A modern installment of the Sherlock Holmes series. In this installment, Holmes is in pursuit of an Austrian archduke and his murderous accomplice. The book centers on the world’s biggest diamond, The Great Blue, and its resurfacing in the hands of the Austrian noble. Holmes is hired by the British Gov’t, De Beers Diamond company and more to track down the gem for various ends throughout the book. The journey leads them to Scotland, France, Italy, and Constantinople as more bodies turn up and governments attempt to conceal the facts. In the end, [SPOILER] the diamond is cut and placed in a tiara, the Archduke is murdered and impersonated by his accomplice and Holmes foils both, returning the diamonds to Austria for a some of money to establish a scholarship for African students. Taking place at the turn of the century and narrated, as is the norm for Holmes novels, by Dr. Watson the book takes the chance to bring Holmes in the modern world, with Americans, motorcars, and changing imperial politics all playing a role. The author's prose and vocabulary is entertaining if not over the top and I do get the feel that he is writing of Victorian England through distant, almost theatrical means. The sexual side of the book seemed to preoccupy a great deal of the writer’s resources and time. Waston spent a large portion of his time in bed with a Countess and the a great deal of his narration is him thinking about such dalliances. There is little mystery, When it serves the story, Holmes will tell Watson and the reader what has happened and then leave the story and text to flounder until his next revelation. ( )