originally published Shadows Over Baker Street, 2002
Dr. Watson, back from Afghanistan, is introduced to the eccentric Sherlock Holmes. They take lodgings at Baker Street. Inspector Lestrade drops by.
A murder has been committed. At the crime scene, they find a mutilated body and splashes of green blood. The word "rache" has been written in blood on the walls. The body is that of Prince Franz Drago of Bohemia, a royal who came to England for some fun, both licit and illicit. And, by the way, he is not human.
Holmes takes some ash from the fireplace, and mentions that "rache" is German for "revenge". He and Watson pay a visit to Queen Victoria who is, by the way, not human.
Holmes assumes a number of disguises over the next several days, none of which he explains to Watson. Finally he announces they are attending a performance at the Drury Lane Theater. The play depicts the coming of the Great Old Ones, and their human servants as heroes. Posing as a theatrical agent, Holmes convinces the company that he can get them a tour in "the New World".
As Holmes suspects, the company is a group of Restorationists - out to overthrow The Great Old Ones and restore man's mastery over the earth. Caught out, the group is broken up and flees.
This is a solidly-written Holmes pastiche - Gaiman clearly knows his Conan Doyle - with a clever twist - the GOO's are already in charge
Sorry dude, You missed the key plot twist, The protagonists were actually Moriarty and Moran, Holmes (aka Sherry Vernet, known Holmes alias in Holmes Canon) and Watson were the theater actors who killed Prince Franz. Note that the protagonists are never referred to as Homes or Watson. the key giveaway being the reference to the Asteroid paper, which Moriarty authored (per holmes canon).
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