The Sign of Four

The great detective's melancholy mood is lifted by the arrival of attractive Mary Morstan at 221B, Baker Street. Mary's father vanished ten years ago. Four years later she began to receive annually an exquisite gift: a large, lustrous pearl. Now she has had an intriguing invitation to meet her unknown benefactor and urges Holmes and Watson to accompany her. When confronted with a case that involves a wronged woman, a wooden-legged ruffian, hidden treasure and a love affair, even the jaded Holmes is forced to exclaim, '"Isn't it gorgeous!"'

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was born in Edinburgh and took a degree in medicine at Edinburgh University before becoming a doctor in Southsea. He began writing detective stories to supplement his income and 'A Study in Scarlet' (1887) introduced his finest creation, the hawk-eyed detective, Sherlock Holmes. 

Peter Ackroyd is a well known writer and historian. He has been the literary editor of The Spectator and chief book reviewer for the The Times, as well as writing several highly acclaimed books including a biography of Dickens and London: The Biography. He resides in London and his most recent highly acclaimed work is Thames: Sacred River.