The Return of Moriarty: Sherlock Holmes Is Dead But His Nemesis Is Not

After Professor Moriarty survives Reichenbach Falls and Sherlock Holmes dies, Moriarty finds himself caught up in a locked-room mystery Holmes couldn't solve.

This time, it's up to Moriarty to crack the mystery, perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes ingenious retellings like the ones by Anthony Horowitz and Laurie R. King.

Upon escaping from Reichenbach Falls, his empire in ruins, criminal mastermind James Moriarty takes the identity of wealthy inventor Hugo Strahm and embarks on a dark pilgrimage to the cliffside manor of Schloss Alber in Bavaria.

When medical student Clara Mendel returns to Schloss Alber, she finds her childhood home on the verge of ruin. A deadly feud over a priceless heirloom has thrown the Alber family into chaos while its walls play host to an unusual cast of characters-the obstinate Lord Alber, his strange and beleaguered children, their cantankerous butler, and of course, their mysterious new guest, "Hugo Strahm." When one of them is poisoned at dinner, it's the first act in a spiraling criminal conspiracy, in which any and all of them are suspects.

Working with the sharp and inquisitive Clara, the former crime lord attempts to solve the mystery whilst trying to keep his true identity concealed. Yet despite taking on the role of detective, Moriarty does not share Sherlock Holmes's methods, nor his interest in justice. Only one thing is certain, for James Moriarty, dying at the hands of Sherlock Holmes would have been an elegant end... The question of what comes next is far more complicated.

This cleverly plotted mystery is a faithful and inventive take on the Sherlock Holmes legacy, paying homage to Arthur Conan Doyle's signature style while adding its own devious tricks to the story that is destined to become a must-read classic for Sherlock Holmes fans.

Author: Jack Anderson
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.40w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9798892422826


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 07/21/2025

About the Author
Jack Anderson is a UK-based writer of horror and mystery fiction.
Jack got his start writing for the internet, penning the viral serial "Has Anyone Heard of the Left/Right Game?", which he wrote in a caffeine-fueled haze. It has since been adapted into a hit QCode podcast starring Tessa Thompson in the leading role of Alice. His debut thriller, The Grief Doctor, was published by Raven Books in June 2024. He is currently working on his new Moriarty Mystery series, with the first novel, The Return of Moriarty, scheduled to be published in Autumn 2025. Jack is also developing a number of original television and film ideas across the horror genre. Jack lives with his wife in Sheffield. Lifelong fans of games and puzzles, together they're burning through every escape room in the North of England.