Knave of Diamonds

Mary Russells allegiances are tested by the reappearance of her long-lost uncleand a tantalizing case not even Sherlock Holmes could solve. When Mary Russell was a child, she adored her black-sheep Uncle Jake. But she hasnt heard from him in many years, and she''s assumed that his neer-do-well ways had brought him to a bad end somewhereuntil he presents himself at her Sussex door. Yes, Jake is back, and with a load of problems for his clever niece. Not the least of which is the reason the family rejected him in the first place: he was involvedsomehowin the infamous disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels from a secure safe in Dublin Castle. It was a theft that shook a government, enraged a King, threatened the English establishmentand baffled not only the Dublin police and Scotland Yard, but Sherlock Holmes himself. And now, Jake expects Russell to step into the middle of it all? To slip away with him, not telling Homes what shes up to? Knowing that the theftunsolved, hushed-up, scandalousmust have involved Mycroft Holmes as well?Naturally, she can do nothing of the sort. Siding with her Uncle Jake, even briefly, could only place her in opposition to both her husband-partner, and to his secretive and powerful brother. She has to tell Jake no. On the other hand, this is Jakeher fathers kid brother, her childhood hero, beloved and long-lost survivor of a diminished family. Conflicting loyalties and international secrets, blatant lies and blithe deceptions: sounds like another case for Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.