It was early in the summer of 1886 that Lord Backwater, a wealthy and reclusive philanthropist, was found beaten to death in the grounds of his estate and Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson were summoned to the scene of the crime. On the forearms of Lord Backwater’s corpse they noticed two striking tattoos, one bearing the inscription ‘never’, the other ‘ever’. ‘An expression of affection and loyalty?’ Said Watson, ‘surely the name of a sweetheart should be with them?’. Holmes chuckled mirthlessly: ‘There is little affection embodied in that oath, and it was directed to no female. They signify that the late Lord Backwater’s past was more varied than the obituarists imagined.’

As Holmes and the Doctor strive to unravel the mystery of Lord Backwater’s death many obstacles are put in their way. The Great Detective must get to the bottom of a forty year old secret from the other side of the world and pit himself against a ruthless opponent before he can reveal a story of appalling cruelty and corruption, and the case can finally be solved.