Nowhere Man: Another John Pickett Novella by Sheri Cobb South

Narrated by Joel Froomkin

Bedford Falls meets Regency London in Nowhere Man, a new novella in Sheri Cobb-South’s long-running series of historical mysteries featuring Bow Street Runner John Pickett.

Or more accurately, EX-Bow Street runner, because by the time Nowhere Man begins, John has resigned his position at Bow Street and has branched out on his own as a Private Inquiry Agent. But it’s been a month now, and he’s had not a single response to his newspaper advertisement – and rather than admit his failure to his (very pregnant) wife, John has taken to wandering the streets of London during the day to make it look as though he actually has something to do.

The inequality of his marriage to Lady Julia Fieldhurst is something John has always felt keenly. Julia is a wealthy young widow, and her jointure pays most of their expenses, but John has always felt uncomfortable about living off his wife. As a Bow Street Runner he had at least had a salary – albeit a modest one – but now he doesn’t even have that and feels he is contributing absolutely nothing to their marriage. He’s walking around Covent Garden one afternoon, feeling down and pretty useless and thinks – not for the first time – that maybe everyone would be better off had he never been born. Just as he thinks it, the rosy-cheeked woman selling apples from a stall opposite him tells him he’s wrong and he shouldn’t be thinking such a thing – but before he can ask her what she means, his attention is diverted elsewhere by an altercation, and in attempting to avoid it, he slips, falls, hits his head and is knocked out.

When he comes to, he finds himself staring up into the face of Harry Carson, one of his former Bow Street colleagues – but something is off; when John mentions their having known each other for months, Harry seems surprised that John even knows who he is. John decides to head home to Curzon Street – but on arrival at the house he shares with Julia, the door is opened by a servant he doesn’t recognise, who insists the house is the town residence of the Dowager Countess of Wakeworth. Needless to say, John is utterly confused by this – and even moreso when he manages to get a glimpse of the décor inside, which is not at all as he remembers it. He asks to speak with the countess, and on being granted an audience with that lady, John tells her that he’s looking for his wife, the former Lady Fieldhurst. At the mention of Julia’s name, the countess’ demeanour changes completely and she sends John packing.

Julia’s absence from their home is not the only strange thing John encounters as he tries to find out where she is and what’s happening to him. As this very strange day and night progress, John encounters colleagues, friends, and even enemies, but none of them know who he is. And he learns a number of disturbing facts, for example Magistrate Colquhoun, who took John under his wing when John was just fourteen and has been like a father to him, is a drunkard; a man whose murder John investigated is still alive; the theatre at Drury Lane which burned down in Too Hot to Handle has been miraculously restored; a plot John was instrumental in preventing succeeded, and a young woman he’d thought happily married is instead making her living on her back.

And Julia, well… I won’t spoil it, but if you’re familiar with the John Pickett Mysteries (and you really need to be to fully appreciate this story) you’ll probably be able to guess why she’s no longer residing in Curzon Street.

And of course, as John navigates his way through the strangest day of his life, he comes to understand how many lives he’s touched and affected for the better in his short time on this earth.

This tale of John Pickett’s “Wonderful Life” is superbly narrated by Joel Froomkin, who grabs the opportunity to showcase his range and versatility and runs with it. It’s a real virtuoso performance in which every single character – and there are a LOT of them – is clearly differentiated and assigned an individual, recognisable ‘voice’; from Colquhoun’s Scottish brogue to the languid, affected drawl given to Sir Reginald and Lord Fieldhurst; from the imposing Dowager (I adore Mr. Froomkin’s line in crusty dowagers!) to poor Catherine, each vocal characterisation is spot on and the female voices are, as always, extremely good. John and Julia are performed consistently, and I continue to enjoy Mr. Froomkin’s portrayal of John, his by-now familiar tone and less-than-posh accent painting a portrait of an earnest and intelligent young man who never quite sees his true worth, but who nonetheless has a backbone of steel. Mr. Froomkin expertly conveys John’s bewilderment and growing sense of dread as he tries to understand what’s happening, and the scene near the end (in which he uncovers some previously unknown information about his background) with someone whose identity I won’t reveal, is perfectly judged and incredibly touching.

Set in a vibrant and believable Regency London, Nowhere Man is a heart-warming and clever retelling of a classic tale. Ms. Cobb South does a terrific job in covering all the beats of the original, and Joel Froomkin’s terrific performance adds another dimension This isn’t the place to start with the John Pickett Mysteries, but it’s a lovely early Christmas present devotees of the series are sure to enjoy.

Caz

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