[Holmes Behind the Veil 02] • Sherlock Holmes at the Crucible of Life

From the author of “Allan Quatermain at the Dawn of Time”

“The Great Detective at the Crucible of Life” is an uncompromising and unconventional novel does not have a “plot” in the ordinary sense, though one could describe it as a quest for the Meaning of Life. It reflects the author’s fascination with old books; indeed, this volume comprises a straightforward record of the excavation of "historical" minutiae and “forgotten” manuscripts, which, when assembled WITH the manuscripts’ contents, IS the novel. It knits together a transcribed oral memoir and myriad letters and journal pages from across two millennia, interspersed with the author’s own ironic “expert” observations. Those unearthed documents are presented in a series of prefaces, introductions, forewords, and afterwords that (with tongue firmly in cheek) challenge the structure of the conventional novel.

"Crucible of Life" is a very unique novel if there ever was one! Please read this whole description before you buy. Be sure you understand what this book is before you commit!

This EPISTOLARY novel chronicles a quest by KING SOLOMON’S MINES’ Allan Quatermain deep into the deserts of ETHIOPIA in 1872 and presents a series of connected accounts that build layers and labyrinths that the attentive reader must negotiate from the first page; the rewards are many.

Here are some reviews from earlier paperback and hardcover editions:

“A masterful tale! ...I found the book to be very entertaining and difficult to put down.”— Golden Fleece (Amazon)

I found it intriguing and stimulating. I couldn't wait to finish the book and at the same time not wanting it to end. I look forward to reading more of Miller's work.”—JWC SEAL 76 (Amazon)

"There is humour, horror, action, suspense, mystery and history. But above all, there is an open challenge to all the readers to go through this complex web of stories and get to the end to work out one's own solution for the mystery of life."—Riju Ganguly (Goodreads and Amazon.uk)

“Really quite a good deal of fun...strikingly unique.”—Jim Sanderson (Goodreads)

“A fun trip!”—fredtownward (Amazon)

“It's fun!”—Philip K. Jones (Amazon)

"Great fun with literature! I won't say I couldn't put this book down...But I didn't WANT to!"—Anonymouse (Amazon)

"RECOMMENDED: A sheer joy!"—SHERLOCK HOLMES: The Great Detective in Paperback and Pastiche (2008)

"Immensely enjoyable!"—John Betancourt, Publisher Wildside Press

Think of all those Sherlock Holmes that you've read and enjoyed. Don’t they almost always begin with a couple or more pages of deadly serious Introduction explaining how Watson’s manuscript was found? This book is a thought-provoking, cheerfully fun PARODY OF THAT CONVENTION of pseudo-Introductions in Holmes pastiches.

YOU'RE BEING FAIRLY WARNED! For heaven’s sakes, please don’t read this book and then give it a one-star, one-line, anonymous “flame,” "hit & run" review labeled “Terrible!” or “Extraordinarily Disappointing!” just because it’s UTTERLY DIFFERENT from what you expected.