A mysterious Arab falls ill at their feet in a Parisian Bistro. Irene guns down a cobra then, Nell and Godfrey are off to London to find and alert a Dr. John Watson who may be in danger because of his medical stint during the 2nd Afghan War.
It is the true Watson of Sherlockian lore, with a dead cobra under his desk and thus brings Holmes into play. Much tooing and froing often in disguise until before the archenemy Sebastion Moran falls to his death, clutching Nell's love interest, Quentin. The game is still afoot and to be continued in future installments. ( )

Anyway, this one centered more on Nell than on Irene and Nell comes face to face with how much she’s changed when she comes face to face with someone from her governess days. Quentin Stanup was the uncle of some of her charges. He remembers her and collapses at her feet. He was a spy in the war in Afghanistan and was betrayed and his betrayal (bad information) was the cause of a huge defeat of the English Army. Many men died and the traitor spy has been after Stanup ever since. Quentin remembers being treated by a Doctor Watson over there and of course it is THE Dr. Watson.

As usual, both Holmes and Irene are working different angles of essentially the same case. And as usual, Holmes is working what he believes to be the noble side, but it isn’t and Irene has to figure out a way to deal with him as well as her own problems.

I really thought that at the end, Nell and Quentin would end up together, but Quentin disappears again after fighting with the traitor spy and falling into the Thames. No bodies are recovered and months go by when Nell receives a package in France. It is Quentin’s medal from the war. A tantalizing hint that he is still alive and still wants Nell.

First edition as new