In this Sherlock Holmes novel, Holmes and Watson are called upon to investigate the death of a seemingly ordinary country gentleman. The local police are baffled, as the facts just don't seem to add up, but of course once Holmes is on the case, everything will become clear...

Though only the first half of this novel features Holmes and Watson (the second half delving into the shady past of the murdered man), I enjoyed it nonetheless. The solution to the murder is as convoluted and intriguing as always, and the account of the victim's life in America was engaging as well. And the scene at the very end where the twist is revealed was so unexpected, I almost jumped off the couch!