The 14th novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters
series continues the reimagined adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a
richly detailed alternate 20th-century England.
While Sherlock is still officially dead, John and Mary Watson and Nan
Killian and Sarah Lyon-White are taking up some of his caseload - and
some for Lord Alderscroft, the Wizard of London.
Lord Alderscroft asks them to go to Dartmoor to track down a rumor of
evil magic brewing there. Not more than four hours later, a poor
cottager, also from Dartmoor, arrives seeking their help. His wife, in a
fit of rage over the children spilling and spoiling their only food for
dinner that night, sent them out on the moors to forage for something to
eat. This is not the first time she has done this, and the children are
moor-wise and unlikely to get into difficulties. But this time they did
not come back, and in fact, their tracks abruptly stopped "as if them
Pharisees took'd 'em". The man begs them to come help.
They would have said no, but there's the assignment for Alderscroft. Why
not kill two birds with one stone?
But the deadly bogs are not the only mires on Dartmoor.
