Part of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, book 10
First published 2010
Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes face their most dangerous predicament yet. What started as trouble in Holmes' beehives and led to confronting a murderous cult has now made them targets of powerful enemies with government connections. The couple must separate to survive, communicating only through coded messages as they flee across Europe. Russell carries the added burden of protecting Holmes' young granddaughter while relying on instincts she never knew she possessed. Meanwhile, police hunt them and ruthless agents close in from all sides. From concealed London hideouts to remote forest shelters, from shaky aircraft over Scotland to vessels crossing the icy North Sea, the separated partners work toward reunion. Every person they encounter presents a choice between salvation and betrayal. Russell must decide whether their separation was a tactical necessity or a fatal error that left them vulnerable to the shadowy forces determined to silence them forever.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, mystery, thriller, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, survival
Setting: Europe, London, Scotland, North Sea
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
368 pages · Hardcover · Bantam Books
Content warnings: violence