Disguises Won't Fool This Family of Featured Detectives
The Dear Holmes “Featured Detective” Program honors one detective per mystery for their clever and well-thought-out solution to the case. To learn how to send in your own solution, visit Dearholmes.com/solve.
Esteemed Detectives,
Thanks to your diligence, Holmes and Captain Cumming have finally been able to lay The Maharaja Matter to rest. From its start, this high-profile case presented sleuths with an intricate web of clues to navigate: Was the murder of Dhanpat Rai Yadav, the Maharaja of Corvencar’s body double, intentional, or a case of mistaken identity? Was the stolen ring our villain’s true objective? And who was this mysterious “Bhagya”?
After learning of Mr. Yadav’s murder, many detectives were quick to question the deceased himself. It was possible, after all, that the Maharaja’s doppelganger could’ve slain his employer and assumed his royal identity. Other detectives immediately turned to question the Maharaja’s staff, and nephew, Rama, regarding their potential roles in the crime. Some even went as far as speculating that His Highness’ staff could’ve been in cahoots with the veiled “Bhagya”.
Once the Maharaja’s “charming” tendencies, and his connection to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple came to light, however, investigators truly began to hone in on our culprit— and Bhagya’s true identity.
This time, the contest for Featured Detective was very much down to timing. With such a large number of unbelievably excellent entries, it came down to which of our expert investigators first brought a fully accurate solution to the table. Thus, as this case’s Featured Detectives, we’d like to honor The Wylie (“We’re Your Legal Investigation Experts”) Team, of Lake Wylie, South Carolina! (With a special shoutout to the Vedder Detectives in the “Wild West of California” — it was a close race!)
The Wylie Team smoothly brought this sensitive case to a close for Captain Cumming with two wonderful submissions. They provided not only a thorough analysis of the case at hand, including evaluations of its witnesses, suspects, the scenes of the crime, and the true perpetrator, but also insight into their own investigative processes.
Congratulations from the Dear Holmes Team to the investigators at Wylie, Inc. — a special reward will soon be arriving at your doorstep!
Want to be next month’s Featured Detective? Mail your solution to 1101 14th St NW, Suite 910, Washington DC 20005, or submit online at Dearholmes.com/solve.