Contact Name/Author – Jeri Westerson
Contact Email – westerson@gmail.com
Phone Number – 951-570-3719
Book Title – THE VAMPYRE CLIENT
Series – An Irregular Detective Mystery, #4
Publisher – Old London Press
Release Date – May 1, 2026 ebook and print. May 12, 2026 audiobook
Book Categories –Mystery: Historical/Traditional/Private Detectives, Sherlockian Pastiche
Tagline: “Without Holmes…They’re Clueless”
Talking points:
- A unique take on a pastiche series
- Sherlock Adjacent
- Doyle Canon
- Vivid Victorian Setting
- A Cozy Victorian Mystery
- Buddy Book
Blurbs:
“Perfectly at home in Victorian London, Westerson is a commanding author, who handles plot, setting, character and humour with equal polish, making it a thoroughly engaging read for the casual mystery buff and dedicated Sherlockian alike. Recommended!” — Bestselling author Bonnie MacBird of the Sherlock Holmes Adventures on THE MISPLACED PHYSICIAN
“Light-hearted Mystery/Thriller. Tim and Ben are not perfect detectives AT ALL, which makes it hilarious; their human mistakes make them more relatable. Definitely recommend this book.” — Maria A., Netgalley Reviewer on THE VAMPYRE CLIENT
“Has everything a reader could want in a Victorian mystery: dastardly deeds on dark London streets, cockney squalor, upper-crust skullduggery, a hint of the supernatural, even a stalwart sidekick named Watson. That he’s not the Watson — and the sleuth on the case is named “Badger” rather than Holmes — only adds to the sly Sherlockian fun.” — Steve Hockensmith, author of the Holmes on the Range mystery series on THE ISOLATED SEANCE
“Jeri Westerson’s series graces readers with novels set in the Sherlock Holmes universe but with an original, unique, and inventive twist in these vibrant tales. The Baker Street Irregulars are now young men, and one is a private detective under the distant and critical eye of Holmes himself. It’s a new generation, but the game is still afoot—and dangerous. A smashing premise and pitch-perfect!” — James R Benn, bestselling author of the Billy Boyle World War II mysteries on THE MUMMY OF MAYFAIR
“Filled with vivid period details, this is a charming, witty, heartwarming, enthralling read that will appeal to a wide range of mystery fans.” — Booklist on THE MISPLACED PHYSICIAN
Website – https://www.jeriwesterson.com/
Bio: Los Angeles native and irrepressible Anglophile, JERI WESTERSON has published over 45 novels, including her current Sherlockian Pastiche series and her Tudor mystery series. Earlier in life, she had been a graphic designer/art director and newspaper reporter, but found herself suddenly working towards a writing career as an historical novelist cum mystery writer. She has served as president of the SoCal Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, president and vice president for two chapters of Sisters in Crime (OC and LA), a member of the Author’s Guild, the Independent Book Publishers Association, the Curious Collectors of Baker Street, the West Coast Holmes Hounds, and was a founding member of the SoCal chapter of the Historical Novel Society. See all her books at JeriWesterson.com.
Book Description – London, October, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger and his colleague in crime-solving Ben Watson, are hired by a man whose neighbours are convinced he is a vampyre and have threatened him and his home. The strange Mister Jonathan Wicker needs the detectives to prove to the villagers that he is just an ordinary scientist. But once there, tragedy strikes, and Badger and Watson find they have a case they can truly sink their teeth into.
The Story Behind the Story – I am infatuated with history, and my current addiction is the Victorian period. What better way to explore 1895 London than to write my own Sherlockian pastiche series! I just adore walking the misty streets of a long-ago London lit in dusky lamplight, following my two young detectives, trying to whisper in their ears about clues they may not have noticed, and just getting to live – if only temporarily – alongside these bosom friends throughout their adventures.
Paperback ISBN – 9798998776700
Ebook ISBN – 9798998776717
Audiobook ISBN – 9798228934399
Keyword search terms – Sherlockian pastiche, Baker Street Irregulars, Sherlock adjacent, Buddy Book, Cozy Victorian Mystery
MYSTERY AUTHOR EXPLORES THE WORLD OF SHERLOCK HOLMES:
A Brief Interview for Media Use
Jeri Westerson has written the fifteen-book CRISPIN GUEST MEDIEVAL NOIR series nominated thirteen times for numerous national mystery awards, a three-book gaslamp-steampunk series THE ENCHANTER CHRONICLES, a four-book romantasy series BOOKE OF THE HIDDEN, is currently writing a Tudor mystery series the KING’S FOOL MYSTERIES, and many other series and standalone historicals. And she has entered the world of Sherlock Holmes with her fourth novel in AN IRREGULAR DETECTIVE MYSTERY series THE VAMPYRE CLIENT.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO WRITE A SHERLOCKIAN VAMPIRE BOOK?
In the Doyle canon, Sherlock Holmes was involved in stories that one might at first characterize as a penny dreadful, the pulp fiction of the day that involved mustache-twirling villains and ingénues in jeopardy, as well as stories of the supernatural kind, with hauntings and vampires. And when I say first characterize, I mean it was meant to be interpreted as a scary story, but Sherlock Holmes could not be fooled. Like any Scooby-Doo adventure, he knew it wasn’t supernatural and unmasked the culprit in the end. By the way, those three stories are THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire”, and “The Creeping Man”.
IS THE PENNY DREADFUL SOMETHING YOU LIKE TO LEAN INTO?
Yes, because I love it so much! I first touched on it in the second book in the series, THE MUMMY OF MAYFAIR, and because my former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger is a big believer in the supernatural, he naturally balks at getting involved in those cases, but his more pragmatic and scientific-minded parter Ben Watson, convinces him it isn’t any kind of curse or ghost or vampire, and of course, the more they investigate, Badger sees that Watson is right. Their dynamic together is what makes writing these book so much fun to do.
YOUR CHARACTER OF BEN WATSON, THE PARTNER WITH TIM BADGER, IS A BLACK MAN IN VICTORIAN LONDON. WHY MAKE THAT CHOICE?
I needed to show that there was already diversity in London, which the canon does not quite touch on and was much needed. It’s also a way to comment on today’s issues through events of the past. Ben Watson is no relation to Doctor John Watson, though Holmes finds endless amusement that Badger also found himself a “Watson” to work with. Ben has had extensive experience through many past jobs: a blacksmith, chimney sweep, chemist’s assistant, fun fair (carnival) performer…and many more, completely suitable for detecting, besides a quick and clever mind.
IT SEEMS THAT YOU GO FOR A LOT OF HUMOR IN THE SERIES, BUT ALSO A LOT OF HEART.
I felt the series would benefit from a lighter touch, and that the reader would settle in and feel more part of the adventure with that humorous tone and gladly go along for the ride with Tim Badger and Ben Watson. At the same time, one of my favorite things to write are those scenes that get you right in the heart. It can always hit the right note to add a bit of pathos. It was a reminder that these were real people trudging through real problems that would affect them…even though they’re all fictional. And so yes, I do inject it with a lot of heart in just the right places. After all, they are “buddy books” with two friends who will do anything for the other.
ARE THERE MORE OF THESE KINDS OF PENNY DREADFUL BOOKS TO COME?
Oh yes! The sixth book, THE GHOST CARRIAGE is a real heart-stopper when a wealthy but recluse family sees the old family curse resurrect of a ghost apparition that when anyone sees the ghost carriage, they are doomed! Fun stuff.
YOU’RE NOW RELEASING THE FOURTH BOOK IN THE SERIES. ARE YOU PLANNING A LONG SERIES?
I really love these characters and the Victorian setting. I have no idea how many I will write, but I sure as heck am enjoying writing them. I’ve already got the next five either already written or at least plotted out.
DO YOU THINK READERS WILL EVER TIRE OF PASTICHES ABOUT SHERLOCK HOLMES?
I hope not! That’s rather what I’m banking on right now. I think this is a fun series. It’s fun to write and it’s fun to read. That’s all you really want out of a mystery besides an interesting puzzle and characters you want to follow from book to book. As well as allowing you to see things through the eyes of people from another era. That’s what my readers have always liked; taking a time machine to other eras and exploring – through the safety of their novel pages – a world that is no more.
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