In this collection of eight stories, Holmes is embroiled in some very strange and challenging cases-from the mystery of the silent lodger who passes coded messages, to the murder of a man in possession of secret documents. Scaremongering, kidnapping, theft and treachery: Holmes is impelled to sharpen his wits and employ his unparalleled intellect on all of these in some of the most devious and bizarre crimes in his casebook.
Finally, on the eve of the Great War, Holmes comes out of retirement, leaving his books and his bees. He changes the course of history and takes His Last Bow.