New Cases of Sherlock Holmes

In this stirring autobiography, Dr. Watson reveals the truth in full: his Scottish ancestry, the middle-class circumstances in which he grew up, a dark legacy, and the familial discord that would leave a lasting mark on him; not to mention the ironic circumstances that shaped his career-first as a doctoral student, then as a war doctor, and finally as a detective's assistant. His memoirs take us to four continents, to the theater stages of Paris and London, across Afghan battlefields, and into the bedrooms of many ladies. No one could more perfectly complement and balance Sherlock Holmes's unique genius than this great lover and bon vivant. Their fateful encounter, which marks the end of this book, serves as a fitting conclusion to those early chapters in Watson's life, but of course also marks the beginning of the adventures with which millions of readers have long been familiar.

Sherlock Holmes is hired by an impresario named Harvey Barker to find his missing wife, Bian. Holmes investigates the circus scene and stumbles upon a case involving a tattoo. The case is gruesome and bizarre, and Holmes and Watson must track down an unscrupulous collector.

What connection exists between a medieval Dutch painter like Hieronymus Bosch and a sinister series of murders in London in 1895? None, says Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard. But Sherlock Holmes disagrees. Together with Dr. John Watson, he investigates in sinister opium dens and a mysterious moated castle. Along the way, he meets a shady opera singer, an enigmatic gnome, and a derelict abortionist.

When Sherlock Holmes finds Doctor Watson dead in their shared apartment, he is arrested by the London police. He is suspected of murdering his best friend. A seamless chain of evidence points to this, and even Mrs. Hudson is convinced of the master detective's guilt.

Dr. Watson is courting, and Sherlock Holmes is toying with the idea of retirement. But he hasn't reckoned with the criminals of this world. A ravenous beast seems to be wreaking havoc on Hampstead Heath, immediately evoking memories of the infamous Hound of the Baskervilles. During excavations in London, the remains of Oliver Cromwell are discovered – and promptly stolen. A steward is murdered while crossing the Channel. It seems impossible to prove the culprit responsible. And to make matters worse, Holmes is being hired by the King of England to handle a sensitive matter as discreetly as possible. So, retirement is a long way off. The seamless sequel to the novel THE HOUND OF BAKERVILLE by Arthur Conan Doyle.