The action returns back to England since the last several books have happened while Russell and Holmes have been traveling to the USA to deal with Russell's estate. This book gives some back story to Holmes and you find out a very intersting fact that could have been spun off into its own book but instead is told in flashbacks in order to set the stage for this book. It almost makes me wonder if I missed a short story out there or if the back story is the fragments of a short story idea that didn't gel. It was nice to get a new book in the series but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as the earlier books. Not sure if that has to do with the fact that I have to wait years for a new book since I have caught up wiht the series a few years ago.