This book is well-written from the reader's point of view. The story is good and worthy of Holmes and Doyle fans in his details and structure.... and quite readable: until its portentous ending which only served to make me believe that Mr. Dibdin chooses to create his own Sherlock Holmes-type character to usurp that of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation.The outcome is one which made me: (1) throw the book in the garbage immediately, and (2) vow never to again read a Michael Dibdin work!