This is the first in this authors series of Sherlock Holmes novels, and while this is a very strong start she gets even better. I've read a lot of post-Doyle Holmes and MacBird is easily one of the best: smart, funny, complex - and not afraid to explore and develop the characters of Holmes and Watson more than Conan Doyle ever did.

This is probably the most gruesome of her series - not that it is particularly gruesome, but the themes are enough to shock even the usually emotionally removes Holmes- so be aware it has it's serious turns moreso than her later even more brilliant works.