Britain has entered the twentieth century. Queen Victoria is dead and the Boer War rages on. Inspector Lestrade is called upon to investigate the brutal death of Ralph Childers MP in the first of a series of perplexing murders which clearly has a link with politics. Is someone trying to destroy the government? And who is responsible? Was it the Fenians who placed a bomb in the Palace of Westminster? Or have the Suffragettes decided on a more drastic course of action to further their cause?
During his investigations, Lestrade meets the brother and cousin of the late Sherlock Holmes, who died eleven years ago at the Reichenbach Falls. But is Holmes really dead? Dr Watson doesn't think so. Someone wants to keep the World's Greatest Detective alive and Lestrade is forced to 'tread the boards' (playing himself) to discover the truth.
And as if things aren't serious enough, the King is kidnapped just before his coronation.
'This is Lestrade, the intelligent, the intuitive bright light of law and order in a wicked Victorian world.'
Punch