An Inside Look at Mr. Kennedy and the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard

To celebrate the debut release of AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY, I thought I'd take these next few days here at Get Lost in a Story to give you an inside look into Detective Kennedy's world of sleuthing and intrigue. Fairly basic to his success in the field are the gadgets and weapons both he and the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard rely on to help them solve the case and bring in the bad guys.

Day One : Monday, February 20, 2012

G I Z M O S,  G A D G E T S,  W I D G E T S   
A N D  W E A P O N S 

of Special Branch, Scotland Yard

Put James Bond in a time machine and transport him to late Victorian London, add a good bit of Sherlock Holmes, a splash of Lord Byron and you get pretty close to The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard. Although the detectives are reality-based characters, the plot lines, sleuthing methods and gadgetry edge on Steampunk. Just take a look at their gadgets!

This is the real thing, an antique Webley Mk I .455 Revolver, circa 1887. Standard issue small-arm for Special Branch Yard men.

 By 1887, an electrical torch powered dry cell batteries is designed and tested for field use. Batteries are laid front to back in a paper tube capped with a light bulb and a rough brass reflector. A number of these prototype devices are donated to Scotland Yard whose Special Branch detectives, respond favorably to them.

 By the 1880's Victorian London is awash in anarchists both domestic and foreign. These destructive dynamiters are the prime reason for the creation of Special Branch, Scotland Yard.

 For Scotland Yard's secret weapon against the dynamiters see below

Alfred's not a gadget, he's a special operative and he's also the most valuable dog in Queen Victoria's Empire. Named after Alfred Nobel, the bloodhound has been trained to alert to the scent of diatomaceous earth and sodium carbonate as well as nitro. Alfred enjoys a supporting role in every Gentlemen of Scotland Yard novel and nearly always steals the scene.

Known affectionately as "Roger" by Special Branch Yard men, the skeleton key is capable of opening any lock regardless of make or type. 

H A T   D E T E C T I V E   C A M E R A
In an upcoming story, Archibald Bruce, director of the Special Branch Crime Laboratory, spends a great deal of time and effort perfecting the hat detective. The camera folds inside the same as an ordinary opera hat. The Lens and shutter may be immediately placed into position by a bayonet joint. It is fitted with the best Rectilinear lens, working at f/11.   
                                  

Rifle silencer invented by Hiram Percy Maxim with design input and financing from Phineas Gunn, the the hero of book three in the series, A Private Duel with Agent Gunn.


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Q U E S T I O N   F O R  C O M M E N T E R S:


What is your all time favorite spy gadget from film, novels or TV?






C O N T E S T  &  G I V E A W A Y S

To celebrate my debut release, I am giving away a signed copy of AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY to one commenter everyday for three days. In addition, all commenters will be entered in a special giveaway promotion: Jewelry inspired by the romantic notion of recapturing lost time as the French title ‘Le Temps Perdu’ A Steampunk watch necklace from the Time Travel Collection by Yolanda Pang. Cyber travel to Poetic Designs and see for yourself just how whimsical this watch necklace is! http://www.etsy.com/listing/86157293/le-temps-perdu-ii-steampunk-watch 

The AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDY promotion continues here at Get Lost in a Story for three days! I will post the winner on here on February 23 and on my website: jillianstone.com  

Leave a comment each day and you have another chance to win.

Good luck everyone!

 Tomorrow the heroine of An Affair with Mr. Kennedy, Cassandra St. Cloud, will discuss her influences in art, and share a few little known facts about Mr. Kennedy!

For the story blurbs for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy, A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis and A Private Duel with Agent Gunn, visit my website: jillianstone.com

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America and Canadian addresses only. If an electronic Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, I may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.