slightly less annoying than The Language of Bees, the first half of this story, but still irksome because of the usual issues I have with this series. again, if it didn't involve Sherlock Holmes, I think I'd be rating this series higher, as the writing is decent, and some of the plots are interesting. it just doesn't feel like a believable Sherlock Holmes alternative universe series, because of the lack of John Watson (Mycroft and Mrs. Hudson get more time), and Sherlock seems to become severely mellow and figuratively castrated by his wife. there's only faint traces of the original character. it could just be me though.