Sherlock Holmes: The Patchwork Devil

Scott (Doctor Who: Who-ology) poses an intriguing puzzle for an older Holmes and Watson to tackle in 1919: "how a freshly severed hand could find itself in London, two years after its owner was killed some two hundred miles away." Watson, whose second wife is much less tolerant of his friend's demands on his time, gets enmeshed in that scary case after Holmes is consulted by Insp. Abraham Tovey, who specializes in inquiries that confound logic and "natural law." The trail leads them to the remains of a deserted hospital, where they find an unusual bone and are surprised by an eight-foot-tall monster. The trio barely survive the encounter with the aggressive monster, but Watson soon finds that powerful forces, including someone he had once considered a friend, are opposed to their pursuit of the truth. Many readers will figure out early on where the plot is ultimately heading, but Scott does a decent job of depicting the natural strains in the longstanding partnership. (Apr.)