax, when it arrives, seems to be a bit of a letdown, even for Twain. (No ghostly weapons involved.)

Still, the author works London of the 1890’s into the story with some flair and scenes between Twain and Slippery Ed are usually good for a chuckle. Let’s hope that if Mr. Samuel Langhorne Clemens finds himself in the middle of another mystery, he has a bit more fun and excitement next time.

--Martha Moore