Max Bittersohn comes from a Jewish family and grew up in Ireson Town. At the request of his parents, he began studying medicine. Through his investigation he was able to free an uncle of the suspicion of being a jewelry thief. He then moved from his study of medicine to that of art history and graduated from this second line of study. Afterwards, he opened his own small private detective agency (by the way, click here if you are interested in real detective work) and specialized on the recovery of stolen art objects, jewelry and antiques.

During his investigations, he made the acquaintance of the pretty Sarah Kelling and became immediately fascinated by her. His desire to get to know her better grew.

After his marriage to Sarah, Max was also happily asked by various family members of the Kelling clan for advice when a supposedly valuable (though actually rather worthless) heirloom had been lost.

The stories about Max Bittersohn and Sarah Kelling (later Sarah Bittersohn) are set in Boston, Massachusetts.

Other Characters

Sarah Kelling

Sarah lost her mother at the age of 10 and her father led the household henceforth. Because her father had his own views on the education of children, Sarah never attended school but was home-schooled. When Sarah was 19 years old, her father died and she married her over 20 years older cousin and guardian Alexander Kelling. He died 7 years later with his mother in a murder that was disguised as an accident. Making a virtue out of necessity, Sarah then opened a bed and breakfast in Tulip Street, where Max Bittersohn later moved.

Adolfphus "Dolph" Kelling - Sarah’s Cousin

Dolph is a tall elderly gentleman. He is not very pleased about the idea of turning their home into a bed and breakfast. Dolph is married to Mary Smith. Both founded the "Senior Citizen's Recycling Centre" for poor pensioners who can hand over cans, bottles and newspapers, that they have gathered in the city. In return, these pensioners are offered a fair wage. The center is also intended as a meeting point for these retirees. It also serves as a canteen and just as a place where one can warm up one’s hands.

Jeremy "Jem" Kelling - Sarah’s Uncle

A cozy apartment in the Pinckney Street is the home of Uncle Jeremy and his servant Egbert. Jeremy loves the dispute between his family members, but is always willing to help and support Sarah. Jem is described as a bon vivant and a ladies’ man due to his charm that makes him popular with many women. He is familiar with Boston gossip and enjoys martinis, gin and other alcoholic beverages.

Alexander "Brooks" Kelling - Sarah’s Uncle

Brooks can imitate almost any bird voice. He has therefore also performed at children's parties. He later became employed as a security guard in a museum and is now working for Max Bittersohn’s detective agency.

Theonia Sorpende Kelling - Alexander Kelling’s Wife

Theonia is spiritually inclined and has worked occasionally as a fortune teller. She is a perfect lady and  is described as a woman whose elegant appearance does not go unnoticed by men. After Sarah’s and Max’s wedding she ran the Tulip Street bed and breakfast together with her husband, Books. Theonia is also working for the Bittersohn detective agency

Emma Kelling - Sarah’s Aunt

The enthusiastic actress and singer Emma is a big fan of the comic operas by Gilbert and Sullivan. She does not live in Boston, but in Springfield, and often supports Sarah in family feuds. Emma's theater group, "The Pirates of Pleasaunce" performs the works of Gilbert & Sullivan best, and the name of the theater group is based on the opera "Pirates of Penzance" by the two composers.

Mariposa and Charles C. Charles

Both work in Sarah's bed and breakfast in Tulip Street. Mariposa is Charles’ girlfriend and wears an orange uniform. Charles is out of work as an actor and plays the part of the venerable butler with much devotion. The butler "Mr. Hudson" in "Upstairs, Downstairs" has deeply impressed him.

Books from the Boston Series

• 
  The Family Vault


• 
  The Withdrawing Room


• 
  The Palace Guard


• 
  The Bilbao Looking Glass


• 
  The Convivial Codfish


• 
  The Plain Old Man


• 
  The Recycled Citizen


• 
  The Silver Ghost


• 
  The Gladstone Bag


• 
  The Resurrection Man


• 
  The Odd Job


• 
  The Balloon Man

The Author

You may find detailed information about the Canadian-born writer on the Charlotte MacLeod webpage. As a side note, besides her series about the private investigator Max Bittersohn, the author also wrote a college-based crime series about Professor Dr. Peter Shandy. Charlotte MacLeod received the Nero Wolfe Award in 1987 for the novel “The Corpse in Oozak's Pond”, which is part of this series.