This is a two part novel where the famous friendship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is forged for the first time. Dr. Watson has just retired from military service and hopes to recoup in London. He is fascinated with this strange fellow Sherlock Holmes and decides to lodge with him.
Holmes a "consulting detective" takes Watson out on his first case, a murder. A body has been discovered under mysterious circumstances and the master sleuth begins his game. When the clues lead to another murder, the Scotland Yard detectives are baffled but only Sherlock Holmes can solve the case.
In the second part when the story shifts to Utah, the momentum is lost and it just gets predictable after that but the lull is negligible and then on it is just one racy ride till the end.
Witty and well written, it is a good start to the greatest detective series that I can't wait to read.
