In 1875 a strange party of arrogrant Americans visits Whitehall on suspicious business. Shortly thereafter, on the streets of London, a shooting takes place; one of the Americans is injured. A mysterious black stranger makes a threatening appearance at the door of the British government. What does it mean - where will it lead? That's for Mycroft Holmes - with the aid of his younger brother Sherlock - to find out! The tale is cleverly told in the literary debut of Mycroft, seven years older than his celebrated sibling, quite Falstaffian in appearance but no less intelligent, and very much the sleuth. Here we meet young Sherlock at work during the budding of his career as he and his brother become embroiled in a plot to overthrow the American government and restore the Confederacy under British rule. The conspiracy, punctuated with spies, counterspires, murder, kidnapping, and a direct threat to the British government, eventually comes to involve William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli as we follow the brothers Holmes through Victorian London in their characteristically clever manner, tracking down clues and culprits. Meet the young Sergeant Lestrade and even the elusive Moriarty as we have a chance to learn, at last, the real reason for the legendary animosity between Moriarty and Sherlock. An intricate plot that is as thick as the London fog itself leads to the final dramatic chase through the sky that is recounted with skill and authenticity. It's the world of Arthur Conan Doyle, alive with action and suspense, in a thriller that will enchant Sherlockians and historians alike.