The Sign of Four

Set in 1888, this novel features Sherlock Holmes and explores themes of greed and revenge against a backdrop of colonial history, including the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The plot unfolds around a stolen treasure and a secret pact among convicts, revealing the darker sides of human nature. It deepens Holmes's character by addressing his drug habit and introduces Doctor Watson's future wife, Mary Morstan. Holmes and Watson embark on a perilous mission that leads them to confront a menacing, one-legged man in London's shadows.