This story is very much focused on Shadwell Rafferty with Holmes and Watson in bit parts only. As part of this approach we get Watson’s notes read out with references to H., W., and SF, etc. It doesn’t read like a Sherlock Holmes novel and the references to initials is irritating and a distraction at best. In addition, the story was more predictable than the earlier novels. This book is very disappointing, the earlier novels in this series were far superior.