A mysterious death. A castle of spirits and superstitions. A royal family of fierce and unnatural passions.

Literature's greatest detective has been invited into its most bloody and macabre plot.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson have been summoned to the royal court by their university acquaintance Prince Hamlet. The prince is convinced that his father was murdered, and he's determined that Holmes will help him prove it.

But when Holmes and Watson reach the palace of Helsingør, they find their young acquaintance increasingly deranged and the royal court gripped by suspicion and fear. The spirit of the dead king lingers in unhappy minds, and rival interests are maneuvering for influence as the new regime tries to settle.

Holmes' investigations uncover buried secrets and betrayals, and Hamlet's obsession is shattering the stability of his family. The royal court of Denmark is heading for a violent climax, and not everyone will survive.

"Was this an end to the blood and to the chaos?"

Holmes gazed at me. "An end?" he said, and his voice was deathly. 'My dear Watson: it has not yet begun."

"Gripping and witty... A must read for fans of Sherlock and Shakespeare alike." (Richard Foreman, author of Raffles: The Complete Innings)

Praise for Robert Wilton's historical fiction:

"A superb historical thriller. Wilton blends action and humor to create a page turner to rival John Buchan at his best." (Saul David)

"One of the smartest novelists we have. A touch of Conrad, more than a dash of Buchan... Simply brilliant." (John Lawton)

"A learned, beautifully written elegant spy thriller." (The Times)

"Sensational... great, intelligent fun." (Time Out)

"Exhilarating, passionate, inspiring, and literate and will garner new readers from lovers of Hilary Mantel and Bernard Cornwell alike." (Manda Scott)

"Beautifully written, wonderfully clever, this is a triumph." (Daily Telegraph)