The Iron Metropolis: A Case of Sherlock Holmes and the Titans of Valhalla

The fifth and final novel in the Sherlock Holmes pantology by Stephen Lees. Holmes has been outwitted by two of the Titans, notably Messrs Holder and Stephenson, and they in turn had been pursued but are now thought to be dead. Some months have passed, but now, Andrew Carnegie, a wealthy industrial Titan, has cabled Holmes seeking his help and inviting him to Pittsburgh in order to determine a perceived but unidentifiable threat to his person. Holmes obliges, but is cautioned by Watson, who insists that Katherine, from Eureka Springs, in the Oklahoma Territory, accompanies them on their quest. Together, all three set out for America on a new adventure, still arising out of the sinking of the Titanic some months previously. During this adventure however, Holmes, Watson and Katherine, rather than hunting the eminence gris, find that they have now become the hunted, as the Titans vie with each other for ultimate industrial and financial power. The story culminates in a devastating revelation of treachery, deceit, and greed, all of which add even more mystery to our intrepid heroes' investigation. As usual, Lees' dense plotting is accompanied by a cornucopia of architectural detail and erudite musical discourse.