The Merchant of Death is a gripping story of the world's greatest detective that has never been told-until now. Starting with the disappearance of an American diplomat in Victorian London, Sherlock Holmes becomes deeply involved in a series of mysterious murders that present him with the greatest challenge of his career. Not only is Holmes's life at stake, but the very future of England itself! In this tribute to the legendary characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writers June Dixon and Donald Monat have preserved the flavor and style of Dr. Watson's original accounts in the Strand Magazine that brought Sherlock Holmes to the attention of the wider world-and, at the same time, they have infused this exciting adventure with moments of wry humor and warm affection.