This first book in the series introduces us to Nell, a proper English lady, who is treated wrong and loses her job. Irene, who is also poor at the moment, befriends her and takes her in until she can get a job. Irene and Nell become key players in a couple of the stories written by Doyle and mesh in very nicely. Sherlock is hired by the prince of Bohemia to recover a picture from Irene and is foiled, just as in Doyle's story, but we see the story from another viewpoint.